When there is Respect,there must be Understanding

Most women enjoys shoping,i dont...but my husband does. Surprising, is´nt it?

When i go to supermarket,i only buy what is necessary.But when i go with hubby,we always managed to buy so many things that sometimes we even dont need.Hubby likes to experiment and try new products or groceries to fill up our cupboard.(I always stick to the things i like) I no longer try to discourage hubby in buying things he wants because he gets upset.I dont want him to feel that i keep in control ... He also enjoys window shopping for me,when he comes home he would tell me that there is a nice shoes or dress in a shop so and so that i must come and check one day.

I guess ,we are really two different people that joined together ( East meets West).Different country,different mentalities..But dont get me wrong,we get along very well! WHY? Because,there is LOVE,RESPECT,HARMONY and UNDERSTANDING.

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This week end,we did´nt go to a supermarket.I requested hubby if we can go to downtown Lisbon just to window shop for christmas presents.I remembered an area in Martin Moniz where the shops of Chinese,Indians and African retailers and wholesalers are.
Martin Moniz where you can also see the "Castelo São Jorge" high above athe background.(Photo was taken last summer)

We first entered in one chinese shop to check on a scarf that i saw from the shop window, we did´nt buy anything and we just went ahead with window shopping keeping in mind the things i have to buy later.

It was lunch time as we passed thru a line of chinese wholesalers,and at the corridor we saw a group of chinese having lunch.On their small table was noodles,fried crab and squid,some shell fish and rice.The smell of the food opened our apetite that i said to hubby im feeling for an indian food that moment( because i smelled also an indian food somewhere)We asked one guy where is the nearest indian restaurant,he gave us the way so off we went to the place.

I was so hungry that I could´nt wait for the menu to come and ask hubby to order "Mix Pakora" to start.The waiter asked if we are going to have lunch,we can go to the other room where they served the meals.I looked, but as the room is so dark for my mood and taste we decided to stay where we were with roadside view.

Pakora came with our drinks, and while devouring our pakora,we proceeded with our order,Lamb Khorma,Chiken Tikka Masala,Palao Rice and Garlic Nan,hubby even asked me if i would like to have Palak Paneer,our waiter said he thinks we already have enough order that we might not able to finish all of it.

Lunch was enjoyable until we heard a comotion on the other side.A womens voice,we could´nt understand what she was saying until she raise her voice louder..Ladrão! Ladrão!!!( thief,thief!)I thought maybe there was a love triangle involve.

But later,the person got out from the room,it was an old lady in her 80´s,acompanied by the manager.She left quietly only to be back later with two policemen.She went inside the room with the policemen then she got out again to sit next to our table.She look helpless,looking around her as if looking for sympathy started crying and shaking,so i told hubby to call the waiter to request a glass of water for the lady.She looked at me,i know she needs somebody to talk to, showed me a black spot on her hand.I WAS ATTACKED INSIDE THAT ROOM!!It seems that things got out of hand when a male client got involve with her and assaulted her when she answered him back.FOR GOODNESS SAKE,SHE´S AN OLD LADY!!!What kind of person bodily harm an old lady just because he got irritated with the old lady´s complain about her order???

I dont know what the policemen did inside,probobly nothing will be done about the incident because when they finished speaking with the guy involved,they left again with the old lady..I really felt so sorry for her....

When we arrived home and switch on our christmas trees light,i saw the full moon so low and i took this picture from the christmas tree

Social Gathering of Ex Expats

Every year,a group of ex portuguese expats in Bahrain and Dubai with their families, meet for lunch in a place organized by any volunteer among the group.Meeting place could be anywhere, any part of portugal.

This time,the chosen place was "Quinta do Lago" ( Farm by the Lake) in a small town of Alferarede in Abrantes, 153 kms. from our place in Lisbon.

As we reach the town of Alferarede, we stoped to asked direction from an elder person coming towards us.He did´nt give us the direction at first..he asked if we have space for him in the car.I was surprised,did´nt understand his porpose , hubby answered "yes,there is space for you".He entered the car,greeted us " Bom Dia" ( Good Morning) sat beside my mom in law who was with us, then said ..."I must go with you to give the proper direction ,because you wont get there even if i have to give you the direction".He was right, it was´nt that easy to get to "Quinta do Lago"

After about 10 minutes,we arrived at the place and told hubby to stoped as he will get off from there,hubby told him that he will drive him back to the place where he´s going but he refused and answered that walking will do him good..Very nice and hospitable person.

Quinta do Lago is some sort of transformed farm resort that only served and caters to group of no less than 30 people. I guess, we were about 50, one by one people arrived, i only knew a few but no problem as it was like a big and friendly group gathering.And maybe because im the only oriental looking person,people who regularly attends the ocassion can easily recognized me.

We all gathered at first at the main building,as shown below..arab way, men on one side and women at the other side :) Then we went down to have a drink and starters like cod cakes,green beans tempura style, meat balls diferent types of good chouriçoz,cured cheese,presunto,bread,etc.,etc.



After almost an hour,we were called back to the main building for our lunch. Our table was properly set with a beautiful flower base in the middle and a bottle of white wine in a cooler, red wine ,bottle of water and juice for drinks.

We started with "presunto(cured ham) and melon", followed by a chicken soup that i forgot to take picture



Then came the main course,it started with a portion of sauted Flake Cod Fish and Prawn with presunto(cured ham)covered with potato puree baked in the oven.Served with salad. And I took this picture of my plate after arranging it. Is´nt it beautiful? VERY TASTY TOO!!

When i finished the 1st course,i thought i could´nt eat the 2nd course anymore.I was wrong!The 2nd course was just as good.Its Pork loin baked in the oven, served with baby potatoes and carrots,local cabbage and a piece of chestnut. Meat was so tender and "saboroso"(tasty)as well.
Portuguese people are good eater and you maybe wondering about myself? I already learned their ways although i still control my cravings especially with desserts



As for dessert,an apealing almond ice cream drizled with chocolate syrup.We had coffee afterwards then we went on socalizing around for about an hour or so then the cake was cut and champagne was served to celebrate the ocassion and anounce the next person to organized the lunch for next year.The chosen one was a second generation guy whose father passed away 2 months before this ocassion.




It was getting dark outside, so after we had our cake and champagne,we bid goodbye to everyone.It was a pleasant day spent, and the last picture ive taken outside is showm at the lower righthand side above..

Beach Day at the Poseidon

During our holiday in Athens, we passed a day at the beach across our hotel, just lazing,gazing,sunbathing, swimming, as well as even observing people.The beach has no fine sand as we have in Portugal but the water was quiet calm and warm though.

It was our third day,we need to rest our legs from two days of walking almost all over the capital just to see "stones and ruins"( as hubby used to say when he gets tired walking).

We hear "Kalemera!" (greetings in Greek) everytime somebody comes, perhaps they are regular bathers in the area and they all are acquianted with each other.Bronze skined middle aged men and women,looking so neat and elegant even with their bathing suits.Women even come with make up on and jewelries even when swimming.

But i especially noticed one small elder lady ( my guess is,she´s in her 70´s or more).She came with only a small beach bag,took out her small towel,spread it and put stones in each corner,then she took out her blouse and skirt,fold it carefully and put it inside her bag.To my surprise,she was wearing a bikini!(very seldom i see in portugal elder ladies in bikini,usually they prefer to wear one piece bathing suit)
I also notice that she has a defect,she has no fingers in both hands,but then she went into the water to swim and was there for half an hour,swimming! Bravo,Grandma!!!

I took her photo later when she finished her swim and while seated looking towards the sea, as shown below.
Another photo was with another dark skined guy with grey hair and beard that made me think of the Greek God Zeus coming out of the sea.Only this one was coming out from his snorkling or skin dive fishing.( photo was not so clear as the sun was already high above.



When we left the beach at about 4:00 PM , the old lady was still there sun bathing, no parasol to protect her from the sun, only a her cap to cover her face.
She must really love sunbathing, not like me i prefer to have a parasol above my head!