It is slightly weird to think that you could live happily ever after in a van. But that is how it has been for Germany’s Jens Jacob and his wife Cynthia, both 37. Jens, who worked in the catering business set off on a journey five years ago, and has already travelled to about 26 countries. They have been in India for a little over a month now.
When MetroPlus reached him over telephone, Jens had just arrived in Varanasi, with memories still fresh from the trouble they had at Indian customs when they landed in early November. He also sounded pretty disappointed with the condition of Indian roads. “Even today I did about 50 kilometres in roughly about three hours!” He says in exasperation. “I came to Mumbai, then Pune, Goa, Jabalpur, driving along National Highway 7. I had plans to drive down South along the coast, but not anymore! I am surprised by the road conditions. You have holes half metre deep, and it is called a highway! It is more like off-roading!”
Jens travels in a 1965 Volkswagen Type 2 Kombi van he named Bluee. This model from Volkswagen completes 50 years in February 2015 since its launch. The petrol engine van that runs on its original gear box was something Jens acquired and refurbished in 2007. The earlier owner had turned it into a caravan and had painted it orange, he says. The purpose of buying such an old van model? “I found it cute! And I wanted to have it. I realised it is an old timer and has value in Germany. And it is un-destroyable,” he laughs.
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The self-contained van (equipped even with a water tank) has everything except a shower and toilet. “In India it was difficult to find clean toilets, but the new bus stations along the highway are pretty clean. In Europe it is easy because there are many camping sites. Otherwise we use the ones in malls and restaurants,” explains Jens. “It is cosy. You’ll like it...it is like home.”
He has driven through Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy (where he worked on an olive farm), Greece, Turkey, Iran. He met his wife in Dubai. Jens cooks, cleans and sleeps in the van while looking for employment in whichever country he is in. He came into India after spending almost a year in Oman where he and his wife worked as receptionists.
In India, though, Jens said he wasn’t looking for work. “I only wanted to enjoy India. I play the saxophone, so I thought maybe I’ll try working at a bar in Goa, but then decided I just want to relax. I hope to try getting work in north East India in the tea garden, not for money, just for the experience,” he says.
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They are heading next to Indonesia, his wife’s home, where he hopes to stay on a year and start some business. “I want to go to Tibet, China, Cambodia. But I want to travel maximum by road and this route won’t be allowed, and this is turning out to be expensive. So next it will be Vietnam and Thailand.” His dream is to set off to South America and then North America, post the long haul in Indonesia.
He found Indians to be very curious people. “All along the way, people wanted to look inside the car, wanted to know everything, kept asking me questions in Hindi! Most people are talkative and kind, and if I look lost, they always offered help.”