🕯️ "Confronting Cambodia's Dark Past: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

#summervacay ### **📍 Location:** Street 113, Phnom Penh (Formerly Security Prison 21/S-21) ### **⏰ Opening Hours:** 8AM-5PM (Last entry 4:30PM) ### **💰 Budget Breakdown:** - **Entrance Fee:** $5 (Includes audio guide) - **Transport:** - Tuk-tuk from center: $2-3 - Walking distance from Independence Monument - **Extras:** - Donation for preservation - Guidebook: $5 **⏳ Recommended Visit Duration:** 1.5-2 hours --- ### **⚫ Why This Site is Significant:** 1️⃣ **Best-preserved Khmer Rouge prison** (Former high school) 2️⃣ **17,000+ prisoners passed through** (Only 7 survived) 3️⃣ **Original torture equipment and cells** intact **💡 Visitor Tips:** ✔️ **Morning visits** are cooler and less crowded ✔️ **Audio guide** provides crucial context ✔️ **Photography allowed** (Be respectful) ✔️ **Dress modestly** (Shoulders/knees covered) **📌 Emotional Considerations:** - Graphic photographs of victims - Blood stains still visible - Not recommended for young children **🕊️ Memorial Spaces:** - Wall of victim photographs - Original prisoner paintings - Memorial stupa in courtyard **🚗 Responsible Tourism:** - Consider hiring an official guide ($10) - Support local NGOs working with survivors #neverforget #cambodiahistory #peaceeducation **"Where classroom blackboards still bear prisoner numbers - a haunting lesson in humanity's fragility."** *(Note: The museum shop funds survivor programs. Avoid giving money to beggars outside.)* **🌿 After Your Visit:** - The nearby **Bophana Center** offers historical context - **Wat Langka** provides a peaceful space for reflection - Consider supporting **Cambodian Living Arts** to honor the culture the Khmer Rouge tried to destroy