De lokale agenten
Djoser organiseert tegenwoordig meer dan tweehonderd verschillende reizen in ruim tachtig landen wereldwijd. Dat is veel werk en een enorme organisatie. Om dit allemaal voor elkaar te krijgen werken we samen met lokale vertegenwoordigers, die ervoor zorgen dat ter plaatse alles goed is geregeld. Soms is het meer dan samenwerken en is er sprake van een heel speciale band tussen agent en Djoser.
Er was eens een Hollander in Egypte
Mijn kennismaking met Djoser was in 1985. Ik was eerstejaars student egyptologie aan de universiteit in Sohag in Egypte. Ik woonde in Luxor, waar zich 60 procent van alle culturele bezienswaardigheden bevinden. In deze periode heb ik Herman leren kennen, tegenwoordig directeur van Djoser. Hij werkte toen als reisbegeleider voor Nederlandse groepen van een Nederlandse reisorganisatie. Herman zat vaak met zijn groepen na een excursie op het terras aan de Nijl tegenover de Luxortempel. Ik kwam daar ook regelmatig en zo raakten we in gesprek. Ook Herman bleek egyptologie te studeren, in Leiden. Hij was vaak in Luxor voor zijn werk als reisbegeleider en sindsdien zijn we vrienden.
Op een dag had Herman groot nieuws. Hij was bezig met het starten van zijn eigen reisorganisatie in Nederland. Vanwege zijn studie en interesse in Egypte wilde hij zijn organisatie noemen naar een bekende koning van de trappiramide ‘Djoser’. Vervolgens vroeg hij of ik voor hem wilde werken door diensten te verlenen, zoals het reserveren van treintickets, reserveren van hotels en dergelijke. Mijn antwoord was toen: “Dat kan ik niet.” Ik had als student namelijk nog geen gelegenheid gehad om andere plaatsen in Egypte te ontdekken, zoals Cairo en Aswan. Herman vond dit geen probleem en nam me mee naar Cairo waar hij me de stad liet laten zien. Voor mij was dit een unieke gelegenheid om mijn eigen land te ontdekken. Het bijzondere hieraan was dat een ‘buitenlander’ mij al het mooie van mijn land heeft laten zien. Ik heb in de hierop volgende jaren heel veel geleerd; naast de kennis over mijn land heb ik ook door de groepen een andere cultuur leren kennen. Djoser is bekend door ‘de andere manier van reizen’, en dat heeft Djoser van het begin af aan weten vast te houden: het laten zien van een andere manier van leven.
Ook persoonlijk betekent Djoser veel voor mij. Herman is mijn beste vriend geworden. Ik heb mijn Nederlandse vrouw leren kennen op één van de Djoserreizen
en ben in 1993 in Nederland gaan wonen. We zijn al 17 jaar samen. Ik heb toen ruim 12 jaar op het kantoor van Djoser als productmanager voor het Midden-Oosten gewerkt. Nu heb ik sinds een aantal jaren mijn eigen reisorganisatie, ‘Anubistours’ in Cairo. In 2006 ben ik met mijn gezin naar Egypte verhuisd. Sinds de oprichting verlenen we onze service aan Djoser en hopen dat nog vele jaren te mogen doen!
Wajih Zakaria Weissa, Egypte
We’ve come a long way
Marlies found herself on Koinange Street in Nairobi, ‘The Green City in the Sun’, in search for a suitable Kenyan ground operator for Djoser. Kenya being the first destination in Africa, south of the Equator, her list comprised established operators
working for established Dutch tour operators. This was way back in 1992 and her
list did not include Hiking & Cycling Kenya, as we were known then. Lucky for us she stumbled on our display-board outside our office and decided to check us out. We met in our small office and after a lively discussion she challenged me to come up with an original itinerary and of course the sharpest price in the best Djoser tradition. We were basically time barred as she was flying out the next day, but she decided to give us a chance, this ‘eccentric’ couple, Joyce and Halewijn, who had nothing to show for in terms of vehicles or equipment, but rather promises and a lot of enthusiasm.
In 1993, at the beginning of the season, Marlies’ colleague Sander flew in, to further check out several potential operators. He also joined one of our tours, hosted by Halewijn, and the rest is history. Our ‘marriage’ had its ‘teething’
problems. However, in the best Djoser tradition we developed a close relationship and took care of each other’s interests, managing efficiently the East African destinations. We have come a long way since 1993 and have experienced a tremendous growth. We have learned a lot from Djoser and maybe Djoser learned something from us.
Joyce Chianda, Kenia
A long, successful journey
It was in the summer of 1990 in our initial years as entrepreneurs. We were sitting in our humble basement office in South Delhi. Just about noon, we were visited by a couple. They introduced themselves as mr. and mrs. Van der Velde from Holland and told me that they were looking for a partner to work with in India. I was asked to provide only simple hotels but with flair and a good bus with a reliable driver.
I must confess, coming from a background of looking after the most exclusive tours from the USA or the very typical study tours from Germany, where it was very important to show them every monument on the itinerary and more, where every hour of the day was planned, their request was a big change. To begin with, I was skeptical as a tourist segment like this was unknown to us. Later, my partners and I sat down to analyse the opportunity and decided to give it a try. Thus started a relationship and a long journey.
Together we have crossed many barriers, shared many stories, laughed together and discussed new routes. The business from Djoser to India grew in leaps and bounds. The challenges of providing good buses, hotels with flair and at the right price were getting harder with every passing year. We were encouraged to explore more areas and make new suggestion for round trips. We were not new to the business, but we learned and adapted quite a few things in our business due to our association with Djoser.
In the last 20 plus years with Djoser, not only have we grown with Djoser but have got the opportunity to understand the Dutch and Netherlands much better. The only thing that I regret of having not been able to do till now is learn the Dutch language.
Sunirmol Ghosh, India
A unique philosophy of traveling
The year 2010 marks the 16th anniversary of our cooperation with Djoser in China. When we welcomed the first Djoser group in China in 1994, these ‘Djosers’ were really pioneers to explore China in the unique ‘Djoser way’.
Looking back to the past 16 years, we - ‘Djoser Team in China’ - are proud to be part of the ‘Djoser Legacy’. From the ‘rooftop of the world’ near Tingri to the ‘Dragon Spine’ rise paddies in Yangshuo, from the skyscrapers in Shanghai to the packed tea house in Chengdu, we are happy to assist our Djoser travelers to experience this ‘enigmatic’ country in a way that is different from that of other tourists. And because of the unique ‘Djoser way’, the Djoser travelers were able to have real contact with the local people and enjoy the multi-faceted Chinese culture, which contributed to the cultural exchange between Dutch and Chinese people. Djoser and its travelers to China should also be proud because they witnessed the unprecedented changes happened in this ‘Middle Kingdom’ during the past 16 years, which is considered to be one of the greatest evolutions in the modern era. Looking ahead, we are even more enthusiastic about the next 16 years to come. We are passionate to welcome more new and old Djoser travelers to visit the vast and mysterious land of China. We are determined to raise the ‘Djoser Legacy’ to an even higher level.
For us, ‘Djoser’ is truly a great sensation. With its unique philosophy of traveling, it has become an ambassador to link different cultures and people all over the world. We are proud that we have the chance to make contributions to the ‘Djoser Legacy’.
Xian Zhong, China
Er was eens een Hollander in Egypte
Mijn kennismaking met Djoser was in 1985. Ik was eerstejaars student egyptologie aan de universiteit in Sohag in Egypte. Ik woonde in Luxor, waar zich 60 procent van alle culturele bezienswaardigheden bevinden. In deze periode heb ik Herman leren kennen, tegenwoordig directeur van Djoser. Hij werkte toen als reisbegeleider voor Nederlandse groepen van een Nederlandse reisorganisatie. Herman zat vaak met zijn groepen na een excursie op het terras aan de Nijl tegenover de Luxortempel. Ik kwam daar ook regelmatig en zo raakten we in gesprek. Ook Herman bleek egyptologie te studeren, in Leiden. Hij was vaak in Luxor voor zijn werk als reisbegeleider en sindsdien zijn we vrienden.
Op een dag had Herman groot nieuws. Hij was bezig met het starten van zijn eigen reisorganisatie in Nederland. Vanwege zijn studie en interesse in Egypte wilde hij zijn organisatie noemen naar een bekende koning van de trappiramide ‘Djoser’. Vervolgens vroeg hij of ik voor hem wilde werken door diensten te verlenen, zoals het reserveren van treintickets, reserveren van hotels en dergelijke. Mijn antwoord was toen: “Dat kan ik niet.” Ik had als student namelijk nog geen gelegenheid gehad om andere plaatsen in Egypte te ontdekken, zoals Cairo en Aswan. Herman vond dit geen probleem en nam me mee naar Cairo waar hij me de stad liet laten zien. Voor mij was dit een unieke gelegenheid om mijn eigen land te ontdekken. Het bijzondere hieraan was dat een ‘buitenlander’ mij al het mooie van mijn land heeft laten zien. Ik heb in de hierop volgende jaren heel veel geleerd; naast de kennis over mijn land heb ik ook door de groepen een andere cultuur leren kennen. Djoser is bekend door ‘de andere manier van reizen’, en dat heeft Djoser van het begin af aan weten vast te houden: het laten zien van een andere manier van leven.
Ook persoonlijk betekent Djoser veel voor mij. Herman is mijn beste vriend geworden. Ik heb mijn Nederlandse vrouw leren kennen op één van de Djoserreizen
en ben in 1993 in Nederland gaan wonen. We zijn al 17 jaar samen. Ik heb toen ruim 12 jaar op het kantoor van Djoser als productmanager voor het Midden-Oosten gewerkt. Nu heb ik sinds een aantal jaren mijn eigen reisorganisatie, ‘Anubistours’ in Cairo. In 2006 ben ik met mijn gezin naar Egypte verhuisd. Sinds de oprichting verlenen we onze service aan Djoser en hopen dat nog vele jaren te mogen doen!
Wajih Zakaria Weissa, Egypte
We’ve come a long way
Marlies found herself on Koinange Street in Nairobi, ‘The Green City in the Sun’, in search for a suitable Kenyan ground operator for Djoser. Kenya being the first destination in Africa, south of the Equator, her list comprised established operators
working for established Dutch tour operators. This was way back in 1992 and her
list did not include Hiking & Cycling Kenya, as we were known then. Lucky for us she stumbled on our display-board outside our office and decided to check us out. We met in our small office and after a lively discussion she challenged me to come up with an original itinerary and of course the sharpest price in the best Djoser tradition. We were basically time barred as she was flying out the next day, but she decided to give us a chance, this ‘eccentric’ couple, Joyce and Halewijn, who had nothing to show for in terms of vehicles or equipment, but rather promises and a lot of enthusiasm.
In 1993, at the beginning of the season, Marlies’ colleague Sander flew in, to further check out several potential operators. He also joined one of our tours, hosted by Halewijn, and the rest is history. Our ‘marriage’ had its ‘teething’
problems. However, in the best Djoser tradition we developed a close relationship and took care of each other’s interests, managing efficiently the East African destinations. We have come a long way since 1993 and have experienced a tremendous growth. We have learned a lot from Djoser and maybe Djoser learned something from us.
Joyce Chianda, Kenia
A long, successful journey
It was in the summer of 1990 in our initial years as entrepreneurs. We were sitting in our humble basement office in South Delhi. Just about noon, we were visited by a couple. They introduced themselves as mr. and mrs. Van der Velde from Holland and told me that they were looking for a partner to work with in India. I was asked to provide only simple hotels but with flair and a good bus with a reliable driver.
I must confess, coming from a background of looking after the most exclusive tours from the USA or the very typical study tours from Germany, where it was very important to show them every monument on the itinerary and more, where every hour of the day was planned, their request was a big change. To begin with, I was skeptical as a tourist segment like this was unknown to us. Later, my partners and I sat down to analyse the opportunity and decided to give it a try. Thus started a relationship and a long journey.
Together we have crossed many barriers, shared many stories, laughed together and discussed new routes. The business from Djoser to India grew in leaps and bounds. The challenges of providing good buses, hotels with flair and at the right price were getting harder with every passing year. We were encouraged to explore more areas and make new suggestion for round trips. We were not new to the business, but we learned and adapted quite a few things in our business due to our association with Djoser.
In the last 20 plus years with Djoser, not only have we grown with Djoser but have got the opportunity to understand the Dutch and Netherlands much better. The only thing that I regret of having not been able to do till now is learn the Dutch language.
Sunirmol Ghosh, India
A unique philosophy of traveling
The year 2010 marks the 16th anniversary of our cooperation with Djoser in China. When we welcomed the first Djoser group in China in 1994, these ‘Djosers’ were really pioneers to explore China in the unique ‘Djoser way’.
Looking back to the past 16 years, we - ‘Djoser Team in China’ - are proud to be part of the ‘Djoser Legacy’. From the ‘rooftop of the world’ near Tingri to the ‘Dragon Spine’ rise paddies in Yangshuo, from the skyscrapers in Shanghai to the packed tea house in Chengdu, we are happy to assist our Djoser travelers to experience this ‘enigmatic’ country in a way that is different from that of other tourists. And because of the unique ‘Djoser way’, the Djoser travelers were able to have real contact with the local people and enjoy the multi-faceted Chinese culture, which contributed to the cultural exchange between Dutch and Chinese people. Djoser and its travelers to China should also be proud because they witnessed the unprecedented changes happened in this ‘Middle Kingdom’ during the past 16 years, which is considered to be one of the greatest evolutions in the modern era. Looking ahead, we are even more enthusiastic about the next 16 years to come. We are passionate to welcome more new and old Djoser travelers to visit the vast and mysterious land of China. We are determined to raise the ‘Djoser Legacy’ to an even higher level.
For us, ‘Djoser’ is truly a great sensation. With its unique philosophy of traveling, it has become an ambassador to link different cultures and people all over the world. We are proud that we have the chance to make contributions to the ‘Djoser Legacy’.
Xian Zhong, China
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