On the other hand, many people (such as the americans) didn't like the king neither, as they believed he wanted to propegate communism in Cambodia, so money was given to this new guerillagroup to hopefully fight of the communists. The King of Cambodia called this Guerrilagroup the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer are the people of Cambodia.
The Khmer Rouge were led by a group of Paris schooled Cambodians, in particular one guy, Pol Pot. They wanted to conform Cambodia into this Maoist (Chinese) society where no one owned anything and everyone would live of agriculture.

In order to do so, the Khmer Rouge stared torturing and killing anyone who had any schooling, who could read or who protested. They simply looked if you would be wearing glasses or asked you to read a piece of paper. Well, I can tell you that it was a lot better for you if you did not wear glasses and if you told them you didn't know how to read. Also, your hands should be looking as if you had worked in the fields, otherwise you might be an intellectual and not a farmer.
This all took place between 1975 and 1979 (so yes, not a very long time ago). I really cannot understand what the Khmer Rouge wanted to do - it really is so sensless!!
I was in Phnom Penh 2 days ago and went to see the prison where the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot would keep the prisoners and torture people - the fact that this place used to be a highschool only made things worse. After the prison in Phnom Penh, the people would be killed and burried in mass graves just outside Phnom Penh (14 kilometres). This place is now called The Killing Fields. I went there. You can see the sculls and bones of the many people who died... for nothing. In total the Khmer Rouge killed around 2 million people. Imagine this in a country of only 13 million people (...).

Today, the country seems in relitive peace, although you have to keep watching out for mines - people AND animals will step on them every so many days.

Are you still there??

Welllllll, are you still there after this "horror" story?? Maybe not many people but let's swith over to the good and great stuff I saw in Cambodia. After spending 12 hours on the bus from Saigon to Phnom Penn I met this American guy from California, Jeff (and some of you know that this name make me shiver just by hearing it..). Jeff had been teaching english in Vietnam for 1 1/2 years. We travelled together for 1 week in Cambodia - first of all to Ankor. if you have never heard about Ankor, I can tell you it's one of the world wonders, like the Borobodur (but to my opinion even a lot more amazing then the Borobodur). Ankor is maybe 30 square kilometres big, with several Khmer temples in it, built from around 800 to 1400. The most famous temple is Ankor Wat (see the first photo with the Buda on this very page). The temples are very, very big and just impressive in size and decoration. Jeff and me spent 2 days on motorbikes exploring all of the temples.

We then went back to Phnom Penh by boat (6 hours). Spent 2 days here (i didn't really like the city) and went down south to Sihanoukville (the only beach in Cambodia), where I met up with June, this great Japanese guy! Together we visited the hounted "Independence Hotel".... Now it's time to move on though. Next destination: Bankok! Floris