Choeung Ek, Phnom Penh

Choeung Ek, often referred to as the Killing Fields, is a poignant reminder of Cambodia's tragic past, situated just outside the bustling capital city of Phnom Penh. Now a museum, this site is one of the many throughout Cambodia where the Khmer Rouge regime executed and buried over a million people between 1975 and 1979.

The area, which was once an orchard and a Chinese cemetery, is marked by a Buddhist stupa that has been filled with more than 5,000 human skulls, visible through the transparent sides. The skulls, arranged by age and sex, are a stark and somber testament to the atrocities committed at Choeung Ek. Visitors to the site can walk around the mass graves, of which there are 129, and see the shallow pits from which the remains of over 9,000 bodies were exhumed.

The museum at Choeung Ek serves to educate visitors about the brutal history of the Khmer Rouge regime. It is an essential site for those wishing to understand the depth of Cambodia's suffering during this period. The memorial park also includes an audio tour, which provides personal narratives and historical context, making the visit an immersive and emotional experience.

The Choeung Ek Genocidal Center is a place for reflection and remembrance, attracting tourists from around the world who come to pay their respects to the victims. It is a powerful symbol of the country's painful history but also a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the Cambodian people's journey towards healing and reconciliation.