Phnom Penh and Cambodia

Cambodia is an incredible country to visit, but while travelling there, it is impossible to ignore the effects of its violent history. Cambodia began the 20th Century as a French colony along with the rest of 'Indochina' (Lao, Cambodia and Vietnam), and did not gain independence until 1953. Of course it was not long after one arrogant and shortsighted foreign power left than another one, you guessed it the good ol' US of A, began to interfere with its sovereignty. Essentially Cambodia was forced to abandon its neutrality in the commy vs. capitalism battle that was raging in South East Asia. Choosing America, help quickly came in the form of large scale B-52 strikes on rural villages. This combined with the complete ineptitude of the Cambodian government of the time, drove more and more people into supporting the communist Khmer Rouges. When the US backed government was defeated, the Khmer Rouges promptly evacuated all the cities and began one of the most fucked up social experiments in recorded history. Attempting to create a 'peasants paradise', anyone who was educated or possessed professional skills associated with modernity were executed or worked to death. As many as 3 million people may have been killed during Khmer Rouge rule, and it was not until an invasion by Communist Vietnam that the genocide finally stopped. Since then, the Khmer (Cambodian) people have been on the short end of the political stick. Free and fair elections in 1993 were quickly overturn in a coup which produced the present dictatorship. Corruption is rife and evident even to the most casual observer. I noticed that some of the nicest cars in country: Lexus', Benzs, Ranges, ect. had the telltale blue and red RCAF (Royal Cambodian Armed Forces) license plates; you tell me how the hell that happens.

However besides spending a depressing day visiting the Killing Fields (see picture) and S-21 torture center, there is much fun to be had in Phnom Penh. The backpackers area on the lake is beautiful (see picture), weed is accessible and actually good, and there is a vibrant night life. There is also some beautiful colonial French architecture (the frogs didn't suck at everything), including the stunning Raffles Le Royal Hotel (see picture), which of course, I stayed a night in. There is also a shooting range and go-karts, both of which are fun; though I admit the former funnels money (a lot of it believe me) to the corrupt government. All of this is surrounded by the smiling friendly Khmer people who appear, at least on the surface, not to have lost their optimism despite all that has happened to them. So, go to Cambodia, and if not, at least take some time to learn more about its history