oNe PhOtO a DaY JuLy 2017

THE PROMPTS FOR THE MONTH

SATURDAY 1st YUM: After collecting a couple of cane pieces of furniture in Kampot we took a scheduled stop at Epic Cafe for lunch before completing the journey to Kep. This lunch was officially yum

SUNDAY 2nd SOMETHING YELLOW: Well our first full day in our new hometown and a trip to the local market, so we can cook at home from now on, meant the something yellow had to be these tiny (barely bigger than my thumb) bananas. I don't even eat bananas but Ian does and they weren't all we bought obviously but they were the only yellow items among the purchases

MONDAY 3rd SLICE: I am delighted to have a kitchen again and have spent a lot of this morning slicing lotus roots for a salad I learned to make in China. They were the only fresh food we carried with us from Phnom Penh because I was so glad to see them there and disappointed that they weren't available in Kep. A single slice is such a pretty shape but I had to include part of the whole root as well

TUESDAY 4th BEGINS WITH C: Coconut of course. Buying and trying the local treats in our new hometown is our current joy. This coconut was shredded before our very eyes in the Kep market this morning. Looks like coconut enhanced curry and coconut flavoured rice pudding will be on the menu this week

WEDNESDAY 5th EARTH: Despite the apparently dry earth in this the rainy season the rice in the paddies outside our front door is thriving

THURSDAY 6th READING: In the past week we have been trying to learn a few simple phrases in Khmer but I simply can't see myself ever reading this language. I think this is a prayer as it was in a temple we discovered earlier today

FRIDAY 7th BIRDS: Thanks to this prompt I have spent a great deal of time observing the many birds that frequent the rice paddies, which surround our house today. The winner of the bird of the day contest is the black-winged stilt, who also made a lovely little chirping sound and swooped and waded as it searched for food.

SATURDAY 8th SCENT: Today has been all about cooking - frying, baking and roasting. We tried out the new oven and now the delicious scent of home cooking permeates the whole house, which happens to be open plan and one room. I just realised how many posts so far this month have been about food. I guess we have really missed having a kitchen to call our own

SUNDAY 9th ZEN: Adding the personal touches to our new home. It makes me happy to have a beautiful space, enhance it and enjoy living in. My little Vietnamese Zen Buddha reminding me to be calm, mindful and grateful

MONDAY 10th NEUTRALS: The neutral tones of the bamboo and wood create the ambience in our bamboo home. This shot is looking up to the ceiling and storage area. Ladder access only, so dreams of turning it into a guest room remain unfulfilled

TUESDAY 11th BUT FIRST...:  open the windows and let the air and light in and make the bed

 (I am uncharacteristically indecisive today. Second option is above - I never leave home without making the bed and eating breakfast)

WEDNESDAY 12th DAILY RITUAL: Having only been in this house for eleven days there are few daily rituals established, but not a day has gone by without me staring out at the rice paddies and taking time to appreciate being here while contemplating life. We can almost see the rice grow in this season

THURSDAY 13th GEOMETRIC: The simplistic beauty of Cambodia's iconic scarf- the khramer. Each one is patterned with stripes and checks and always in geometric designs

FRIDAY 14th OUT THE WINDOW: The view out the bedroom window is of the rice paddies and our nearest neighbour's house.

NB This seems to be turning into the month of showcasing food and the bamboo house

SATURDAY 15th PAPER: The recycled Phnom Penh Post newspaper pages from the wrapping from our purchases at the Sakura Recycle Shop in Kampot

SUNDAY 16th THIS COULD BE AN ALBUM COVER: French pop/ rock new wave band formed in Paris in 1981 and one of the best selling French bands, having sold 10 million albums might have wanted this shot taken in Kampot as one of their album covers. Archive shot taken in 2013 less than 20 minutes away from where we now live

MONDAY 17th ON THE WALL: I spotted this while walking around in Phnom Penh a couple of weeks ago. I've hardly seen any street art here but this picture cleverly incorporates the tap on the wall into the image. Archive shot again as we are being held hostage in the bamboo house by the monsoon rains

TUESDAY 18th PETALS: The intricately folded petals of a lotus flowers in the hand of Buddha. I have noticed these folded offerings in both Thailand and Cambodia but I think I prefer the naturally opening petals of this exquisite flower. Continuing with archive shots showcasing Cambodia as the monsoon abates and the decimated garden looks half submerged

WEDNESDAY 19th SEE THROUGH: I admire this little traditionally designed school building on the main road into Kep each time we pass. By chance we recently met the president of the Educating Smiling Children organisation that has built many such schools all over Cambodia. You can see through the turquoise fence and appreciate the airy design of the buildings and the shady surroundings

THURSDAY 20th I HAVE TOO MANY: randomly sized pieces of cloth that do not serve any practical purpose at the moment but have huge sentimental value and have been utilised it different ways in different homes so I continue to hang on to them. This prompt was really difficult as this has been our year of downsizing and simplifying our lives

FRIDAY 21st CROSS: These colourful wooden boats cross the open water to get to Koh Tunsay (Rabbit Island) from the mainland at Kep Pier daily

SATURDAY 22nd COMPOSITION: This luxury residence and exquisite garden is not just about the composition of aesthetics, it also spells opulence to me. We are privileged to be able to use the pool in this gorgeous setting and very grateful for the generosity of the owner

SUNDAY 23rd CHILDHOOD: Some of my fondest memories of childhood are of the beach in summer and at Kep Beach this afternoon plenty of children were making those same memories. Hard to believe that about five minutes after taking this photo, the skies opened up and another torrential downpour flooded the nearby streets and intersections but it didn't empty the beach

MONDAY 24th LOOKING UP: I was looking up at the sky for over an hour yesterday. Three distinct layers of clouds floated past and this was the final view. I need to remember to look up more over in the late afternoon

TUESDAY 25th BALLOON: This motorcycle balloon vendor plies his trade at the beachfront in Kep regularly and this little shopper knew exactly which balloon she wanted. She also waited patiently while the rainbow unicorn was extracted from the mass

WEDNESDAY 26th TRIO: A trio of light fittings, at which we are currently staring longingly after having no electricity for the last three hours as nightfall approaches

Thursday 27th TINY DETAILS: What makes me feel really at peace and connected are the tiny details that I love to add to the decor in our home. This minute Buddha has been a part of each home I've lived in for many many years. I always find a special place for him to reside and always notice him when I walk by. Living mindfully

FRIDAY 28th BRIDGE: I'm not quite sure why this bridge exists on the foreshore in Kep but I was glad to discover it today. I thought there were no bridges in this town but thanks to PAD I have discovered that there are at least two near identical bridges a few hundred metres apart.

 Second choice and the other bridge above

SATURDAY 29th BEAUTIFUL BUILDING: This restored colonial home on the main street in Kep is certainly a beautiful building. The light filled airy rooms and open air spaces are enticing and charming. Although we are on the lookout for a rental and it is available, it is certain to be well over our budget - might need to take a look inside anyway

SUNDAY 30th FREE CHOICE: Since this seems to be my month of showcasing the Bamboo House and our new, chosen location of Kep, I choose the Spirit House in the Garden. I do love them and intend to find out more about their significance as our time here continues

MONDAY 31st HAIR: Rambutan a fruit with hair in various shades of green, red and black. These are local produce from the market and purchased to continue showcasing Kep during our first month of living here