One PhOtO a DaY sEpTeMbEr 2025

 

SEPTEMBER 1st A FLOWER: A simple coral coloured Canna Lily, spotted this morning on the Mekong Promenade where we regularly take a walk

SEPTEMBER 2nd A MEAL: Lunch today was homemade wraps with a Dukkha spiced scrambled tofu and roasted capsicum, cherry tomatoes and kidney beans mix and salad. Not bad for an invention based on leftovers in the fridge I must say 

SEPTEMBER 3rd SHOES: The latest pair I bought, the ones I most often wear and the most comfortable I own. Why didn’t I buy two pairs?

SEPTEMBER 4th A BOOK: Today I chose an archive shot of a Buddhist scripture in a loose leaf, traditional format bound in cloth and end plated with wooden rests used when reading and chanting from these sacred texts. This is the school prayer captain participating in a ritual for Descending Day of Lord Buddha. The whole school attended this spectacular event and it was a great honour to be selected to carry the texts through the whole town. There were hundred of them.  

The background story 

*The scriptures of the Lakhang ready to be walked through the streets by students and monks eager to gain more knowledge as a part of the tradition and rituals. 

*The blessing of the ceremony by the black hat dancers - all of whom are monks at this monastery. 

*The line of students carrying the texts and departing for the blessing of the town

SEPTEMBER 5th A DRINK: Abstemious August is over and Celebratory September is here 

SEPTEMBER 6th A LETTERBOX: There is no delivery of mail here so this is me mailing my snail mail earlier this afternoon inside the GPO

SEPTEMBER 7th A PHONE: mine actually, with the screen saver on my favourite photo in the rotation of shots. It’s by Jimmy C. Adelaide mural artist based in London and depicts Uncle Stevie Goldsmith indigenous legend

SEPTEMBER 8th A CHAIR: In fact this is my chair. It usually resides on the terrace but is occasionally found in the living room - made to order here in Phnom Penh three years ago  

SEPTEMBER 9th A TREE: in our hood and a calm and tranquil place where the hornbills often roost overnight. We were too early for them today but needed to get our walk in between showers 

SEPTEMBER 10th A HAT: Its a panama hate in fact. It was bought in Bolivia so why isn’t it a Bolivian hat? These and other mysteries …… 

SEPTEMBER 11th A CLOCK: inside the the stunning art deco design of the main hall of the Central Market here in Phnom Penh 

SEPTEMBER 12th  A CAR: Just when I thought I had seen every possible configuration of a mobile vendor’s setup, I spotted this just a block from home returning from a trip to the market. Ice coffee anyone?

SEPTEMBER 13th A DOOR: restored to all its former beauty in the classic colonial style and now part of a huge multinational hotel chain. We just happened to stroll by it today   

SEPTEMBER 14th A TOY: This is the simplest toy ever and it costs a mere $1. It’s used daily by both adults and children in places all over S E Asia and fosters flexibility, dexterity and fitness  

SEPTEMBER 15th KEYS: My keys attached to my purse so I never leave home without them 

SEPTEMBER 16th SUNGLASSES: I wear transitional lens in my glasses so I don’t actually own any sunglasses and I didn’t spot any interesting subject material while we were out today so an archive shot it is. We had a secret, private wedding ceremony with only these two witnesses present and announced it later that evening at a gathering we had organised with everyone thinking they were just going for a pub meal with us. One of the silly wedding shoot photos we took on the day with all of us in the garden wearing sunglasses 

SEPTEMBER 17th A FRUIT: We had a fruit breakfast this morning - my four favourite, tropical fruit and yoghurt

SEPTEMBER 18th A MIRROR: in a compact 

SEPTEMBER 19th A STREET SIGN: on the street where we live 

SEPTEMBER 20th A WATER BOTTLE: currently repurposed as a doorstop as it no longer insulates and I couldn’t just toss it out

SEPTEMBER 20th A BAG OF GROCERIES: Actually yesterday’s shopping removed from the fridge and freezer and placed back in the cold bag as today is the first day of a three-day holiday for Pchum Ben and almost everything is closed. Does this look like a dinner party to anyone else? Tomorrow night at ours it’s on 

The results 

SEPTEMBER 22nd A PAINTING: A small detail with rich earthy colours from the giant wall murals inside Wat Phnom which we visited yesterday for Pchum Ben 

SEPTEMBER 23rd A DOOR MAT: We arrived at a friend’s beautiful residence to housesit today and this was the doormat at the front door 

SEPTEMBER 24th A PILLOW: When knee pain prevents me from doing my usual physical activities elevating with a bolster pillow and reading voraciously becomes the pastime. Today was such a day

SEPTEMBER 25th A PLANT: commonly called a lobster claw and it flowers prolifically here in the tropics 

SEPTEMBER 26th A BUILDING: in Kampot I’ve long admired and wished someone would restore, renovate and enliven. We walked past it today. At least it has not yet been demolished 

SEPTEMBER 27th A BIRD: we delight in seeing in the riverside precinct of Phnom Penh is the hornbill. Although we didn’t spot any today, this is my favourite shot of the one and only time one took a break on our terrace

SEPTEMBER 28th A VEGETABLE: that is one of my favorites and often in the fridge but it is rarely cooked at ours. I prefer it in salads 

SEPTEMBER 29th A BRIDGE: in several different styles added to, repaired and lengthened over the years and still standing.  I was standing right there just a couple of days ago. Referred to as Old Bridge in Kampot, like the Cambodians themselves, it stands as a monument to resilience

 SEPTEMBER 30th A BIKE : Not just a bike but my run-down, old but well loved bike, standing in the pouring rain in the garden after the last time we rode a few days ago. It was through one of the worst monsoon storms we have experienced, with very poor visibility and flooded roads. 

We feel lucky to have arrived unscathed 

PROMPTS 

On the streets where we live

 

I heard the unmistakeable ringing of a handheld, brass bell and instantly thought “ice cream” tonight. It feels like inclusion having the visual come to mind just from the sound alone, without actually understanding any of the blaring announcements these cart vendors repetitively play. I can now  identify the sugar cane juice seller, the fresh fruit and veg carts, the fried glutinous rice cake pusher, the spicy snails in their shells vendor, the garbage truck and others too. 

I feel a kind of calm detachment knowing that no matter how often I peer over the terrace railings to see what they have, I never feel the urge to race down the four flights of stairs to see if I can purchase from them before they move on, even though I do buy from various mobile stalls at street level during the day. At night they rarely have anything I’m keen to buy but the same cannot be said for the bargirls below and all along the strip. They all have their favourite mobile vendor snacks, meals and drinks. And personally I’m glad to see the sales and know there will always be business for them in this neighbourhood. 

We have had some incredible storms recently. I love it when we are at home and you can hear the rain approaching, with a drumming beat marching across the galvanised iron rooves. The wind picks up and sometimes the blinds and prayer flags fly horizontal. All around us visibility is reduced and everything is cloaked in grey mist. We turn off the fans as they aren’t needed, and the solar lights flicker due to the flashes of lightning while thunder booms loud enough to make us flinch even when we are indoors. Such an onslaught of the senses is loud, energetic, exhilarating and mesmerising. Unless you are caught outdoors or travelling it is spectacular entertainment. 

For me perhaps the best time to be in the riverside residential zone is one of the two long festival breaks of the year. While during Khmer New Year almost the whole city empties out and it becomes a ghost town, during the Pchum Ben break there is an exodus but still many remain. 

Children reclaim the streets and sidewalks as playgrounds and those business remaining open do a roaring trade: especially the noodle sellers at breakfast. Loud music blares from homes not bars for most of the day and a party atmosphere descends. 

The traffic is more easily negotiated and pedestrians are suddenly able to use the footpaths that are miraculously empty of mobile stalls, vendors and motorcycle parking. It’s then that we enjoy roaming in zones usually too cluttered and noisy to negotiate. Following tradition and joining locals in the compulsory visit to the wat is my recommendation. 

This year I donned my traditional Khmer clothes along with the locals and made my small offering at Wat Phnom. Unlike new year there were only a smattering of locals and tourist present but those who were and the scant few who remained in our community, were thrilled to see us participating and we were met with broad smiles, thumbs up and delight. 

Just another reason to love where we live.