One PhOtO a DaY ApRiL 2025

 

APRIL 1st GLIMMER: Today on our last day in the city I picked up my perfectly repaired, 8-year old, little, Bolivian purse. I’m so thrilled it has been resurrected and on the way home beaming my face off I found three orange pens so my signature snail mail penmanship can continue 

APRIL 2nd GLIMMER: This interior wall today was a moment that made me stop, smile and reflect

APRIL 3rd GLIMMER: Early this morning we awoke in the house of great mates to see the Bhutanese prayer flags we gifted them flying over their backyard veggie garden. We feel blessed to spend our final few days in Australia in such a quiet, calm setting

APRIL 4th GLIMMER: My moment today came from seeing the work of my favourite painter from Battambang Cambodia hanging on the wall of the friends we recommended visiting there. They even chose the same image we have in our own apartment 

APRIL 5th GLIMMER: I saw this beautiful crystal created rainbow the moment we opened the bedroom door this morning 

APRIL 6th GLIMMER: The Banksia seed pod I found today to add to the collection I already have at home.  Just another item for the luggage

APRIL 7th GLIMMER: A gorgeous flowering gum shot was a glimmer today for a final taste of Australia on this our last day at home

APRIL 8th GLIMMER: We arrived at the airport this morning to discover our flight had been delayed by twelve hours and having a Big Issue and a new novel made me feel that the wait wouldn’t be so onerous 

APRIL 9th GLIMMER: Today’s glimmer came from my favourite veggo eatery in Bangkok. After a day and a half of airport/ airline food, I was craving a raw, rainbow salad dish but it was the Buddha flower arrangement in an offering bowl that struck my fancy. 

The food was impressive too

APRIL 10th GLIMMER: I highly recommend the Talat Noi district as a walking zone in Bangkok. We visited for the second time today it is an old residential district with traditional Chinese architecture, some of which is over 100 years old. It also has vibrant wall murals and quirky cafes and speciality shops. This shot is of ancient window shutters with the original wood patina

APRIL 11th GLIMMER: Our first glimpse of Phnom Penh after two months away. Our home is even in the picture not that I could spot it from the air 

APRIL 12th GLIMMER: Today is the last full shopping day before the Khmer New Year break so we were at the market early to resupply our home before everything closes down for four days to a week. After being in Oz, I just love that this huge haul cost just over US $20. So very glad to be home and alternating tasks from domestics to shopping all day

APRIL 13th GLIMMER: Today’s standout moment was swimming at our favourite location  and catching up with the wonderful friend who lives there

APRIL 14th GLIMMER: We have already had two evenings of this and it’s heating up already again tonight. There are water hoses, dippers and giant eskies full of water as well as baby powder bombs to ensure everyone gets a thorough wetting down for Khmer New Year… aka Water Festival.  Whilst it might look like a battle scene. When passersby indicate that their tanks or water pistols are empty of water the hoses stop squirting at them and refill their guns and tanks before commencing the battle. It’s all a fair fight and simply good fun. In this heat and humidity it might even be a blessing

APRIL 15th GLIMMER: From the terrace at breakfast this morning the garden greeted us with the scent of this Cuban ginger flowering after last night’s rain. I love the scent

APRIL 16th GLIMMER: After two months away a fair amount of cleaning is required. We’ve been at it for 4 days now and it’s finally done. When you don’t have a ladder, it’s simply a matter of improvising. A job well done thanks Ian

APRIL 17th GLIMMER: After playing table tennis and swimming today we made a spontaneous decision to get a light lunch in a lovely little Greek courtyard restaurant in the neighbourhood. The food is fabulous but it’s the ambience that really transports you back the the Greek Islands

APRIL 18th GLIMMER: The jasmine that flowers frequently but fleetingly burst into bloom last night and today was its moment of glory

APRIL 19th GLIMMER: Today has been quiet day at home. I am content to have not set foot outdoors. Having spent my time cooking, reading and catching up with the snail mail to a few new recipients after our recent trip home, I’m feeling calm and relaxed

APRIL 20th GLIMMER: Seeing the spectacular sky scape in the the city I am glad to call home

APRIL 21st GLIMMER: A truly magnificent old building and beautiful courtyard, which is now a restaurant that I discovered today while out walking. Unfortunately for us it has just one vegetarian offering so we won’t become patrons anytime soon

APRIL 22nd GLIMMER: My moment of sheer bliss today was frozen Khmer coffee as a treat after playing table tennis and swimming in 36° heat. So good I had to have two!! That’s a first

APRIL 23rd GLIMMER: Today was all about domestics. My signature dish is back on the playlist

APRIL 24th GLIMMER: Seeing the little monks of Kep today for the first time in three months and telling them the news that we will finally take them on the day trip to Rabbit Island we promised months ago, was the definite high point of my day. They are required to look dignified in photos but a few still broke out in smiles. Not the best photo but surely the best moment

APRIL 25th GLIMMER: Nothing quite like a skilled and well loved hairdresser returning you to the self you like to be. Thank you Mony

APRIL 26th GLIMMER: It’s been more than six months since we got to ride our bikes and today we finally did and along the newly constructed coastal bike track

It was also great to see how much the mangrove belt has regenerated now that the road construction is over

APRIL 27th GLIMMER: Today we took the little monks of Kep to Rabbit Island for a day trip. The boat ride over was where the smiles began and they didn’t stop all day. We loved it as much as them

*this shot was also unexpectedly selected for the Fab Four grid on Facebook 

APRIL 28th GLIMMER: Today’s glimmer was spotting my favourite type of mobile vendor when we were out on our bikes in Kep

APRIL 29th GLIMMER: The lotus display at the entrance to a restaurant we strolled past this evening. No matter how often I see them I always admire these individually folded lotus bloom

APRIL 30th GLIMMER: Tonight’s dinner is my kind of glimmer. A do it yourself Buddha Bowl of cold buckwheat noodles with a spicy sesame sauce. The final glimmer of a month of joyous moments

PROMPTS 

One PhOtO a DaY dEcEmBeR 2024:

 

DECEMBER 1st HALF FULL: It’s actually been a full on day but I did remember the prompt at dinner and well yes my favourite kind of half full. Only totally full would be better!

DECEMBER 2nd MONEY: Cambodia uses two currencies and payment and change can come in one or the other or a combination of both so it certainly tests your maths skills

NOVEMBER 3rd CHEERS: the travelling trio returned home this afternoon and it’s almost wine/ beer o’clock but I’ll have to blame this prompt for the early start 

NOVEMBER 4th SPARKLE: nothing quite sparkles like fireworks

*this was selected for the notable nine on Facebook!

 DECEMBER 5th MERRY: Just strolling past the Chinese temple on our way to the movies when we heard the clatter of cymbals and pounding of drums. Then we spotted a lion dance rehearsal in full swing. A merry group of acrobatic performers

DECEMBER 6th LIGHTS: In our hood the streets light up every evening and the bars do a roaring trade - Phnom Penh Nightlife Street spelt out in lights. It helps you know where you are if you’ve had a few too many as an added bonus

NOVEMBER 7th XMAS TREE: I’m no artist but I’m making labels for Xmas cakes and this was the best of the batch

NOVEMBER 8th THIS IS CUTE: We attended a massive products of Cambodia Xmas fair today and had a bit of a spending spree but we didn’t buy this despite how cute it

NOVEMBER 9th ON THE SHELF:  in a local community retail space was this watercolour with an accompanying touch of Xmas

NOVEMBER 10th A HAT: Not just any hat but the Panama hat we bought in Peru and both still wear. An archive shot because today has been mostly overcast and windy

DECEMBER 12th STAR: In the floor of the newly renovated Central Post Office in Phnom Penh is this beautiful terrazzo star set in the original tiles

NOVEMBER 12th THIS IS JOYFUL: Having guests from both Australia and the USA visiting at the same time and all enjoying hanging out together and all chipping in to bake the final batch of Xmas cakes

NOVEMBER 14th CANDY CANE: Taken on the fly from a tuk tuk this morning actually. This is on the roadside down town in Phnom Penh unfortunately in front of casino which is why I didn’t want stop

DECEMBER 15th SHOPPING: I almost never buy anything online but this laptop stand is something I have been looking at for ages and finally I bit the bullet this morning and got one delivered. Maybe the fourth online purchase and delivery in seven years.  It is exactly what I wanted and I haven’t been near a shop all day

NOVEMBER 15th FESTIVE: A tasty, tempting festive morsel  made with pistachios, cranberry sponge, mascarpone and cream

NOVEMBER 16th MAIL: Just about to head to the post office with this morning’s efforts for my snail mail project. The card is extra special as we just bought ourselves a framed, over sized print of this exact image for the living room wall

DECEMBER 17th DECORATION: When we are about to take off on a little island jaunt and therefore there are no fresh cut flowers in the house I use my collection of dried seed pods found in the neighbourhood streets as a the decoration on the hall table

DECEMBER 18th RED AND GREEN: These are Cambodian Kramas and they have a thousand uses from rolled up as a children’s ball, a baby’s hammock, sun protection, belt, scarf or tow rope. Every Khmer owns one and I always give one to guests who visit us. I own several, love them and wear them regularly

DECEMBER 19th WRAPPING: This is the deconstructed wrapping I did late last night so we could enjoy homemade sandwiches at the ferry port in Sihanoukville  after bussing here from Phnom Penh. They were delicious too

DECEMBER 20th SANTA: Not a Santa in sight on this Cambodian island but I did snap this one as a precaution a few days ago in Phnom Penh when I thought that might be the case

DECEMBER 21st ON THE FLOOR: The ocean floor counts right? That’s where this one time fishing boat seems to have met it’s demise and that is where it remains regardless of the high or low tide

DECEMBER 22nd PARTIAL: Who isn’t partial to a stunning sunrise over the ocean and even more so when on a holiday break?

DECEMBER 23rd SILLY: On our morning walk along the beach this morning we saw this very fresh chilli in the sand at the shoreline. It certainly hadn’t been there overnight as it was so fresh and there wasn’t a soul about so it’s the silly discovery of a chilli for me today

DECEMBER 24th A GIFT: to me from me - oriental lilies and a new, custom made to my preferences and design, handbag made from recycled single use plastic bags. Merry Xmas

DECEMBER 25th CELEBRATE : Xmas is just about the only day of the year when alcohol for breakfast is de rigueur. The celebrations begin now

DECEMBER 27th DECOR: The latest addition to our home decor is still waiting to be hung. Fingers crossed Sunday will be the day. It contains all the elements of Phnom Penh we love: the street scape with residential properties, like our own and monks, hornbills and frangipanis

DECEMBER 28th PEACE: Spreading peace and love in the world through assisting the poor and needy - the Sisters Missionaries of Charity. Despite not being Christians, we had the honour of joining them for a food distribution event at their mission. So happy to offer our time and labour

DECEMBER 29th REFLECTION: The silhouette of the small sampan in the foreground is only visible due to the reflection of the lights on the sunset cruise boat behind it. Riverside atmosphere is enhanced by the refections 

DECEMBER 30th POP: This prompt came a day too early for me. I will be waiting until midnight tomorrow to pop the cork on the bubbles but we’re ready to celebrate a new beginning 

DECEMBER 31st LOOKING BACK: from the start line down the line up for the New Years Eve Parade in Phnom Penh. It’s all about to start happening 

PROMPTS