🕊️ "Facing History: A Solemn Visit to Choeung Ek Memorial

#summervacay ### **📍 Location:** 12km south of Phnom Penh ### **⏰ Opening Hours:** 7:30AM-5:30PM (Morning visits recommended) ### **💰 Budget Breakdown:** - **Entrance:** $6 (Includes audio guide) - **Transport:** - Tuk-tuk roundtrip: $15-20 - Shared minivan: $8/person - **Extras:** - Donation for maintenance: Optional - Guidebook: $5 **⏳ Time Needed:** 2-3 hours --- ### **⚰️ Why This Site Matters:** 1️⃣ **Most infamous Killing Field** of the Khmer Rouge regime 2️⃣ **17,000+ victims** memorialized in the stupa 3️⃣ **Preserved mass graves** with visible fragments **💡 Visitor Guidelines:** ✔️ **Dress conservatively** (no bright colors) ✔️ **Audio guide essential** for context ✔️ **Morning visits** avoid heat/afternoon rains ✔️ **Silence respected** - minimal talking **📌 Emotional Preparation:** - Contains graphic descriptions of torture - Bone fragments still surface after rains - Not recommended for young children **🌱 Healing Spaces:** - Meditation bench under the "Killing Tree" - Labyrinth for quiet reflection - Memorial stupa with 8,000 skulls **🚗 Responsible Transport:** - Book through reputable guesthouses - Avoid independent motodops (sensitive site) #neverforget #cambodianhistory #darktourism **"Where the past whispers painful truths - and every visitor becomes a witness to resilience."** *(Note: Photography permitted but be discreet. No selfies with remains.)* **🌿 Aftercare Tip:** Visit Wat Phnom or Russian Market afterward to decompress. The Bophana Center offers deeper historical context.