Cambodia four

just as hitler lead the communist regime in germany, the tyrannical pol pot had a similar if not more potent reign in cambodia. he lead the khmer rouge in killing over 2 million cambodians in the late 1970's. today i visited the choeung ek memorial aka "the killing fields." it is a site where mass graves ans collections of skelatons are kept as a reminder of the countries turbulent past. i also went to the museum of the genocide, a school that was turned into a concentration camp for women and children. though it was not exactly what i would classify as an upbeat day it was one that made all my worries seem silly and reminded me once again that we only have one life to live. looking at the faces of all those children that were brutally murdered and then going back out into the streets and being greeted by their endless smiles is something that puts a lump in your stomach.

to liven my day, i spent a few hours in the russian market watching tourists and locals battle for pennies and people cutting the heads off of various livestock. i have never been offered so much opium paraphernalia in the span of one hour. maybe it was my savage mustache that made them convinced i was an addict. in cambodia you can fire off a rocket launcher for $200, an ak-47 for $40, and throw a grenade for $30. just in case you were wondering.

i have also noticed a rivalry pattern that is existant in our great world between neighboring nations. canadians have declared a certain war against the americans when it comes to international recognition. just as the kiwis (new zealand) have against the aussies and the scots have against people from england. it is quite hilarious and i have been making it a point to ask canadians if i know that they definitely canadians if they are from detroit. their faces turn a sort of grey blue color and their fanny packs begin to shake. it is absolutely classic.