Travel Gourmande

Saving Tip: Baby Vaccines in the UAE

8:18 PM

Do you know babies born in the UAE have access to free vaccination? Yes, well almost. Great, right? I just spent this morning applying for a Dubai Health Card for my baby.

Toothless grin reaction to free vaccines :)

Where can this be applied?

There are 3 government hospitals that process health cards:

Latifa Hospital (Al Wasl Hospital)
Rashid Hospital
Dubai Hospital

What do I need to bring?

Please prepare a photocopy of each document to be presented along with the original :

Baby's birth certificate
Tenancy Contract
Father and Mother's Passport and Visa Page
Baby's Passport and Visa Page
Baby's Passport Photograph

**I was advised by the call center before I went to the hospital to bring the baby vaccination book but the hospital didn't really check it. The hospital staff however asked me for the baby's Emirates ID which I haven't applied for yet.

How much is it?

There is an annual fee of AED 110.

Once I receive the health card, which hospital should I go to for vaccines?

There is a designated hospital nearest to where the applicants reside. The hospital staff will advise you which hospital to go to. It is Al Barsha Hospital for us. There is a need to book appointments in advance for the vaccinations.

A complete set of 18-month worth of vaccines in a private hospital normally costs AED 920+. Some private hospitals charge AED 550+ per visit since vaccinations are usually not covered by private medical insurance. So imagine, the savings there.

I went to Latifa Hospital first. Their card machine was not working this morning so they gave me a temporary ID. I immediately went straight to Rashid Hospital to obtain a permanent Health Card (and to get it over with). I'm glad I did, it was done in a few minutes.

How to Register Babies in the UAE

Love & light,

Arni

10 Ways How to Learn a New Language in Bed

3:18 PM

Idle times are replaced by language learning. Why? For many reasons; my objectives are to communicate with others better, to show respect, to make the most out of travels, to engage my baby in new languages and... the list goes on. However, a deep desire to learning your target language is required.

So, how can I learn a new language without getting out of bed? Here are simple tried and tested tips that worked out for me so far.

Afternoon Walks

1:55 PM

A month's absence and I'm back! Late nights and deadlines are now temporarily put on hold as my job title changes. Today, I am now officially a stay at home Mum.

I've been enjoying afternoon walks with my 3 and a half month old daughter on weekends. Here are some of our discoveries around the neighborhood.

The scent of le frangipanier lingers in the air. Colorful blooms thrive in the strong desert heat. A quiet beauty that may go unnoticed, but a short pause from time to time to admire the beauty around us is uplifting. My daughter seems to notice it too. Whatever temperament she may be in indoors, she always goes calmly silent during these walks.

I wish you all a reflective Sunday!

Love & light,

Arni

Happy Eid

12:46 PM

Ramadan is over. Now we can freely drink and eat anytime in public. The hardest was not being able to drink coffee during those exhausted mornings at work after late nights in the office and 3AM feedings.

View of Burj Khalifa from Bay Avenue, Business Bay

My last moments in the design firm will be spent here in the new office in Business Bay with a gorgeous view of the city from the 25th floor. I can imagine walking along Bay Avenue in the evening staring at the majestic Burj Khalifa on the way to the parking lot. It gets better during winter, where diners will seize the tables outside making this part of the city alive. It's funny to think that when I first moved to Dubai many years ago, this area was empty. There was nothing here, but sand.

Stay At Home Mom

1:29 PM

To stay at home or to continue to work? This is a tough question most mothers have to face and answer after 9 months of pregnancy.

When I was younger looking into the future, I always envisioned myself spending at least the first year with my imaginary child. Having said that, the answer didn't come as simple as I thought. There were sacrifices to be made.

I was worried of three things should I quit my job:

I was afraid that I would harbor resentment towards my child someday if I miss out on opportunities.
I have limited time to succeed in the Interior Design field since I'm not in my 20s anymore.. Getting back in the rat race after one year of absence in my mid-30s is a bit worry-some.
Financially, we also have to tighten our belts and adjust our household budget.

Nevertheless, I have made a decision.