Terrible Travel Travails

Did you enjoy the in flight meals?

Packed sandwiches myself on the way out, bought a Subway on the way back.

I did purchase a couple of scotches, each way, though.

Have you brought any alcohol with you back to kuwait? If so, hows the process?

I was in Dubai heading to Beirut and had the same issue ( Taxi driver missing the right airport).

Fortunately, I was still able to catch up my flight

I didn't pack sandwiches when I went to KL to get together with the lady who was to be my future wife.
We'd met almost a year before, but I had to return home to sort out a load of stuff, not realising the airports we would meet at weren't the same.
I waited for her flight, trying to find information, eventually being told it arrived at the other airport.
A taxi sorted that one, but I was very late, leaving her worried I wasn't going to turn up.
We've now been married 10 years and a bit, and have two kids and a car.
Luckily, the airport food in KL is edible, but the immigration officer asked me for 'pocket money' to guide me to the right place.
The rest of immigration were pretty great, sorting out my future wife's entry into Malaysia quickly and easily, and without asking for a penny in bribes.
I think they realised we were on the level and really intending to get married properly, but they did ask me if it was a 'contract marriage'.
My blank expression when they asked confirmed it wasn't.

An earlier trip saw me join the mile high club, a joint new membership with a Malaysian Chinese lady by the name of Mai. If you do so on a MAS flight, chose the rear most toilets as the side ones have less room to move.

VorraroD wrote:

Have you brought any alcohol with you back to kuwait? If so, hows the process?

The process is 1) get caught, then 2) have your booze confiscated, then 3) go to jail.

Only members of the royal family seem to be able to be caught with booze and allowed in the country - with it in hand.

MisterStretch wrote:

VorraroD wrote:

Have you brought any alcohol with you back to kuwait? If so, hows the process?

The process is 1) get caught, then 2) have your booze confiscated, then 3) go to jail..

That seems to be a very simple process, all put in a very easy way for a new expat to understand.
Thanks for explaining it.

Ive heard some people got away with it.

The only methods to have alcohol here is this country, without being caught, are:

1- Travel to Bahrain over the weekend and have your drinks there

2- Travel to Dubai over the weekend and have your drinks there

3- Actually just travel anywhere except KSA, Qatar, and Iran, and have your drinks there

4- Get invited to a private party in Kuwait, and have your drinks there

5- Get invited to Embassy parties ( USA and UK mainly) and have your drinks there

6- Prepare your own drinks at home and drink there

Besides that, I don't think there is any other method...

VorraroD wrote:

Ive heard some people got away with it.

and others don't.
Be safe, don't bring the stuff in or drink it whilst you're there.
If you can't live without a drink, see a doctor about your problem.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-kuwait

Alcohol consumption in Kuwait
The consumption, importation and brewing of, and trafficking in liquor is strictly against the law. Drunken behaviour in public or driving under the influence of alcohol is a punishable offence, making the offender liable to a fine or imprisonment and/or deportation and withdrawal of the driving licence. Sentences of up to three months in prison are not uncommon.

VorraroD wrote:

Ive heard some people got away with it.

Actually, some got away but without it.

To stay on topic, I've got no travel horror stories in recent history to report ...well maybe for "in-flight entertainment" in Oman Air which consists of very explicit TV show about aesthetic ear surgery, with all the gory details.

Last real one was 5-6 years ago when I got stuck overnight ai Frankfurt airport - twice.

I don't have many horror stories except for day to day travel on Indonesian roads, that being because they're probably some of the worst in the world.
I suppose it's because I like to look at the bright side; likely to see being stuck in an airport for 10 hours as a great chance to look at the shops properly and have interesting chats with new people.

Fred wrote:

being stuck in an airport for 10 hours as a great chance to look at the shops properly and have interesting chats with new people.

Depends on the airport, eh?  I love these new "hub airports" like Singapore and Dubai that are really entertainment and shopping centers.

Years ago, I was stranded in the Bogota, Columbia airport and was so concerned for my safety and not being robbed that I literally chained myself and my luggage to a row of airport seats in front of the police station in order to sleep.

MisterStretch wrote:

Fred wrote:

being stuck in an airport for 10 hours as a great chance to look at the shops properly and have interesting chats with new people.

Depends on the airport, eh?  I love these new "hub airports" like Singapore and Dubai that are really entertainment and shopping centers.

Years ago, I was stranded in the Bogota, Columbia airport and was so concerned for my safety and not being robbed that I literally chained myself and my luggage to a row of airport seats in front of the police station in order to sleep.

That's nothing, I was in Heathrow.
Beat that!

Hmmmm...
Arriving in Phuket, Thailand, during the "Yellow Shirt" occupation of the airports in Bangkok, because it was one of the only international airports open at the time.

In order to get to my destination, I wound up in the Phuket bus station late at night - with no buses til morning.  I didn't dare fall asleep, just some dodgy characters and a street-dirty ladyboy who I know would have lifted everything I owned if I closed my eyes.