I had 4h30 minutes of solid sleep and woke up before 0700. Being at the tail end of the time zone, it was still pitch black outside. I made up some milk-and-muesli for breakfast before hopping on the train to Ampang for the Sudanese embassy.
While I can get a visa-on-arrival at Khartoum, there is a mistake in the database that airlines use to check visa requirements. It says that Malaysians qualify for VOA if arriving directly from Malaysia whereas in fact Sudan will give it regardless of routing. Even though I’m travelling via Riyadh, I’m not leaving the airport there at all and I should be considered a direct passenger. But I’m not taking any risks … I can’t afford to be denied boarding.
I had allowed too much time for the journey as the train ride only took 20 minutes, and had to grab a cuppa to kill time.
At the embassy, I gave my visa application to the receptionist who passed it to the visa officer to review. Both the receptionist and I wanted to be sure that all necessary information was provided at this time, rather than having to have extra bits faxed in. I waited and waited. Al Jazeera’s Arabic news service kept me entertained, as did a Sudanese lecturer who was teaching at a uni in KL.
Two hours later, Mr Sabri came out to speak to me. He said the visa would take a few days to process and I could come back next week and they’ll stamp it into my passport immediately. He then returned all my application papers and passport.
I double-checked with Mr Sabri that I hadn’t misunderstood as it seemed quite strange that I had to come back to have the visa stamped in (they’ll do it immediately when I come in next), but they don’t need my paperwork anymore. He was very kind and helpful, but I should get used to matters being handled at a slower pace as I think that will be the way in Sudan.
I debriefed the receptionist on the outcome of the discussion with Mr Sabri. She looked a bit puzzled and kindly triple-checked for me. Yep, that’s the way it is. She confirmed that my visa is approved … but I guess they can’t stamp it in straight away as they have to be seen to have gone through a processing period?
Anyway, the outcome is probably better than I expected. I had expected to drop in my forms and passport and pay RM212 today, and hopefully find it approved when I’m back in KL on 28 Feb. But the situation now is that I know my visa has been approved, I haven’t had to pay, I have my passport in my possession, and I’ll get my visa on 28 Feb. And if that doesn’t happen I can still get visa-on-arrival.
It was nearly 1300 by the time I got Pavilion Mall for a lunch of Assam Laksa (omfg and awesomely strong fishy, hot and sour flavours) and Ais Kacang. That’s kind of standard for my KL layovers, as is a blind massage at Bukit Bintang/Sungei Wang.
I then explored the new walkway (elevated in parts) that links pavilion to KLCC. It was a 10 minute walk as opposed to about 30 minutes if it had been on the street level, according to Google Maps.
I was pretty pooped after that and returned to the hotel briefly before a dinner at Dapur Penyet across the road at the Maju Junction Mall. This was an Indo franchise specialising in Ayam Penyet but I opted to have the Dendeng with green chilli sambal. Man, it was to die for!