Random thoughts on Cambodia

Why did I not know that 3 million Cambodians were killed just 30 years ago? Yeah, 3 million. Am I just an awful history student (quite possible) or was I never told? We hear so much about other genocides--notably Hitler and Rwanda--but so little on Cambodia and the Pol Pot regime. Why?

Now that civil war has ended, Cambodia has large piles of weapons and no place to use them. Sadly, the eager militant and the blood-loving tourist have struck a nasty deal: for a certain amount of money, you may fire any weapon at any animal you choose. The bigger, the more expensive. The rate to fire a bazooka at a cow is $300. The trade was legal until just a few years ago when it went underground. Every taxi driver in town still asks you if you like to fire weapons. Even our driver from the killing fields where 9000 bodies had been heaped in mass graves.

A German tourist: "In Thailand, the moto drivers offered me drugs. In Cambodia, they offer me women".

Angkor Wat is superb. The city of Angkor held over 1 million people when the Khmer empire was at it's height. While most only know the name Angkor Wat, which refers to the largest temple, over 70 temples--many of similar sizes--scatter the surround area. Carmen and I bicycled over 80 kilometers looking at the temples. Carmen--and her rump--have yet to forgive me. But we did save $8.