A Completely Different Day Around Siem Reap

More Recent History

After two days of temples we decided to have a look at other parts of Siem Reap. We had arranged to meet a tuktuk driver at 10am and Karen and I spent breakfast agreeing where to visit.

We started with the Landmine museum which was about 30km outside the city. Similar to Laos, Cambodia was very heavily bombed by America during the Vietnam War (ironically it is one of the causes that have recently lost their aid from the US) but as well as the leftovers of this they have 1000s of landmines from their own civil war.

The museum is run by a guy who laid landmines during the Khmer Rouge years and after the war he wanted to make things right. He initially worked independently making landmines safe but has become part of the government's scheme. His museum raises funds for landmines clearance and to help young people who have lost parents. As well as landmines he organisation helps set up schools in rural communities. He has a fascinating life story told at the museum.

The museum was interesting but depressing seeing the harm done.

After this we returned to the city and went to a Killing Field genocide museum. Another horrific story and a very moving place covering the history of Pol Pot.

Apopo

The last stop was at Apopo, which is a centre where they train these Giant African pouch rats to find landmines and unexploded ordinance. They are trained to smell the explosives and are too light to set the mines off, they aren't being sent on suicide mission. Once the rat discovers the location by scratching the earth, the handlers then safely detonate the mine. Seemed an amazing place and we both got to hold, Poppy, one of the rats.

The tuk tuk ride out to these sites lasted about an hour in total and was in complete contrast to what we saw there. We passed through lush green countryside, paddy fields, small villages, forests and more temples.

In the evening we visited pub street, around 7 to 8pm and it was all very calm. There were plenty of people older than us there so we may try later tomorrow to see what it is like then!