One PhOtO a DaY sEpTeMbEr 2024:

SEPTEMBER 1st THINGS I LOVE: include travel and photography: capturing the images that reinforce the memories. Just a few of my favourite travel pictures from my collection

SEPTEMBER 2nd A COLOURFUL DOOR: Actually one of four wooden panels that are the doors of the main entrance of a Chinese Temple built during the time Cambodia was a French Protectorate. It is now in the grounds of a school in our local neighborhood. These panels all depict door gods or deities in pairs

SEPTEMBER 3rd ARTISTIC SELFIE: I am neither very artistic nor good at selfies so as my dear ole mum used to say, “That’s as good as it gets.”

SEPTEMBER 4th A PLAYGROUND: very near our home and actually full of kids in the late afternoon but I thought it was a bit weird to photograph other people’s children without their permission

AUGUST 5th A CUP OF TEA:   I almost never drink tea; give me coffee every time. There are very few varieties I can stomach. However I do always have some in the house as we have guests and friends for whom it is their preferred tipple so that’s the cup of tea for me

SEPTEMBER 6th SUNRISE: from our front terrace in Phnom Penh. It’s an archive shot from September two years ago as I was sound asleep at sunrise this morning and after months of waking up at 2 or 3am and lack of sleep I’m revelling in actually sleeping again 

AUGUST 7th CURVES: I spent a couple of hours yesterday morning trying to clean the curves and straights of the fretwork security screens on our terrace. It’s rather the thankless task as they don’t actually look much better than when I started but I at least know I did it 

SEPTEMBER 8th SHADOWS ON THE WALL: Our standing Buddha casting shadows on the living room wall that make it look like it has faces on both sides

SEPTEMBER 9th INTERESTING DOOR KNOB: on the main doors of a local Chinese Temple. The square in the centre contains the auspicious Chinese character meaning double happiness which is most often associated with weddings

SEPTEMBER 10th IN MY HAND: is the stick of the Tibetan Singing Bowl I recently bought and like to ring almost everyday. The pedantic in me knows the bowl is actually on my hand but that was what prompted the shot

SEPTEMBER 11th A CANDLE: There are several candles in the house but I really like the ceramic pot that this one is in. There are some Aussie touches in our Asian decor too

SEPTEMBER 12th FAMILY TRADITION: The only thing I can come up with is baking. I can never remember having bought desserts at home or sweet snacks in our school lunchboxes. My mum baked everything we ate and had a rule for herself to give at least half of it away. I too follow this tradition as these cookies baked today are already packed to gift

*unexpected this one was chosen for the Fab Four on Facebook 

SEPTEMBER 13th A BICYCLE WHEEL: Rear bicycle wheels lined up on a busy corner and available for public rental

SEPTEMBER 14th HIDDEN BEAUTY: The architectural hidden beauty can be overlooked amongst the development and bustle of inner city living but we are fortunate to live in one of the oldest districts of Phnom Penh and I still notice little remnants

 SEPTEMBER 15th A FENCE: that surrounds the beautiful green space of Wat Phnom and one that mimics the peaks of the traditional rooflines as seen in the pavilion behind it. Just five minutes from home and a little haven in the mid city

SEPTEMBER 16th A STATUE: of a Khmer warrior at the stunning pool we often swim in

SEPTEMBER 17th BUBBLES: of a celebratory nature.  A very old fashion but delicious Kir Royale cocktail on the terrace at home

 SEPTEMBER 18th A COLOURFUL MURAL: down a back alley and almost always at least partially covered by parked food trucks And overhead wires

SEPTEMBER 19th WILDFLOWERS: They do grow wild all over Cambodian but this particular one is on our terrace. The best I can manage given that we live in a bustling capital city of about two and a half million people

SEPTEMPER 20th ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE: I love the turrets we randomly see all over the city and this one is just metres from home

SEPTEMBER 21st PLAY TIME: for adults at one of our favourite sky bar locations with Aussie guests and mates

SEPTEMBER 22nd A NATIONAL FLAG: The Khmer flag is frequently flown on public holidays in Cambodia and we just happened to have one at home so that we too can follow the local customs

SEPTEMBER 23rd AN OLD PHOTO: I specifically went to this gorgeous shop in Kampot immediately after we arrived today for this prompt. They have an extensive collection of old black and white photos of many South East Asian countries but of course I was attracted to the Cambodian images and had to buy a few including this one of traditional dancers

SEPTEMBER 24th A CAR INTERIOR: I’m hoping the open boot counts? Having sold my last car in 1989 this was my best option today. It’s seemed a bit invasive to be sticking my head or phone into someone else’s vehicle. This driver is looking for passengers and the open boot indicates he is definitely going today as in that esky are fresh crabs. This is how it works in towns across Cambodia. Open the boot show the cargo and anyone interested negotiates a passenger price with the driver and off you go

SEPTEMBER 25th A ROOFTOP: Several rooftops actually. Taken from a rooftop bar overlooking the Russian Market in Phnom Penh

SEPTEMBER 26th BOOKSHELF: A house is not a home until it contains books. We have very few shelves in our home and there are little piles of books in each of them. This is the bedroom collection of books we are currently reading and those that are still unread

SEPTEMBER 26th BOOKSHELF: A house is not a home until it contains books. We have very few shelves in our home and there are little piles of books in each of them. This is the bedroom collection of books we are currently reading and those that are still unread

SEPTEMBER 28th A NEON SIGN AT NIGHT: Well neon lights on the iconic old bridge in Kampot, with its eclectic styles from the various repairs and reconstructions  over the years

SEPTEMBER 29th CLEAN: That’s how you get the dishes clean if you are a street side vendor in the market area here in Phnom Penh!

SEPTEMBER 30th A BATHROOM: in our apartment where the mirror reflects the family of friends collage I created on the wall opposite it

PROMPTS

KAMPOT REVISITED

It’s always a joy to take the train to Kampot. The experience is reminiscent of a bygone era. We always hope for the non aircon carriage just so we can open the windows and take photos but it doesn’t always work that way. 

After exiting the city through humble dwellings perched precariously close to the tracks and seeing a perspective of inner city life we would otherwise not be privy to, the vistas expand into extensive lotus ponds and at this time of year after the monsoon rains they were full to bursting with lotus in full bloom, a proliferation of newly emerging buds and dense leaf coverage. 

The visual then expands into back view the factories, old temples, dirt tracks and tiny villages and vast expanses of lush green rice paddies some of which are almost ready for harvesting now. There is one stretch of the track that we find spectacular. With a back drop of mountains and ponds and paddies bordered with coconut and sugar palms and plenty of birds skimming the water or wading in it or perching on overhead wires, it seems nothing has changed for a millennium or two. 

Within four hours you have arrived in Kampot station and are surrounded by two to three times the number of willing tuk tuk drivers for the meagre number of passengers disembarking. 

A quick spin downtown in your selected vehicle or in our case the tenacious individual who herded us away and seemed to talk non stop without drawing breath for the entire ride. 

Time to hit the streets and revisit old favourite hang outs, make new discoveries and catch up with old mates while enjoying the company of those who have accompanied you on this little jaunt. 

We indulged ourselves with a short stay in a hotel we have long loved for its friendly staff and sumptuous meals but never before stayed in. If you haven’t already let me encourage you to choose The Old Cinema Hotel. I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s affordable and yet luxurious with an old world charm oozing from the art deco decor. 

The staff are friendly and attentive without being overbearing or pushy. The attention to detail in drink and food service is incredible and the menu extensive enough to satisfy even fussy eaters with dietary restrictions and preferences like our small gathering. We loved the Gin Club and other cocktails and the share platters of food, but there is a lot more on offer as well. 

Kampot abounds in quirky little cafés, shopping outlets and fascinating architecture - old, dilapidated, restored, renovated, repurposed and new. Take a stroll through the backstreets and enjoy the juxtapositions and jumble of styles of it all. It’s quiet and calm while still having an upbeat ‘happening place’ vibe about it. Old Market street offers some of the best and worst of Cambodian and Barang style hospitality but there is a lot more to K/pot than that one street. It has pockets of true Khmer culture and a young bohemian counter culture and everything in between coexisting happily together.

 

No it’s not paradise. There are issues and development and conflicts and challenges but if you can’t find something that truly fascinates or delights you then you simply can’t be trying. Without a doubt we will be back. Truth be told we already have another booking to return. We have never failed to make new discoveries and still relish revisiting old favourites. Somehow it also never seems possible to leave without making a purchase or two either but how could you call yourself a tourist or traveller if you didn’t support the local businesses? 

And for one final plug if you are vain enough to need a 
particular hairstyle you can’t beat Mony Saloon anywhere in the Kingdom of Wonder. So there it is in a nutshell if you haven’t yet visited The Pot do yourself a favour.