Kish Island is the most visited exit point for expats in UAE. It is a 15 kilometer – long island located at the Persian Gulf with 30 minutes flight from Dubai Airport.
After I signed my offer letter – my employer advised me to exit the country so they can process my Working Visa. Since I came here in UAE as a tourist – I need to shoulder my exit expenses. I asked them for my exit options and advised that the best would be Kish Island. (Oman is an option as well but it depends upon the company since they need to pay extra if the employee will do Airport to Airport (A to A). Actually, I don’t have any idea where the place was so I searched and read blogs pertaining to the Island. After reading some – I was overwhelmed with the negative experiences and feedback bloggers have written about the island. Some friends also given their testimonials and I started to feel anxious - I tried checking for some countries where I can possibly have my exit but its the fare is quite expensive and others requires a visa. ( Kish Island doesn't require a visa up until 14 days of stay only)
Kish Airline – the official carrier of the island has only 2 flights a week (Friday and Saturday) from Abu Dhabi Airport so I need to fly out of Dubai since they have flights every day. I tried checking the price online to compare but I am getting an incredible huge price. I was advised to go and visit travel agencies because they are using a special system for checking and booking flights. My friend arranged my flight and was quote that the cheapest would be 750 AED. (I checked how much was the conversion – and it was too pricey for a 25 minutes flight – well, as If I have a choice). The ticket must have a confirmed outbound flight and an open return flight since you still need to wait for your visa and it may take days (depends upon your employer) before you can return back.
Since all testimonials I have read was a bit off – I prepared all the things I need for the exit. I bought food for 3 days so I can save. I also brought a lot of wet tissues and bath room tissues, a mug, a spoon and a fork. I also downloaded songs and movies so I won’t get bored during my stay and a book. For clothes – since it’s a Muslim country and as a foreign, we need to strictly abide their dress code so I packed all clothes that can cover my entire body (long sleeves, pajamas) and a Sheila for my head. I don’t have an Abaya – but as per the blog that I've read, Kish Airport lends visitors abaya’s during their stay for free yet of course you need to return it on your flight back.
My flight was at 1730 but since I am from Abu Dhabi – I need to go to the airport as early as possible since it’s a 1 and a half hour’s drive away from Dubai. I was one of the few early birds to line at the check in counter - and I am seeing a lot of Filipinos lining on the queue. A lot of Filipino works at the Dubai Airport and I have a few chit chat with the counter personnel while he was weighing my luggage.
I made friends with the “kabayans” while waiting for the flight and tried listening to some of their stories and sentiments. We also made an arrangement for the hotel that we will be staying
My employer requires me to send the exit stamp on my passport so they can process my working visa. The airports “Customer Service Center” caters scanning for 4 AED so we went there to have our passports and boarding pass scanned as a proof of exit. (Make sure you have your employers email address so the personal can send the copy right away.)
Our flight was delayed; it took off at 1825 and we arrived at 1855 UAE time. Kish Island has a time difference of 30 minutes from UAE) and I've noticed that 85 percent of the passengers were Filipinos.
The plane was kinda old with dilapidated seats. Flight Attendant was not so friendly and I can't understand the information they are giving though I am sure its the flights info and safety precaution but they serve snacks. A shuttle bus will get you to the airport (though its just 5 mins away). Before entering the airport, a security personnel will scan all female passengers that need to change clothes. There is a small changing room and a cabinet where all free abaya's are kept. Some passenger brought their own "costume". I was thinking that it needs to be an abaya but I was wrong. As long as your top will cover your whole arm with the hands only showing and will cover your entire butt - you are good to go. If I only knew -well..
Two immigration window were opened to entertain all the passengers and it took a while for them to stamp the passports for they do manual checking. No scanning tools and high tech device available.
 |
| Kish Airport Immigration Section |
A free coaster awaits all passengers and will transport you to the hotel of your choice.There are many budget hotels available in the island but you must be very careful in choosing a place to stay. I heard a lot of stories that some hotels houses drug addicts and allows prostitution. Some hotels has bed bugs, holds 10 beds in a room where stealing is rampant.
All "Kabayan' chose the Hotel Fatabi - for it's near the airport and the Kish Ticketing airline is just around the corner - the down side was - all passengers tried to fit it to that hotel. Its over crowded and noise was everywhere. Before all passenger get off the coaster - a hotel personnel will get all visa runners passport, regardless of what hotel you will be in - I actually didn't surrender mine - for I was skeptic but they do a head count so there - I have no choice. A "kabayan" who I think been in and out of Kish numerous times said that Farabi is not a good one. I asked her where will she stay - she said Fanoos is good. (A friend also advised of that hotel before going to Kish its just that it's a bit far from the ticketing office.) The lady asked the driver if he could drop us at Fanoos yet he refused for the reason that we are less than the minimum passenger they cater for drop off and advised us to get a taxi instead. Luckily, some passengers backed out and will look for a different hotel than Farabi so the driver took us all.
It was like 10 to 15 minutes drive before we reached Fanoos. As soon as the coaster bus stopped in front of the hotel, a lot of "Kabayans" went to approach and get the luggage of us new comers. The hotel receptionist and other staff are fluent in Tagalog. They hand us a paper to register and asked for AED 100 as a deposit. After transacting - they assigned a room for me. As much as I want to get a buddy - I can't for the hotel don't have enough room to occupy us. They asked me to follow the hotel attendant - and said that the room that I'll be staying only has 3 guest - unlike the others wherein they got 10 beds in a room - I was relieved knowing that we are not crowded. When I saw the room - I only saw 2 beds. I asked him - where am I going to sleep? The attendant pointed an old bed cushion - and said place it in between the beds. What? You are telling me that I'll be sleeping on the floor? the attendant said YES. I raged in anger - and told them that it's unfair - that I'll be paying the same amount yet I'll sleep on the floor? The attendance called his co-attendant to take to me - but the answer I got was more unacceptable. There's no available room and that's the best room they can offer - or I can look for a different hotel. I got engaged with a 15 minute discussion with the attendant - for I don't want to travel late at night to find a place to stay - way dangerous.
No comments:
Post a Comment