It was our last day in the capital honestly the 5 days have flown by!
Today we decided to split up in a “this is too heavy for the kids” kind of way Ali headed to the Killing Fields, while I stayed with Georgia and Dotty for one last splash in the rooftop pool. We’d talked it over the night before and decided that the girls and honestly, even I didn’t need to hear or see those stories just yet.
When Ali returned, she was quiet. It had hit her hard a place that makes you realise life is ioften about luck.
The killing fields site is haunting. Even now, when it rains, human remains still rise to the surface bones, teeth, fragments of lives lost. Tour guides walk you through mass graves and trees once used for torture and far worse. Ali said pretty much everyone in the group was in tears, it was deeply emotional.
Ali explained that there was a man on site one of only a handful of survivors. He now sits there selling his story (a book Ali bought) I’ll read it in a week or two and let you know my thoughts.
Anyhow, The Khmer Rouge didn’t just kill political enemies they eliminated nearly anyone with an education. Could you read? Count? Fix a typewriter? That was enough. And they didn’t stop at one person. If one member of a family was educated, they often wiped out the whole household.
And the worst part? Pol Pot, the man who orchestrated all of it, was never truly punished. No trial. No prison. He died in 1998 under a kind of house arrest a fact that’s hard to wrap your head around after hearing what really happened and more bizarre, his wife and children now live wealthy and free in Florida!
Meanwhile, on the Roof back at the hotel!
It was cannonballs and chaos of a much happier kind!
Dotty held court in the shallow end like she owned the place, Georgia launched splash attacks with deadly precision. I was half soaked, half laughing, all while thinking about just how bizarre this whole trip can be. I mean, one of us was standing on a mass grave. The other was being pelted with inflatable unicorns much has changed here in the last 40 years but it’s still haunting to think about!
I said it before and I’ll say it again, Phnom Penh, full of contradictions,….
❓ Killing Fields FAQ – What You Need to Know Before Visiting
😔 What are the Killing Fields?
Mass grave sites from the Khmer Rouge era (1975–1979), where over a million people were executed during the genocide. The most visited site is Choeung Ek, just outside Phnom Penh.
📍Where is it located?
About 30–40 minutes by tuk-tuk from central Phnom Penh. Easy to get to — just ask your driver.
🎧 What’s the visit like?
Emotional and very quiet. The audio guide is excellent and full of real survivor stories. You’ll walk through areas where bones still surface during rain.
👨👩👧 Is it suitable for kids?
We don’t think so. It’s intense and graphic. We kept our girls away and would recommend it only for older teens who can grasp the history.
📸 Can you take photos?
Yes, but be respectful. Most people put their phones away and take in the experience.
🕰 How long does it take?
Around 1.5 to 2 hours. Some also visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) on the same day.
🎟 How much is it?
Around $6–$10 USD depending on whether you include the audio guide (definitely worth it).
⚖️ Was Pol Pot punished?
No. He died under house arrest in 1998, never standing trial for his crimes. Some other leaders were tried much later, but many never faced justice.
