1. As soon as I arrive in Cambodia, do I have to turn around?

A frightful departure at Charles-de-Gaulle international airport, and an arrival in Cambodia worse than disastrous.

Departure from Charles-de-Gaulle international airport

« Have you ever found yourself in a situation where things don't go as planned, despite your preparations? »

To be authorized to leave French territory, a PCR test must be carried out 72 hours before the date of departure. The laboratory confirmed to me that I would have my results before I left for Cambodia, but my certificate was not sent to me within the promised time frame. So I couldn't take the plane. I was still waiting for my tests 5 minutes before the end of the check-in at the airport. I tried in so different means to contact the laboratory, without response. I asked a friend to go to the lab, and guess what? It was closed the day I left ... Coincidence? I do not know. The staff at Charles de Gaules airport were very understanding and caring, they supported me and tried to help me. They even offered to postpone my flight the next morning for free.

However, I did manage to get my covid test results one minute before the check in was complete. Could you believe it? A minute before the end ... And as if that stress wasn't enough. I was told that my covid 19 insurance would be refused in Cambodia, and that they only accepted insurance with the operator Forte Insurance. So I had to make sure I got it, during my stopover in Singapore. And if one of my documents was wrong or false, the Cambodian authorities would refuse me the access to their territory.

A very complicated stopover

« When you think everything is working out, ultimately it's the start of bigger problems! »

More than 10 hours of flights and yet I could not rest. Between the stress and the fear that everything would go wrong. It is indeed very difficult to get to take a rest. When I arrived in Singapore, after 3 hours of trying, I was finally able to get the "famous" insurance. I finally felt relieved, as if a burden had been lifted from my shoulders.

A more than disastrous arrival in Cambodia

« The icing on the cake ».

Finally arrived in Cambodia, I am supposed to pay my deposit. This deposit will allow me to pay for my 15-day quarantine in a hotel, my transport from the airport to the hotel, my food for the 15 days and my covid tests in Cambodia. However, my visa card was suddenly blocked. I had no way of paying my deposit, neither by bank transfer, nor by bank withdrawal, nor by card. I had prepared with my bank long before I left Cambodia, to be able to use my visa card abroad, and I increased my limits.

The staff at Phnom Penh airport in Cambodia then warned me that if I couldn't find a solution, they would put me on the next flight to Singapore.

However, I was saved by good Samaritans. Without them, I would have been sent back to Singapore without knowing how to get back to France, and how to fly back to Cambodia. After all, the ticket is quite expensive. And the idea of returning to France when I have come all this way, was inconceivable. I haven't traveled the world for nothing.

If you want to discover the rest of my adventure, find out how I was saved and what happened afterwards, I invite you to subscribe and follow me. Because I promise you, all this represents only the first 24 hours of my adventure. And I still have a lot of stories in store after this.