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

Food Glorious Food

Sometimes I think my delight in cooking and food is an obsession. Luckily I’m not alone and Ian is similarly smitten.

We have long had an avid interest in healthy eating and fresh locally produced vegetables and fruit. I guess it was born of our decision to become vegetarian and then the ongoing questioning and researching of food options and nutrition that that necessitated especially in the early days when it was not so easy to eat out as a veggo.

As well as inventing, adapting and creating new dishes and fusion food, we both love entertaining at home and sharing the food we produce with others.

A good market is cause for celebration and although it is difficult to beat the Adelaide Central Market, the Centenary Farmers’ Market in Thimphu with its huge organic, locally grown section upstairs is a pretty good second.

  Visiting that market is the highlight of the end of our working week and the temptation to purchase more than we two can consume is enormous and we often give in to it.

The market and the acquisition of an oven has allowed us to once again engage in our favourite pastime of cooking up a storm and inviting friends and colleagues over.

When we return to Bhutan from Australia, there is always a selection of food items in our luggage, not because the supply here is so scant but because we so want to make dishes that Bhutanese friends would never have tried.

Although we have not yet been back in the kingdom 2 weeks, we have indeed indulged in our most obvious obsession several times in the last 12 days!!

A brunch last Sunday, a birthday cake for a dear friend, a production line of shortbread for the annual concert food stall last night and a range of delectable meals shared together and with friends, at home are just the beginning of the gastronomical delights we have already whipped up since our return.

The sheer range of fresh produce here in the capital is cause enough to cook up a storm, when we consider the slim pickings of previous postings, so here's to another year of tasty treats shared with willing locals and good old fashioned hospitality.