oNe PhOtO a DaY mArCh 2026

 

MARCH 1st A FORK: Yes I know it’s an oyster fork but as a vegetarian I bought it for fruit … a fork is a fork is a fork 

MARCH 2nd A TOY: or a piece of sports equipment I’m not sure but it is hugely popular with kids, youth and adults alike. Everyday people gather to play with these simple shuttlecocks in the twilight hours in Phnom Penh 

MARCH 3rd A BUILDING: still under construction but modern to the extreme and indicative of the changing face of Phnom Penh 

MARCH 4th A CLOUD: A single, black storm cloud superimposed over the usual white backdrop after a brief, unseasonal rainstorm this afternoon 

MARCH 5th A BOTTLE: I regularly refill with my homemade duplicate, now that it is no longer available for purchase

MARCH 6th A STREET SIGN: I spotted at the bus station this morning 

MARCH 7th A FLOWER: from the huge Sea Almond tree that grows inside Wat Phnom Pon above this reclining and other seated Buddhas 

MARCH 8th A DRINK: An Espresso Martini as a celebration of all the strong, independent and compassionate women. May we be them, raise them, teach them and appreciate them. May we always appreciate each other and stand strong together! Happy International Women's Day to all my sensational sisters out there

MARCH 9th A CAR: an archive shot for me today as we were on Rabbit Island on a beach day excursion with the little monks and it’s a vehicle free environment. This is a car which is an art installation/ advertising for a chocolate cafe in the very interesting precinct of Talat Noi in Bangkok 

 MARCH 10th A HAT: Not just any hat a Brokpa hat. The highland people of far eastern Bhutan wear these hats and the funny tails ensure the frequent rain they endure runs off their heads. I bought this one for Ian’s birthday when we visited the region so it’s another archive shot from Bhutan this time. Travelling today didn’t provide too many hat options in the bus and this is a favourite image 

MARCH 11th A SHADOW: of the fretwork depicting the wheel of dharma on the Wat Ounalom gates 

MARCH 12th A BOOK: As someone fascinated by words and their use, impact and evolution I’ve always collected quotes. I have also been obsessed with stationery since childhood. Hence this lovable little notebook hankering to be used 

MARCH 13th A PET (OR ONE YOU SAW): There are plenty of none-too- friendly street dogs in Cambodia but this little one has certainly been selected as a pet by a proud and happy new owner … we seem to have sneaked into the shot too as I didn’t pay attention to the mirror 

MARCH 14th A PAIR OF SHOES: It’s rare for me to wear actual shoes- flip flops and sandals yes but shoes no! We went to a theatre production last night and I wore my trusty linen pumps and walking there and back means my toes wish I hadn’t this morning 

MARCH 15th A WINDOW: An internal one and a feature of these old buildings that provides ventilation and light to the stairway. I love the design features that are both decorative and practical in buildings of this era before air conditioning was even a possibility. I promised myself we would restore it when we decided to purchase the apartment which also features round inserts in the walls. Here we are almost four years later and it still hasn’t been done

MARCH 16th A MESS: made by nature and aesthetic for that reason in my mind 

MARCH 17th A GAME: widely played in Cambodia with some beautifully, hand carved and well used sets found in little, corner cafes with five or six packed tables of players and many observers too. They were all amused by me taking a quick pic 

MARCH 18th A DOOR: I spotted out wandering

 MARCH 19th A PATTERN: Cosmic Mandala - It is a symbolic representation of part or all of the universe. It protects a person from the four elements’ calamities (Water, Fire, Earth and Wind) and hangs in our living room. One of the last purchases I made before leaving Bhutan the last time 

MARCH 20th A BALL: I know it’s not but it’s the closest I’ve got all day having spent nearly eight hours on a bus - ball shaped at least and taken on the day 

MARCH 21st A TREE: in the temple grounds adjacent to the hotel we are staying in. The chanting early this morning drew us out of bed to investigate 

MARCH 22nd A LETTER: One down, two to go. Keeping my snail mail project alive. There is no better time to write than when you are having an adventure

MARCH 23rd SUNGLASSES: they are not but with transitional lens they double as sunglasses or in my case quadruple since I have three multi focal lens in them too. Taken on the motor boat that we took yesterday on the Mekong as a part of our kayaking, birdwatching sunset adventure tour

MARCH 24th A CORNER: a Tokay gecko perched in a corner of the pillar near the hand basins at our pit stop on the bus trip to Stung Treng four days ago. I was hoping he’d still be there today when we pulled into the same place but no … 

MARCH 25th A STICK of driftwood found on my favourite beach in Cambodia and now a part of the collection of dried seeds, pods and treasures from nature in our apartment

MARCH 26th A MAILBOX: It’s unusual to see mail boxes here as mail is not delivered. The post office calls and you go and collect so the address must contain a phone number. I spotted this one a couple of day ago and have no idea if or how it is used but it’s nicely located on the Mekong River 

MARCH 27th A STREET: A typical one where vendors, buyers, motor scooters, bicycles, trucks and carts mingle and accommodate each other 

MARCH 28th A HAPPY PLACE: the beach and at sunset has always been my happy place. This is an archive shot of Koh Rong Sanloem and I intend to return very, very soon  

MARCH 29th A PLATE: my favourite orange one with tonight’s dinner on it

MARCH 30th A DOORMAT: There is more than one use for a doormat 

MARCH 31st A SQUARE: I seem to have developed a penchant for square bracelets over the years. “Round peg in a square hole” I guess

PROMPTS

MEKONG ADVENTURE

What a great afternoon we had. Cruising along in the motor boat spotting veggie plots, water buffalo and birds as we ventured further and further from the town. 

About an hour and a half later we stopped for a kayaking experience. We confessed to being inexperienced novices but from the starting point there were a lot of obstacles in the water: rocks, tree roots, massive trees and hidden unknowns below us. We did a complete circle at one point, bump steered using the paddles to push off from trees, roots and other obstructions and eventually entangled ourselves smack up against a huge tree with branches trapping us in place. Luckily we had been given a waterproof bag for phones etc and the guide was more than able to extricate himself from his single kayak to set us free. Finally we fell into a rhythm and reached open water with no further obstacles or entanglements, though we had laughed our way through this entirely absurd incident anyway. 

Once we were cruising, we passed by solitary fishermen in boats and with rods clinging precariously to lone trees growing in the river. At one point there was a large group of partying young people with loud music, barbecues and picnicking families. This is apparently is the brief season for such activities and currently being the end of Ramadan and a Sunday, it was very popular with Muslim youth, of whom there seem to be large numbers in this region. We luckily avoided ensnaring them with our rather random efforts at steering successfully.  

We stopped at a sandy secluded beach after about half an hour and were able to alight and play about in the water. The flow was incredibly strong and swimming against it proved impossible but the water quite clear and unpolluted, unlike in the busy town sector. We cooled off and also had a bit of a wander about the scrub land enjoying bird spotting. 

The guide then suggested that we motor on to another island as we declined another attempt at kayaking fearing we would test his patience to the limit. There we again beached and wandered about watching the antics of the boatman’s offsider and grandson we presume. 

 

We had been spotting birds all along the river but it was here we saw eight grey headed fish eagles. They are huge majestic birds with massive wing spans and grey, white colourings, white legs and black, fingered wing tips. We were able to identify them from descriptions later using a website as the guide wasn’t sure but thought that’s what they were. At first we saw two then three and finally counted eight. One we saw soaring above the water to the safety of a tree clutching a large fish it had just plucked from the water: a magical sighting. Over the course of the afternoon we also saw herons, egrets, ibis, cormorants, bee eaters, and many other birds we were unable to unidentify. 

There were lots of lovely, old and run down but not shabby, occupied, wooden dwellings with veggie plots and clusters of chickens roaming free in their dusty yards and fishing boats moored to the banks. A couple of more secluded, more opulently, newly built, homes and resorts with attached bungalows as accommodation also line the banks, with selfie-taking, young folk testimony to their appeal. 

The timing was perfect as we motored back into town with the sun setting spectacularly as we approached. 

It was a restorative and heartening ecological experience. Our guide explained the changing water levels caused both by seasonal variations and the ever-increasing number of Chinese-built dams on the Mekong upstream. These dams negatively affect the water supply and ecosystems of many of the countries and communities farther downstream and we first heard the issue discussed over a decade ago visiting the nearby region of one thousand islands in Laos.

Despite these environmental concerns, seeing such a large numbers of eagles, which we later discovered are listed as vulnerable, and hearing the guide passionately expound upon the local concerns and conservation and restoration efforts, is promising for recovery and future protection and prevention we thought. 

Just the birthday celebration I was hoping for.