Han with Rattan in Madhya Pradesh, February 2013
. Can I trust this? Who is behind this website? These were the first thoughts that came into my mind when I took a look at the website advertising a “car and driver in India.” I took the chance, mainly because half the trip was to be payed upon arrival and the other half upon departure. I just came back (27/2/2013). I travelled a month with Rattan Singh, my driver, and his car, in a less touristic area with a fragile infrastructure but also with a lot of things to see: I truly saw India. I travelled through Madhya Pradesh. And I've had a FANTASTIC time. Many beautiful palaces, castles, temples, ‘mini-Varanasi's' and nature. Travelled through a lot of countryside with many rural images, a lot of colours and scents and beautiful yellow mustard fields. I've also seen a lot of chaos and dirtiness, but the people were always very kind and warm.
I've been in India before together with my partner. After his death, I travelled alone. I've enjoyed every second of my journey, and Rattan was gold, diamond and platinum all at once. Nothing was too much for him. He was a modest man and always said that “the customer is always right”. My questions often invited him to give me another lecture on religion, the caste system, corruption, politics, etc., which always ended in a discussion. My trip couldn't be any more interesting, I've learned so much. It feels so good to be so enthusiastic about this journey brought to me through a website that I coincidentally discovered, even after having been a world traveler for 40 years. Rattan never took me to shops, hotels or other places of his choice. I chose my own hotels and negotiated about the price myself. Rattan didn't want to have anything to do with that.
I heartily recommend this opportunity of travelling through India to everybody. Flexibility, creativity, independence and taking everything as it comes, are the conditions for travelling through this chaotic, unfathomable and incomprehensible country without any stress. More than 33 million Hindu gods together with all the gods from those other religions and the country's corruption and caste system do raise a lot of questions. You try to find the answers, but the questions never stop. Very interesting, but you must be able to deal with the uncertainties of life. I've had a great time. I'm already planning my next trips with this organisation. Han Blaakman ( hatonu@onsnet.nu ). You may also call me on 040-2837926.
