THE PROMPTS
TUESDAY 1st THIS IS SUPER DUPER: One of the things we immediately loved about Cambodia when we first arrived was that Vegemite was available. Then during the pandemic, it completely disappeared from almost all the outlets. On our last trip to Phnom Penh we tried everywhere to find some then went to a Supermarket chain that is called Super Duper and discovered Bartymite I was at first elated, then disappointed thinking it was an imitation, then I googled it in the store and finally bought it. The last of our old supply and the new jar! It’s super duper that Super Duper had it and we found it!
WEDNESDAY 2nd ROUND: A round platter of raw, blanched, roasted and fried ingredients arranged as a mandala for our build your own Buddha bowl dinner last night
THURSDAY 3rd PHOTOGRAPHY: has long been a hobby of mine. I guess it’s the same kind of images that always appeal to me and I tend to retake similar pictures. Since arriving in Kep this has been one of my favourite places to admire the ocean views and snap a shot. It just never gets old
FRIDAY 4th SUGAR: of a natural variety. Mangosteens are back in season. Local ones this time!
SATURDAY 5th COLOUR PLAY: This is an archive shot of the colour play created by the prayer flags flapping in the breeze on the covered bridge in Thimphu. It’s what immediately came to mind when I saw the prompt and it took some finding
SUNDAY 6th MYSELF: Actually, I’m not feeling myself at all at the moment so this was the position I was in for most of yesterday and it’s looking like pretty much the same thing for today. Hospital visit tomorrow.... nothing major but struggling at bit with “Me Myself I” at the moment. Thanks for the idea Joan Armitrading
MONDAY 7th RINGS: These rings never come off my fingers. One of them no longer can. Each came from a different country and was bought for a special occasion with friends present at the time of purchase. The first over 30 years ago and the last just over 8 years ago. Almost all my jewellery tells a travel story and yes with both my hands in the picture Ian helped me capture it
TUESDAY 8th HOME: It’s one thing to have a house but to make it a home it has to be filled with memories and the people and things you love. It my case this amounts to travel souvenirs, photographs, splashes of orange, cane and bamboo furniture, a pile of good books and home-made food! Yep that’s our home and we’re happy to live right here
WEDNESDAY 9th GOOD STUFF: The 9 Market is back for the first time this year today and this is eco packaging made from corn, sugarcane waste and bamboo fibre. The containers are for take away food and roadside café use. They are completely natural, compostable and microwave safe. Building a plastic free future
THURSDAY 10th LIFE: A rather unusual day in the life of this particular little monk of Kep. First ever trip to the dentist and the opportunity to get 4 new crowns to replace his missing front teeth. Classes are not possible right now with Pchum Ben in full swing but there is always something that can be done
FRIDAY 11th CRAFT: A Simple paper craft - origami. I like to make these rainbow coloured paper cranes and hang them as a mobile as a legacy of the 8 years I spent living in Hiroshima. It was the only origami I learnt in all that time and it was a direct result of reading “Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes.” I have done it and taught countless children to do it too after sharing that book with them, ever since. I still have a copy of the book and origami paper for this purpose to this day
SATURDAY 12th TROPICAL: Still life with tropical fruit and flowers on the breakfast table this morning. We are so lucky to live where we do and have all this local bounty and more at our doorstep. Live with gratitude and enjoy the simple things
SUNDAY 13th TRAVEL: Although, nothing delights me more than travel and the opportunity to visit new places and experience new cultures, I'm no big fan of flying. Whenever it's possible to stay on the ground that's the best option for me. Give me a bicycle, train, bus, taxi or car any day! This Bhutanese driver is a very good friend and has driven us across the country, from the capital to the east at least three times and on many other adventures, in all kinds of weather and facing all kinds of obstacles and I would do it again in a heartbeat. There simply isn't any better way to travel or any better company I could ask for. When or if it's once again possible, we are definitely going to make it our mission to do it again. It's always magical and never the same experience. This is an archive shot from our last trip together last year
MONDAY 14th NOOK: The little reading nook in the living room where I spend a great deal of time immersed in books
UESDAY 15th DELIGHT: Even in stormy weather the ocean is always a delight and the fact for this special week of festivities the Sailing Club is actually open and serving both drinks and dinner is thoroughly delightful. Tomorrow we will try our luck to be among the lucky 8 that get in as they wouldn’t take reservations
WEDNESDAY 16th STEP: We carried a picnic brunch and it was one step after the other all the way to 15,791 steps for a total of 10.5 kilometres on our National Park hike this morning. Nice timing on this prompt as this has been on the agenda for a few days now
THURSDAY 17th ZINGY: This delicious, zingy, locally-made, ginger syrup is wonderful mixed with soda as a refreshing afternoon pick me up to beat the heat and recharge the batteries
FRIDAY 18th LINES: My monthly selfie attempt wearing my new-to-me, second-hand, $2 market purchase dress which has an abstract pattern made of lines. I’m very keen on mono-chrome outfits and this one is a new fave. The mirror, door frame, tile pattern and wooden stairs also fit the lines prompt
SATURDAY 19th ALONE: One of our most energetic, and mischievous little monks often plays alone and can easily amuse himself. This was the final lesson before our break for Pchum Ben festivities and he would not be dissuaded from climbing up there. Alone in the hands of Buddha
SUNDAY 20th MUSIC: A traditional musical instrument depicted in one of the recently completed murals portraying the life story of Buddha at the pagoda where we teach the little monks. We visited today to see the boys and receive blessings at the end of the Pchum Ben activities
MONDAY 21st SHINY: We took a day trip to Sihanoukville today and discovered this bright, shiny, new shopping centre, Furi Times Square Mall. A friend will open a new dim sum restaurant there next month. There is nothing about it that is Cambodian in my eyes but it is shiny and new and there is instant appeal for the young people, especially since it could be Tokyo, Bangkok, Taipei or Beijing. Give me a Market any day!
TUESDAY 22nd GARDEN: We have been staying in a house with a magnificent garden but today we came home and it’s the pleasure of the little things in our own garden that bring me joy. This little lily bursts into flower every few months with stunning regularity
WEDNESDAY 23rd HEART: My tribute to a vegetarian diet- heart shaped red lentils, an amaranth leaf, chilli powder, yellow split peas, black sesame seeds and a malabar spinach leaf. Veggo and loving it!
THURSDAY 24th ART: I really love the work of this particular artist in Cambodia. He depicts cultural realities in interesting and often comical ways. They are available as original water-colours, posters or greeting cards, which is what this one is. This piece is about the variety of bird life and most especially those that are currently critically endangered and the Buddhist practice of releasing wildlife to earn merit
FRIDAY 25th BETTER TOGETHER: Yep we knew that. Set off on our wedding anniversary trip this morning. Domestic travel is the best possible choice this year and we were on an almost empty local bus first thing this morning for the first real adventure together in 2020. We’ve been better off together for almost 40 years and it shows in the smiles on our dials
SATURDAY 26th I FOUND THIS: amazing wall art in a Korean Noodle place this evening. We didn’t actually eat there but I did have to go in and snap shot
SUNDAY 27th DUO: My best Cambodian friend and I make a pretty dynamic duo even if I say so myself. We were out on the town last night and this was taken as we were leaving. Today we have spent 10 hours on a bus so it’s the best I can muster
MONDAY 28th SPECIAL: It feels very special to be able to travel anywhere this year. Having cancelled 3 trips we decided that we would take the plunge and travel within Cambodia. As the torrential rain set in this morning we stumbled into a very special little café to have a coffee and sit it out. We are now back for a special dinner. The Lone Tree Café is a social enterprise which helps finance humanitarian activities and provides employment for vulnerable youth and sells products made by people with disabilities. It has fabulously renovated a unique building and has gorgeous decor and friendly staff as well. A very special place with a big heart! What’s not to love?
TUESDAY 29th THIS IS CLEVER: At the risk of singing our own praises I will say, in country like Cambodia with such a huge plastic and polystyrene trash problem, this is clever. We always travel with a keep cup, reusable shopping bags, a refillable water bottle and our coffee banet. We only buy drinks from places that use real cups and glasses or make our own, we use “refill not landfill” water stations whenever possible and never take anything in polystyrene. The flip side of the cotton shopping bag has the same message in Khmer as the one in English shown and we often show it to local vendors. “Be the change you want to see in the world” and walk the talk
WEDNESDAY 30th DESIGN: Last year while travelling in Bhutan I noticed my camera strap was in tatters. I walked into a small tailor’s shop and found this narrow piece of fabric in the scrap box and convinced the young man behind the machine to repair my strap with it. I paid $2 and it brings me immeasurable pleasure every time I use my trusty old camera. After months of lying idle, I’m currently giving my camera a real workout on our long-postponed trip to Battambang and I am reminded of the kingdom I love, daily. The fabric design screams Bhutan to me! I now have a well-loved and well- used bag with a similar strap issue and I’m hoping to repair and refurbish it with Cambodian cloth but that’s another story
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