Cambodia Travel and Safety Tips – The Voluntourist Travel Guide
By: Jenny Karakaya
It is much too easy to get sidetracked and mesmerized by all the beauty, rich history, diversity and culture offered by a country like Cambodia. Let’s not forget that this Southeast Asian country is still recovering and healing from years of brutal genocide, so one must have their wits about them when exploring these poverty stricken grounds.
First off, let me begin by reaffirming how incredibly special this country and its people are. Here, you will find one of world’s most fascinating and marvelous architectural wonders known as Angkor Wat. That alone is reason enough to visit Siem Riep. Phnom Penh, the country’s capital city, has been redeveloping and struggling to reform itself since the genocide ended in 1979. The city is a sad reminder of the ruthless atrocities committed here in the 4 years that the devil himself, Pol Pot ruled the land. So the recovery process has been a painful and slow one. And, they still have a very long way to go.
That being said, everyone should peruse these grounds if given the chance. The food is superb, the architecture is stunning, the coast is breathtaking, and the people are warm and welcoming. However, tread carefully, as this third world country can be dangerous if caught off guard or at the wrong place/time. This is especially the case in the southern part of Cambodia, namely Sihanoukville, where I was robbed on Otres beach in broad daylight, in an unexpected moment. How did this happen? Well, we took a tuk-tuk ride (their form of motor taxis) from one beach bungalow to another and when I grabbed my big backpack first, the driver made off with my small bag, which contained all my valuables. However, I’ve heard much worse happen to others, so in hindsight, I’m thankful it wasn’t worse.
On that note, here are some tips on staying safe when visiting this beautiful coast:
Do not walk alone at night on any of the beaches. There are have stories of people getting robbed and beaten on the beach late at night when no one is around.
Try to go out in groups or find a travel buddy to hang out with. Naturally, it’s always safer to be out and about in two’s or three’s, especially in foreign places.
Always keep an eye on your important bags and keep your bags hidden/close to you (strap them inside your clothing or in front of you). Never leave important items unattended anywhere, anytime.
Always grab your important bag-packs off the tuk-tuk’s first, or better yet, keep it in your lap, between your legs.
Never carry important items such as passports with you when out and about. There are usually lockers for valuables anywhere you stay – hotels, bungalows, and hostels alike.
Never wear any kind of bling. Blending in is key.
Try not to carry a big camera out in the open in remote places, especially during a time of day when nobody is around.
If something important such as passports and docs get stolen, go to the nearest tourist police station and file a report asap. They WILL investigate and help, but they need a few days for this process, so the sooner you get on it, the faster you will have results.
If possible, jot down license plates, and get good visuals and descriptions of people or anything that will help with your police report.
Again, none of this is meant to deter you from visiting and uncovering this gem, but being on alert is imperative to your safety and enjoyment. So many people get stripped of their passports, cameras and ipads/computers while traveling. Don’t be one of those victims. But if you are, do what you need to do to replace your travel docs, brush it off as a learning experience and keep moving forward. Life is too short to be derailed from your amazing adventures and all that’s left to explore! Happy and safe travels!