My Little Iran Adventure Part 2

Kish Island is known to almost 90% of Filipino expats here in UAE. You see, one does not need to get a visa to enter their country. It has a very close proximity (30-45 mins plane ride) to Dubai which makes it more convenient for expats to exit for change of visas. Other nationalities though which countries are also near UAE tend to exit to their own as they don't have a strict immigration.

When I learned that I have to exit, I was really anxious and terrified because of the horrible stories I read online about Filipino expats in Kish. My sister who also went there for her exit had her fair share of tips and what-to-do's and what-not-to-do's in the place. I had a lot of things in my head that it seemed like I was being punished to be sent there. I nearly entertained the thought of going back to the Philippines for good. In hindsight, being able to experience Kish was something I had to go through so I can have the full UAE expat experience.

Here are some share-worthy things I discover to be true in Kish:

ENTRY and VISA CONCERNS

As mentioned earlier, you don't need to get a visa prior to visiting Kish. However, if you stay longer than 14 days in the island (which happens a lot), you have to get an Iranian Visa. It looks easy when I saw some folks get it. They just fill out a form, give 2 copies of their 2x2 pictures and pay about 150 dhs if I'm not mistaken.

There has been a lot of talks in the airport though that if your passport has an Iranian Visa to it, you cannot travel to the US or to some EU countries. This is something I have to validate though because I cannot find any information pertaining to this in the internet.

DRESS CODE FOR WOMEN

Kish is very strict in terms of dress code for women. Women have to wear shela and floor length dresses or skirts. If you opt to wear pants or leggings, the blouse/shirt you pair it with should be long enough to cover the butt. This has to be followed every time, a woman goes out of the house or in our case, the hotel. So even if the beach looked sooo inviting, hardly can you see women/girls out swimming. For guys, there is really no problem, they can dress up the same way as they do from their home countries.

By the way, if you're a woman and you happen to go there unprepared, they let you borrow a long blouse and shela at the airport just before you line up in the immigration.

SECURITY FOR WOMEN and IN GENERAL

Women, especially expats are to go out in groups. I'm not really sure when this rule came about but my sister was firm when she told me not to go out alone even if it's day time. So that's basically what we do there. In the airport, you get to find Filipinos who are in the same situation as you, so you talk, you share your sentiments, and you get to befriend them. These are the same people you will ask to go with you while you are in the island.

Remember in my previous post when I said I only have the Samsung S4 with me? That's because the hotel we stay in is sharing. And some expats who have been staying in the island for more than a month already waiting for their employees to process their visas are desperate to have cash to survive so they resort to stealing. It's sad and I don't like to think that they can do it to fellow Filipinos but it's what they do to survive. Better be safe than sorry. This explains the lack of photos and good photos.

FOOD

Every morning the hotel I stayed in gives free breakfast which consists of flat bread (it's so hard we coined a term for it: tsinelas), cream cheese (unbelievably good), butter and jam, and tea. The rest of the day, it's up to us to buy our own. During lunch, I usually buy rice and chicken from the nearby cafeteria. Their rice is long-grain and it has a certain smell which I detest. I'm usually a rice eater but I couldn't finish one serving because of that different smell. Evenings make me happy because shawarma is available. It's delicious, almost perfect. Aaaand it's cheap, 10 dhs for a really big helping. Also, their ice cream is creamy and rich in flavor. It's unbelievable. And you know how much is it? 3 dhs for one bowl with 3 flavors altogether. I can't stress this enough and I regret not having to take pictures but the shawarma and ice cream in Kish made my little adventure worth it.

SHOPPING

Kish is a free trade zone. Shopping comes out really cheap. Their mall hours are weird though. They open as early as 8AM and close at 1PM. Business will resume after 5PM till 10-11PM. Perfumes are everywhere in Kish. They have scents from different famous brands which is exactly like the original and sold in 10 or 20 ml bottles at 10 dhs each. What could go cheaper than that? They have everything from Chanel No. 5, Burberry, Eclat, Chanel Bleu, and a whole lot more.

Kish also offers a variety of make-up. Iranian girls take their make up seriously. Most brands are from Europe and I sampled some of their products too. I have to say that their foundation powder has really good coverage and can last longer than 12 hrs. It's the best 25 dhs I spent in my entire life.

IN CONCLUSION

Overall, it wasn't really a bad experience. I'm glad that I was given the worst expectations which made my reality so much better. I think that Kish has a really big potential in terms of tourism. They have wonderful beaches. They have good food (except for their rice). The people are surprisingly friendly especially the kids. They look at you with amazement and try their best to communicate just to say hi or how are you or where are you from.

I think the dress code for women is just a little inconvenient and if they can't change that then tourists from not-so-strict countries wouldn't be able to enjoy what their beaches has to offer. I mean seriously, how can you go swimming in clothes so heavy?

Here are some more of the less than 20 photos I took the entire time:

Someday, I wish to go back to Iran in a different circumstance. I want to fly out with the feeling of excitement rather than fear. I want to discover the places they're proud of. I want to interact with the locals with unyielding enthusiasm to learn their culture. I want to bath in the Iranian sun and laze the whole day. I want to go back and write beautiful stories rather than sad ones.

xo,

jas

My Little Iran Adventure Part 1

A month and a half ago, I left my comfortable life in Cebu in exchange for an expat life here in UAE. By far, it is the biggest risk I have ever done in my entire life. You see, there was no job waiting for me here, I was yet to go around, hand my CV to potential employers and wait to be called for an interview. It sounded pretty simple but the truth is, it isn't. I came here when the weather was a scorching 38-40 C every day. Also, it's easy to impress the employers when you score an interview especially that we, Filipinos speak better English but to get the interview is way too challenging.

To be honest, I stayed most of the time at home facing the laptop and scouting the internet for more job openings. To make the story longer, I got lucky to score an interview with a bank (I can't name the bank yet) and got the post. I was given the good news a week before my 1 month visit visa expires and they told me that they will process the employment visa and that I shouldn't have to worry. So I didn't worry was what I did. 

3 days into not worrying, I started to panic not having heard from the HR so I called and tried talking to the manager who interviewed me and to a Filipino I met in the bank. They told me that the bank hired a third party agency to process everything for them. A day before my visa expires, an agent called me from the agency verifying my email address because the first email she sent out bounced. SHE SPELLED MY EMAIL WRONG. There were so many other mistakes she made which I won't narrate but eventually, I had to exit since with all the errors and miscommunication, I end up overstaying for 3 days. 

I had 2 options:

a. Exit, send the exit stamp to the agency (PRO for the bank) and wait (in the country where you exited) for the employment visa to arrive so that when you enter UAE again, you are on employment visa already.

b. Exit, send the exit stamp to a local travel agency, get another visit visa, send the visit visa to agency (PRO for the bank), wait for the employment visa to arrive, do an airport to airport exit to have your passport stamped. 

A lot of expats choose option A but for me and in my situation, it cannot be an option. You see, for Filipinos, we cannot exit in our own country due to some POEA rules, our only exit option is Iran or Oman. At that time, EID holiday was coming so the PRO told me that I might have to wait for 15-20 days for my employment visa to arrive. I don't want to be stuck in Iran for that long so I choose option B where I only have to stay in Iran for 2-3 days and wait for my employment visa in UAE. 

There are 2 exit places in Iran, Kish and Queshm. 

Kish  is a 91.5-square-kilometre (35.3 sq mi) resort island in the Persian Gulf. It is part of the Hormozgān Province of Iran. Due to its free trade zone status it is touted as a consumer's paradise, with numerous malls, shopping centres, tourist attractions, and resort hotels.^[1] It has an estimated population of 26,000 residents and about 1 million people visit the island annually.^[2][3] Kish Island was ranked among the world’s 10 most beautiful islands by The New York Times in 2010, and is the fourth most visited vacation destination in Southwest Asia after Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Sharm el-Sheikh.^{[4][clarification needed]} Foreign nationals wishing to enter Kish Free Zone from legal ports are not required to obtain visas prior to travel. Valid travel permits are stamped for 14 days by airport and Kish port police officials. (Source: Wikipedia)

So to Kish I went. Here are some beautiful pictures I took from my Samsung S4. I did not bring my camera and iPhone for reasons I will tell you in the next post.

This reminded me of Shangri La Mactan and Boracay but theirs is cleaner and not yet commercialized. Anyone can just take a dip and swim away.

They said this little house is not yet done. No one seemed to know what this is for.

Another beach photo.

No one can't have too much beach photo

That's not a sand castle, it's made of brick-like material.

Please stay tuned for Part 2! Iran is not just a beautiful place, it has beautiful stories as well. I'll share mine on the next post. (:


xo,

jas

the 31-day blog challenge

while trying to think of what to share to you guys. i came across this photo from tumblr and decided to join in the fun. i always have this bad habit of postponing things which i can just do now, so i hope that this challenge will help me become a better version of myself.

this is watermarked so due credit has already been cited (:

so let's go ahead and start with day 1, shall we? i am not really fond of #selfie so it took me a while to choose what photo to share. i sorted that the photo i will share best desribes me. here we go, no judging!

taken at shangri-la a summer ago (2012)

i love summers!

Fact #1

I AM A CRY-BABY! normally, at first glance people would see me as strong, manipulative, happy-go-lucky, and a lil strict but spare me your judgment because i am a confessed cry-baby. yes! even a needle prick can make me cry (which by the way is ironic cos i am a nurse) or sappy chick flicks. i remembered being teased by my sibs as 'kapayason' whenever we quarrel cos i am always the first one to cry!

Fact #2

I CAN COOK! yeyy. i am officially announcing that i can do tricks in the kitchen. haaha! so what's the big deal? well, i grew up very boyish and whenever mama and papa ask me to do chores like cooking i would easily find excuses not to do it. so what happened? well, life happened! tadahh and i just learn to love the smell of food and the satisfaction you get after making one yummy meal ^_^

Fact #3

COLD IS MY KRYPTONITE. i easily get sick during the cold season. boooo! and i usually get cramps when the temperature gets too cold. so whenever i am on the same room with my boyfriend (who gets sick when it's hot) i gotta have to wear socks or have my own blanket. my brain also slows down causing reflexes to have their downtime. haaha yeah, i'm just weird like that.

Fact #4

MY FAVORITE FRUIT IS BANANA. for a while i thought i was a minion but this just proves that i am a real pinay. there is no other fruit that i will exchange for banana. not even those fancy ones like grapes or kiwi or apple. haaha. i eat bananas raw, cooked, or sweetened.

Fact #5

I WANT TO CHANGE MY HAIR. if there is one thing i want to change in my body, it's my hair. i really have bad, unhealthy hair with very fine grains and i hate it. i would've wanted strong, healthy, wavy and naturally blonde locks but hey i'm pinay so achieving that might need a month's salary plus the maintenance thereafter. but, who knows, i might be able to have that provision in the future *dreamy eyes**

so there you go guys, that's day 1 of the 31-day challenge! let me know if you also want to do this challenge by sending me links of your work! happy day! Xx

summer jump

let's go crazy crazy craaazy til we see the sun ☀

this is in alegre beach resort: white sand, calm peaceful beach very hospitable staff cheap food and of course with moi babyloooove!

10 day photo challenge

today is my last day of rest so i gotta make the most of it. ever since i stopped working in a call center, i usually sleep early and wake up early too but for the last 2 weeks i was on night duty so my body clock tend to adopt immediately to it's former state. now, since i'm back on the morning shift, it's kinda hard for me to sleep early plus i miss blogging so i'm back to abusing my body (for the moment)

as i was visiting some blogs, i came across this photo challenge which i wanted to complete just to fill up my insomniac mood (if there's ever a term like that hahaha) here goes:

Day 1- Facebook Profile Photo + 5 facts on photo

1. the two-piece i'm wearing is roxy which i bought from a very good friend, sherah!

2. this was in boracay more than a year ago

3. i was with college classmates since this boracay week was a celebration of our college graduation

4. i had to drink a little rhum to be confident strutting my stuff in this beautiful island (hahaha)

5. i was very sick when i got to cebu after this trip because of non-sleep 

because life is a beach and we love it!

summer 2012 is very special to me not because, it's hotter and more fun (that's a given) compared to any other summers in my life but because i gotta spend it with my long lost beach soulmate-- jp! if there is one thing that i truly treasure in my relationship right now, it's being able to do things that i love so much with the person who enjoys it as much as i do. yes, we are the ultimate beach junkies and it would be a shame not to say goodbye in a luxurious way to our favorite season in the world-- summer. so get ready, whoops wait for it--- say hello to shangri la mactan! this is actually our 3rd and final shang experience for the summer. (photo vomit comin up)

these first set of photos are all taken at the beach front.

sunday beaching at high noon

the manongs are cleaning the beach because of too much sea grass

leeesss go!

2nd day: waiting for the sun while enjoying the calm and serene beach front. lovely!

beach walk: early morning talk with self! (i'm so lucky to be alive)

monday lovin' screw werk tanyt babe, let's roll this! \m/

just woke up babyyyyyy!

we're very simple people. the calm and rush the beach gives is happiness!

almost hittin the waters, just waitin for higher tides

jp has canny eyes for beautiful views! he whatever beautiful photo you see here is his!

gettin geared up-- leeezzz do this!

our sunnies and our braces

monday: solar eclipse and one friendly guest was  kind enough to share a piece of heavily tinted glass so i can see it! coolio!

beautiful!

dive.flip.enjoy

of all the beaches that i visited here in cebu, nothing could really beat shangri la mactan. as what jp has told me, the fine sand they have here was actually hoarded from bohol. they really did a good job in maintaining their beach front and of course, the beach itself.

if you have friends and relatives who want to visit cebu for the summer, shang is the place to be. watch out for the next post, you will surely fall in love with this place.

summer is almost almost over but i'm so glad i was able to spend it the best way possible. what was your summer like?

tanskin.diving.swimming.crazydays.lovin.jp.bikinis.boardshorts.summer2012.beach.sand

friday wish ♥

i was browsing thru my photo albums and i suddenly realize that i look too pale.i need some sun real soon! i miss lyin around and soaking in the sun's not too bright rays listenin to that distinct music only the wind and water can make.

hey weekend, please come up quick and take me awaaaay!

a lil summer in august!

i have always been a water-baby! i love to swim and have fun when i'm in the water.i can stay all day under the heat of the sun without feeling less conscious of havin chapped skin! last sunday, i went swimming with friends at maribago bluewaters ☼ i was more than ecstatic and these photo vomit will show! btw, most of these photos are from venus' cam because i was too excited to swim that i dint get to take my own. (yeah, worst blogger ever) hahaha

bluewaters is located in mactan.it is about 30-45 mins drive from the city.on sundays, the entrance fee is 700php but on weekdays it's 800php.the place and the facilities is a lil bit pricey but if your working, treats like this is something you can reward yourself ☺

meet my friends: (l-r) sheryl, hannah, venus, val, and rich

early morning coke sesh :D that guy on the right side is jp.he was our superman for that day.the most generous boss ever! too bad he ain't joining our sesh.he is into "say no to alcohol" campaign :D

that's me and venny ready to swim our hearts out :)

hahaha, yeah never mind that guy hahaham (peace jayps)

well i really don't wanna post this but i think im mature enough to accept defeat! haha i bet with jp (we promise not to tell anyone about the bet, we shook hands like real bros) on swimming! and boy i was just trailing behind him like a real loser! arggh but hey, he has longer arms and legs and he's a guy :((

water-baby ♥

LIFE IS A BEACH ♥

we had a very late lunch that day but you gotta check it! if you have a lunch like this, you don't mind waiting.

this is one of the most famous STK in mactan! i remembered we had joma's bday dinner in this exact same place! seafood is love! and btw, this lunch isn't kkb.this is a treat from jp! HE ALREADY! haha we really dint do anythin extraordinary.maybe, he is just generous by heart (ahem) or he doesn't have a choice! hahaha

the food that we order looks like it's an all-male-super-duper-hungry-bunch type! but nah-ah, all these food are for the sexy-two-piece-wearin-type girls but hungry just the same! haha

friends that eat together, stay proeburr!

too much flash! haha im not yet done okay? im just halfway here! i think i was able to consume 1 bowl of rice.hungry much huh? not really, i eat like a guy you know haha and my dad taught me not to leave anythin on the plate! hahaha

the must try and the best ever that lunch was their shrimp cooked in butter and sprite i guess.haha.it's garlicky and a lil bit spicy on the side! and of course the black seafood which is cooked like adobo?!?! hahaha yeah, the pusit is what i meant! (this is my 4th time to eat here, and i always always order that dish) and i still don't know the exact name of that dish! hahaha

everything about this day was awesome! i've never been this happy in my entire stay here in cebu! for once, i proved that having new friends and moving on is such a happy experience.later did i realize that choosing to stay in cebu was not a bad decision after all ☺ i will never ever forget bacolod but i know it's just there waitin for me to truly see where i need to be in my life right now! 

yeah, that's me askin my cards on who i'm goin to be and what my next plans would be! hahaha well, guess what the cards said? "hmm, stay!" hahaha i don't wanna be biased, but i think i'm happier compared to all of my companions combined! hahaha i was the last to get out of the pool that day.til the next session guys! i hope that wasn't the last! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TODAY! X