June 1st

Today, me and Divya went to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum also known as the S-21 prison during the Khmer Rouge. The moment you walk onto the grounds of the prison, you feel this wave of creepiness and just pure sadness. To be standing in a place where so many innocent men, women, and children where mercilessly executed... Unbelievably devastating. Some of the rooms we went into where they still had the shackles of the prisoners on display and you could see a pile of their old clothing, just made me start to cry. Just overwhelmed with the reality of it all. Reading the stories of survivors and knowing that these events were so recent, only happening about 40 years ago, I honestly can't describe it. Definitely is something I will remember for the rest of my life.

After the museum, we went to Daughters of Cambodia for lunch. Daughters is a spa/café/handmade goods store operated by young women who have been trafficked into the sex industry and offers them a way out through job offers and programs and support services. I loved the centre. Absolutely adored the girls and food was amazing. Daughters works so hard to empower women and help them lead a better life by giving them the skills and tools to do so. Being at Daughters just reminded me how there is so much we can do. Cambodia is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and it's so unfortunate how many stigmas the world has put on this country. I have met some of the kindest, hard working, and most genuine people ever and I am in awe. Everyday people working with what they have been forced to go through and yet they continually try to build a better life for not only themselves, but for generations to come.