Thursday, July 5, 2012

New Site New Blog

Get on over to my site where I have moved my blog to!! I may still use this to update but for now my website is the place to see everything!! www.michaelmcqueen.com.au


Sunday, November 6, 2011

Cambodia Part 4.2

Myself and Lewi Gray 
On adventure in Cambodia
(Phnom Penh, Choeung Ek, Tuol Sleng Genocide museum)

BEFORE YOU SCROLL DOWN
BE AWARE THERE ARE PHOTOS OF HUMAN REMAINS AND IMAGES OF DEAD BODIES, SOME IMAGES ARE DISTURBING!


Since being in Cambodia we have heard about these Genocide killing fields and prisons in Phnom Penh, with no prior knowledge of Cambodia's past it has come as a big punch in the face as we explored the Killing fields (Choeung Ek) and the Prison S21 (Tuol Sleng Museum).

Pol Pot was the man responsible for the deaths of nearly 2 million of his own country men, his reign of pain and agony began in 1963 till his death in 1998, his major influence was felt between 1975-1979 when we became the leader of Cambodia, he established Death camps and Prisons for his own people, trying to create a better Cambodia. He was almost blind to the fact he was destroying it. 

To this day you can walk the streets of Cambodia and meet people directly affected by Pol Pot's reign. 

A large amount to land mines are still active in Cambodia and still destroying peoples lives. There are hundreds more death camps and killing fields still out there but undiscoverable because of the land mines that surround them still. 



CHOEUNG EK
 Killing Fields

 The signs of Choeung Ek

 Executioners would use the sugar palms strong yet sharp prongs to slice prisoners throats, so their screams would not be heard when being executed.

 The fields and trees used to kill innocent men, women and children

 Some human remains still remain on the ground and with floods and rain more come to the surface

 The clothes and rags of the victims, more are found each year with the weather bringing them to the surface

 The human remains of the victims of Pol Pot's deadly reign




 TUOL SLENG PRISON (S21)
Genocide Museum 
 The torture and interrogation rooms, the shackles were used on their feet and the old ammunition boxes were used as toilets for the victims.

 The cells of S21

 The faces of Pol Pot's reign of pain and terror

 A victim of a land mine, perhaps even one from Pol Pot's dictatorship.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Cambodia Part 4.1

Myself and Lewi Gray
On Adventure in Cambodia
(Siem Reap, Shooting range)

This post is simple, myself and Lewi did what any human with male genes would do.. we paid money to shoot military weapons. We arrived on a Military training base off a bumpy dirt road, it looked abandoned and run down, later we found out they only use it for three months of the year, the rest of the year locals will move in for free accommodation. The Shooting range itself, looked like something out of a movie and nothing like what we expected.

They offered us a menu of weapons to fire and we made our selections. It felt very casual and innocent. While we were waiting a older man from Victoria was firing an AK-47 and his first shot scared the living soul out of me, WOW, that was loud. It would have been deafening in the range without ear muffs. 

Our turn was up, and the result was two 25 yr old men jumping around like little school girls. It was exhilarating to say the least. A must do if in Cambodia.

 Weapons Menu

 Preparing the Ammunition 

 The infamous AK-47 and M16

 Lewi Firing a M30 Machine Gun (weapon kept jamming so I never got to fire)

 A Kalashnikov P.K.M.S Machine gun.