Phnom Penh
Here in the capital of Cambodia after about four hours by bus. The tranquility of Sihanoukville has been wiped out in a flash, as the city is invaded by millions of Cambodians during the famous Water Festival.
We placed in a guest house built above the lake, just the time to deposit your luggage and then we decided to plunge into the atmosphere of the festival, just the time to get an idea of what we expected for the following day.
The frenzy and the mood of celebration around us like in a sense to our new year. All kinds of stalls selling everything from local dishes to classic souvenirs, but that impressed us most is the flow of people who poured into the streets in nothing short of chaotic. One thing that we can recommend to those who pass by here during the festival and staying in one of the local drink and watch the river of people: it seems a movie. Incredible!
Each television broadcast live coverage of the many races taking place in the Mekong and we could not lose the opportunity to attend to a live show of its kind. Participants wore the uniforms of a different order depending on the team membership and a challenge of paddling strokes intoning propitiatory songs and dances for the victory. The public is stored along the banks of the river and shall take part in races involving some manner 'as happens to us for a football match.
Leave the banks of the river we were immersed in the heart of the city through the Royal Palace and the monument of independence. The traffic was nothing short of the paralyzed to move with only half the classics were powered motorcycle taxi the rest was a series of trains that formed a human Serpentona not homogeneous but effective way to get space in the crowd.
We therefore decided to visit the museum barbarie.Si is an old elementary school called S-21 prison where they were tortured and killed thousands of opponents of the totalitarian regime, including women and children luminaries people. A museum composed of a countless number of photos of prisoners gathered in the vast glass windows in each classroom, next to them are stored the instruments of torture used by prison guards. Upstairs is possible to visit the cells where they were chained so-called dissidents. All this is nothing short of horrifying when one considers that it took place not many years ago (mid seventies).
After visiting the museum we returned to immerse ourselves in the festive atmosphere just in time to watch the fireworks display set up for the occasion in the middle and we were picked as the customary rain that every night is poured on Phnom Pehn, not If the festival is called Water Festival.
In our guest house and then we met a pair of Florentines, even in their city during the festival and another boy of Como (Dario) he experienced traveler who is moving between Laos, Cambodia and India.
Ended the day came the moment to say goodbye, at least temporarily Brian and Laura, friends in Scotland, which still remained in town one day while we are about to leave in view of Angkor Vat.