Blind and traveling USA to Cambodia in two days!
Blind and traveling USA to Cambodia in two days!
Hello everyone!
I have met a wonderful Cambodian woman online and six months ago I bought a plane ticket to travel to Cambodia to meet her.
Here’s what isup. I am blind, I only see a little bit of light. I am very self sufficient though. I have lived alone for 13 years. I do use a guide dog for assistance, a 5 year old Golden Retriever named Monty. I have traveled a lot inside the USA as I am an accessibility trainer advising businesses how to provide accessible facilities and services for people with visual impairments. I also teach orientation and mobility to visually impaired children.
I have never traveled outside the USA alone before. A buddy of mind was going to join me on this trip but his wife is having a difficult pregnancy and he told me two weeks ago that he cannot go, which I understand completely.
I am flying business class on American Airlines and Cathay Pacific and the airline staff will help me make the connections in LA and Hong Kong and go through immigration in Phnom Penh. Monty can’t fly in cabin from LA to Hong Kong so the staff in Hong will help me collect him and then he will fly in the cabin with me to Cambodia.
My girlfriend will meet me at the airport when I arrive and I have booked into Raffles Hotel for twelve days. She also wants me to visit her village in Kampung Chnor provinces.
I have few questions. I have a blind friend who visited Cambodia fifteen years ago and he said it was difficult to walk anywhere because of obstructions on the sidewalk and potholes is that still the case? Are there any pleasant places to walk without obstructions near the Raffles Hotel?
ATMs in the USA have braille markings and a headphone jack so visually impaired people can plug in and receive spoken instructions. Am I correct that this does not yet exist in Cambodia but that I can withdraw from my visa ATM card over the country in the bank?
Will Cambodian staff at restaurants understand that Monty is an assistance dog and not a pet? How about in small villages? I prefer that people do not try to pet him when he is working will people understand that?
Lastly we are planning to tour Angkor What and I understand that visitors can still touch the temples and stone carvings but not climb on them is that still the case? If no touching is allowed at all I may reconsider going.
Thank you very much for you help and expertise.
I have met a wonderful Cambodian woman online and six months ago I bought a plane ticket to travel to Cambodia to meet her.
Here’s what isup. I am blind, I only see a little bit of light. I am very self sufficient though. I have lived alone for 13 years. I do use a guide dog for assistance, a 5 year old Golden Retriever named Monty. I have traveled a lot inside the USA as I am an accessibility trainer advising businesses how to provide accessible facilities and services for people with visual impairments. I also teach orientation and mobility to visually impaired children.
I have never traveled outside the USA alone before. A buddy of mind was going to join me on this trip but his wife is having a difficult pregnancy and he told me two weeks ago that he cannot go, which I understand completely.
I am flying business class on American Airlines and Cathay Pacific and the airline staff will help me make the connections in LA and Hong Kong and go through immigration in Phnom Penh. Monty can’t fly in cabin from LA to Hong Kong so the staff in Hong will help me collect him and then he will fly in the cabin with me to Cambodia.
My girlfriend will meet me at the airport when I arrive and I have booked into Raffles Hotel for twelve days. She also wants me to visit her village in Kampung Chnor provinces.
I have few questions. I have a blind friend who visited Cambodia fifteen years ago and he said it was difficult to walk anywhere because of obstructions on the sidewalk and potholes is that still the case? Are there any pleasant places to walk without obstructions near the Raffles Hotel?
ATMs in the USA have braille markings and a headphone jack so visually impaired people can plug in and receive spoken instructions. Am I correct that this does not yet exist in Cambodia but that I can withdraw from my visa ATM card over the country in the bank?
Will Cambodian staff at restaurants understand that Monty is an assistance dog and not a pet? How about in small villages? I prefer that people do not try to pet him when he is working will people understand that?
Lastly we are planning to tour Angkor What and I understand that visitors can still touch the temples and stone carvings but not climb on them is that still the case? If no touching is allowed at all I may reconsider going.
Thank you very much for you help and expertise.
- hanno
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Re: Blind and traveling USA to Cambodia in two days!
I can only speak for Siem Reap and obviously look at it from the perspective of someone who can see. Sidewalks in Siem Reap are a mess with lots of obstructions, parked vehicles, rubbish, uneven surfaces and potentially dangerous open drainages or manhole covers.
I am pretty sure nobody will try and pet your dog and many restaurants in Siem Reap are dog-friendly though I am not sure staff will understand that your dog is an assistance dog.
I cannot answer your question regarding ATM's though I am pretty sure that I have seen ATM's with Braille markings; just cannot remember which bank.
Yes, Temples can be touched with the exception of the paintings which are closed off.
Have a great trip!
I am pretty sure nobody will try and pet your dog and many restaurants in Siem Reap are dog-friendly though I am not sure staff will understand that your dog is an assistance dog.
I cannot answer your question regarding ATM's though I am pretty sure that I have seen ATM's with Braille markings; just cannot remember which bank.
Yes, Temples can be touched with the exception of the paintings which are closed off.
Have a great trip!
-
- Tourist
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Re: Blind and traveling USA to Cambodia in two days!
i am sure your going to do fine. Cambodians are very friendly people, although the sidewalks are not up to us standards ...Might have a bit of a situation with ur gf trying to lead you thou. I assume she speaks English
AS far as atm,just go inside the bank and ask for assistance.
This guy seems to get along just fine
https://www.tonythetraveller.com/
AS far as atm,just go inside the bank and ask for assistance.
This guy seems to get along just fine
https://www.tonythetraveller.com/
- stupid-barang
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Re: Blind and traveling USA to Cambodia in two days!
A few months ago I saw a blind man with what I assumed was his girlfriend. It made me smile. I would not worry about the ATM, your Cambodian will help you with that.
- Duncan
- Sir Duncan
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Re: Blind and traveling USA to Cambodia in two days!
Always remember your dog will always be your best friend and in Cambodia the blind are led by the blind so you will feel quite at home here..
Cambodia,,,, Don't fall in love with her.
Like the spoilt child she is, she will not be happy till she destroys herself from within and breaks your heart.
Like the spoilt child she is, she will not be happy till she destroys herself from within and breaks your heart.
Re: Blind and traveling USA to Cambodia in two days!
Post a picture of her and we can tell you if she's worth it.
- Duncan
- Sir Duncan
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Re: Blind and traveling USA to Cambodia in two days!
And a picture of your dog. I want to see which one looks the best.
Cambodia,,,, Don't fall in love with her.
Like the spoilt child she is, she will not be happy till she destroys herself from within and breaks your heart.
Like the spoilt child she is, she will not be happy till she destroys herself from within and breaks your heart.
- Cruisemonkey
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Re: Blind and traveling USA to Cambodia in two days!
I've been trying not to be cynical. However -stupid-barang wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 8:15 am I would not worry about the ATM, your Cambodian will help you with that.
What could go wrong?
trDavid,
Are your plane tickets refundable? Even if not, you may want to reconsider.
You could be next.
Re: Blind and traveling USA to Cambodia in two days!
OP, you're a brave man. In your case I would not even have considered the option I think, and I would have opted for a meetup on grounds I'd be familiar with.
Just one thing, do you a have plan B in case things evolve in another way than you expect? I mean, getting around in Cambodia by yourself will be extremely difficult in your case, and that's an understatement.
Just one thing, do you a have plan B in case things evolve in another way than you expect? I mean, getting around in Cambodia by yourself will be extremely difficult in your case, and that's an understatement.
Re: Blind and traveling USA to Cambodia in two days!
While not wanting to rain on anyone’s parade I can see this ending badly on soo many fronts.
Least of your worries will be your lack of physical sight.
But do keep us updated with the good, the bad and the ugly of it all.
6 months.
Least of your worries will be your lack of physical sight.
But do keep us updated with the good, the bad and the ugly of it all.
6 months.
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