DECEMBER 1st THE SKY: Now that the monsoon has finally bid us farewell we are back to cloudless, blue, blue skies and bright sunshine here in the Kingdom of Wonder
DECEMBER 2nd SOMETHING JOYFUL: A tuk tuk full of smiling monks, after a day trip to the beach. It’s not everyday they get to play. An archive shot for me today
DECEMBER 3rd LOVE: How much street art and graffiti revolves around love?
DECEMBER 4th PEACE: The Tied Gun Monument - symbol of Cambodia’s commitment to Peace and our walking destination today due to this prompt
DECEMBER 5th A CHRISTMAS TREE: A tiny version on the counter of a roadside stall we wandered past today. This is not a country that celebrates Xmas to any great extent so I was happy to spot it and the stall owner wished me “Merry Xmas” when she saw I was taking the photo
DECEMBER 6th GIVING: Though Xmas isn’t really my thing, ‘tis the season for giving and today is the first gifting of cakes and shortbread over celebratory lunch. Sometimes the prompts exactly match the activity for the day
DECEMBER 7th DECORATIONS: Almonds are always the decoration used on traditional Xmas cakes and we just finished baking our second batch for this year moments ago
DECEMBER 8th FESTIVE FUN: Today I made my first attempt at an edible Xmas tree in the tropics. The wrapped baubles are homemade chocolate chip shortbread the only item that remains the same as the many I have made in Australia over the years - my idea of festive fun
NOVEMBER 9th SPARKLE: When you accidentally move the camera taking nightlight shots you get a rainbow sparkle
DECEMBER 10th SOMETHING SWEET: A street side vendor with honey still in the honeycomb. It doesn’t get fresher than that
DECEMBER 11th TOGETHER: celebrating a dear friend’s birthday, with cocktails for the third year in a row
DECEMBER 12th CELEBRATION: When you are having an extended birthday celebration with a chocolate fiend in Siem Reap, don’t overlook the Wat-Temple of Cacao. Today we indulged in chocolate ice cream and locally flavoured bonbons: lemongrass and ginger, peanut butter and pepper and espresso. This one is espresso and my choice
DECEMBER 13th BUBBLES: This afternoon’s pick me up latte with love and bubbles
DECEMBER 14th STOCKING: We travelled back home from Siem Reap today early to catch the one time only Xmas Market at Sofitel and this is just about the only stocking I’ve seen this year. I didn’t buy it but I did appreciate it. Xmas is pretty low key in Cambodia and this year more so than ever
DECEMBER 15th FAVOURITE ORNAMENT: The Endless or Eternal Knot a symbol denoting the interconnectedness of the universe. Appropriately enough it is a significant symbol in Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism
DECEMBER 16th SANTA: Siem Reap style saxophone playing Santa
DECEMBER 17th A GIFT: of nuts and snacks that arrived with our dear friend from America and the gifts of homemade traditional Xmas cakes that will return with him on Xmas Eve
DECEMBER 18th LIGHTS: No lights compete with the way nature lights the skies at sunset. This was our view across the rice fields from tonight’s special dinner spot in Kep
DECEMBER 19th A TRADITION: Since moving from Kep to live in Phnom Penh every return visit requires a selfie with the crab. A newly minted tradition
DECEMBER 20TH FESTIVE COLOURS: There really is just one combination for this season
DECEMBER 21st FESTIVE FOOD: A veggie platter for three and samosas for lunch ticking all the boxes to get those taste buds tingling on an eat a rainbow diet
DECEMBER 22nd WRAPPING: When you consistently say “no plastic” in the market, the vendors quickly learn to use lotus leaves as the wrapping for our fresh veggies
DECEMBER 23rd HOLIDAY MODE: This is the season to be merry and well we five were certainly enjoying that holiday tipple
DECEMBER 24th MAGIC: The magic of snail mail in a world addicted to digital efficiency and instant gratification, this arrived today
DECEMBER 25th FESTIVE OUTFIT: The prize goes to this three year old who was thoroughly enjoying today’s Xmas Party thrown by the Sisters Missionaries of Charity in Phnom Penh. It’s my favourite volunteering gig
DECEMBER 26th GRATEFUL: for the opportunity to live where we do and contribute in any small way possible for a better future for Khmer people
DECEMBER 27th FAMILY: each person represents a vulnerable family in need carefully vetted by the Sisters Missionaries of Charity. They all received a complete set of emergency supplies today - oil, fish sauce, soy sauce, 5 cans of sardines, sausages, sugar, salt, instant noodles packed in a plastic trash can, a blanket, a bar of soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, washing powder, a mosquito net, 10kg of rice and a lunch pack with fried rice, an orange, and a bottle of water. 500 families will be happier tonight than this morning and still there was not enough to go around. Thank you to the Sisters and Singaporean donors
DECEMBER 28th SUNSHINE: Blue skies and sunshine as Cambodia wakes to a fragile peace and the ceasefire holding. May this be the new beginning the whole region desperately needs. “All we are saying is give peace a chance…”
DECEMBER 29th A MEMORY: of WOMADelaide 2025, when I first heard and saw Elisapie perform. She has been a permanent fixture on my playlist ever since and no doubt will continue to be long into the future
DECEMBER 30th GOODBYE 2025: A year of challenges, triumphs, disappointments, adventures, aggression and achievements but also a year of enduring friendships, a sense of belonging and a deep gratitude for the lives we are able to live. Bring on 2026 with new beginnings, the prospect of peace and hopes for harmony
DECEMBER 31st A NEW YEAR WISH: I take better care of my own physical and mental health in the coming year. A final selfie taken on timer while playing TT this morning
PROMPTS
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