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
