Tuesday, January 31, 2017

oNe PhOtO a DaY jAnUaRy 2017

THE PROMPTS FOR THE MONTH


SUNDAY 1st MY FAVE COLOUR: is orange and now that we are on the road again my luggage and clothing choices leaves little doubt that that is the case


MONDAY 2nd DELICIOUS: A thoroughly delicious start to the day with our picnic style breakfast in the guesthouse today


TUESDAY 3rd CIRCLE: The rainbow coloured circles on this old, well-used target for traditional Bhutanese darts or 'kuru' caught my attention in the Heritage Farmhouse Museum today


WEDNESDAY 4th ANIMAL: This mythical white lion known locally as Singye is one of the four animals associated with Bhutanese Buddhist beliefs and frequently carved and painted in both secular and religious building


THURSDAY 5th A FAVE THING: about Bhutan has always been the towering, fluttering prayer flags and standing beneath them contemplating the world


FRIDAY 6th ME: Just being me and visiting favourite haunts in the last few days in Bhutan. Paro Dzong is always a place of quiet contemplation


SATURDAY 7th TIME: seems to stand still in these mountains. This is Chelela and we went there today to fly prayer flags for one last time in the kingdom. Leaving is bittersweet but we still hope to return


SUNDAY 8th WALL: This lookout, which is currently being renovated after an earthquake several years ago, once housed the National Museum collection of Bhutan. It stands above the Rinpung Dzong in Paro and when lit up at night it is a spectacular reminder of the majesty of the traditional architecture of the kingdom. I have long been fascinated with its circular rammed-earth and whitewash walls


  MONDAY 9th MAIL: First thing ticked off the to do list. 15 kilos, which was the excess baggage yesterday, mailed to Australia today. We love the Thai mail service safe, secure, fast and efficient


TUESDAY 10th TWO THINGS: Today we went to the Steve McCurry "A Lifetime of Work Exhibition" and saw some of the most incredible photos I've ever seen including the famous Afghan girl with the green eyes. The two things just have to be two portraits of two unique individuals from two different continents, which hung with others equally diverse


WEDNESDAY 11th INSIDE MY FRIDGE: Well we don't actually have a fridge since we are on the road but I can't believe that I actually remembered this prompt and took this shot in Bangkok at 2:30am before we headed to the airport for our flight to Sri Lanka. Good thing I did though as the fridge in our Colombo hotel is not only empty but not even switched on!!!!


THURSDAY 12th LEAF: A single yellow leaf in the hands of Buddha. Taken at Gangaramaya Temple yesterday. Today we are travelling third class reserved on the train to Nanu Oya


FRIDAY 13th People a snapshot of a few of the local people we have encountered in Nuwara Eliya - a Sri Lankan hill station today visiting tea plantations, tea processing factory, waterfalls, the Botanical Gardens and finally a bar for a beer


SATURDAY 14th PATH: Every tea plantation has an intricate pattern of paths for the pickers to follow. I was impressed by the orderly structure of the plantations and that tall eucalypts are scattered about providing the much needed shade for the tender shoots


SUNDAY 15th WHERE I SLEEP: I've been on the move for a while now but this is where I am currently sleeping and it's simple, clean, basic and perfect for a few days of beach lifestyle


MONDAY 16th MUSIC: After three years of living in the mountains (which I dearly loved) the Aussie in me finds the sound of the ocean, music to my ears and a balm to my soul


TUESDAY 17th BAG: The only purchase I have made in Sri Lanka are these two orange cotton cloths (inspired by the blue ones provided at our hotel) and I was thrilled to see the local shop keeper put them in a simple brown paper bag .... say no to plastic!!!


WEDNESDAY 18th TODAY: After an early morning swim today breakfast came to us via this little van and friendly vendor. We selected veggie filo triangles and bread jam at less than 50 cents each to accompany our Ambient Cafe coffee brewed in the room. Oh the simple pleasures of a simple life....


THURSDAY 19th SHAPE: The place mats made from recycled magazines and the glass from the restaurant we ate lunch in today, make a perfect circle design


FRIDAY 20th SOMETHING WHITE: to save lives at the pool in the hotel in Bangkok we often frequent and where we arrived today. It seems the cycle of darma is following me 


SATURDAY 21st GROW: Even fed on carbon monoxide these plants not only grow but thrive on the footpath next to busy Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok


SUNDAY 22nd IN MY HOMETOWN: I never really feel like I’m home until I have seen and swum in the ocean. This is an archive shot from the last time we were home as we are not quite there yet .... one more sleep and we will be Adelaide bound again


MONDAY 22nd THIS IS MINE: Well ours actually. Treasures from Thimphu. It was posted on the first day in Bangkok and miraculously arrived on our first day in Australia. Great timing Thai post


TUESDAY 24th WHAT I DO: When I get home after being absent for over 18 months, is go the Adelaide Central Market and load up on Asian groceries so I can cook up a storm for the family and it's Chinese New Year in just a few days. In the market less than 3 hours after landing and only one of our purchases was available in Thimphu.

PS just realised there are actually 4 of these things available in Thimphu so I guess another thing I do is exaggerate


WEDNESDAY 25th IN THE BACKGROUND: is the Largs Bay jetty in beautiful South Australia and the beach nearest to where we are glad to be staying at my sister's house 


THURSDAY 26th YUM: Today's Australia Day brunch cooked by Matthew and consumed with relish. Yum yum yum


FRIDAY 27th I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: fresh fruit and vegetables and regular visits to the Central Market to purchase them


SATURDAY 28th SIGN: These three characters were on the table when we served a feast for a family celebration of Chinese New Year today. A sure sign that all the food was Asian inspired and hoping to bring about prosperity


SUNDAY 29th SHADOW: Me and my shadow on the walk back from the beach in 39°C heat today


MONDAY 30th HELLO: We just arrived at this beautiful Art Deco apartment, which we have been lucky enough to stay at several times before. We have 3 weeks at the sea. Ian's first words as we walked in the door were, "Hello Jane's House"


TUESDAY 31st SOMETHING COLOURFUL: This beautiful white ceramic wall clock hanging against a white wall in a friend's house was something colourful among many strikingly beautiful and unique pieces. It caught my attention immediately and thanks for dinner too Jenny

PS I am amazed that so many pictures are about food especially since we arrived in OZ! Maybe just maybe we are food obsessed!!!!!!!