oNe PhOtO a DaY: jUlY 2016:

THE PROMPTS FOR THE MONTH

FRIDAY 1st A IS FOR: alliteration - ascents, accidents, acquaintances, ambulance, adventure and actually arriving after 18 hours

Today's monsoon road trip on the lateral road

SATURDAY 2nd B IS FOR: bopping about in beautiful, bountiful Bumthang, Bhutan

Alliteration - monsoon road trip on the lateral road

SUNDAY 3rd C IS FOR: convivial companions, cooperatively cruising, and cavorting while crossing the country

Alliteration - monsoon road trip on the lateral road

MONDAY 4th D IS FOR: Dramatic dynamism

despite decay and decrepitude during Dzong developments

Alliteration - monsoon road trip on the lateral road

TUESDAY 5th E IS FOR: energy and enthusiasm entwining to engage in embracing exercise in an ephemeral environment

Alliteration - monsoon road trip on the lateral road

WEDNESDAY 6th F IS FOR: prayer flags flying, flapping and fluttering freely

Alliteration - monsoon road trip on the lateral road

THURSDAY 7th G IS FOR: gorgeous, green-backed Garuda guarding and gracing a grand government garrison

Alliteration - monsoon road trip on the lateral road

FRIDAY 8th H IS FOR: heartfelt happiness at our homecoming by honing in on the house that was home and heartening hospitality

Alliteration - monsoon road trip on the lateral road

SATURDAY 9th I IS FOR: innocent, innately inquisitive infant instantly infatuated and immediately investigating innocuous, international invaders

Alliteration - monsoon road trip on the lateral road

SUNDAY 10th J IS FOR: being jiggled and jostled but jubilantly and joyously journeying through jungles to Jakar

Alliteration - monsoon road trip on the lateral road

MONDAY 11th K IS FOR: kindling kindness and keeping kinship with kindred spirits at Kurjey Lhakang

Alliteration - monsoon road trip on the lateral road

TUESDAY 12th L IS FOR: lengthy, life threatening, lively trips led by lovely Lobsang on the long lateral road linking east and west.

Alliteration - monsoon road trip on the lateral road

WEDNESDAY 13th M IS FOR: memorable, magical, marvellous, meaningful, mindful moments in Mothithang (An archive shot today since we have been caught up in domestics having just got home)

Alliteration – continuing for the summer break

THURSDAY 14th N IS FOR: noticeably, not new Nikes with neon - now no longer needed ........ (started swimming today)

Alliteration continuing for the summer break

FRIDAY 15th O IS FOR: obviously orange is the only option

Alliteration continuing for the summer break

SATURDAY 16th P IS FOR: presenting precious, purposeful, prayer wheels passing on positive vibes and prayers.

Alliteration continuing for the summer break

SUNDAY 17th Q IS FOR: Bhutan's quiet, quintessential queen, quite quaint and quick-witted  (Shot taken from a magazine cover as a mere commoner such as myself could never photograph her)

Alliteration continuing for the summer break

MONDAY 18th R IS FOR: regimental regimes and real routine returned as regular classes resumed today

Alliteration continuing with term 2's commencement

TUESDAY 19th S IS FOR: new post-school survival schedule to swim, sauna and steam for sanity

Alliteration continuing with term 2's commencement

WEDNESDAY 20th T IS FOR: time-honoured tradition and terrific teamwork tied to tempting, tantalising tricks (archive shot of my all time favourite class XC boys from Rangjung days)

Alliteration continuing with term 2's commencement

THURSDAY 21st U IS FOR: Understanding our universal impact via an unusual, up and under Earth Game

Alliteration continuing with term 2's commencement

FRIDAY 22nd V IS FOR:  Vegemite-loving, versatile, vivacious, vibrant, vegetarian Vicky -that's me

Alliteration continuing with term 2's commencement

SATURDAY 23rd W IS FOR: wet windy woeful weather

(yes a full working day on Saturday but the benefit will come with a 10-day break in October)

Alliteration continuing with term 2's commencement

SUNDAY 24th X IS FOR: exit xenophobia and excel at xenial experiences 

Alliteration continuing with term 2's commencement

MONDAY 25th Y IS FOR:  a yearn for yarns and yards of Yathra (Yathra is the distinctive hand woven cloth of the Bumthang valley and these two pieces are my treasures)

Alliteration continuing with term 2's commencement

TUESDAY 26th Z IS FOR:  a zest for Zen with a Zebra patterned "Zee" (the distinctive, highly prized, black and white stones used as jewelry in Bhutan)

Alliteration continuing with term 2's commencement

WEDNESDAY 27th ONE: No-ONE came before this ONE but anyONE can see ONE umbrella is blocking everyONE's way and someONE might get hurt

Word play continuing with term 2's commencement

THURSDAY 28th TWO: TWO "Rachus" are one TOO many TO wear

Word play continuing with term 2's commencement

FRIDAY 29th THREE:

We're here and free.

There's he and me

but rarely three.

Today we 3 are TOD.

Just let things be

And wait and see

Word play continuing with term 2's commencement

SATURDAY 30th FOUR:

One two three FOUR kings. The forebears and forefathers, who formerly led and formally, fortuitously forwarded fortunes and forged ahead with fortitude (images via the classX history text)

Word play continuing with term 2's commencement

SUNDAY 31st FIVE:

Fortunate foraging in the farmers market. Found FIVE fresh greens

Word play continuing with term 2's commencement

oNe PhOtO a DaY: jUnE 2016:

THE PROMPTS FOR THE MONTH

WEDNESDAY 1^st KEY: My key to the front door. The only one I have in Bhutan

THURSDAY 2^nd TREAT: It's a rare and delicious treat to eat Dolsot Bibimbap at San Maru in Thimphu but we had a lot to celebrate today. Maybe financial insecurity is a thing of the past now

FRIDAY 3rd PURPLE: Just about my least favourite colour is purple but the centre of this fuschia blooming at school right outside the teachers common room is very pretty and a purple that made me smile on a rough day – my students’ exams start on Monday and I just have the here we go again horror feeling. 

SATURDAY 4^th REFLECTION: an archive shot from Cambodia because we have been talking about it lots lately and today is just too busy with final exam preparation for seniors and the junior school concert, to actually stop and reflect or even take more than concert photos

SUNDAY 5^th ON MY TO DO LIST: today was edit, select, print and display the photos from last night's concert at school so the kids all get to see themselves on the pinup board tomorrow. Done now!

MONDAY 6^th MISTAKE: It seemed an appropriate prompt today as my exam came first and I got the paper back to correct today. Though I do look for each mistake since we correct not just grade, I do also look for positives and write detailed comments about what is good and how to improve. No wonder it takes 5 hours to complete just the essay section!!!

 TUESDAY 7^th CUTE: This was taken at the PP-III annual concert “Celebration of Childhood - Dances of the World” on Saturday night, when I was as usual being official school photographer. There were a million to choose from for this prompt but these 5-year old PPs were simply adorable and their contemporary, stylized Japanese costumes were beyond cute…

WEDNESDAY 8^th WHERE I STOOD: was in front of the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu after circumambulating three times and spinning the giant prayer wheels.  We don't often stop to do it but we do often pass by. Seeing this prompt and knowing its exam time and end of term made me think it would be a good idea today. Thanks to Ian for taking the photo

THURSDAY 9^th FOUR THINGS: Just about everything I cook begins with these four things. Tonight it's noodles in miso soup

FRIDAY 10^th PARTIAL: This is a partial illustration from one of the loveliest Bhutanese children's books. I have bought several copies as gifts and treasure this copy, which is signed by the author. "Tshegho- the garment of life" is written by Kunzang Choden and illustrated by Yoko Ishigami

SATURDAY 11^th ME TIME: After 5 hours of paper correction today, veggie shopping and washing there hasn't been a whole lot of me time. However Ian is setting up for "we time" and a movie after dinner

SUNDAY 12^th STAIRS: We took the long way round and strolled through the Dzong on our walk today, inspired by this prompt. I knew I'd find these impressively steep wooden stairs with the smooth patina created by thousands of monks’ feet. These ornate stairwells characterise this traditional architecture

MONDAY 13^th BEGINS WITH M: Both mountains and monastery begin with 'm' and this is an especially sacred monastery with the view of the mountains which is most visible in winter when this archive shot was taken

TUESDAY 14^th PILE: This is a pile of "murukku" a favourite 0% cholesterol snack from India which I am rapidly becoming addicted to and which I feel I deserve after a very stressful and distressing day. Bring on summer break

WEDNESDAY 15^th THE FLOOR: we have a large open plan living area in our apartment and the floor is divided into separate living spaces with mats, carpets and furniture

THURSDAY 16^th VIBRANT: This is a small part of my collection of accessories made from vibrantly coloured traditional Bhutanese textiles 

FRIDAY 17^th MY NAME: Stationery is a fluid commodity in a school environment so I label most of mine with my name and on orange paper and invariably get it back

Second option on today's prompt "MY NAME" I had this seal made in China over 25 years ago. All the best books I have bear this mark and have travelled with me to several continents

SATURDAY 18^th SOMETHING ALIVE: after behaving like zombies for the last 2 weeks during exams, my class X were very much alive when we all went out for pizza tonight. They are a great bunch and fun to be with 

SUNDAY 19^th NO FILTER: This is one of the three "Gyeltshens" which hang in our apartment. When we first got the apartment I promised myself I'd buy some and they were one of the first totally decorative items we put up. I don't even know what they are called in English but temples and monasteries all over the Kingdom have them and I admire their festive bright colours

  

MONDAY 20th WATER: I love that the simplest form of offering is pure water in at least one of the 7 offering bowls on an altar. In boarding schools students feel honoured to be the one responsible for replacing the water in all 7 bowls on the classroom altar every morning to show their devotion. This is an archive shot from Samtengang when this new statue was purchased, so the offering is a little more elaborate with rice and incense and flowers. Even the poorest of the poor can offer water and for that very reason it is such a beautiful ritual

TUESDAY 21^st LOOKING UP:  at one of the giant prayer flag poles into the gloomy monsoon skies on my walk home from school today

WEDNESDAY 22^nd DELICIOUS: I am so glad that this prompt inspired us to make one of our favourite celebratory dinners tonight. I finished correcting all my exam papers today, after putting in an extra 56 hours in the last two and a half weeks and that is certainly cause to celebrate with a delicious vegetarian kofta dinner

THURSDAY 23^rd FAR: Trashigang and Rangjung in particular are never far from my thoughts and though it might not seem far on a map, at about 500 kilometres, it is a two day minimum road trip and I am jubilant that we will be heading back there for the first time in two and a half years and maybe the last time ever, in exactly a week

FRIDAY 24^th GOLD: These are gold painted and tucked into the wall chorten in Changangkha Monastery. I once again climbed the steps on the way home from school today inspired by the day's prompt. I don't even know what to call them in English let alone their purpose in Buddhist belief, but gold they are

SATURDAY 25^th I SHOP HERE: Inside the Centenary Farmers Market in Thimphu there is a small section that sells locally made incense power and pre-rolled sticks as well as other religious items. Although I shop here every Saturday for local, organic vegetables, today I also made a small purchase from this stall

SUNDAY 26^th HANDWRITTEN: I love that each package is handwritten and that living in the capital means we can actually buy fresh tofu. Lovely handwriting too

MONDAY 27^th LOUD: Motorcycles are not big in Bhutan but these Classic Royal Enfields and the Thunderbirds, with their loud exhausts are become more prevalent on the streets of Thimphu and even rival the rabies infected, howling, barking dogs, (of which I'm too scared to attempt to photograph) at disturbing the peace.

TUESDAY 28^th QUIET: It was actually so quiet in here this morning I could hear the tiny little mouse scurrying between cardboard boxes and it got itself trapped in the waste paper bin searching for food now that there are no students leaving lunch scraps about in the classroom where it usually lives. I come early for the peace and quiet in the office hoping to bowl over my end of term tasks but it's quieter than a mouse in here these days. I miss the students

WEDNESDAY 29^th SUNSHINE: We didn't see a lot of sunshine today as the sun played peekaboo with the looming monsoon clouds but there were intense periods of bright light, which I managed to capture over Memorial Chorten on the way downtown after school  

THURSDAY 30^th STRIPES: The 'kira' I wore to school today for the final day before holidays has a monotone stripe pattern with a bit of diagonal going on. It is the oldest one I own and still a favourite as it is so traditional