Personally,
last Wednesday trip to Riyadh was my first in my 20+ years in Saudi Arabia. The
reason behind is because I have to renew my passport about to expire by 11th
August 2014 (promise I’ll write that passport renewal experience on next piece).
However, in technical terms, I had been in Riyadh twice, first for taking an
oath last November 2000 for passing my PEE licensure examination and the second
time was in 2005 for a plant visit of Saudi Lighting Company arranged by
IEE-ERCSA. Both travels were arranged by our chapter organization thus no sweat
for my part.
Prior
to my travel, I had made my homework by inquiring the process to few of my
co-workers within JGC Gulf International Company Ltd. on their previous travel
of same purpose. Finally after contemplating my options, I decided to travel
Riyadh by bus straight from Al-Khafji. Other option is from Al-Khafji to Dammam
then to Riyadh.
I
brought my personal car, a 2007 Camry, from our villa to the bus station. The
purpose is that Khafji has no taxi plying the town and I have to call fellow
workers to pick me up at the bus station but nobody would surely be happy to
wake-up at 1:00 AM in the midst of winter season in the Kingdom. So, I parked
my car in a safe place making sure that I had something to drive on when I
arrive by Friday dawn.
We
departed at exactly 4:00 PM with SAPTCO (short of Saudi Public Transport Bus
Company). I was amazed that the bus will travel for 8 hours with only 6
passengers on-board. I thought it as not good for business; nevertheless I was
wrong because SAPTCO drives through many bus stations at every small community
on our way to Riyadh. At every stop new passengers are accepted and I noticed
that there’s always a Checker of the passengers. When families came aboard, the
front seats are always allocated to them for sex segregation reasons that are
normal in the Kingdom. That note can actually be read in the computerized ticket,
however, some passengers who either didn’t follow the instructions, mafi malum English
(don’t understand English), or just hardheaded, prefer to sit at front. So the
Checker instructed them to move back at rear side. We stopped 4 times coupled
with passengers to say their prayer and a dinner too. Every stop, I tried to
move out from the bus and do stressing around the bus until the driver beeps
the car as sign of moving.
Inside
the bus, different languages can be heard and most of them are all noisy and
being the only Filipino on-board, I just try to sleep. You can also smell
various types of odors inside the bus mostly from unhygienic behavior from
citizens in South Asia and other Arab speaking countries. In my years in the
Kingdom, I had been on that situation many times thus it’s not a big issue at
my personal level.
It’s
almost 12:30 AM when we arrived Riyadh. On the way, I noticed several shops
with foreign brands. I opined that should I had been based in Riyadh, my wife
would surely enjoy shopping in this vast city. As usual, cities in Saudi Arabia
are colorful and lively at night with lights working properly typical for rich
countries of which unfortunately in contrast with my country. With all new
skyways constructed, Saudi’s capital city is overwhelming. Upon exiting the bus
station arrival area, several taxi drivers with Arab descent are calling for
passengers. As I’m in a hurry to reach my hotel, I agreed for a 50 riyal fee to
reach Golden Tulip Hotel. The trip is just less than 20 minutes and I seem to
believe that it’s not worth 50 riyal. Anyhow, I reach safe and that’s important
at current situation. I called my dear wife to inform her that I’m already
settled and ready to sleep after a tiring trip.
I
completed the passport renewal for less than 2 hours and immediately traveled
back to my hotel with an unmarked taxi driven by one of our kababayan who made
a business in the embassy offering trips back and forth. It’s actually same as
the airport either in Cebu or Manila. These are extra activities for people who
want to earn extra income other than their regular work paid as an OFW. I was
dropped at the back of the hotel and the funny thing I can’t seem to find the
hotel entrance. I was walking back and forth on same street having leather
jacket on. Finally, I found the entrance with a smile of my stupidness. I
check-out at 2:00 PM and arrived at the bus station after 45 minutes for a 25
riyal fee to the Bangladeshi taxi driver. See, even in taxi, nationalities
differ in charging passengers. It maybe because of social differences, foremost
of all is the standard of living. Saudis of course had more expenses than an
expat driver from South Asia. In fairness to the Saudi driver last night, he
offered for a receipt but I declined since there is no meaning. Being on a
personal trip, nobody will give me refund anyway.
As
I went inside the bus station, I noticed that it’s huge. Last night, I don’t
have the opportunity to have looked in it. Each person are busy either lining
up for ticket purchase or at the departure entrance area. Honestly, I’m not
sure what to do on how to board my bus since there is no direction on how to do
it especially new passengers like me. I bought a round trip ticket that cost me
162 riyals but not sure who to approach. Unfortunately, personnel at bus
stations differ from airports where most working personnel speak English. In
bus stations, most speak Arabic which is unfortunate for me. In my years in
KSA, my Arabic can’t finish a single sentence. Maybe my sister-in law, Eve,
speak better Arabic than me. But I’m sure she already forgot the language being
now an American citizen.
I
decided to approach the ticket issuance window and showed my bus ticket however
advised to approach the Information window. Thus without talking I gave my
ticket to the personnel inside the information booth and he wrote an Arabic
numbering stating my trip number. I’m not really sure what is the meaning of
what he wrote although he told me that my departure is 5:30 PM of which I
always know since I’m the one who selected the time. Then I continued my
investigation on how to reach my destination and I observed a luggage section.
So I went to the area and asked the Indian personnel about my luggage. Without further
inquiry he gave the ticket to the person inside the booth but rejected because
I’m too early for my trip. Still not contented of the situation, I continued to
investigate the process. I even call my colleague in Khafji on how he did the
travel before. In my stupidness, I missed to view the travel monitor as in the
airports. The bus to Al-Khafji is at Gate 11; however, you are only allowed to
enter at your gate at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure. The
travel back to my working place is as usual although the bus is only half full.
The same stop-over were made including the little restaurant were we have
dinner on my way to Riyadh. I arrived at Al-Khafji at 2:00 AM with 11 degree
temperature. I went straight to where I parked my personal car and drive
straight back to the accommodation. It’s a tiring trip but full of adventure,
however, I feel dirty with all those unsanitary toilets that I used because I
have no choice, do I? I thrown all my clothes to the waste basket and changed
with fresh ones before I slept.
On
passport issuance normally after a month after processing, I plan to make same
travel however depending on the timing of the issuance date. Adventurer? I am
not thus hope to claim my new passport either in Alkhobar or Dammam.
PS: Oh, before I close, I met a newcomer from Philippines.
He’s a nurse in a private house but got a wrong destination to Riyadh. He’s
employer’s house is based in Dammam. I’m not sure who made the error but I feel
pity with the young man knowing that he’s new so I let him use my business
phone to call the person assigned to fetch him in Dammam. The other end of the
phone is ringing however don’t bother to answer until his time of departure
came. I only advised him to approach any kababayan in the bus because I saw
several of them. During my trip, I noticed a miss call in my phone. It came
from a number he called and I just informed him of the arrival time of Eric. He
actually tells his name before entering the departure area probably as his way
of saying thank you to me. Actually, I remember my son’s trip to KSA last July
of his situation thus the urge to assist.
