oNe PhOtO a DaY aUgUsT 2021:

 

AUGUST 1st A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful for locally sourced and roasted coffee and lazy Sundays at home

 

AUGUST 2nd A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I will always be grateful for being able to swim here in this gorgeous garden pool two or three times a week for the last four years. Even during the monsoon, we manage to dodge the showers and keep up our swimming routine; sometimes actually swimming in the rain, which I love

 

AUGUST 3rd A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful for the Buddhist culture, in which we live. These are the youngest monks I’ve spotted in Kep captured on their alms walk this morning as we walked back from the market. In these times more and more boys are turning up at the pagodas and any who are in robes and carrying their bowls, like these two, will always receive something from local traders and those passing by. No matter how little they have something will always be offered in exchange for a prayer. When we first saw these two a woman had stopped on her bicycle to offer money

 

AUGUST 4th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful for the health professionals who are putting themselves at risk to keep us safe and administering vaccines. We are both full vaccinated as of this morning

 

AUGUST 5th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m extremely grateful for my little, big sister, who holds our whole family together. Although I haven’t seen her in over 3 years, - we all know why- this photo was taken today by her adorable granddaughter Elle, who is just five years old. She was at gran’s house and obviously knows how much I miss her even though we message or chat almost every day, so photo credit goes to Elle and I have her permission to post this

AUGUST 6th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful that mountain vistas and newly planted rice paddies are just a bike ride away and that I can now ride to appreciate them. This morning’s 27-kilometer ride even gave us some blue skies and sunshine and we made it home before the rain

 

AUGUST 7th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful for the fresh mostly local produce available in Kep Market

 

AUGUST 8th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful for the fragrant flowers that bloom in our garden and sometimes even get cut for display indoors. This purchase was inspired by the owner of the local nursery giving me a cut flower. Great marketing strategy as I smelt it for several days on the table and course went back to buy not one but three. Two were gifts. It’s a Cuban Ginger, that has now been divided so many times there are four huge pots of it

 

AUGUST 9th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m extremely grateful for the long-term visa that enables us to live the kind of retired life we always wanted to here in Cambodia

 

AUGUST 10th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful for the presence of the little monks of Kep in our lives. Although it is not possible to teach them at the moment, this was taken in one of their last lessons last month and they are by far the blessing of our lives here

 

AUGUST 11th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: Today I’m grateful for this little Khmer mate who loves to get in the pool with us and made me laugh and play with him, now that there are no other children around. Thanks to Ian for snapping this shot

 

AUGUST 12th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m ever grateful for the ocean- my go to place for calm and peace of mind. After years of living in the mountains, (I guess it’s OK to refer to the Himalayas as the mountains) the draw of Kep for me as an Aussie, was the ocean but with a backdrop of mountains we have the best of both worlds, so I guess it’s actually Kep that I’m grateful for

 

AUGUST 13th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: One of my pet peeves in Cambodia is the garbage that is strewn everywhere, so I’m grateful to have received a copy of this children’s book about the environmental impact of rubbish and effective strategies for taking personal responsibility for our own garbage. We will definitely be donating it to the Abbot so that a literate older monk can read it to the little monks of Kep and reinforce the behaviour we have been attempting to initiate at the pagoda.

 

The illustrations are just gorgeous too so I had to include this one

AUGUST 14th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful for the many memories of travelling and hopeful that it will become possible again soon

AUGUST 15th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful we both love to cook and almost everything we eat is prepared from scratch by us. Tonight’s dinner …..

 

AUGUST 16th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful for books- the escape, entertainment, information, insights and inspiration they provide. Currently mostly reading digitally but this binge on Jackie French was initiated by a purchase of a second-hand copy of a paperback of the first in a series. I’m now in book 8 and dreading that there is only one more left after this

 

AUGUST 17th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful for the years I spent studying Chinese independently and the fact that I periodically return to it and still enjoy it. Currently using an online app but as always, I love the writing and a real dictionary to supplement the material

 

AUGUST 18th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful for EMS services. After more than a year and a half with no postal service between Australia and Cambodia I finally bit the bullet and sent this gift to my sister just over a week ago. Despite being told it might take a month to get there, she received it yesterday, which was only eight days later. There were this angel wing ring and matching earrings in the small package with a beautiful quote……

“Angel wings are a powerful symbol of protection, courage and harmony. They can give us strength to rise above any negativity and failures in life and come out stronger than before”

 

AUGUST 19th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: Today is world photography day and as I’m grateful for photography, I have selected a favourite shot from my archives. I’m thankful for the memories held in photos, the inspiration of the PAD challenge and the imagery, inspiration, significance and creativity of the images we are so easily able to view and share in this era of social media

 

AUGUST 20th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: Today I’m more grateful than ever for the mangroves, which are growing and expanding along sections of the coastline here, in Kep. I have just recently discovered that they are better than tropical forests for their positive impacts. “Mangroves serve as an ecological bulwark with the ability - greater than tropical forests, to capture carbon dioxide, stop coastal erosion, give shelter and sustainable sustenance to animal species, provide food for local communities and filter the ocean waters, protecting the adjacent crops.”

 

AUGUST 21st A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful for afternoon treats at home after swimming

*This shot was selected for the fabulous four on the day it was taken and posted

 

AUGUST 22nd A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: Today I’m grateful for the skills of Koi, who took this coffee table with a cracked glass top and fashioned a bamboo replacement surface. More than ever I’m grateful for repairs, repurposing and revitalizing of household items rather than replacing them. I think it’s better than the original and more durable too

 

AUGUST 23rd A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful that yesterday a new bud appeared on the lotus, which had been dormant for about two months

 

AUGUST 24th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful for my trusty old second-hand bicycle and that I can ride it again after my accident. It’s my main means of transport and great for the environment, my health and my budget. Win, win, win

 

AUGUST 25th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: Today I’m grateful for Hugo’s massage, Physio treatments, advice and exercises for the last seven months and the amount of progress that has occurred

AUGUST 26th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: Today I’m grateful for a new haircut and a hairdresser who is bilingual and listens. I might be feeling decidedly second-hand but a fresh new image helps. August selfie sorted

AUGUST 27th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: Today I’m grateful for our friend and regular tuk tuk driver, who always arrives on time, always waits patiently for us and always smiles

AUGUST 27th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I’m grateful for little reminders of our time in Bhutan scattered all over our house

 

AUGUST 29th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: Today I’m grateful for the place we have called home for almost four years and the simple quiet life we get to lead here, given the turmoil of the last year and a half

 

AUGUST 30th A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: I will be forever grateful for the many friends I have scattered all over the world

AUGUST 31st A MONTH OF GRATITUDE: In the tradition of saving the best ‘til last, for the last 38 years I have been exceedingly grateful that Ian has been my soul mate, my lover, my fellow adventurer, my sounding board, my co-teacher, my travelling companion, my co-conspirator, my shoulder to
cry on, my biggest fan, my support, my partner in crime and so much more. I simply can’t imagine life without him

 

THE PROMPTS 

oNe PhOtO a DaY jUlY 2021:

 

JULY 1st HELLO: from me at breakfast at my favourite eatery in Phnom Penh. That’s my selfie for the month sorted too!

 

JULY 2nd NO FILTER: A sunset view of Phnom Penh across the Tonle Sap River with a Bhutanese prayer flag flying from the balcony of our friends’ apartment - cropped but no filter

JULY 3rd AIR: Although they look like shadows, they are actually breeze blocks which allow the air to circulate in this gorgeous, open, light gallery space at the historic Art Deco train station building in PP. The renovations are as yet incomplete but I already love it

 

JULY 4th DRINK: Ian’s choice at the sky bar where we celebrated his birthday was this drink. I’ve never before seen a cocktail served in an enamel mug and spritzed with whiskey at the table

 

JULY 5th OPEN: This long neck variety of avocado is not one I’d encountered until I arrived in Cambodia and I struggled to know if they were ripe or not at first. The only real way to be sure is to open one. This one looks perfect to me

 

JULY 6th GOLD: The Buddhas and acolytes in Cambodian pagodas are almost always gold. This is the shady zone, where the boys like to sit during break time. It’s just outside our classroom door in Wat Phnom Poon

JULY 7th FIRE: The outdoor food stalls in Old Market Street Kampot almost all cook on charcoal. This was the fire roasting a pumpkin and heating up for the lunchtime pizza trade this morning

JULY 8th COOL: Despite being 28°C today it was windy, rainy and overcast and most of the boys were claiming it was cold. This one decided it was cool enough to wear his blanket to class. He also thinks he is a pretty cool character!!

 

JULY 9th STARTS WITH C: That would be cookies and coffee at home after a walk in the monsoon rains

 

JULY 10th PEN: This tiny pen lives in my purse and there have been many times when I’ve been glad to have it

 

JULY 11th GREENERY: There is no shortage of lush green environments in this part of the world especially now during monsoon season, but that doesn’t deter the mobile motorcycle-trailers from plying a very successful trade selling locally propagated greenery. They usually travel in groups of three or four, all selling largely the same plants, and I am always thrilled to see them almost empty at the end of the day. This was the beginning of the day’s trading and there were two others parked on the opposite side of the road

 

JULY 12th STARTS WITH T: I love it when the original Art Deco tiles are incorporated into the renovations of old colonial buildings from a by gone era. These were discovered in Phnom Penh recently

 

JULY 13th BUTTON: Coconut shell buttons on a favourite Chinese style shirt. This one is a copy of the original I bought at WOMAD 10 years ago.  As I loved it so much I had it copied in black hemp

 

JULY 14th POSITIVITY: My new one-year visa for Cambodia was recently issued and the word MULTIPLE referring to the number of entries I can make into Cambodia, gives me hope that travel restrictions will be eased and travel to international destinations may once again become possible

 

JULY 15th HELPFUL: If there is one helpful thing we can do to get a degree of safety for all in the current situation, economies kickstarted, community life resumed, travel options opening up and life back on track, I personally believe it’s get vaccinated. We had our first jab today and that’s Ian in the go position with eyes firmly shut and looking the other way

JULY 16th SOMETHING RED: A cockscomb flower from the garden. They just randomly pop up and bloom in various spots around the front yard and always remind me of visiting the Mogul Gardens in Srinagar, Kashmir on my very first overseas adventure many decades ago

JULY 17th SUN: Don’t even know how the sun suddenly became star shaped but that’s exactly what it looked like: no editing

July 18th “LIFE IS ….. what happens when you’re busy making other plans” - thanks John Lennon. We went out on the mangrove road for a bike ride this morning and saw so much bird life: swiftlets, egrets, hoopoes, drongos and more that 10 brilliant turquoise kingfishers. Feeling blessed

 

JULY 19th ALL WHITE: A spray of orchids from our garden where they seem to thrive on neglect

 

JULY 20th AT WORK: Although we are officially retired we do volunteer teach the little monks of Kep. It is far more like being at pleasure than being at work most of the time. This is An and Gam the two longest standing members of the class busy in today’s lesson

 

JULY 21st OLD: This is an old, Tibetan silver locket which actually opens. The symbol in the design is the word “Om” written in the Tibetan script used in Mahayana Buddhism and therefore religious texts in Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal and other countries in that region. I treasure it and wear it often. I only wish I had thought to put some Bhutanese soil in it before leaving the kingdom. Maybe one day I’ll have a chance to go back and do just that

 

JULY 22nd PETALS: Of the ten lotus blooms which grew in our pot pond - just this one didn’t open. Instead all the petals dehydrated in the intense heat. I’ve never seen a dried lotus bud before so I cut it and kept it. Now it rests in the hands of Buddha

 

JULY 23rd SHOP: We had to take a quick break in the class yesterday as the shaved ice vendor arrived on his motorcycle shop. For just 25 cents or 1,000 riel he will shave the block of ice into a cup add red or green syrup or both and top it off with evaporated milk. Great little one-man, low cost start-up business.  If only there were a way to not use plastic cups and straws ……

 

JULY 24th PEACE: This is an archive shot from 2009 when I organized a student and teachers’ Japan trip for the international school, in which I was then working.  These eight students got to toll the Peace Bell in Peace Park Hiroshima and learn the history of that city

 

JULY 25th ART: Although the gallery space in the Art Deco train station is not complete, there is still some art hanging. This piece immediately caught my eye. There is only street art here in Kep and it hasn’t stopped raining yet today so this is a shot from a couple of weeks ago when we were in the capital

 

JULY 26th CURVES: A favourite piece of jewellery was broken by the airline on the last trip we took! Luckily for me I discovered this on arrival in Bangkok, where I had bought it. Bingo! We went back to the same little street vendor in Khao San Road area and bought another one and when we got home to Kep I adapted the first one. So now I have two and I love them both and wear them often

 

JULY 27th FUEL: Just possibly the unhealthiest slice I have ever made. It was an experiment and it didn’t really set properly but it is a sticky, delicious disaster - human fuel

 

JULY 28th ANIMAL: This style of guardian lion is usually found in pairs guarding the entrances to temples and businesses in Cambodia but this one was solitary and seemingly abandoned but carved from beautiful marble with a patina

 

JULY 29 FADED: A functioning bakery in very dilapidated premises- faded glory. We have to check on it each time we visit Kampot because I so don’t want it to disappear. Anyone got a cool million to invest in a restoration project??

 

July 30th MY FAVE WORD: well this is one of them and an archive shot from 2017 when we last visited New York City.

 

“If you only carry one thing, throughout your entire life, let it be hope. Let it be hope that better things are always ahead. Let it be hope that you can get through even the toughest of times. Let it be hope that you are stronger than any challenge that comes your way. Let it be hope that you are exactly where you are meant to be right now, and that you are on the path to where you are meant to be ….. Because during these times, hope will be the very thing that carries you through.” Nikki Banas

JULY 31st DREAMY: Just another dreamy, monsoon sunset in Kep

THE PROMPTS