THE PROMPTS FOR THE
MONTH
SUNDAY 1st MY FAVE
COLOUR: is orange and now that we are on the road again my luggage and clothing
choices leaves little doubt that that is the case
MONDAY 2nd
DELICIOUS: A thoroughly delicious start to the day with our picnic style
breakfast in the guesthouse today
TUESDAY 3rd CIRCLE:
The rainbow coloured circles on this old, well-used target for traditional
Bhutanese darts or 'kuru' caught my attention in the Heritage Farmhouse Museum
today
WEDNESDAY 4th
ANIMAL: This mythical white lion known locally as Singye is one of the four
animals associated with Bhutanese Buddhist beliefs and frequently carved and
painted in both secular and religious building
THURSDAY 5th A FAVE
THING: about Bhutan has always been the towering, fluttering prayer flags and
standing beneath them contemplating the world
FRIDAY 6th ME: Just
being me and visiting favourite haunts in the last few days in Bhutan. Paro
Dzong is always a place of quiet contemplation
SATURDAY 7th TIME:
seems to stand still in these mountains. This is Chelela and we went there
today to fly prayer flags for one last time in the kingdom. Leaving is
bittersweet but we still hope to return
SUNDAY 8th WALL:
This lookout, which is currently being renovated after an earthquake several
years ago, once housed the National Museum collection of Bhutan. It stands
above the Rinpung Dzong in Paro and when lit up at night it is a spectacular
reminder of the majesty of the traditional architecture of the kingdom. I have
long been fascinated with its circular rammed-earth and whitewash walls
MONDAY
9th MAIL: First thing ticked off the to do list. 15 kilos, which was the excess
baggage yesterday, mailed to Australia today. We love the Thai mail service
safe, secure, fast and efficient
TUESDAY 10th TWO
THINGS: Today we went to the Steve McCurry "A Lifetime of Work
Exhibition" and saw some of the most incredible photos I've ever seen
including the famous Afghan girl with the green eyes. The two things just have
to be two portraits of two unique individuals from two different continents,
which hung with others equally diverse
WEDNESDAY 11th
INSIDE MY FRIDGE: Well we don't actually have a fridge since we are on the road
but I can't believe that I actually remembered this prompt and took this shot
in Bangkok at 2:30am before we headed to the airport for our flight to Sri
Lanka. Good thing I did though as the fridge in our Colombo hotel is not only
empty but not even switched on!!!!
THURSDAY 12th LEAF:
A single yellow leaf in the hands of Buddha. Taken at Gangaramaya Temple
yesterday. Today we are travelling third class reserved on the train to Nanu
Oya
FRIDAY 13th People a
snapshot of a few of the local people we have encountered in Nuwara Eliya - a
Sri Lankan hill station today visiting tea plantations, tea processing factory,
waterfalls, the Botanical Gardens and finally a bar for a beer
SATURDAY 14th PATH:
Every tea plantation has an intricate pattern of paths for the pickers to
follow. I was impressed by the orderly structure of the plantations and that
tall eucalypts are scattered about providing the much needed shade for the
tender shoots
SUNDAY 15th WHERE I
SLEEP: I've been on the move for a while now but this is where I am currently
sleeping and it's simple, clean, basic and perfect for a few days of beach
lifestyle
MONDAY 16th MUSIC:
After three years of living in the mountains (which I dearly loved) the Aussie
in me finds the sound of the ocean, music to my ears and a balm to my soul
TUESDAY 17th BAG:
The only purchase I have made in Sri Lanka are these two orange cotton cloths
(inspired by the blue ones provided at our hotel) and I was thrilled to see the
local shop keeper put them in a simple brown paper bag .... say no to
plastic!!!
WEDNESDAY 18th
TODAY: After an early morning swim today breakfast came to us via this little
van and friendly vendor. We selected veggie filo triangles and bread jam at
less than 50 cents each to accompany our Ambient Cafe coffee brewed in the
room. Oh the simple pleasures of a simple life....
THURSDAY 19th SHAPE:
The place mats made from recycled magazines and the glass from the restaurant
we ate lunch in today, make a perfect circle design
FRIDAY 20th
SOMETHING WHITE: to save lives at the pool in the hotel in Bangkok we often
frequent and where we arrived today. It seems the cycle of darma is following me
SATURDAY 21st GROW:
Even fed on carbon monoxide these plants not only grow but thrive on the
footpath next to busy Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok
SUNDAY 22nd IN MY
HOMETOWN: I never really feel like I’m home until I have seen and swum in the
ocean. This is an archive shot from the last time we were home as we are not
quite there yet .... one more sleep and we will be Adelaide bound again
MONDAY 22nd THIS IS
MINE: Well ours actually. Treasures from Thimphu. It was posted on the first
day in Bangkok and miraculously arrived on our first day in Australia. Great
timing Thai post
TUESDAY 24th WHAT I
DO: When I get home after being absent for over 18 months, is go the Adelaide
Central Market and load up on Asian groceries so I can cook up a storm for the family and it's Chinese New Year in just a few days. In the market less than
3 hours after landing and only one of our purchases was available in Thimphu.
PS just realised
there are actually 4 of these things available in Thimphu so I guess another
thing I do is exaggerate
WEDNESDAY 25th IN
THE BACKGROUND: is the Largs Bay jetty in beautiful South Australia and the beach nearest to where we are glad to be staying at my sister's house
THURSDAY 26th YUM:
Today's Australia Day brunch cooked by Matthew and consumed with relish. Yum
yum yum
FRIDAY 27th I CAN'T
LIVE WITHOUT: fresh fruit and vegetables and regular visits to the Central
Market to purchase them
SATURDAY 28th SIGN:
These three characters were on the table when we served a feast for a family
celebration of Chinese New Year today. A sure sign that all the food was Asian
inspired and hoping to bring about prosperity
SUNDAY 29th SHADOW:
Me and my shadow on the walk back from the beach in 39°C heat today
MONDAY 30th HELLO:
We just arrived at this beautiful Art Deco apartment, which we have been lucky
enough to stay at several times before. We have 3 weeks at the sea. Ian's first
words as we walked in the door were, "Hello Jane's House"
TUESDAY 31st
SOMETHING COLOURFUL: This beautiful white ceramic wall clock hanging against a
white wall in a friend's house was something colourful among many strikingly
beautiful and unique pieces. It caught my attention immediately and thanks for
dinner too Jenny
