BOKOR
Cambodia
In southern Cambodia, the spectral Bokor Hill Station
whispers stories of former glory French colonial,
between walls violated by bullets and red lichen.
Built between 1917 and 1921 in the jungle at 1,000 meters above sea level
as a health resort for the rich French colonialists
fleeing the blistering heat and oppressive cities,
cost the lives of 900 workers.
Opened in 1925 the most significant building was the Bokor Palace Hotel & Casino,
accompanied by shops a post office, a large water tank for water,
a Catholic church and the Black Palace, Royal apartments.
The site was abandoned several times,
the last in 1972 when the Khmer Rouge came to power
and converted the old Casino into an operational headquarter.
Towards the end of the war Bokor became one of their last strongholds,
besieged for months from the Vietnamese liberation army
perched in the few hundred meters far Catholic Church.
Throughout its history Bokor saw luxury and war,
was a sacred place and a battlefield.
*Musica: MASSIVE ATTACK–100th-window
##please watch in HD##
- Copyright: Alessandro Vannucci – Music: Massive Attack
- Location: Bokor, Cambodia
- Date: August 2011