Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Trees I love from places I’ve lived.


The Photo a Day prompt yesterday was “my favourite tree” and I saw it and thought “Who has a favourite tree?” and then started to think about it. I do actually. 


For almost all of the different places we have lived I can recall a favourite tree. One we revisited often and admired through all the seasons and whenever we return have to go check on. 


The first to come to mind was that wonderful Ginko tree in Hiroshima. It was huge and a very busy main road veered around it, so a traffic island was made for it.  Resplendent in a dense coverage of yellow autumn hues we would sometimes ride our bikes there just to check on it. 


Suddenly, I remembered the enormous mango tree in Rangjung, which we were so disappointed to discover was no longer standing this year, when we were able to visit. Oh, how we loved seeing it laden with fruit or walking by without having even glanced at it, only to hear some grade four kid, from Ian’s class, calling “Sir, sir sir,” from the branches and scurrying down the trunk to present us with some of the many mangoes he and his mates were surreptitiously collecting in the huge pockets of their Ghos. That tree was public property and everyone enjoyed its fruit and the shade it provided at kuru matches. We didn’t ask about what had happened to it but it obviously wasn’t development that caused its demise. 


Then I recalled the ancient cypress tree in Jinci Park in Taiyuan, China, our first ever overseas appointment, and how we battled traffic and coal dust riding our bikes to get to the park and admire its huge expanse and then explore the 1,400 year old temples and picnic in the shade with other expats when the park was completely rundown and at its most attractive to my mind. 



In Kep, it was the aptly named  and labeled ‘Incredible Tree’ in the National Park that lured us back to walk the trail again and again never stopping before that point and turning back because that would mean missing the highlight. Often we were carrying a picnic lunch to have at the pond further along the trail and with friends


In Dali, China, the big old tree by Er Hai Lake that was the centre piece of a small square, was certainly a favourite. That tree, which may have been a Banyan but I can’t say for certain, was surrounded by a circular, concrete bench at the base and old men gathered to smoke their pipes, women sat gossiping in the shade on lunch breaks from working in the bean fields and children played the sunshine. The small shop windows of houses, fronting it provided local tobacco, snacks, glasses of tea and warm soft drinks. It often inspired us to take the long walk to the lake front which we soon discovered could also be accomplished on bikes. 



For Adelaide, it is the massive Morton Bay Fig at the end of this fig lined avenue, in the Botanic Gardens. That tree has been the site of many a photo shoot over the decades, including the day we were married. Never once have we visited or even walked through the gardens, without going by to check on it. 


Recently while living in Thimphu we fell in love with an enormous cypress in the grounds of the Pangrizampa Buddhist Astrology School. The entire grounds are truly spectacular and we returned there several times to enjoy the serenity and lush gardens and gorgeous mountain views, to say nothing of the delightful interactions with monks, young and old, but for us it was the tree that was the real treasure. 


Here in Phnom Penh?  The jury is still out about which tree might be our favourite but there are many we do love. This heart shaped tree in a very special friend’s beautiful garden is the red hot favourite. Unfortunately, the lack of extensive green spaces is one of the few things about this amazing city that saddens me. 



So, do we have one truly special tree for everywhere we have lived? …..  I wonder.




Monday, September 30, 2024

One PhOtO a DaY sEpTeMbEr 2024:


SEPTEMBER 1st THINGS I LOVE: include travel and photography: capturing the images that reinforce the memories. Just a few of my favourite travel pictures from my collection



SEPTEMBER 2nd A COLOURFUL DOOR: Actually one of four wooden panels that are the doors of the main entrance of a Chinese Temple built during the time Cambodia was a French Protectorate. It is now in the grounds of a school in our local neighborhood. These panels all depict door gods or deities in pairs



SEPTEMBER 3rd ARTISTIC SELFIE: I am neither very artistic nor good at selfies so as my dear ole mum used to say, “That’s as good as it gets.”



SEPTEMBER 4th A PLAYGROUND: very near our home and actually full of kids in the late afternoon but I thought it was a bit weird to photograph other people’s children without their permission


AUGUST 5th A CUP OF TEA:   I almost never drink tea; give me coffee every time. There are very few varieties I can stomach. However I do always have some in the house as we have guests and friends for whom it is their preferred tipple so that’s the cup of tea for me



SEPTEMBER 6th SUNRISE: from our front terrace in Phnom Penh. It’s an archive shot from September two years ago as I was sound asleep at sunrise this morning and after months of waking up at 2 or 3am and lack of sleep I’m revelling in actually sleeping again 



AUGUST 7th CURVES: I spent a couple of hours yesterday morning trying to clean the curves and straights of the fretwork security screens on our terrace. It’s rather the thankless task as they don’t actually look much better than when I started but I at least know I did it 



SEPTEMBER 8th SHADOWS ON THE WALL: Our standing Buddha casting shadows on the living room wall that make it look like it has faces on both sides




SEPTEMBER 9th INTERESTING DOOR KNOB: on the main doors of a local Chinese Temple. The square in the centre contains the auspicious Chinese character meaning double happiness which is most often associated with weddings


SEPTEMBER 10th IN MY HAND: is the stick of the Tibetan Singing Bowl I recently bought and like to ring almost everyday. The pedantic in me knows the bowl is actually on my hand but that was what prompted the shot



SEPTEMBER 11th A CANDLE: There are several candles in the house but I really like the ceramic pot that this one is in. There are some Aussie touches in our Asian decor too



SEPTEMBER 12th FAMILY TRADITION: The only thing I can come up with is baking. I can never remember having bought desserts at home or sweet snacks in our school lunchboxes. My mum baked everything we ate and had a rule for herself to give at least half of it away. I too follow this tradition as these cookies baked today are already packed to gift

*unexpected this one was chosen for the Fab Four on Facebook 

SEPTEMBER 13th A BICYCLE WHEEL: Rear bicycle wheels lined up on a busy corner and available for public rental



SEPTEMBER 14th HIDDEN BEAUTY: The architectural hidden beauty can be overlooked amongst the development and bustle of inner city living but we are fortunate to live in one of the oldest districts of Phnom Penh and I still notice little remnants



 SEPTEMBER 15th A FENCE: that surrounds the beautiful green space of Wat Phnom and one that mimics the peaks of the traditional rooflines as seen in the pavilion behind it. Just five minutes from home and a little haven in the mid city


SEPTEMBER 16th A STATUE: of a Khmer warrior at the stunning pool we often swim in



SEPTEMBER 17th BUBBLES: of a celebratory nature.  A very old fashion but delicious Kir Royale cocktail on the terrace at home

 SEPTEMBER 18th A COLOURFUL MURAL: down a back alley and almost always at least partially covered by parked food trucks And overhead wires



SEPTEMBER 19th WILDFLOWERS: They do grow wild all over Cambodian but this particular one is on our terrace. The best I can manage given that we live in a bustling capital city of about two and a half million people



SEPTEMPER 20th ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE: I love the turrets we randomly see all over the city and this one is just metres from home



SEPTEMBER 21st PLAY TIME: for adults at one of our favourite sky bar locations with Aussie guests and mates



SEPTEMBER 22nd A NATIONAL FLAG: The Khmer flag is frequently flown on public holidays in Cambodia and we just happened to have one at home so that we too can follow the local customs



SEPTEMBER 23rd AN OLD PHOTO: I specifically went to this gorgeous shop in Kampot immediately after we arrived today for this prompt. They have an extensive collection of old black and white photos of many South East Asian countries but of course I was attracted to the Cambodian images and had to buy a few including this one of traditional dancers


SEPTEMBER 24th A CAR INTERIOR: I’m hoping the open boot counts? Having sold my last car in 1989 this was my best option today. It’s seemed a bit invasive to be sticking my head or phone into someone else’s vehicle. This driver is looking for passengers and the open boot indicates he is definitely going today as in that esky are fresh crabs. This is how it works in towns across Cambodia. Open the boot show the cargo and anyone interested negotiates a passenger price with the driver and off you go



SEPTEMBER 25th A ROOFTOP: Several rooftops actually. Taken from a rooftop bar overlooking the Russian Market in Phnom Penh

SEPTEMBER 26th BOOKSHELF: A house is not a home until it contains books. We have very few shelves in our home and there are little piles of books in each of them. This is the bedroom collection of books we are currently reading and those that are still unread


SEPTEMBER 26th BOOKSHELF: A house is not a home until it contains books. We have very few shelves in our home and there are little piles of books in each of them. This is the bedroom collection of books we are currently reading and those that are still unread


SEPTEMBER 28th A NEON SIGN AT NIGHT: Well neon lights on the iconic old bridge in Kampot, with its eclectic styles from the various repairs and reconstructions  over the years


SEPTEMBER 29th CLEAN: That’s how you get the dishes clean if you are a street side vendor in the market area here in Phnom Penh!


SEPTEMBER 30th A BATHROOM: in our apartment where the mirror reflects the family of friends collage I created on the wall opposite it

PROMPTS





Tuesday, September 24, 2024

KAMPOT REVISITED


It’s always a joy to take the train to Kampot. The experience is reminiscent of a bygone era. We always hope for the non aircon carriage just so we can open the windows and take photos but it doesn’t always work that way. 



After exiting the city through humble dwellings perched precariously close to the tracks and seeing a perspective of inner city life we would otherwise not be privy to, the vistas expand into extensive lotus ponds and at this time of year after the monsoon rains they were full to bursting with lotus in full bloom, a proliferation of newly emerging buds and dense leaf coverage. 

The visual then expands into back view the factories, old temples, dirt tracks and tiny villages and vast expanses of lush green rice paddies some of which are almost ready for harvesting now. There is one stretch of the track that we find spectacular. With a back drop of mountains and ponds and paddies bordered with coconut and sugar palms and plenty of birds skimming the water or wading in it or perching on overhead wires, it seems nothing has changed for a millennium or two. 



Within four hours you have arrived in Kampot station and are surrounded by two to three times the number of willing tuk tuk drivers for the meagre number of passengers disembarking. 



A quick spin downtown in your selected vehicle or in our case the tenacious individual who herded us away and seemed to talk non stop without drawing breath for the entire ride. 



Time to hit the streets and revisit old favourite hang outs, make new discoveries and catch up with old mates while enjoying the company of those who have accompanied you on this little jaunt. 



We indulged ourselves with a short stay in a hotel we have long loved for its friendly staff and sumptuous meals but never before stayed in. If you haven’t already let me encourage you to choose The Old Cinema Hotel. I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s affordable and yet luxurious with an old world charm oozing from the art deco decor. 



The staff are friendly and attentive without being overbearing or pushy. The attention to detail in drink and food service is incredible and the menu extensive enough to satisfy even fussy eaters with dietary restrictions and preferences like our small gathering. We loved the Gin Club and other cocktails and the share platters of food, but there is a lot more on offer as well. 



Kampot abounds in quirky little cafés, shopping outlets and fascinating architecture - old, dilapidated, restored, renovated, repurposed and new. Take a stroll through the backstreets and enjoy the juxtapositions and jumble of styles of it all. It’s quiet and calm while still having an upbeat ‘happening place’ vibe about it. Old Market street offers some of the best and worst of Cambodian and Barang style hospitality but there is a lot more to K/pot than that one street. It has pockets of true Khmer culture and a young bohemian counter culture and everything in between coexisting happily together.

 


No it’s not paradise. There are issues and development and conflicts and challenges but if you can’t find something that truly fascinates or delights you then you simply can’t be trying. Without a doubt we will be back. Truth be told we already have another booking to return. We have never failed to make new discoveries and still relish revisiting old favourites. Somehow it also never seems possible to leave without making a purchase or two either but how could you call yourself a tourist or traveller if you didn’t support the local businesses? 



And for one final plug if you are vain enough to need a 
particular hairstyle you can’t beat Mony Saloon anywhere in the Kingdom of Wonder. So there it is in a nutshell if you haven’t yet visited The Pot do yourself a favour.