Exactly thirty days before my backpacking departure to Middle East Region, I started to get busy in hunting all visas needed, it were tourist visas to visiting Kochi, Dubai, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
Among the six visas, I had a bitter experience when I finally failed to get a Kuwait Tourist Visa. This caused me to must satisfy to just enjoying Kuwait by transit, but of course it was better than nothing.
At the end of November, all information about Kuwait Tourist Visa which I got through internet (google, youtube and facebook) I recorded in detail. Until I phoned those contact numbers one by one. The best information which I have was that I could enter Kuwait by Visa on Arrival (VoA).
Calling several phone numbers which I got on internet, every ring which I sent was unanswered. So to immediately made sure, I rushed to Kuningan area in early December to directly ask at Kuwaiti Embassy.
It was quite difficult to find its location, because the address which was displayed by Google was never correct. I had to get lost in an unnamed embassy office in Patra Kuningan I Avenue . A large building which was guarded by a group of men in military helmets and armed with long barrels. The brake screech of my motorbike right in front of the entrance made them suddenly alert and raised their weapons to their chests.
Me: “Sir, is it the Kuwaiti Embassy, is it?“
Guard: “No sir, this is the Australian Embassy”.
Me: “How come google maps directs me here, sir?”.
Guard: “That’s wrong, Sir, a lot of people stray here like you“.
Me: “Do you know where the location is?”.
Guard: “Oh, I don’t know, Sir“.
Finally they lowered the position of weapon after knowing my aim. It’s just that I admits that I was impolite, asking something on a motorbike and right in front of the gate…. Hahahaha.
Address from other sources also led me to stray on Denpasar Raya Avenue. I didn’t know what office it was, fortunately its guard was able to give me clear direction to the Kuwait Embassy. Until finally I arrived at the Kuwait Embassy office on Mega Kuningan Barat III Avenue.
There were no visitors and only two security guarded it. They directed me to sit on a small terrace in left corner of the embassy. Until they called the staff who handled Visa application.
Finally my hope of exploring Kuwait were dashed after the beautiful embassy staff gave an explanation through a narrow slit in the visa counter.
“For Indonesian citizens, Kuwait does not issue tourist visas, Sir. We only handle Working Visas and Diplomatic Visas. To be able to travel there, you have to get a Calling Visa from your friends or family in Kuwait,” She said.
Knowing my intention was gone then there wasn’t other way. I had to expedite the Kuwait-Doha departure ticket which I got since mid-April. After counting, rescheduling was more cheaper than buying a Bahrain-Doha direct flight ticket.
So from Bahrain, I was going to Doha with a transit in Kuwait.
I immediately contacted Kuwait Airways via Whatsapp in the first weekend of December.
In addition to rescheduling flights, of course I had to cancel hotel reservations on Booking.com.
This means, in the middle of my trip later, I wouldl visit Doha longer. From the previous plan, i.e three visiting days became five visiting days. And my exploration to Kuwait was only limited to transit. But this transit period had provided an unforgettable experience.
What kind of experience?….Hahaha, just read on next story!