On my last night in Phenom Phen, I couldn't really fall asleep because my face hurt. When I woke up, I discovered that I had a bit of a rash. It was only on the left side of my face.

Each day it got worse. My eye swelled and it stung to touch it and my lips were calloused and burning. My skin had rough feeling hive-like marks all over it.

What was the cause? The water? New soap? The detergent on the sheets? A bug? Did I catch something in my open wound at the water park? The extreme heat and constant sweating (Phenom Phen never cooled off at night- it was in the high 90's and humid)

I did not know.

I did know that it was hideous.

Adults recoiled in horror and children burst into tears when they saw me.

Actually, I exaggerate.

Adults mostly just gave me a look of contained disgust and children just stared with curiosity.

After about 3 days of self medicating with hydrocortison and an antihistimine, I went to the doctor at a clinic in Siem Reap. I paid $50 for her to tell me that I had a rash and she didn't know the cause.

She did give me a cream and a perscription for an antiviral and told me to keep taking the antihistimine.

It seems to be working.

I've disovered that while I am not very vain about what I wear, I am very vain about my skin.

So, I seem to have managed to have health problems in every country I've visited.