Josh, a young adult with cerebral palsy, reflects on his recent trip to Cambodia from an accessibility perspective
In January 2023, I departed Australia for a five-week holiday exploring Vietnam, Cambodia, and South Korea. Part Three of this three-part series will evaluate my experience of Cambodia’s accessibility in four key areas: Border Crossing, Hotels, Travel, and Tourist Attractions.
Border crossing: 5/5
This was the easiest border crossing of the trip. As this transfer was a part of the tour, all we had to do once we got to the airport was show our passport to the official. We then got back on the bus and traveled further to the border. We then got off the bus and once again showed our documents to the official. We then simply walked over the border where the bus picked us up. I was surprised there was no security pat-down or a metal detector as that is what we have come to expect.
Hotels Rating 3.5/5
Our hotels on this trip were honestly not as basic as I expected. All the necessities were there (except for running hot water at times) but that is easily manageable without. One interesting thing I found was there is often no Fourth Floor in Southeast Asia as "4" is considered a number with unlucky connotations.
One of the best parts of the trip for me was the rural homestay. One night of the trip we stayed with a local Cambodian family in their spare room. Our bed was a futon and a mosquito net surrounding it, but it was amazing to be in the culture.
Travel Rating: 3.5/5
Like Vietnam, most travel in Cambodia is done by moped, and again they are EVERYWHERE. Luckily, the majority of this tour was via private bus, with one local train ride. After the train which drops you at the ‘station’ which was grass patch seemingly in the middle of nowhere, our bags were loaded onto a tuk-tuk which we rode on till we got to the accommodation.
Tourist Attractions: Rating: 3.5/5
As this was still with the tour most of the activities were included and accessible. Even the ones that were not as accessible I gave them a go. During the homestay we went on a hike to a local waterfall, this was very rocky surface and luckily my tour guide assisted me by letting me grab on to his elbow to balance myself when needed. Cambodia is also home to the famous Angkor Wat, and that day was a lot of walking, but oh was it worth it for the sights! While there are some steep stairs and very often no handrails, you can pick and choose what level you go up to as to avoid these steep stairs.
Final thoughts: Cambodia is a place where you instantly feel welcome, and the locals are infectiously happy. One day on the homestay we were walking around the village and this family invited us to their party – they were celebrating getting a new tractor which they traded two cows for! It was honestly one of the best nights of the trip.
You do have to be me mindful of children selling wares on the street. While this isn’t a scam our tour guide asked us to please not buy of these kids as they are trying to persuade this and not foster a culture where the kids see tourists as a money-making scheme which I think is a good thing to try and stop.
This blog post has been provided by Cerebral Palsy Support Network in collaboration with My CP Guide. For more information about travel and holidaying as a person with cerebral palsy, My CP Guide hosts a variety of information resources. Browse the Leisure & Recreation category on My CP Guide to find other relevant resources.