River Cruise Advisor » Cambodia

More Poignant For Me Since Cruising The Mekong: NY Times Headline Today: Khmer Rouge Figure Is Found Guilty of War Crimes

Ralph Grizzle — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:00:31 +0000

Today’s New York Times reported: A United Nations-backed tribunal on Monday found a 67-year-old former prison warden of the Khmer Rouge guilty of crimes against humanity and war crimes for overseeing the torture and killing of more than 14,000 prisoners. He was the first major figure to be tried in the murderous regime since it was toppled 30 years ago. For the full story, click Verdict Due in the Trial of Khmer Rouge Leader.

The story is especially poignant for me after cruising the Mekong on AMAWATERWAYS La Marguerite.

In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, we visited the Killing Fields as well as the torture camp known as S-21.

For me, it was important that my daughter and I saw the Killing Fields and the torture camp so that we would never forget the atrocities committed there, just as it is important to see holocaust memorials and museums. Nonetheless, it was a gut-wrenching day in Phnom Penh, especially when confronted with a tree against which babies were beaten to death.

The New York Times article was of particular interest, and I admit some disappointment in such a light sentence for such horrible crimes.

A grim but necessary morning in Phnom Penh. We visited one of the Khmer Rouge's many 'Killing Fields,' where the renegade regime committed genocidal atrocities during its rule from 1975 to 1979. Our guide (pictured) told us how his father was captured and imprisoned by the Khmer Rouge and how out of thousands at S-31, was only one of six to survive. How? He noticed that the Khmer Rouge used hundreds of padlocks to incarcerate prisoners but had no system to organize the keys, so they were forced to cut the locks with bolt-cutters each time they took a prisoner away (for interrogation and torture likely). Upon arriving at S-31, our guide's father told the guards he could pick the locks, saving the padlocks for future use. Although he had never picked a lock before, he had observed someone doing so years before. Each morning at a cafe in Phnom Penh, the father had watched a shopkeeper pick a padlock to enter his store. In a test before the prison commander, the father succeeded in unlocking 7 of 10 padlocks. As a worker in the prison, he was no longer treated in the same way as prisoners. However, he was shackled each day. Never mind that he could pick the lock any time he wanted to. After the Khmer Rouge was toppled, his father returned to the village where he had been given up for dead.

At The Killing Fields In Phnom Penh. It is estimated that the Khmer Rouge exterminated as much as one third of Cambodian's population between 1975 and 1979.

Phnom Penh's Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is situated at the site of the notorious Security Prison 21 (or S-21). A former high school, S-21 was used a prison and torture chambers during the Khmer Rouge's rule of Cambodia.

Small prison cells at Phnom Penh's Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, situated on the site of the notorious Security Prison 21 (or S-21). A former high school, S-21 was used a prison and torture chambers during the Khmer Rouge's rule of Cambodia.

River Cruise Advisor Featured Videos: Mekong River Cruising

Ralph Grizzle — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:46:53 +0000

My friend Gary McLaughlin, a professional videographer, has produced a couple of informative and inspirational videos featuring AMAWATERWAYS Mekong River cruises. I cruised with AMAWATERWAYS on the Mekong this past spring, and the cruise definitely rated as one of the top travel experiences of my life. You can see my articles at a mini-site on River Cruise Advisor, Cruising The Mekong. Meantime, enjoy Gary’s videos. The top video is titled, Mekong River Cruises by AMAWATERWAYS. The video below features AMAWATERWAYS Vietnam & Cambodia Highlights. Enjoy!

The Best Of Our Photos From Eight Days On The Mekong, A Fascinating Journey

Ralph Grizzle — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:01:13 +0000

Click on the photo above to launch a Flickr slideshow featuring the best photos from our eight-day Mekong cruise.

Eight Days On The Mekong: Photo Slideshow Of Our Ship, La Marguerite

Ralph Grizzle — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:04:04 +0000

One highlight of our 8-day Mekong cruise: a 20-minute ox-cart ride back to La Marguerite. Click on the photo above to launch a Flickr slideshow.

On The Mekong: A Day In Photos In Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Ralph Grizzle — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:33:41 +0000

Friday afternoon in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, passengers from La Marguerite enjoyed ceremonial song and dance at the National Museum. The performance is part of a blessing ritual in the days before the New Year on April 13 (sometimes celebrated on April 14).

Our morning was a bit more grim, as we visited the Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Photos and captions below.

At The Killing Fields In Phnom Penh. It is estimated that the Khmer Rouge exterminated as much as one third of Cambodian's population between 1975 and 1979.

Little girl at the site of the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh.

Children at the site of the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh.

Blessing day at Phnom Penh's Killing Fields

Monks performing blessings at Phnom Penh's Killing Fields

Victims of the Khmer Rouge atrocities in Phnom Penh

Tuktuks, motorcycle taxis pulling trailers that seat from two to ten are a cheap and easy way to get around Phnom Penh.

Situated near the Royal Palace, the National Museum exhibits more than 5,000 pieces of Asian art, sculptures and statues.

Monks who came to perform blessings at Cambodia's National Museum.

At Cambodia's Royal Palace

Our Guide Thoai At Cambodia's Royal Palace

At Cambodia's Royal Palace

On The Mekong: Touring Tan Chau With Camera In Tow

Ralph Grizzle — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 09:42:07 +0000

Sunset in Tan Chau, 20 kilometers from the Cambodian border

Another fascinating day on the Mekong. La Marguerite overnighted in Tan Chau, 20 kilometers from Vietnam’s border with Cambodia. The ship provided boat shuttle service into town last night, and about a third of the ship’s passengers visited the town.

On rickshaws the next morning for a town tour.

The next morning, we shuttled ashore and boarded rickshaws to tour the town of Tan Chau. To Westerners, having another human pull you along on a bicycle-driven rickshaw may seem inhumane, but remember, this is how they make their living. The rickshaw is a common method to public transport.

A visit to the back alleys of Tan Chau

The rickshaw took us to a temple, a traditional silk-weaving factory, a mat-making factory, followed by a walk through the back alleys back to the boat shuttle.

Next we toured by boat along the river.

Afterward, we traveled by boat along the narrow canals to Evergreen Island (the rough translation). Our guide says the only tourists he has ever encountered here are passengers from La Marguerite.

Boat life on the river near Tan Chau

On Evergreen Island, seldom, if ever, visited by tourists other than those on La Marguerite

A villager on Evergreen Island

Leaving Evergreen Island

Sailing with AMAWATERWAYS on the Mekong

Michelle Baran — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:19:54 +0000

Starting this fall, passengers will be able to get the AMAWATERWAYS river cruise experience on the Mekong.

On Sept. 1, the 92-passenger La Marguerite will launch, offering sailings along the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia.

AMAWATERWAYS is offering a 15-day itinerary that includes land tours in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Siem Reap, Cambodia, as well as a seven-day cruise onboard La Marguerite, from Tonle Sap Lake and Phnom Penh in Cambodia, to Vietnam’s Sa Dec and Ho Chi Minh City.

There are five scheduled departures this year on La Marguerite, starting on Sept. 21, and seven scheduled 2010 departures between January and April.

The 92-passenger ship is 235 feet in length with four decks. It has two suite (443 square feet each), six junior suites (284 square feet each), and 38 staterooms (226 square feet each).

Each cabin will be equipped with air conditioning, a sofa, minibar, safe-deposit box, in-house telephone, television, bathroom with shower and hair dryer.

The ship will have one restaurant, two lounge areas, a business center, fitness center, beauty salon and spa, whirlpool and sun deck lounge.

AMAWATERWAYS’ 15-day Mekong River cruise starts at $3,999 per person, including the land portion and round-trip air from Los Angeles or San Francisco.