Anyone who has travelled with me knows that I’m not a big fan of monkeys. But sometimes they are just so damn cute I can’t help myself.

These photos are from Wat Phnom, a Buddhist shrine set on the top of a hill in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

I’ve been quiet these past few weeks, and it’s not without good reason. I’ve taken the dough I made teaching English in Saigon and have been slowly backpacking my way west. Normally I would update as I went on the things I’ve experienced, but I chose some locations where internet was simply not an option. Sometimes there was a cafe available but the town itself was without electricity. Makes things difficult when trying to stay connected with the rest of the world, but I wouldn’t have traded a second of it.

I consider it “JetSetZero with a twist”. I was able to make a substantial amount of money in a short period of time, and instead of continuing to work, I’m gonna blow it. It may seem a bit irresponsible, but that’s life. You have to grab the opportunities as they come, and finding myself in Asia with a wad of dong and some amazing places at my doorstep, I couldn’t resist. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be posting stories of my adventures.

Sunset over Boeng Kak, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

After spending a few days in Siem Reap we headed to Phnom Penh, Cambodia where we visited the Choeung Ek Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Museum.  The Tuol Sleng Museum was formerly a prison during the Pol Pot regime where prisoners were kept and tortured and eventually taken to the Choeung Ek killing fields where they were executed.  Rarely was it a quick and painless bullet to the head as bullets were precious.  Prisoners were often beat to death.  When we entered the killing fields we saw a giant Buddhist stupa filled with over 5000 human skulls and a ridiculous number of mass graves.

This is without a doubt one of the saddest places I have ever been….

Beds that prisoners were tied down to and tortured.

Prisoners of Tuol Sleng

Tiny prison cells