Comments on: Looking Back: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum http://www.twortw.com/2009/12/28/looking-back-tuol-sleng-genocide-museum/ Planning, preparing and packing for a round-the-world trip Wed, 16 May 2012 10:08:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Abigailhttp://www.twortw.com/2009/12/28/looking-back-tuol-sleng-genocide-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-1272 Abigail Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:53:54 +0000 http://www.twortw.com/?p=1412#comment-1272 There seems to be a 'package' of S-21 and Killing Fields touted by the tuk-tuk drivers, but I really did find that the hours spent here were more than enough. It is emotionally draining and difficult to deal with but also an important learning experience for anyone spending time in Cambodia. After the visit, I found an increased sense of respect and awe for the Khmers I met every day. It's difficult to look at the old lady in the market or asking for money and not think about what she's been through in her life. It also brings a new understanding and apprecation for the sense of fun and readiness to laugh that Khmers seem to share. There's a steely determination underneath that today is to be enjoyed and the future will be better. S-21 isn't a fun day out, but it will deepen your experience of this wonderful country.
There seems to be a ‘package’ of S-21 and Killing Fields touted by the tuk-tuk drivers, but I really did find that the hours spent here were more than enough.

It is emotionally draining and difficult to deal with but also an important learning experience for anyone spending time in Cambodia.

After the visit, I found an increased sense of respect and awe for the Khmers I met every day. It’s difficult to look at the old lady in the market or asking for money and not think about what she’s been through in her life. It also brings a new understanding and apprecation for the sense of fun and readiness to laugh that Khmers seem to share. There’s a steely determination underneath that today is to be enjoyed and the future will be better.

S-21 isn’t a fun day out, but it will deepen your experience of this wonderful country.

]]> By: Danielhttp://www.twortw.com/2009/12/28/looking-back-tuol-sleng-genocide-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-1209 Daniel Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:55:29 +0000 http://www.twortw.com/?p=1412#comment-1209 Thanks, Jessica. Just read your post. I liked, especially, your mention of teaching English to several classes of Cambodian students in the small town of Kratie. An amazing juxtaposition that is very forward looking. Great post.
Thanks, Jessica. Just read your post. I liked, especially, your mention of teaching English to several classes of Cambodian students in the small town of Kratie. An amazing juxtaposition that is very forward looking. Great post.

]]> By: Jessica the hedgehoghttp://www.twortw.com/2009/12/28/looking-back-tuol-sleng-genocide-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-1208 Jessica the hedgehog Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:52:19 +0000 http://www.twortw.com/?p=1412#comment-1208 Hey Akila! :) Like you and Daniel, Tim and I were hesitant to go to S-21 when we were in Cambodia too. If the distinction helps, we didn't see it as a tourist attraction, but rather as a museum. I know the two - museum and tourist attraction - are often one in the same. But S-21 is very respectful and tasteful in its presentation, and its focus is on raising awareness and education...so for us it felt like a museum (if that makes any sense). We'd been in Phnom Penh for about 9 days before we knew we couldn't avoid visiting S-21 any longer. We were really not looking forward to going. But for us, it felt like visiting S-21 and understanding more about what happened was an appropriate way to honor the past and the country we were traveling in. And as it turned out, it was one of the most powerful experiences we've had during our travels. (We saw S-21 first and then opted against visiting the killing fields. We were just too emotionally overwhelmed by our time at S-21.) If it helps with your decision, I wrote a bit more about our time at S-21 <a href="http://www.hedgehogswithoutborders.com/blog/entry/the_tuol_sleng_genocide_museum" rel="nofollow">in this entry</a>. I hope you enjoy your time in Cambodia! It remains our most favorite country in the world. :)
Hey Akila! :)

Like you and Daniel, Tim and I were hesitant to go to S-21 when we were in Cambodia too. If the distinction helps, we didn’t see it as a tourist attraction, but rather as a museum. I know the two – museum and tourist attraction – are often one in the same. But S-21 is very respectful and tasteful in its presentation, and its focus is on raising awareness and education…so for us it felt like a museum (if that makes any sense).

We’d been in Phnom Penh for about 9 days before we knew we couldn’t avoid visiting S-21 any longer. We were really not looking forward to going. But for us, it felt like visiting S-21 and understanding more about what happened was an appropriate way to honor the past and the country we were traveling in. And as it turned out, it was one of the most powerful experiences we’ve had during our travels.

(We saw S-21 first and then opted against visiting the killing fields. We were just too emotionally overwhelmed by our time at S-21.)

If it helps with your decision, I wrote a bit more about our time at S-21 in this entry.

I hope you enjoy your time in Cambodia! It remains our most favorite country in the world. :)

]]> By: Danielhttp://www.twortw.com/2009/12/28/looking-back-tuol-sleng-genocide-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-1121 Daniel Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:14:01 +0000 http://www.twortw.com/?p=1412#comment-1121 Seeing it in person causes a complex emotional reaction. The location itself threatens to both simplify the complex weave of this part of Cambodian history and to complicate visitors’ reactions to the enormity of the horror. But it's empty rooms and dusty corridors function as a memorial to loss. The exhibition itself complements the layout of the school's corridors and classrooms, whch are hung with a gallery of the missing that commemorates those that were put to death. It's a sobering place.
Seeing it in person causes a complex emotional reaction. The location itself threatens to both simplify the complex weave of this part of Cambodian history and to complicate visitors’ reactions to the enormity of the horror. But it’s empty rooms and dusty corridors function as a memorial to loss. The exhibition itself complements the layout of the school’s corridors and classrooms, whch are hung with a gallery of the missing that commemorates those that were put to death. It’s a sobering place.

]]> By: Danielhttp://www.twortw.com/2009/12/28/looking-back-tuol-sleng-genocide-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-1119 Daniel Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:04:43 +0000 http://www.twortw.com/?p=1412#comment-1119 Hi Akila! Thanks for the comment. I know where you are coming from, because I was in the same mindset as well. However, I'm very glad that I went. In my opinion, the musuem puts to good use education and scholarship, and the end result is that it can be both broadly appealing (a strange word choice, I concede, but one that has the connotation of 'universal' appeal and intellectually serious. I believe that it genuinely illuminates this historical horror, deconstructs the interpretative process, and in the end moves its visitors to action. Was it an enjoyable experience? No. Was I happy that I went? Absolutely.
Hi Akila! Thanks for the comment. I know where you are coming from, because I was in the same mindset as well. However, I’m very glad that I went. In my opinion, the musuem puts to good use education and scholarship, and the end result is that it can be both broadly appealing (a strange word choice, I concede, but one that has the connotation of ‘universal’ appeal and intellectually serious. I believe that it genuinely illuminates this historical horror, deconstructs the interpretative process, and in the end moves its visitors to action. Was it an enjoyable experience? No. Was I happy that I went? Absolutely.

]]> By: Gourmantichttp://www.twortw.com/2009/12/28/looking-back-tuol-sleng-genocide-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-1115 Gourmantic Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:32:40 +0000 http://www.twortw.com/?p=1412#comment-1115 As a photograph it's quite effective. I feel moved just looking at it but I don't think I'd want to see it in person.
As a photograph it’s quite effective. I feel moved just looking at it but I don’t think I’d want to see it in person.

]]> By: Akilahttp://www.twortw.com/2009/12/28/looking-back-tuol-sleng-genocide-museum/comment-page-1/#comment-1109 Akila Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:26:21 +0000 http://www.twortw.com/?p=1412#comment-1109 We will be in Cambodia in the next two months and I don't know how this place will make us feel. Aside from the gruesomeness of the situation, is it really appropriate for us to be visiting the tomb and gravesites of so many people as a tourist attraction? I don't know.
We will be in Cambodia in the next two months and I don’t know how this place will make us feel. Aside from the gruesomeness of the situation, is it really appropriate for us to be visiting the tomb and gravesites of so many people as a tourist attraction? I don’t know.

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