Phnom Penh antidotes

As an antidote to confronting the horrific history of the former Pol Pot regime, the brutality of the Khmer Rouge and the suffering of the Cambodian people, we also did some fun things and sightseeing in Phnom Penh. Wats, Palaces and exploring the city, soaking up the distinct charcoal and grilled smells, along with the more pungent odious odours near streams and waterways that are littered with refuse and rubbish…..not to mention the fumes from burning rubbish by the kern side.

As part of our strategy of bringing the kids to Choeung Ek, we had promised them to go to a science museum and multi-storey kids centre in the afternoon, where they enjoyed laser tag. The science installations came from NZ, as did the indoor climbing walls – we were proudly informed! Daredevil Ilona managed to cycle off the tightrope – I think her lesson was not about counterweights which (supposedly) kept her up on the tightrope, but not to go to extremes and do the impossible (she tried to cycle past a buttress at the end of the tightrope, and ended up unbalancing the wheel groove from the tightrope, turning the bike nearly perpendicular to the rope. Lucky for NZ safety standards with the harness!

They also got to stay up late and watch the rugby…….Daniel had unceremoniously extended our stay in Phnom Pehn to ensure that we would be able to watch the semi-final match!