Our first day in Cambodia was eventful. We were picked by Nara at exactly 8.00 as promised and whisked off to the Royal Palace. We couldn't park near the palace as the Prime Minister had decided to hold a celebratory march so we had to walk a little way to gain access.
This tour was the two of us, a guide, Nara and a driver, Gong. The palace was partly shut as the King had died on the 15th October and his body was embalmed in the palace for three months prior to cremation. He could have waited to die until after our visit, but there you are. We did visit the silver pagoda, where there are 500 solid silver floor tiles each weighing a kilo. Very impressive, apparently the Khmer Rouge stole some of the tiles but the majority are still there. The palace was beautiful and the gardens very European. Nara sat us down in the shade of a Cannon Ball tree and gave us a really good history lesson for about 30 minutes.
After the palace off to the National Museum which was really interesting, our guide wasn't allowed to take us around so we toured ourselves for 45 minutes. Lots of statutes and national treasures as well as a delightful courtyard garden.
After the garden we were taken to a jewellery shop. It seems to us that all tours end in such places. However, Rosemarie found a ring she liked and I bought it for her birthday and Christmas.So all in all a lucky visit.
Then on to lunch at Khmer Surin which is a very popular tourist restaurant and where we had planned to eat in the evening. Lunch was excellent, Rosemarien had fish Amok and I had beef with greens.
Straight after lunch it was off to the Killing Fields. This was a very sobering experience. Nara had been nine years old during the atrocities and told us how he had been forced to leave his home to go and work in the rice fields, he had been starved and beaten and kept in a dark room for minor infractions as well as receiving the lash for being ill. The field itself was harrowing, 8000 skulls have been excavated there but that is not the true number of executions, ther are 43 unexcavated pits t teh bottom of what is now a lake.We left wondering about man's inhumanity to man.one of the most harrowing stories and visits. The one question we had no real reply to was Nara asking us why Britain hand't come to help?
After this visit we went to the national Genocide museum an old school in the centre of Phnom Penh where 17000 prisoners were held tortured and interrogated. Of the 17000, only 7 survived and one of those was artist who was saved to work on busts of Pol Pot.He was able to paint some horrific pictures of what had gone on.
Our tour was meant to end at 3.00 but we didn't get back to the hotel until about 4.30. We were much chastened and more than a little sad.
In the evening we decided to go back to Khmer Surin, and this proved to be a mistake. First you have to haggle with a Tuk Tuk driver over the fare. We got it down from 15 dollars one way to 10 dollars return, about £6.20. On the way the Tuk Tuk ran out of petrol and although we made it to garage forecourt the driver had to push us to the pump. He was decidedly apologetic.
In the restaurant we were left for 15 minutes before anyone took our order, our drinks didn't arrive and had to be chased. Our starter arrived at the same time as the rice for the main and the mixed vegetables. My beef Course arrived about ten minutes later. Rosemarie's fish course didn't arrive at all and when we asked where it was we were told that they had run out and someone had been sent to tell us but had forgotten to do so.
A second round of drinks proved equally disastrous Rosemarie's turned up with ice in it despite asking specifically for no ice. My beer didn't come and when we asked why we were told the barrel was being changed, eventually it turned up 5 minutes before our Tuk was due.
We left no tip!!!!! So that will teach them!!!!
Our Tuk Tuk driver was waiting for us and we made a leisurely progress back to the hotel and bed. Even a bad experience in a restaurant had been unable to spoil our day.