A Friend From Vietnam

One day in the month of July , I received a message from a girl in Vietnam asking me about the 7th wonders of the world that will be held here in Lisbon.

I did´nt know her, she just found me through internet. I considered responding to her mail after finding more about her through her blogs at Yahoo 360º. She asked me a favor for a friend who collects stamps and they were both interested to have a 7th wonders of the world collectors stamp.

As I dont go out much especially to the post office, I requested hubby if he can find and buy them the requested stamps. Hubby is also a stamp collector so, one day when he had a chance he went to the post office. He asked for the stamps and bought two sets , one set for him and one set for the girl, her name is Mai Lan aka Orchid Flower ( i like her chosen name in flower)

After showing Mai Lan the photos of the stamps , she was happy and requested one more set of the stamps and gave me a certain address to send in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. She also ask how she would pay me back, I told her she can send it to me thru bank transfer but as the amount is only less than 20 euros and there was also the difficulty in arranging foreign currency I told her to just send me anything from her country as souvenir.

She offered me a national dress from Vietnam called "Ao Dai." But before sending me the dress ,she asked for my measurement and sent me photos of her, friends and family on a special ocassion wearing their national costume to choose from the style and color that I want.

So, here are two photos of her with friends or families. Mai Lan is in blue dress, the girls are sooo slimmm!!!



I received the package few weeks ago and yesterday I asked hubby to take me a photo in Ao Dai.

Now, looking at the slim bodies of the young girls I almost dont want to share my photo wearing the Ao Dai.

After our photo session, hubby remembered one national dress he bought for me from my country. He complained he never saw me wearing things that he buys for me. So as not to offend him and to make him happy, i put on one of the many national dress we have in Philippines and here is the photo he took..I guess he was right, I should start wearing our national dress as I think they look good on me too. This particular dress is a formal muslim dress used on special ocassion.

Our most famous national costume is the " Barong Tagalog " for men and an embroidered barong for ladies unfortunately, mine no longer fits me so I cant show you a photo how it looks like

This is all for now,dont like showing much of my own photo here but because I must show the dress that it left me no alternative but to do so.

This maybe my last post for this week and the week to come. Hubby and I is going for a much needed holiday break!!! It does´nt show much on pictures but I have been under a lot of stress since August that it already affected my health.

Have a nice week end to all!!!

My Friends Back Home

Today I would like to speak about my friends back home . I woke up this morning thingking and missing my family and friends ( sad to say I have no one here except for my hubby).

Why I value their friendship?

1) I can talk to them and they listen without interuption.

2) They were there for me when I was down .Sometimes friends are more perceptive than our own family about our problems and its easier to let go your tears and sadness ot frustrations among friends rather than to your family.

3) And if ever i needed anything. they are willing to share or lend a helping hand without being asked. ( as im too proud to beg for help)

4) But most of all I love being in their company! We share jokes, problems, sadness, laughter!!!

Yes, I laugh a lot when im in Philippines!! Life is so different when we have joy ang laughter around us.

Now a days I see them only during my visit to Philippines every two years.

Although we all have our own families now, our husbands, children and even grandchildrens.They are all getting acquianted to each other that relationship is almost like one big family on gatherings at weddings, birthdays or baptism.

So you see, sometimes when I have to plan a visit to Philippines, it has to coincide with certain ocassion especially if my presence is requested.

Hopefully, next year in Sept.2008 I have to be there to attend a birthday and wedding aniversary of my friend Tessie. It was a special request that she extended to me the last time we saw each other in Oct. last year.

I forgot to greet Tessie on her birthday last Sept.7, it maybe for this reason that im having this nostalgia about my friends. I hope they are all in good health..

Below is a photo from the company in Philippines where my longtime friendship was cultivated with most of my colleagues during that period.We were all like one big family as it was a new and small company where I worked for four years. Sadly, one year and 3 months later after this photo was taken, I received a good offer to work in Dubai,UAE so with deep regrets that i have to leave my family and friends in Philippines.

Note: I was between two men ( partly covered) on the left side of the upper row.

Another photo was taken at the house of my friend Mina on my right side , Edna on my left and dear Tessie, next to her is Minas daughter Pia.

These last two photos was taken at Shangri-la Hotel during our Ladies Night out!

Chubby mommies or rather grannies enjoying their night out on their own. ( Hubby was with me! Typical portuguese men, he refuse to let me go on my own even with my friends, Lol !)

Foggy morning

When I got up this morning at 7:00 AM, this is the view that greeted me from the kitchen window. A foggy morning which is unusual in this time of the year as we are still in summer season.Temperature outside this morning was 17 ºC
The green pine trees of Monsanto Forest park that always pleases my eyes as i wake up in the morning are all covered ,as the fog spreads we can only see a silhouete

Unfortunately like in most parts of the world, climate condition has also change here. We did´nt experience the usual summer heat in Portugal, If I remember right, there was only a week or two that we had temperature of 30-40 ºC above..

One thing good that this weather brought to us was that, there was also less fire incident this year as it was in the last few years that burned hundred of thousands acres of trees , houses and also claimed lives of firefighters and civilians as with the tragic fire that happened in Greece last month..

After an hour, about 8:00 AM, the fog started clearing and the sun started peaking out of the cloud.I took a shot of the sun with this hibiscus facing my camera that gave me this effect as if it was still dark.

I then proceeded to prepare our early morning breakfast starting with a tropical fruit from Brazil called "Anonas"in portuguese or a family of our native "Atis"in Philippines. The taste is similar,I love it! For the Filipinos abroad who misses our native fruits like "Atis", try to find "Anonas"in the supermarkets, they also grow anonas in the islands of Madeira and Açores, therefore anonas is also much appreciated by the portuguese. Tropical fruits like, mangos, banana, pineapple , even jackfruit in can,and all kinds of melons are all available in the supermarkets.Even yellow corn,they grow it here too.

By the way, I also added a few slices of peach, another fav of mine not tropical though..

Have a nice day to all!!

My Admiration for Old Buildings

I have a profound admiration for the architecture of Lisbon old buildings and the Manueline style architecture that we can see in most churches,cathedrals,towers and monastereries build during the age of discoveries 15th-16th centuries.

As promised, I will show some photos taken in one "bairro" of Lisbon coming from the Vasco de Gama bridge. Not exactly an area where most tourist are taken for sightseing tours but, as it was on our way home and as i saw beautiful and interesting buildings,we stoped and took shot of this beautiful building as shown below. Pls click the photos to enlarge
Chafariz Del Rey ( Fountain of the King)




Chafariz Del Rey ( Fountain of the King): Build during the 13th century,reformed by King D. Denis, reconstructed year 1747, repared after the year 1755 ,then again renovated and improved mid 19th century.





The building above was next to Chafariz and next is the Military Museum building taken while car is moving







I always have admiration for the doors and windows as they decorate the frames in the old days, and here are some examples of them. The building on the right side is called Casa dos Bicos ( House of Points or Beaks?? ) you can click at the photos to enlarge.


Lastly, I took a shot of this beautiful facade of the Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Conceição Velha ( Our Old Lady of Concepcion Church) newly reconstructed & renovated..Its a pity it was close , we were not able to see the inside of this church.


Lisbon Municipal Building



For me, the best of them all is this beautiful site of the 16th century Tower of Belem constructed in the middle of Tejo (Tagus) River.

One" Full Filling "day

I know its been a while since my last post and I have my reason for not doing so but I cant tell .

Last Sunday, we went to Setubal about 40 km south of Portugal. It is a city that was once an important fishing industry, sardines in particular.And a place where we come to eat and enjoy grilled fish especially sardines in summer when they are at its best!!

Below is Setubal´s train station (left), an old house at the corner before the restaurant.

Our diet at home was changed due to an avoidable circumstances and for this particular reason when things were better that we went to a restaurant in Setubal to eat grilled fish. I´ve been longing to eat grilled fish for quite sometime. Finally, there we were! Photo below was the service counter and an "azulejo" frame on the wall.

Here is what we ordered:

One order of grilled sardines about( 8-9 pcs) , another order of 2 meduin size of grlled squid with ink,sprinkled with lots of onion cut in cubes mixed with parsley,( we could´nt smile or show our teeth after eating the squid as the black ink stained our tooth,lol!!!) 2 small pieces of "bisugo" ( dont know its name in english), a plate of mixed salad of lettuce,tomato,green & red pepper & onion, a plate of boiled baby potatoes. Garnish with olive oil & vinegar.

We had a typical dessert of the area "sericaia" w/ plum & syrup, fresh melon and coffee

I was so hungry and anxious to eat that I forgot to take photos. Photo below of sardines being grilled was taken on our way out.

A natural air conditioner window

Mom in law and I outside the restaurant.

We then got into the car to go back to Lisbon but as we turn in the corner road after the train station, we pass by an old abandoned building with this beautiful tower or for whatever porpose they use it, caught my eyes & took this shot while the car is moving

To go back to Lisbon , we have to cross a river and pass the 17 km.long Vasco de Gama bridge. Magnificent bridge, is´nt it? It was a bit cloudy at the time. Again picture was taken inside the car.

It was a fullfiling day for me (at least for my eyes, lungs & stomach). Upon reaching downtown Lisbon, I took some more photos of old lisbon buildings , i will show you later on my next post.

A visit to the Castle of Sintra

The Castelo dos Mouros(Castle of the Moors)is located in the village of Sintra, Distict of Lisbon in Portugal.It is located on a hill overlooking the village and it is one of the most important tourist attraction,recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The castle is of Moorish origin as implied by its name. Built by the Moors possibly between the 9th and 10th century.Arabs chronicles consider Sintra region as being rich in cultivated fields and the castle was one of the most important in the sourroundings.
In 1147,after the conquest of Lisbon by King Afonso Henriques, the Moorish garisson of the castle surrendered to the Christians without resistance.The king promoted the development of the region by granting a letter of feudal rights to the inhabitants of Sintra and its castle in 1154.During the reign of King Sancho 1 the castle was repaired as well as the romanesque Church of St. Peter( Igreja de São Pedro) inside its walls.




The decline of the castle began in the 15th century when most population settled downhill in todays Old Village of Sintra.In the 16th century the castle lost all military relevance and was abandoned by its last inhabitants, the Jews from Sintra.

In 1830,after a long period of ruin,King Ferdinand 11 started the renovation of the castle in a romantic spirit of the time.The walls & towers were rebuilt, while the Church of St. Peter was intentionally left in ruins.The castle. blended with the vegetation and toporaphy of the hill, gained a fairy tale romantic atmosphere.

The view from its wall and towers are breathtaking, the village of Sintra with its Royal Palace as well as the Penã National Palace can be seen from the castle.
The Municipal Town Hall of Sintra as seen from above,
Palaces or palacetes can be seen down below
The Penã National Palace on the other side.

With all the leg work we did climbing up and down to and from the tower for better view, we did´nt have anymore time and strenght to visit the Penã National Palace so we decided to come and visit the palace next time and went back on our way home

Ship Ahoy!!!

Last week end, hubby had a call from the shipyard where he works part time as their "Docking Master".A special profession that he enjoys doing for as long as the yard needed him, he would´nt mind doing this type of work being responsible of the ships (either for repair or maintenance) going in or out of the dockyard .

As I went with him to do the job, I contented myself with taking photos such as the out going ship being pulled by tug boats while hubby controls their position & movements thru radio.



As the cargo ship moved out of the dock, another ship is in position to go in..Photo below





The job was done with in an hour,report included.All went well,hubby was happy & satisfied as you can see on his face..

We moved on our way back home but before that we had coffee by the riverside near the historical monuments of Lisbon. Could´nt help taking photos again, I will show next time.

My first encounter with The Chimp

During our visit in Bafata,one of the 7 regions of Guine-Bissau.We were introduced to this Chimp,I cant remember his name.He came down from the tree to greet us, he would´nt leave me alone for a while,as u can see in the photo, he would´nt let go of my hand( he even look shy) I understood later why...

Hubby was having a conversation with some Portuguese men in the house, i stayed behind entertaining myself with the other pets in the house like these ones below.

Suddenly I felt a hand on my leg, I looked it was Chimp with face turned on one side rubbing my leg slowly up & down..as if he has´nt seen a woman´s white leg. I got alarmed,almost in panicked as i did´nt like what I saw when I looked down again at him, Did´nt know how to react afraid that the chimp might become agressive and hurt me if I stoped him!

I let out a big cry of help! Hubby & the men rushed immediately to my side that made the chimp run away but even before climbing the tree i saw him pick up stones along the way.As he was settled up in the tree, guess what he did as soon as he felt safe in his territory? He started throwing stones at us!!

That was the story of the day, even the local women in the house laughed when they learned about the incident and jokingly told me that its my white leg that triggered the chimps reaction..My God, it could´nt be! I did that to a chimp???

One picture taking day in Lisbon

At the entrance gate of Egas Moniz Hospital in Lisbon, this beautiful door motif caught my attention.

The hospital was named after Dr. Egas Moniz the first Portuguese to win in 1949 a Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discovery of the therapeutic value of leucotomy in certain psychoses. he was also the inventor of prefrontal leucotomy which was later on changed to lobotomy by american surgeons.


After hubby finished his appointment with the doctor, i asked him that we meet at exit gate because i intend to take photo.

I managed to get 2 shots before the security guard aproach me & asked me politely if i work in the hospital. I said no, so he told me if i wanted to take photo at the hospital premisses i should ask permission first to the administration.Imagine, just for this photo!!! Anyway policy is policy, there´s nothing i can do about it.

I got into the car where hub was waiting and as we got out of the gate,again I saw these beautiful "azulejos" ( painted ceramic tiles )at the wall still part of the hospital by the roadside.We stoped and took these photos.

With this as the crown glory "Agoas Livres Anno 1821" ( Free water Year 1821 ).From here, I started taking photos of almost all the beautiful old buildings nearby.Love the architecture.



And Lastly,we have to go to a pharmacy to buy a prescribed medicine to this "Farmacia" and took a shot of this beautiful show window in "Azulejos" ( ceramic tile )

Its all I can share for now.

Note: Pls click photos to enlarge