Travel to Riyadh

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 11^th 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.