Phnom Penh

We were surprised to see a large, modern city on our approach to Phnom Penh. Thursday morning touring began at the infamous Killing Fields and then the S21 Detention Center. We learned all about the dark days of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime. The most shocking part of this grim chapter of Cambodia's history is that the mass genocide took place in the late 1970s. Where were the world's peacekeepers? How was this allowed to happen? Not exactly a good start to Bill's Birthday.

The day could only get better...and it did. After lunch we visited the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. Monkeys, cats and plenty of tourists enjoyed the beautiful gardens.