As an Expat who’s holding a Visit Visa this isn’t new. I’m sharing you guys my experience as a first time “Exiter” via bus to Oman. I was a little bit nervous since it was my first time, curious in a way on what to expect in Oman. There’s a lot of way to exit UAE if your visa is soon to expire you can choose Armenia, Kuwait, Georgia or any Asian countries but Oman is the less expensive and the nearest place to UAE. According to my friends most of Exiters are bound to Kish Island, Iran during their time but because of the war conflict between two countries it’s not allowed by this time.
Going back to the time of our Exit I felt less nervous because I was with my housemate Ton though it’s her first time as well but I know the fact that I’m not alone. There are certain places for pick up during exit it depends upon the sponsor agency. Since it was booked by our housemate Misty who’s working on a travel agency, our meeting place was in Al Ghurair – near Union Metro station. I can feel the summer it was too hot walking from union metro station to the agency, we were accompanied by the agency thru the bus stop.
Surprisingly a lot of exiters was also waiting from different agencies were I met Kat, Gladys, Olan, Eunice, lady, Mark with his father and Mami Fe we have all different stories to tell. But I keep my focus on the bus drivers because I’m afraid of negative instances that might occur during our trip and all the what if’s keep lingering in my mind ; what if my Oman visa is not there or what if I missed some important documents that are not with me during my exit. Luckily it’s all good.
During on our way to UAE Border I was more nervous and keep on thinking about my Babe whom I will leave for a couple of days but instead of thinking too much I enjoy the view, the rocky mountains and the wide dessert which can be seen only in movies, God! I can’t imagine it’s real. HAHA! It was a 2-3 hours travel from Dubai to UAE Border to Oman border. Before entering at the UAE Border 10 minutes away was our first bus stop; pee time, yosi time and buying some snacks along the way. We are given 30 minutes before proceeding to the immigration. Opps! Just some few tips for exiters like me don’t forget to bring some can goods, cup noodles and any food during your exit because it will cost you less.
At the immigration;
Patient is needed because you will be stucked here for an hour. Please double check everything from the exit stamp and the date specially the year. Each and every one are given a paid exit sticker which half of the sticker are torn by the immigration officer, again please be mindful about this sticker because one of our co-exiter Kat missed to check her sticker that caused her to get back into the border to clear her stay in UAE. You’ll be tagged as over stay and your new visa will not be processed. She paid another 300dirhams from Oman Hotel back to the border just to clear everything and wait for another couple of days for her visit visa to come out. Always double check all issued documents to avoid inconvenience.
15 minutes away from UAE border were Oman border was located same scenario for passport stamping. By this time your Oman visa will be distributed by the driver for the entry stamp. What makes this exit exciting and fun was all the people you’ve met and all the stories they have. Please be patient with all the bag check made by the immigration in both UAE and Oman Borders that causes delayed with your trip but you have no choice as this is standard operating procedure for the safety of everybody. After Oman immigration were heading to the 2nd bus stop for dinner. The restaurant has a good ambience. Since I’m on a tight budget I ordered shawarma for 5 dirhams and drink in can for 2 dirhams to solve my hunger. Good kaysa wala. HAHA! (Shawarma is always good, sa taong gutom tulad ko!)
After dinner it’s time to get ready for our final destination (ows! Parang movie, katakot. Haha!) Everybody was all tired, even me with my energetic aura and body was caught by too much tiredness. I fell asleep during our trip, it last about 2-3 hours. It was already 2am when we reached Aryana Hotel Buraimi, again we waited for an hour because there’s no available room for us and we ended up moving to another hotel which is 20minutes away from Aryana Hotel. We’re all tired at that time and were even ignoring everything from the room, aircon, linen and the wash room.
Twenty Fifth of July;
We woke up around 9am complaining everything from poor internet connection to the aircon which is not working properly. Luckily I was in the ladies room because everything was occupied though it wasn’t allowed. I asked Ton to go outside with me to look for a grocery store to buy some food for our breakfast and for the entire day. We passed by the reception area to complain about the internet connection and asked for a bottled water. To give you an idea how the area it looks like, it was like a ghost town that zombies are watching you and ready to attack anytime. Haha! (So ito na nga.) It was 10 minutes walked from the Baraka Hotel to the nearest grocery; we bought bread, cup noodles, eggs, biscuits and dish-washing liquid. It was a struggle walking in a 48degrees temperature under the sun. Haha! After Brunch since were not comfortable with our stay at Baraka Hotel we decided to stay at the lobby because that’s where internet is working fast and also to ask with the reception how we can transfer to Aryana Hotel (We are eager to be transferred back to Aryana because our passport was there and its easy for us to book a trip back to Dubai.) Receptionist are not happy that we’re staying long at the lobby so we decided to get back in our respected rooms. Thank God internet is working well. Everybody are all busy with their phones and making follow ups with their visas. (Parang Miss Universe Top 10 ang feeling pag lumabas na ang visa mo, ganun pala talaga ang pakiramdam pag gusto mo ng bumalik ng Dubai.) First top was Mami Fe, second was Lady and I got the third spot from our batch. Mami Fe and Lady immediately booked a trip back to Dubai at Aryana Hotel while I refused to go with them that time because I was also waiting Ton’s visa to come out that day and I can’t leave her at Baraka Hotel. It’s already 5pm and Gladys took the fourth spot but she decided to booked a trip the next day since it was already late. We almost forgot that we haven’t took our lunch yet and thank God Mami Fe and Lady arrived with groceries and rice (Jusko! Kanin guys, alam mo yun kanin ay buhay. Haha!) I immediately volunteered to cooked rice so we can have dinner, viands are all can goods. (Pero ulam na rin yun choosy ka pa ba? Haha!) We had tuna afritada, tuna in flakes, and boiled eggs. (Solved ang gutom). After dinner I fell asleep about 4hours and woke up 10:30pm, I try to talk Babe thru skype but it was not working so instead I was just sending him videos of me. I asked him to sleep because I know he was so tired from work so I can get back to sleep as well. (Sunog na baga ko kakayosi di na ako maantok). Lady was also alive and kicking so we have a little talk with Mark about everything we’ve experienced throughout our journey as an Expat. Some of our housemates from other room are not sleeping yet they’ve join us while their having midnight snacks. It was already 2 in the morning when I decided to get inside the room since the living room has no aircon. (Ang init bes. Haha!) I noticed everybody was all sleeping except me sitting on my bed watching them, I was really paranoid thinking negative that time since the room has no lock at all and I’m with all the ladies. I fell asleep by 4am (Pero sobrang babaw ng tulog ko!)
Twenty Six of July;
We supposed to be waking up 7 in the morning but since everybody has no proper sleep everybody woke up late. It was already 8 in the morning everybody was rushing packing things and I’m preparing breakfast for us before leaving Baraka Hotel and moving in Aryana Hotel. It was a 15 minutes ride via taxi from Baraka Hotel to Aryana Hotel, luckily one taxi driver allowed to brought us to Aryana Hotel which cost 20 dirhams. We reached Aryana Hotel around 9am and asked the receptionist on available rooms for us to rest. We also asked on available trip for that day back to Dubai but it saddened us since it’s fully booked. Well it’s all about money everybody was all aware about special trip that cost 200 dirhams. Gladys and I decided to go on the special trip rather than staying for another 4 days for the next trip. It was already Wednesday and there’s no available trip for Thursday-Saturday it will resume Sunday. Since we’re paying 50 dirhams per day on hotel room we’ve rather go on the special trip because it will cost us less on food allowance per day. Poke! Shoot! Gladys and I was in and I’m confident that Ton will be going with us on that day that’s why I talked the person who handled reservation on special trip for Ton just in any case her visa arrive she will be included.
While waiting;
We proceed in our room, Ton was left inside the room after putting down our things while I and the others bought some lunch after paying our special trip at the reception. Ton was so stressed since her visa still not up. (Fried Chix with Rice and Burger with Fries for Lunch) After that sumptuous lunch we focused on sharing personal stories while Kat breakdown into tears because of the issues she’s facing. Her visa will not be processed since the sticker was not torn by the immigration officer at the UAE Border, in order for her to be cleared she needed to be in the border to clear things up and that ended her staying in Aryana Hotel up to the next trip.
Everybody was preparing back to Dubai it was 5 in the afternoon when Gladys and I decided to go down stairs with Marichu. To tell you who Marichu is, I’ve met her in Shawarma Restaurant when we bought lunch that day. She was in Oman for 15 days because she’s waiting for her working visa and she’s lucky because she’s going home with us. She suggested since she’s also leaving on that day via special trip with us there will be 2 vacant bed in their room, so I talked to her if Ton’s visit visa whom I introduced as my cousin will not come out within the day they can transfer to room 111 along with Kat.
The moment has finally come;
Every Exiters like me who are lucky to have their visa processed for a small period of time leaving your co-roommates is very hard. Tears are flowing. I’m a little bit emotional for Ton because I will be leaving her in Oman but I told her that every delayed has a reason and she need to be positive.
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You can see that everybody are all excited to get back home. We were called one by one before proceeding inside the bus, it was not comfortable at all for a 200 dirhams. What made the trip so much fun are the passengers though we don’t know each other’s names the different punchlines and terrible experiences from each other stories makes us laugh. No! We’re not crazy it’s just that everybody are happy because we finally got out of that experiences that all of us wishing not to have a repeat experience. Everything goes smooth but a little terrible experience happened to me because of excitement, the printed visa I have was the old visa and thank God the driver help me to have my new visa printed near the border. Guys! Don’t be like me, haha! Always check all your documents.
We arrived Dubai 5:30 am July 27, 2017 leaving Oman at exactly 9pm July 26, 2017. Tired but thankful.
Welcome to Dubai!
Credit to Kat, Gladys, Mark, Ton, Lady and Olan for all the photos.
Song was inspired by my Kapatid Jronx Illo (This is one of his favorite song)
