Sandy Adventures

Atlantis - Treasure Hunt Competition

November 09, 2012

Summers in the UAE usually means discounted rates on hotels including prime properties as the Atlantis Hotel at The Palm. We were there last year and we loved it having made the most of what we paid for :-) from the number of activities we indulged ourselves in. Talk about value for money!

I've ran some blog posts on it on the following links:

In my Lens - At Atlantis The Palm
Lost Chambers

And had posted some pictures on the Gremliness facebook page:

Atlantis The Palm on Gremliness

And this year, I am crossing my fingers to bring my family there, this time with Little Riane, and this time -- for free! (That's if I get a chance on the competition prizes (^_^) Please Atlantis??? ).

You might want a chance too! Here's the link:

Atlantis - Treasure Hunt Competition

Thinking Out Loud

Obtaining a visit visa for my sister-in-law

October 31, 2012

One thing that I so love about Dubai is the efficiency of processes in transacting with government services, that of course is in comparison with my experiences back home. In 30 minutes, I had received my sister-in-law's long term visit visa.

I left work on time today and reached the DNRD at Jafliya exactly 6pm. With documents inside the envelope, I headed at the typing center left of the DNRD building's main entrance. To the cashier I asked if I am eligible to sponsor my sister-in-law. She asked back my profession, and in confirmation, she assigned me to one of the typists. The typist asked for SIL's passport copy and my passport copy, and asked me to pay AED 1270.

Mr. Typist asked for SIL's photo (I brought none, so he scanned photo from the passport copy, it wasn't an issue), my salary certificate, and Husband's passport copy and Marriage contract (last two requirements to support the in-law relationship, otherwise if parents or siblings, not required). So yet, tenancy contract and DEWA bill are not needed but I brought them still.

I next headed to the ladies lounge. That's if from the main entrance, take right to the end then left and straight to the Ladies Council door. My documents were quickly checked and was asked to pay the AED 2000 guarantee deposit. Went out again and midway to the same hallway I passed is the Commercial Bank of Dubai counter. I paid AED 20 for service charges.

Lastly, I brought my receipt to the Ladies lounge and in two minutes, received SIL's long term visit visa.

Now, SIL's Brother needs to go to the Philippine Consulate to request authentication of an Affidavit of Support. If getting a visa is 30 minutes short, a visit to the Consulate spells long cues, and a waiting time of two to three weeks for the document to come through! (Now you understand how I love the streamlined processes of Dubai government!)

Oh I forgot, part of the AED 1270 I paid is a travel insurance.

Road Trips

Directions to Hatta

October 22, 2012

With the Eid holidays coming this weekend, I have received emails asking on directions of how to reach Hatta.

The easiest way I can give you is via map links on Google Maps. My driver-Husband pinned the directions if you are coming from Dubai. With the advent of smart phones which can save google maps offline, these are great tools to guide us and keep track of where we are and where we're heading.

So here's the directions, click on the link next to it:

Hatta dam - http://tinyurl.com/9gckfwd

From Hatta roundabout to Hatta Pools - http://tinyurl.com/9cnruks

For a more challenging offroad drive to Ash Shuwayha - h ttp://tinyurl.com/9z9zup8

The direction for Hatta Pools stopped at the fork where you need to go down left to park at the falaj, then walk yourself now to the pools. Others move a little further from this fork to the other side of the pools but we haven't tried this route, so cant advise. Either way, you are now in the area.

For our routes we've taken, you might want checking some of my blog posts below:

http://www.kalelmosaiah.com/2011/08/hatta-pools-at-mid-summer.html

http://www.kalelmosaiah.com/2011/08/hatta-dam.html

http://www.kalelmosaiah.com/2011/08/hatta-fort-hotel.html

http://www.kalelmosaiah.com/2011/08/road-trip-route-kalba-hatta-ash.html

http://www.kalelmosaiah.com/2011/08/must-do-at-hatta-and-al-shuwayya-pools.html

http://www.kalelmosaiah.com/2011/08/ash-shuwayhah-pools-oman-must-drive.html

If you get to read the blog posts above, there's not much mention about Hatta's main community, but you may consider stopping by the Hatta heritage park, if it is open when you're there. Happy tripping!

From my family, here's greeting everyone Eid Mubarak!

All about our Princess

Mommyhood: Priceless!

September 30, 2012

How many these days serve cake on their baby's monthsary?
For some, it's finding a reason to indulge on those spongy chocolatey cakes :)
Thank you Riane (< "_" >)

How loud would you laugh in joy if your daughter at five months and three days, stretch wide her arms pointing to you, and cry as if pleading to be carried, and only stops when you take her in your arms?

Our Little Princess communicates her needs since birth, but this time, she does it with both her hands and arms.

The Little Princess was seated in her jumperoo when I came home tonight from work. On seeing me, she extended her arms and started to cry. I noticed this milestone over the weekend, so I didn't get too excited , until after dinner today because she showed preference for me! To confirm her message, we did a handing over test. She was bubbly as I carried her so I handed her over to her Dad. She immediately shrilled and continued to cry, stretching her arms to me. I received and carried her again, and she stopped crying. We repeated the exercise, and extends her arms to me every time and immediately stops crying as I receive her.

Oh well, the price of being a mom :)

Of course, her Dad is on the day shift of lovingly baby sitting her, but there's that place in a baby's heart especially for Mommy. Me the Mommy would not trade that for anything.

The Little Princess @ 4 months @ Mirdif City Center

Milestones

Our Little Princess turned five months three days back, and here's some of our notes to date:

-- She is still exclusively breastfeeding. Yes, we've crossed the two months line of me expressing milk at work.

-- At 4 months, she easily turns from her back to her tummy, and she loves doing just that.

-- At 4 months, she started lifting her buttocks, at 5 months, she lifts her buttocks partially and started pushing her feet as if to crawl. With pushing her feet, she turns 360 degrees clockwise while on her tummy.

-- At 4 months, she babbles long 'aaaaaaaa', and at 5 months, her babbling turned to long 'ba-ba-ba-ba-ba' and sometimes 'ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma'.
-- At 4 months, her drooling heightened and can wet a great deal of her clothes, at 5 months drooling have lessened a bit.

-- She thumb sucks still to soothe herself and we highly support her! She still needs to be taught to use a pacifier (it's easier to break later than thumbsucking). For us, this is a great help during long road trips.

-- She promoted herself to some degree of bossy-ness in her cry. That instance when you say, she knows what she wants and demands for it. Give in to her and that loud cry suddenly halts.

'I just cant wait to stand on my own, so prepare to run after me'

'Why do you keep taking my pictures Mama, you distract my babbling!'
This baby keeps still awhile at the sight of my phone.
Camera flashes are avoided for her eyes' sake.

UAE - Dubai

Outside Dubai Mall at Night

September 18, 2012

If there is a challenging camera subject that I remain to fancy on, it would be the Dubai Fountain performances at night (outside Dubai Mall and by the foot of Burj Khalifa). You know that goal of achieving the perfect lighting to show the elegance around the lake plus capturing water jets in fine lines especially when the water jets curve or spiral out in a dancing stance? Oh well, if I remain to just point and shoot, the only way for me to produce a good photo is to bet on chance :)