oNe PhOtO a DaY aPrIl 2019

 

THE PROMPTS FOR THE MONTH

MONDAY 1st FUN: A new, free, fun zone has arrived at the beach in Kep. Today was the first time I have seen it packed with giggling local kids. Until now I’ve only ever seen it empty

TUESDAY 2nd THIS IS ME: in my element- doing what I love in the little monks’ class today. Thanks to Ian for the photo – my attempts at selfies were pathetic

WEDNESDAY 3rd ENVIRONMENT: Sometimes the mountains still call to me but for me nothing quite spells the perfect environment in the way that the ocean always will

THURSDAY 4th FLAT LAY: Eleven possessions made in Cambodia

FRIDAY 5th WALK: Quintessential Kep! The mountains behind and the ocean all around. It’s impossible not to walk to the end of this jetty just so you can look back and admire the view

SATURDAY 6th IN BED: Breakfast in bed- that weekend feeling

SUNDAY 7th BROKEN: Time to replace the carry basket on the back of my bike. I bought a new one yesterday because the old one is so broken and damaged that it is no longer possible to carry anything in it safely

MONDAY 8th WEIRD: I think this is some kind of centipede but to me it's pretty weird. This one was in the National Park where it’s welcome to live- not quite so keen on finding them in the house however

TUESDAY 9th YELLOW: The yellow orchid I planted last year is currently absolutely flourishing

WEDNESDAY 10th I DID THIS TODAY: I baked zucchini, spinach and cheese muffins with salted black peppercorns and made a tomato salsa to have with them

THURSDAY 11th FOUR: people on a “moto” is not such an unusual thing here. This was the sight that greeted us at 7:30am on Tuesday, when these little guys came to tell us that we couldn’t have English classes until after the Khmer New Year celebrations were over! So very responsible of them to let us know, even if they were shy and almost silent at the time. We finally got the message via Google translate

*I was also thrilled that this shot was selected in the Fab Four on Instagram for this prompt

FRIDAY 12th CHEESE: Greek salad wouldn’t be the same without feta

SATURDAY 13th LETTERS: in the logo of the Swiss NGO, which upcycles trash and empowers local women in Kep. We are attempting to sell their products today at the Meraki Khmer New Year Garden Party

SUNDAY 14th MAKES ME LAUGH: As early customers in one of our favourite cafes in Kampot this morning, this tiny little waitress with such a professional manner delivered our menus. It made me laugh

MONDAY 15th NIGHT SKY: My new favourite spot to watch the sunset and experience the warm flush of the night sky is the Sailing Club here in Kep

TUESDAY 16th PJS: are everyday daytime wear here for many women and girls. They do suit the climate - not that we wear them normally. This is an archive shot taken on NYE when the local bar (Mangroove Bar and Restaraunt) we frequent held a pyjama party. Excuse the poor quality shot it was taken at night on timer and selfie mode in my phone!

WEDNESDAY 17th LUNCH: We don’t often eat lunch actually. Today, however it was very much required since the Khmer New Year’s Party we hosted last night finished after 4am. A late lunch of a little bit of left over salad with peanut sauce and a dish inspired by the long beans in Ian’s kitchen garden with rice, has made all the difference to the energy levels

THURSDAY 18th PINK: Being my least favourite colour I knew this would have to be a flower and fragrant pink frangipani fits the bill perfectly. Flowers never disappoint even when they are pink

FRIDAY 19th A GOOD THING: I sure hope the homemade double chocolate cake I made this morning is a good thing for our gathering of friends to celebrate Lolo’s birthday tonight at Sea Lovers Guesthouse

SATURDAY 20th SOMEONE YOU LOVE: no doubt about it that would be Ian

SUNDAY 21st EGGS: Sunday morning breakfast bliss- baguettes with the lot!! That’s chilli jam, Vegemite, cheese, tomatoes, basil, amaranth and soft-boiled eggs, served with coffee. Ian’s speciality - I don’t do mornings! Any day that begins like this is going to be fabulous

MONDAY 22nd HIGH: in the sky, the canopy of the coconut palms sway

TUESDAY 23rd APPLE: No doubt about it we are an Apple couple. Currently in possession of 7 working models of various ages- not bad for just two of us

WEDNESDAY 24th GRASS: We ride past these gazebos surrounded by grass right on the ocean front daily and they always look so inviting. Perfect future picnic location now that the high tourist season is almost over

THURSDAY 25th LOW: As the pagoda is under construction now, our classroom has been reconfigured and most of the students are once again writing at the same low tables that they always use for meals too

FRIDAY 26th BLUE: The shutters on traditional Khmer homes are always blue. When I went to take a photo of them at our landlord’s house for this prompt, I spotted him peering out at me and no doubt wondering what I was up to

SATURDAY 27th A GREEN FOOD: A staple in our house homemade Thai basil and green amaranth, peanut pesto and local noodles. It’s a green food I never tire of

SUNDAY 28th DIRTY: black skies and a storm brewing in Kep Bay this morning. The monsoons will soon be upon us

MONDAY 29th FREEDOM: I copied this quote yesterday thinking I would use it for my 100-day project but then this prompt came up today and it seemed so appropriate. Kep Bay looking serenely beautiful. “The oceans are the last free place on the planet” Paul Watson

TUESDAY 30th GOLDEN HOUR: at our favourite spot near the Crab Market in Kep

oNe PhOtO a DaY mArCh 2019

THE PROMPTS FOR THE MONTH

FRIDAY 1st SOMETHING COLOURFUL: It just has to be our delicious lunch of grilled vegetables with pesto sauce from Simple Things in Kampot today

SATURDAY 2nd ALONE: When we took our little monks for an activity and yoga session this week they all responded quite differently to the experience. Doe, who is often quiet and pensive, really enjoyed the alone time. They are almost always together and currently living in cramped quarters as a new temple is being built. He delighted in telling me he could see monkeys and they were eating bananas when I came to find him. His nature seems to suit his calling and he obviously enjoys being alone

SUNDAY 3rd OLD: style cures and remedies from Lao. I spotted these two small bottles at the Mangroove Guesthouse Kep today. I think you’d have to be pretty desperate to want to consume something infused with either scorpion or snake

MONDAY 4th HAPPY: Nothing quite says happy like smiley face stickers - rewards for clever little monks

TUESDAY 5th FLOWERS: I adore Lotus flowers and with the petals folded in prepared for offering on Buddhist altars they are even more striking

WEDNESDAY 6th OUT OF THE WINDOW: An archive shot of me looking and leaning out of the porch window in a house I love in the fishing village in Kep. I snuck up to the porch and was in fact taking the photo, I posted for the turquoise prompt at the time. Thanks to Ian for taking this shot

THURSDAY 7th PHONE: This is what happens if you leave your phone unattended during the painting session in the monks’ class! An looking pretty happy to be taking photos with Sophie’s phone

FRIDAY 8th GRATEFUL FOR: We are extremely grateful to Madam Yary for providing us with the opportunity to interact with the little monks of Kep and allowing us to swim in her pool. Today she gave us the chance to enjoy the pool with the little monks and the excitement level was off the scale

SATURDAY 9th BIRD: With today being a 9 Market day I was wondering how I could get a bird shot with only my phone, then this delightful little Blue Jay popped up on my memories. Taken on this day in Washington DC two years ago; this was my first sighting of a Blue Jay and I happened to have my camera with me

SUNDAY 10th WORDS: I have been trying to establish a regular meditation and mindfulness practice and these words from the app I use rang true for me today

MONDAY 11th ABOUT ME: First and foremost, I’m a passionate teacher, despite officially being retired. Without a doubt I am also an avid cyclist, swimmer and traveller. That’s is without even mentioning being a creative vegetarian cook or committed nature loving environmentalist .... The list goes on. Thanks to Ian for capturing these shots of me doing the things I love over the last few months

TUESDAY 12th MY MOOD TODAY: is peaceful and calm just like the waters of Kep Bay. Our session with the monks this morning was productive and rewarding and tonight we have 15 guests coming for dinner and preparations are under way and it all seems to be falling into place. It might just get a little frantic around 7pm!!

WEDNESDAY 13th JEWEL: “Om Mani Padme Hum” is often translated to the jewel in the heart of the lotus referring to Buddha and how he is often depicted seated in a lotus flower. Mani is therefore the word jewel. Whilst I do not claim to be a Buddhist I have lived in and loved many Buddhist cultures and find the precepts and philosophy both fascinating and insightful

THURSDAY 14th SIMPLE: getting your bs and ds backwards is a simple mistake actually

FRIDAY 15th KID: Just because he is a monk doesn’t mean he’s not still a kid. This was last Friday when we had the opportunity to take our little monks swimming. Chit is one of the older ones, but when it comes to playing in the water, he is truly like a kid in a candy store. Although teaching is our priority we do love to give them the opportunity to just be kids for a while sometimes

SATURDAY 16th ON THE GROUND: A lovely new, Blue recycled single use plastic bag mat is the latest addition to our decor on the ground in the guest room. Created by the talented and hardworking rural women employed by IWA Kep and kindly donated to us by our neighbour who is moving out today. We are going to miss you Anne

SUNDAY 17th SOMETHING GREEN: Mangoes on one of the many trees in our yard. These green ones are fabulous in salads and the trees are simply loaded with them right now. Time to experiment with a new raw salad I think- a perfect lazy Sunday activity

MONDAY 18th JAR: A jar inside a jar actually. It’s Ian’s salt water pickling, which of course often involves chillies

TUESDAY 19th FUNNY: Moving house with only a motorcycle. Our neighbour, until just few days ago, relocated, sold and delivered most of her possessions by “moto”. Crazy loads are not such an unusual sight here but it’s usually locals who get up to theses antics. I guess that’s when you know you’ve adapted perfectly to the culture

WEDNESDAY 20th PILE: This pile of pastries tempted me this morning when we went to L’Epi d’Or to get our baguettes. The birthday celebrations begin now with a few of these treats

THURSDAY 21st WALL: Ironically this wall is almost directly opposite one of our favourite vegetarian restaurants in Phnom Penh

FRIDAY 22nd CRAVING: A ‘Phnom Penher’ to celebrate my birthday in the very capital it’s named after. Great way to revive after walking miles in the searing heat

SATURDAY 23rd OK: This is quintessential Phnom Penh - an ancient cyclo-rider relaxing with a cigarette, in a hammock, in his cyclo in the central market area. He was thrilled I wanted a photo

SUNDAY 24th BLACK AND WHITE: One of the unplanned purchases we made yesterday was a book of mandalas for colouring or painting. I think some little monks we know are going to love them

MONDAY 25th FASHION: Traditional, formal Khmer style fashion spotted yesterday just outside the National Museum. I love that it’s still possible to see people dressed like this

TUESDAY 26th SKY: Although it has been overcast for days, just as we were leaving the monastery this morning the blue sky peeked through the clouds above the heads of the golden Buddhas that line the driveway

WEDNESDAY 27th HOME: This is our current home from the perspective of the chair, where I almost always sit in the living room. It incorporates aspects of many different cultures and places where we have lived in the past as well as a double helping of Cambodia. Wednesdays are at home days mostly and right now it smells of delicious Asian treats created with spoils from our last trip to the capital

THURSDAY 28th STICK: So, what do you do when one of a pair of chopsticks is damaged, broken or lost? Turn the remaining one into a swizzle stick, of course

FRIDAY 29th MIRROR: Playing with a tiny makeup mirror and the Buddha, which sits in the living room altar I created

SATURDAY 30th PARK: The Incredible Tree labelled as such in Kep National Park, where we were once again this afternoon

SUNDAY 31st FIX: Perfect Sunday activity- experimenting with making eco- wraps. One small action towards a plastic free lifestyle. We all need to do the little we can to fix our ailing planet