Kim Berghout is a Hitchhiker, writer & video maker from Netherlands who travelled to Iran in a different way a couple of months ago. Two things make this travel interesting: first the way she travelled; she and her partner Lena hitchhiked from Netherlands to Iran. Second, her idea about Iran.

By Niv Sadr

Kim Berghout is a Hitchhiker, writer & video maker from Netherlands who travelled to Iran in a different way a couple of months ago. Two things make this travel interesting: first the way she travelled; she and her partner Lena hitchhiked from Netherlands to Iran. Second, her idea about Iran.

In an Interview with khabaronline she talked about her favorite city in Iran, worst food she ate in Iran and her other experiences.

First of all tell me about yourself, what countries did you travel to?

I travelled through the Balkans to Turkey, Georgia, Armenia to Iran. From Iran I went to Azerbaijan and took the ferry to Kazakhstan then I spend summer in Central Asian Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and I will travel to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in a few days.

In a video you announced that all of your travels coasted 5€ a day, how?

By Hitchhiking, camping, work-away, couchsurfing and working in exchange for accommodation and food. Actually living life on the road is not all rainbows and unicorns.

Did you work in Iran?

No. In Iran people gave me too much food I didn’t have to work. Actually I don't think anyone would have let me work too.

Trying to pay for a dinner or drink for my host was already a big struggle - they taarof (one of the most important traditions in Iranian culture is the tradition of ‘Taarof’. Taarof is the act of helping or supporting someone who don’t asks for help) me so much! It wasn’t fair - people in Iran are taarof experts. I couldn’t win!

But why did you decide to travel to Iran?

I wanted to explore the Middle East, as I had never been there and Iran seemed to be the safest place to go Also, I heard from other travelers who had been to Iran that Iran was amazing and from people at home that it was way too dangerous. So I wanted to see it for myself.

In a part of your article about Iran you said: “Never before have I been to a country whereby the preconceptions of it are so far away from reality”, so what was your preconception of Iran?

I am not sure what I thought about Iran before anymore. I did not know much about the county, and what you get as an image from the media is that the whole ‘Middle East area’ is one big warzone. Which is absolutely not true!

I also thought that it would be a really strict county with many rules you have to follow and that I had to be careful all the time but I actually felt really safe at Iran.

The country is woman unfriendly but that's mostly how it looks on the streets. If you talk to the people and have a closer relationship to them you notice it's actually better of what you see in the streets.

What differences have you understand between Iran and European countries about social relations?

I think, because it is against the rule for women and men in Iran to see each other in private before marriage the social circles in Iran are more separated.

On the other side - I noticed the women are much closer to each other.

There is a separate ‘woman’s world’ in Iran which you don’t have so much in Europe. The women are so close to each other. They share everything and meet at each other homes more often.

There are a lot of areas solely for women: in the bus, separate metro coupes where only women are and where other women come to women stuff.

You have travelled to several countries, what was the most different thing about Iran?

In comparison to traveling in Europe, I would say the hospitality standards. Everyone welcomed me all the time, invited me for tea, food or meet their family. Crazy!

On the other hand I heard that this kind of hospitality is mostly a treatment for Europeans and not foreigners from let’s say - Afghanistan.

So I might have a biased experience but basically all the people I met were extremely nice and caring. Iran has such sweet people. It really added to - or was even the main factor - of the joy of traveling in that county.

People genuinely wanted to help me and have a good time in their country.

I have a critic about Iranian society too, people seem to be not so used to being able to say what they think out loud, I noticed that in the country itself as well as when I published my videos about my experience in Iran and got - next to tons of nice and positive comments - some responses from people who said I shouldn’t be ‘allowed’ to publish this.

They were afraid Iran would appear bad in the news (although - in my opinion - my videos give a very positive view on Iran) and ask me to adjust my opinion.

What do you think is the reason of biased behavior of Iranian people?

I have no idea. I think they might have a stereotype about Europe that’s it is all do great and so much freedom and rainbows and unicorns. Although it's not …

How about foods, What was the best and the worst Persian food?

Well I am a vegetarian, so I really liked Aash (a kind of Iranian soup)! Awesome soups! And the Falafel (deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both)

I liked all the sweets too.

Definitely my favorite are the dates! So many different kind! And the melon, oh they are so juicy and good!

The worst are the ice creams. I didn’t really liked the Iranian ice creams, because a lot of brands are not available at Iran.

Making the egg with tomato sauce thing is also one of my favorites! Dipping with lavash (Iranian bread).

Which cities in Iran did you travel to?

I went to Tabriz, Sanandaj, Hamadan, Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, Mesr village, Tehran and cities along the Caspian Sea.

I liked the nature the best - the green hills of Kordestan, the desert in Mesr, the rice paddies and jungle in the north of Iran. The area around Babak fort. Great for camping.

But Shiraz is my favorite city. The architecture is stunning I love the magic mosque. And the bazar around the big mosque with the fountains is Isfahan is also really nice.

Tell me your best, worst and funniest memory in Iran?

Best: all the friends I made along the way. I am still in contact with many Iranian people and I am sure I will see them again someday.

Worst: that people were sometimes so worried, that they didn’t let Lena and me do anything.

For example, when an old men in the park chased a guy who was just playing guitar for us - and not bothering us - away. Or when the police stopped us from hitchhiking and put us on  bus.

I know I am traveling in an extreme way (by hitchhiking and camping anywhere) and that it makes people worried about me.

However, it's still my choice to do so. I can decide about my own live and follow my own dreams. I understand, that it must look weird sometimes. It's something I want to establish with my travels: showing that you can do anything you want and dream of, as long as you are willing to face your own fears and go for it. And oh, to promote and inspire women to travel on their own.

Because the world is not a bad place if you focus on the positive side and push yourself to get out of your comfort zone and make your dreams come true!

Since it was a big dream of me - to be able to hitchhike all the way from the Netherlands to Iran on my own and I made it. And it felt awesome.

Funniest: when camping with Iranian friends in the jungle. As women cannot really swim when men are around ... And it was so warm ... We jumped with all the women together into the lake with full clothes on!

So nice and refreshing! All our clothes were so wet and sticking to our skins, but it didn't matter, because we could swim!

Best thing was that meanwhile, all the guys were preparing and cooking breakfast for us

Why do you travel in this way? What is your goal?

I hope I can inspire women I meet on the road (oh, and men as well) and the people that follow me online to also face their fears and follow their dreams. It doesn't have to be traveling - that's just my dream. Everyone has different dreams and a different purpose in their lives. Let that light shine! I know you have it in you, and you know it too.

Go for it. Make a plan. Stick to it. Don't look back! Don't think too much about all the bad things that might happen ... Be ready to face your fears. Let these inner Devils show themselves, and be ready to defeat them!

It also works the other way around. I learn something from everyone I meet on the way.

What about Iranian women, did you inspire them?

I think so, Lena and I got many questions from women in Iran about how we travel. We got many Questions from men as well as women.

Sometimes I get messages on my Facebook, Instagram or email that people like my pictures and writing about what I am doing and that it inspired them to travel or follow their dreams as well. I love that so much. When someone tells me I was able to help or inspire them somehow, that makes my day.

And the last question, Will you come back to Iran? When?

I would love to, Not sure when. In the winter perhaps, to see the south I want to go to the island.