Exit sa Kish Island, Iran

After my sad experience from my former employer as I've work for him for about two months and didn't give me my visa, my elder brother talked to me. Before going to Kish, my brother gave me 2 options: First, to go back to the Philippines to wait for my next opportunity or find my luck and second, to go to Kish Island. I chose the second option because of fear in facing the immigration officials and be offloaded.

On the other hand, if I’ll be given an Employment Visa, I need to shell up expenses for medical, OFW seminar, PDOS and other requirements needed. I decided to go to Kish, I was very scared but all I can do at that time is pray and take the risk. I have friends who have been there and they told me it’s okay. Just be careful and alert, always bring your money with you, do not go outside at night alone, do not take a cab alone and everything will be okay.

Kish as exit point

The infamous Kish Island. Most expats, if not all, know this as an exit point from UAE to have their tourist or visit visas changed into employment visa. Same to those who have not landed a job and have consumed the days in their tourist visas. Under UAE laws, foreigners on such visas are required to exit the country once their travel documents have expired and Kish Island, which is part of Iran, is a common place for visa runs because it is the nearest freezone area where no visas are required including to Filipinos.

Some expats who are waiting for their employment visas are not given the said document by their employers and have waited there for so long, 1 month – 2 months- sometimes even longer. The main reason why there are some Filipinos, even other nationalities, are stranded on the island is because they ended up without funds for staying too long. Stories say that some are indulging in illegal activities like drug pushing and prostitution just to get money for their food and hotel stay. 

Kish Airlines’s airplanes are oldish with hoary sounds. It scares me! Good thing it is only 40 – 45 minute flight from Dubai. Maybe because I am used with going anywhere so I easily got acquainted with the place. I met a lot of Filipinos at the airport. Kish Island is not a scary place after all.

Things to remember while in Kish:

1. Clothing. For women, the top should be longer than your behind/ buttocks and with sleeves longer than your elbows. Skirts, leggings and pants are allowed but it should be ankle-length. You should also cover your hair with a shella, hijab or a veil.

2. Alcoholic Drinks. These are not allowed, although smoking is accepted.

3. Iran Visa. Foreigners are allowed to stay in Kish without a visa for 14 days. On the 14th day, if you do not have your employment visa yet you should go to the immigration and apply for an Iran Visa to extend your stay. It costs 60 dirhams plus you also need to provide a passport sized photo wearing a shella/hijab for the ladies.

4. Hotel. We stayed at Goldis Hotel, the place is okay. I did not see any bedbugs but it is 5 – 7 minutes taxi ridefrom Kish Airlines. There is someone who cleans the room everyday. Men and women are staying on different
floors and men are not allowed inside women’s rooms.

Checking in Hotel 

I checked in at 1:00 o'clock in the morning of 19th of May, 2014 but the receptionist told me that it was still counted as May 18th for the reason that they change the date every 7:o'clock in the morning. I paid aed100 for my initial deposit. The rate was actually aed40 per night then if a guest completed at least three days he will have a discount of 1night. Room 116 was the room that I got after I got my bed sheet and other sleeping materials. The room was quite small, I think it was only around 15 square meter including the rest room. Air condition was set at 18 degree celcius so its cold. There were supermarkets outside the hotel and "shisha" places. There were also a basketball and soccer court.

I have met 2 kabayans there doing an odd job as a cleaner in the hotel where I stayed at. Their hotel accomodation is free and they have meals thrice a day. I adore them to bits, there’s nothing wrong with what they’re doing and they just wanted to save money for their flight back to Dubai. 

Canteen in this hotel was with average size. Guests who didn't want to cook for their own were taking their meal in this place. Since my room mates decided to cook of our own meal, we paid aed20 each good for 2-3 days. Unlike if we spend our money for meal at the canteen it will take us around aed12-15 per meal. Even if we have a free breakfast which only consist of a cup of tea and a bread it would still be expensive for lunch and for dinner. Iran country is using riyal but the guests are using UAE dirhams for the reason that aed10 is equal to 20,000 Irani Riyal.

Check out the hotel’s price list in dirhams (AED):

• hotel per day – 40 with free breakfast (first night free if you stayed longer than 3 days) We were not able to trytheir breakfast during our stay
• internet – 5/ hour
• wifi – 10/ 24 hours (not so slow wifi connection)
• complete meal – 10 (serving is big with enough rice and one viand)
• rice – 5
• chicken viand – 5
• beef viand – 8
• etisalat – 28 for 25 charge
• Iran sim – 30
• water – 1/ liter, 5/ 6 pieces
• soda – 4/ 1.5 liter
• shisha- 10 for about 1 to 2 hours consumption for 3-4 persons.

5. Malls and Supermarket. Surprisingly, there are numerous malls and supermarkets (Including Fish Market) in the island and dirhams is widely accepted.
6. Transportation. Buses charge around 1.50 dirhams and taxis charge minimum of 10 dirhams.
7. Kish Tour-aed10

On my first morning, I was invited to participate with "Kish Tour" for aed10 for three hours wherein we were able to visit Explore some historical places and tourist spot in Kish such as:

• The Green Tree Complex
• The Kish Traditional Water Reservoir
• The Beach
• The Boardwalk biking
• Harireh Ancient City
• The Mysterious Greek Ship
• The Beautiful Sunset in Kish

My Room mates:

I can say that I was very lucky to have ny roommates and friends in the hotel.With our expenses in foods, we shared AED15-20 that's good for 2-3 days comparing to the usual expenses that will cost around AED10-15 per meal. That was the reason why I dont have to spend much. Aside from sharing of foods, we also shared happiness by means of biking in Broadway, catching fish, playing basketball, swimming,walking and jogging at the seashore and etc... we also shared celebrations like birthdays and other occasions. My roommates were really nice and I was very thankful for them. They have different stories.

Past Time "Libangan"
Every afternoon until 12 midnight, basketball was our past time and "shisha" also until 2 o’clock in the morning. Most of the time night in kish island was not enough. Sometimes, together with my friends we do biking in the middle of the night or staying at the beach to catch fish or having a celebration for any occasions. Guests were usually taking rest in the morning.

As part of being friendly, I also met my students while in Kish. I taught them how to speak english and Filipino. Every 11:00 in the evening, one of my Iranian friend and student named Sobhan always coming to me just to learn Filipino and English languages. He usually  bring with him his book and notebooks.

Iran Visa Processing

Days go by, on my 12th day in Kish Island, Iran early in the morning PRO knocked on the door to remind my Iran Visa for preparation on my 14th day of staying where in people from other country that is visiting Iran are obliged to comply. 

Ways of Receiving/Sending Money

Since my money was not enough that time for the reason that i have to pay aed500 for my hotel deposit or advance and aed60 for Iran visa plus 10 for picture, I decided to call my elder brother in Dubai to send me money. There are two types of way of receiving money: first is tru AL ANSARI where the sender from Dubai will be paying aed15 and the receiver in Kish will be paying aed40; second is tru RAK BANK, where in free for the sender in Dubai because its a UAE account and aed40 for the receiving. I told my brother just to send it tru Ral Bank. He sent the money and have pictured the receipt and sent to me through whats up application in my mobile, then forwarded it to my friend "Payam" in the reception. Immediately when I came to Payam (My Iranian friend) he gave me the money after I paid aed40.



Pinoy Camaraderie

For the reason that obviously Filipinos are an avid fan of playing basketball, together with some pinoys here in Kish we decided to reconstruct the basketball court because it has been constructed as a prone to accident. I also decided to conduct a mini basketball tournament and named it as "Pinoy sa Goldis Basketball Tournament". My main purpose for this kind of event is to give pinoy a kind of enjoyment and fun that they will never forget with visiting Kish Island. Aside from enjoyment, this will also be the factor that will forget their number of days of staying while waiting visa. But Of course! for them not to be bored. The proceeds of this event will go to purchasing of sports materials such as volleyball, basketball, board games and etc... This event has been supported by my friend Payam and helped to facilitate the game. Sadly, I didn't enjoy the event because my visa suddenly arrived after the day of my 30th day of staying..

Ticket Booking

When I was booking for my flight I remembered my one of my biggest problem while in this country. That was when I realized that my passport has soon to be expired. Five months to go before the expiration-in other country outside Philippines, passport is expired if it reached the last six month before its expiration date. My brother that time also knew my situation. I didn't know what would happen to me in Kish if I will not make a way in order to fix my problem. As a reward for being kind to everyone, the management of the hotel helped me to send my passport and authorization letter to Dubai for my brother to do the filing of passport extention. I actually didn't know how he did it since the latest update from philippine embassy that extention for passport is no longer accepted unless in case of death or serious illness situation. After 8 days, my brother sent back my passport with extention stamp by means of asking "kabayan" who was also taking her exit in Kish to bring my passport. I booked my flight at Kish air beside Farabi Hotel. They only borrowed my visa and plane ticket's information and then booked me at 12:45 pm dated the next day.

Final Day in Kish

My last day in Kish was sad because many of my friends especially those Iranians didn't want me to leave. They even offered me to stay in the hotel for free. Even if I wanted to stay, I have to face the reality that it was not my main purpose of going abroad. My opportunity was knocking so I have to open it for myself and for my future. My family was also hoping for the positive outcome of my decisions.

I never expected that I would have a mission in Kish, to provide information about the place and to help people in need of my support Filipinos or other citizen. Kish is actually a refreshing place away from the workplace. Most of the people who exits in Kish treat it as a venue for prisoners. After all, it was a nice experience. But I am more glad to go back to Dubai and continue my journey.