His Home can be any location where he parks his earthy brown-coloured Mahindra Scorpio.  Danny Haberer, the Dutchman arrived in India for the first time in 2014, moving past the 1950s and into a more wonderful era. Although there was love at first sight, a longer stay wasn't in the cards. not before the pandemic, at least. Haberer's perspective on the world and life in general changed as a result of the changing world, which inspired him to haul up the anchor and drive his modified Mahindra SUV across India.

Haberer, who is from Amsterdam, has grown particularly close to India during the past few years. He has travelled to and around many cities and beautiful locations, but Goa served as his home base while he assisted a friend in managing a restaurant. However, the pandemic helped him to understand that while Goa can be lovely, the real appeal is in travelling and experiencing everything. “Life can be short and the pandemic made me realize that it can also be unpredictable. It was then that I realized I need to see more, much more of this country," he tells HT Auto over by a scenic mountain cliff in Rayta Hills near Udaipur. “The first Monday after the first lockdown was lifted, I got into my car."

Hotels, according to Haberer, were still hard to come by, and it was difficult to stop every day and set up a tent. “So I decided to transform a simple Scorpio into a motorhome," he explains, pointing to his customized diesel-engine powered 2008 SUV model.

Driving a customised SUV across the entire country as a foreigner can draw a lot of interesting looks and stares. Haberer is unbothered. But his own security and that of his beloved mobile home remain top priorities. “I sleep inside with a pair of car keys in my pocket. In case of an emergency, I should be ready to drive out within seconds," he says just as a local tour guide comes to warn him of leopards in the area. “I'll be careful," he tells him before explaining that leopards are actually far more interested in the goats in the area than people.

But it's not only about creatures in the wild. “I have my own medical kit and oxygen cylinder bottles too. At night, I keep all my car doors locked and windows rolled up for security. For ventilation, there are four fans in the car - some upstairs and others downstairs, all powered by a reserve battery inside the vehicle," Haberer says, signalling towards the bunk-type bedding on the roof of the Scorpio. Access from a specially cut vehicle roof area is a bit of a squeeze but there's just about adequate room on the ‘first floor’ to sleep two. “Very comfortable," he claims. “Also has storage spaces."

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