Special Yunnan lifestyle: Fernando has unforgettable tours in an RV
Fernando's RV parks in an RV camp in central Yunnan's capital city, Kunming.
What does it feel like traveling in a recreational vehicle (RV)? In the recent episode of Challenge Yunnan, Fernando Munoz Bernal, a content creator from Colombia, recently took us into his "home on wheels" and told us about his daily life.
Fernando and his wife
The first time I saw Fernando, he was filming in the Old Street of Kunming, and a group of elderly people dancing the Left Foot Dance of Yi people in the square attracted him. Influenced by their enthusiasm, Fernando put down the camera and couldn't help dancing with them.
Speaking of his experience in China, Fernando said that he first came to China in 2000 and worked as a language teacher in Dongguan, south China’s Guangdong province. It has been 23 years since then. He won the honorary citizen award of Dongguan in 2011.
Fernando's wife feeds black-headed seagulls in the Haigeng Park in Yunan's capital city, Kunming.
At present, he is an English teacher and a well-known blogger, and his videos were posted on YouTube and other social media, covering the travel experience of foreigners living and working in China. Because he can speak fluent Chinese, he has unimpeded communication with locals.
They ride horses in Yuhu village in northwest Yunnan's Lijiang.
During his 23 years in China, he has witnessed the rapid development and tremendous changes in China. He decided to make a documentary to tell foreigners the beautiful scenery and customs in China through his eyes.
Fernando visits rhinos in the Taiyanghe National Park in southwest Yunan's Pu'er.
In January 2022, Fernando and his wife started their RV toursin Dongguan. They equipped and decorated the RV like home where they can drink coffee, cook and sleep. At the end of 2022, the couple arrived in Yunnan and visited Xishuangbanna, Wenshan, Honghe, Pu'er, Yuxi, Lijiang and more.
During their three-month traveling in Yunnan, they experienced the Water Splashing Festival in Xishuangbanna, left footprints on the pink beach of Fuxian Lake in Yuxi, fed black-headed seagulls in Kunming, tasted the special milk fan in Dali, danced with the Lahu people in Pu’er, and had hot-spring baths in Tengchong. The scenery of Yunnan surprised them all the way.
Fernando tastes Guoshou rice noodles in southwest Yunan's Dehong.
“People in Yunnan know how to lead a happy life for beautiful land has endowed them with confidence. When communicating with them, I can feel their heartfelt happiness." As for his impression on Yunnan people, Fernando said that the hospitality of Yunnan people is as impressive as the scenery.
Fernando films with his camera while traveling in Yunnan.
The environment and resourcefor RV travel in Yunnan also amazed Fernando. Almost every city has RV camps visible on mobile phones. The camps provide services of vehicle maintenance, energy supply, catering and accommodation, outdoor activities and more. It is not only a parking lot, but also a way of life.
However, Yunnan still has some restrictions on the relatively new tourism mode of RV tours. Fernando hopes that tourist attractions will set up more parking lots for RVs, which will facilitate the new travel mode.
Fernando's RV parks in an RV camp in central Yunnan's capital city, Kunming.
The trip to Yunnan made him forget the passage of time. "The things that impressed me the most were the provincial diversitiesin ethnicity, culture and landscapes. I hope to come to Yunnan again," said Fernando. "Slowing down for life is the significance of traveling in Yunnan."
Recently, Fernando tried gourd carving and playing. He visited Xu Xiaoguo, the inheritor of gourd carving and painting in Kunming. In the workshop, Fernando drew a lovely rabbit on the gourd and made a Hulusi gourdfluteon his own. In melodies from the traditional Yunnan instrument, they drove the RV to start the next journey.
Fernando's RV parks in an RV camp in central Yunnan's capital city, Kunming.
Trans-editing by Mo Yingyi; Photos provided by Fernando