We have been trying not to look at weather forecasts or temperature gauges for fear of phsyching ourselves out, but let’s be clear, it is hot hot hot!!!! Our last hotel had a gauge behind reception (which was hard to miss) and at 9am yesterday it read 29 degrees centigrade and 60% humidity – I dread to think what it got to in the afternoon when the heat really saps you. No longer is Pete the only shade seeker on this trip, especially when modesty is requested at temples and women have to wear clothes to cover their legs and arms!
And this weather makes it perfect for things to fester. Pete cut his foot on coral over 10 days ago and, despite a good initial start, the wound has decided to fester nicely. Even with our best efforts with our first aid kit, the nicely scabbed over wound started to look really angry and the foot started to swell. We had brought a course of antibiotics with us, for such an emergency, so he started to take these. Next we looked up a medical centre that would be open over the weekend in Phonm Penh. Having found a 24/7 place, we went along and they washed the wound out with hydrogen peroxide, then iodine and then applied antibiotic cream and dressings. $46 later they gave us a bag of stuff and instructions to keep doing the same.
Fingers crossed we can get it on the mend before Thursday when we are hoping to do some trekking and volunteering to look after elephants on a sanctuary in Mondulkiri – can’t wait – eek!
