Tuol Sleng torture center

Welcome to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, located in the heart of Cambodia's bustling capital, Phnom Penh. As you stand before the entrance of this compound, you will likely hear the chaotic, vibrant sounds of modern city life…

As you begin your walk into the complex, one of the very first things that commands your attention is a large, white wooden board bearing black text. This is the official discipline board, translated from the original Khmer…

Moving past the entrance, you step into the central courtyard of the complex. Under different circumstances, this would be a beautiful tropical space. …

Directly facing the courtyard is Building A, a large, three story concrete structure characterized by its open balconies and rows of identical doorways. When you step inside one of the ground floor rooms in Building A, the air…

Continuing your journey, you will exit Building A and proceed to Building B. This structure houses the most emotionally overwhelming exhibition in the entire museum: the photographic archives. …

We now approach Building C. Before you even step inside, tilt your head back and look at the exterior of the structure. …

The final major structure on our route is Building D. Here, the museum has gathered the physical evidence of the atrocities, presenting a stark exhibition of the instruments and the horrific aftermath of the Khmer Rouge's…

Amidst the overwhelming documentation of death, there is a small, vital space dedicated to the incredible stories of survival. Out of the thousands who were imprisoned at Tuol Sleng, less than a dozen are documented to have…

As our route brings us out of the heavy, stifling atmosphere of the concrete buildings, we arrive back outside in a quiet, shaded section of the courtyard. Here stands a large, ornate memorial stupa, built in traditional…

As we conclude our journey through the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and prepare to walk back out into the vibrant streets of Phnom Penh, the emotional weight of what we have witnessed is difficult to shake. We have walked the same…