One PhOtO a DaY dEcEmBeR 2024:

 

DECEMBER 1st HALF FULL: It’s actually been a full on day but I did remember the prompt at dinner and well yes my favourite kind of half full. Only totally full would be better!

DECEMBER 2nd MONEY: Cambodia uses two currencies and payment and change can come in one or the other or a combination of both so it certainly tests your maths skills

NOVEMBER 3rd CHEERS: the travelling trio returned home this afternoon and it’s almost wine/ beer o’clock but I’ll have to blame this prompt for the early start 

NOVEMBER 4th SPARKLE: nothing quite sparkles like fireworks

*this was selected for the notable nine on Facebook!

 DECEMBER 5th MERRY: Just strolling past the Chinese temple on our way to the movies when we heard the clatter of cymbals and pounding of drums. Then we spotted a lion dance rehearsal in full swing. A merry group of acrobatic performers

DECEMBER 6th LIGHTS: In our hood the streets light up every evening and the bars do a roaring trade - Phnom Penh Nightlife Street spelt out in lights. It helps you know where you are if you’ve had a few too many as an added bonus

NOVEMBER 7th XMAS TREE: I’m no artist but I’m making labels for Xmas cakes and this was the best of the batch

NOVEMBER 8th THIS IS CUTE: We attended a massive products of Cambodia Xmas fair today and had a bit of a spending spree but we didn’t buy this despite how cute it

NOVEMBER 9th ON THE SHELF:  in a local community retail space was this watercolour with an accompanying touch of Xmas

NOVEMBER 10th A HAT: Not just any hat but the Panama hat we bought in Peru and both still wear. An archive shot because today has been mostly overcast and windy

DECEMBER 12th STAR: In the floor of the newly renovated Central Post Office in Phnom Penh is this beautiful terrazzo star set in the original tiles

NOVEMBER 12th THIS IS JOYFUL: Having guests from both Australia and the USA visiting at the same time and all enjoying hanging out together and all chipping in to bake the final batch of Xmas cakes

NOVEMBER 14th CANDY CANE: Taken on the fly from a tuk tuk this morning actually. This is on the roadside down town in Phnom Penh unfortunately in front of casino which is why I didn’t want stop

DECEMBER 15th SHOPPING: I almost never buy anything online but this laptop stand is something I have been looking at for ages and finally I bit the bullet this morning and got one delivered. Maybe the fourth online purchase and delivery in seven years.  It is exactly what I wanted and I haven’t been near a shop all day

NOVEMBER 15th FESTIVE: A tasty, tempting festive morsel  made with pistachios, cranberry sponge, mascarpone and cream

NOVEMBER 16th MAIL: Just about to head to the post office with this morning’s efforts for my snail mail project. The card is extra special as we just bought ourselves a framed, over sized print of this exact image for the living room wall

DECEMBER 17th DECORATION: When we are about to take off on a little island jaunt and therefore there are no fresh cut flowers in the house I use my collection of dried seed pods found in the neighbourhood streets as a the decoration on the hall table

DECEMBER 18th RED AND GREEN: These are Cambodian Kramas and they have a thousand uses from rolled up as a children’s ball, a baby’s hammock, sun protection, belt, scarf or tow rope. Every Khmer owns one and I always give one to guests who visit us. I own several, love them and wear them regularly

DECEMBER 19th WRAPPING: This is the deconstructed wrapping I did late last night so we could enjoy homemade sandwiches at the ferry port in Sihanoukville  after bussing here from Phnom Penh. They were delicious too

DECEMBER 20th SANTA: Not a Santa in sight on this Cambodian island but I did snap this one as a precaution a few days ago in Phnom Penh when I thought that might be the case

DECEMBER 21st ON THE FLOOR: The ocean floor counts right? That’s where this one time fishing boat seems to have met it’s demise and that is where it remains regardless of the high or low tide

DECEMBER 22nd PARTIAL: Who isn’t partial to a stunning sunrise over the ocean and even more so when on a holiday break?

DECEMBER 23rd SILLY: On our morning walk along the beach this morning we saw this very fresh chilli in the sand at the shoreline. It certainly hadn’t been there overnight as it was so fresh and there wasn’t a soul about so it’s the silly discovery of a chilli for me today

DECEMBER 24th A GIFT: to me from me - oriental lilies and a new, custom made to my preferences and design, handbag made from recycled single use plastic bags. Merry Xmas

DECEMBER 25th CELEBRATE : Xmas is just about the only day of the year when alcohol for breakfast is de rigueur. The celebrations begin now

DECEMBER 27th DECOR: The latest addition to our home decor is still waiting to be hung. Fingers crossed Sunday will be the day. It contains all the elements of Phnom Penh we love: the street scape with residential properties, like our own and monks, hornbills and frangipanis

DECEMBER 28th PEACE: Spreading peace and love in the world through assisting the poor and needy - the Sisters Missionaries of Charity. Despite not being Christians, we had the honour of joining them for a food distribution event at their mission. So happy to offer our time and labour

DECEMBER 29th REFLECTION: The silhouette of the small sampan in the foreground is only visible due to the reflection of the lights on the sunset cruise boat behind it. Riverside atmosphere is enhanced by the refections 

DECEMBER 30th POP: This prompt came a day too early for me. I will be waiting until midnight tomorrow to pop the cork on the bubbles but we’re ready to celebrate a new beginning 

DECEMBER 31st LOOKING BACK: from the start line down the line up for the New Years Eve Parade in Phnom Penh. It’s all about to start happening 

PROMPTS

PhOtO a DaY nOvEmBeR 2024:

NOVEMBER 1st NEGATIVE SPACE: A little prayer wheel which lives near our front door and usually gets spun on our way out of the apartment

NOVEMBER 2nd ON THE TABLE: a still life of letter writing for my snail mail project. I like to write in cafes and an old favourite lunch spot reopened this week and we had to go back for the dish we always loved this afternoon for lunch.

 Lunch 

NOVEMBER 3rd MUGS: My three favourite coffee mugs with very typical Cambodian scenes depicted on them

NOVEMBER 4th MONOTONE: Those rare glimpses of the imprint of buildings long gone …. The slow steady march of development

NOVEMBER 5th CIRCLES: in one of the many cane, rattan and bamboo basket ware stalls in the Russian Market precinct. I absolutely love these stalls and am frequently tempted. Today I succumbed to something completely different …

*this one appeared in the fab five on Facebook

our purchase

NOVEMBER 6th A BRICK WALL: with traditional shutters and the black stains of damp from the wet season. It’s inside a temple compound and from the orange robes hanging and in the window I guess it’s utilised as housing for the monks 

NOVEMBER 7th WATER IN MOTION: the ripples and flow of the Tonle Sap with a sunset cruise boat in the early evening

NOVEMBER 8th HIGH ANGLE: Street life in Phnom Penh featuring the cyclo-riders conducting a city tour for tourists as they do most afternoons

NOVEMBER 9th LONG SHADOW: When we lived in Japan we had some very good friends, who whenever they sensed you were getting uncomfortable sitting seiza style would say, “Long legs please!” These types of shadows always make me recall that expression 

NOVEMBER 10th TECHNOLOGY: When both your brother and sister and others are coming to visit today, the technology that allows you to track their flights and know their much awaited arrival is about to happen, thrills me

NOVEMBER 11th SOFT: I used to think cashmere was the softest fabric in the world but just hours before we flew out of Bhutan this year I was gifted this stunning, baby yak hair shawl by a group of former students who are now wonderful friends and adults. Now I know this is what soft really means. Not a lot of opportunities to wear it in the tropics but I will use it when we travel in winter climates

NOVEMBER 12th A TOY OR GAME : We usually travel with this compact game and play it at home too    

NOVEMBER 13th MULTIPLES: A 3-day public holiday starts tomorrow in Cambodia and multiples of every brand of beer are being loaded into outlets all across the city today

NOVEMBER 14th DELICATE THINGS: Like many others the most delicate things I can think of are flower petals and this Cuban Ginger currently flowering on our terrace is no exception. The blooms rarely last more than a few hours and the scent is gorgeous 

 NOVEMBER 15th ABSTRACT: Sometimes when you accidentally move the camera you get an abstract image that looks like something completely different. This reminds me of birds taking flight

NOVEMBER 16th BICYCLE: A basketry vendor in the market zone scanning for customers

NOVEMBER 17th TIMELESS: Cambodia’s timeless transport option still very much in use on a daily basis and it always comes with a smile 

NOVEMBER 18th MIRROR: The mirror finish on these windows reflects the surrounding buildings

NOVEMBER 19th RUSTED BEAUTY: Several artists in Cambodia work with metal and rust to produce spectacular pieces. I regret not recording the name of the artist, who created these but I thought they were most impressive 

NOVEMBER 20th MYSTERIOUS: We have recently learnt to make a traditional Khmer dish using these lace rice noodles but it is mysterious to me how they can possibly be made

the dish itself

NOVEMBER 21st OLD & NEW: Art. The ancient art of stone rubbing from a stele, I purchased in the 1980s in China and a modern lithograph with a limited numbered print run of a street scene of Phnom Penh I purchased just after we moved to the city

NOVEMBER 22nd BANANA: Thanks to our lovely Khmer neighbour we now know that at Water Festival offerings and altars should include flowers, incense, poha (flattened rice) and bananas. She also kindly donated us poha and bananas and showed us how it is consumed locally. As we don’t have an altar of our own we made the offering in front of one of our standing Buddhas and there it remains until I see her dismantle hers. 

 the full scene

NOVEMBER 23rd DARK AND MOODY: entranceways in the back lanes of Phnom Penh belie the often light and cheerful residences within. This one is off the laneway to our apartment but it is not our entrance

NOVEMBER 24th A BUS STOP: No need for a bus stop here buses can and do stop wherever they feel inclined, so I guess a stopped bus will have to do

NOVEMBER 25th LOW ANGLE: shot taken from the base of a very tall palm

NOVEMBER 26th FAMILY HEIRLOOM: Having lived in seven different countries over the course of my working life, I have precious few possessions that are heirlooms but this little chopping board qualifies. It was my mother’s and only ever used for garlic and onions so the strong flavour didn’t taint other chopping boards and transfer to other food. I’m pretty sure but not certain that my younger brother who is now in his sixties made it in year eight woodwork classes

NOVEMBER 27th A POT: used for Buddhist ceremonial purposes and on sale in Russian Market this morning but not purchased by me 

NOVEMBER 28th NOISY: Last night we attended a very special 50th birthday celebration and whilst dinner was being served sedate, live music was played but after that it most certainly got noisy

NOVEMBER 29th A MOMENT: early this morning when the nightlights were still on, the sky was lightening up but the sun was not yet visible. The Big Durian in the traffic circle in Kampot which we often refer to as the ‘durian-about’ 

NOVEMBER 30th HARD: I believe this style of bike was more often used to carry goods than passengers. There a still a few that function in Kampot but this one would be mighty hard to ride considering the lack of seat and the state of the handlebars

PROMPTS