Heinz Willems has worked as a freelance consultant in Yunnan for 8 years in total. Spilling out of his experience in Yunnan is a mesmerizing, intriguing and substantive journey. People may be envying Heinz for exploring, finding, valuing, and, enjoying in this southwestern province in China. People will never read an adventure quite like this one, where a foreign guy packs up his career in rural countries and takes it on the road. It is indeed a travel adventure, filled with freedom of sightseeing on four-wheel cars, lots of irresistible Yunnan food, and even challenges for a German living in an exotic country......
Heinz left for Myanmar for another development project a few days ago, luckily, a reporter from InKunming, Lynn, got a chance to meet him on Wenlin Street.
InKunming: Can you tell us about your work?
I used to work for a German aid agency to help run many development projects to in poor countries. I've worked for a project in rural Guizhou for three years, which had the aim to improve loan access for farmers and small businessmen who needed support.
InKunming: Why did you choose Kunming?
Heinz: After I finished the project in Guizhou, some of my friends encouraged me to come here. I also traveled in Kunming before. When I came to Kunming, I did not plan to stay here for long. But time passes and life here turns out to be good.
A main reason to stay in Kunming is the convenient location. It is easy to travel to the surrounding countries and going to other cities in China, which is just one or two hours' flight. I found I enjoy the life here. Nice weather, low living cost and delicious food made my staying for 8 years.
Yunnan also has many nice places to visit. I have been to Dali, Lijiang, Zhongdian, Yuanyang, Lincang, Jianshui, Mile, Tengchong and Chuxiong.
Because of my job, I prefer going to some rural areas. Things are more simple there, but it is nice to go to someplace that is not very busy. I have been to Dongchuan that boasts its red earth, but is not so much developed. There are not so many travelers, but it is a very beautiful scenic area. We rented a car to drive there.
I like to rent a car to travel. When I was in Guizhou, I had driven to some local minority areas, like Miao and Dong Zu areas. It is the best way to drive yourself, because, I think, you are more flexible. I have driven to Mile, Huxian Lake, Jianshui and Yuanyang. I also drove from Zhongdian to Lijiang and then came back to Kunming with my friends.
InKunming: Where do you usually go around Kunming?
Heinz: I always like the place near the Green Lake Park, because it is very nice and easy to go to Wenlin Street as well as the downtown. It is easy to walk to anywhere within twenty minutes. I also like to go to places like Hua Niao Shi Chan (the Flower and Bird Market), since it is very nice with some well-preserved old buildings.
InKunming: What has been your favorite place in Yunnan.
Heinz: Probably Zhongdian. It is very beautiful and not so crazily touristic. The surrounding areas are very beautiful. I was intrigued with mountains, local culture and special places there.
I also like Dali. Last time I went to Shuanglang in this prefecture. Dali is more developed, but Shuanglang is also getting very developed and there are a lot of guest houses. Shuanglang is right beside the lake, and you can look into the water on your balcony. Things there are quite uncomplicated.
I've been to many places in China and many of them have their own attractions and some of them have their specialities, but over all Yunnan has been the best in terms of different places you can see and different verities, for example from north to south, you can experience kind of Himalayan scenery in the north and tropical in the south, very diverse. Sichuan was also a place with much diversity, but I could not see many of them. I really enjoy the time in Yunnan.
InKunming: Have you found any challenges living in Kunming?
Heinz: Kunming still has a lot of unmet potential. For example, Kunming has been well-known for pleasant weather. When the weather is really nice, a lot of foreigners and even many Chinese would like to sit outside and enjoy the good weather. But in Kunming there are few places where people can do that. If you go to Europe, America or even Southeast Asia, you will find that so much life is outdoors. When the weather is nice, many restaurants and cafes will move their tables outside. You can sit, have some food and enjoy the sunshine. In Kunming, there is very little opportunity for that. That's why I say Kunming has too much potential and is a little bit wasted. They can do a lot more. There are a lot more places you can hang round outside in the open space.
Besides, the pavement is small and a little bit messy. For instance, Wenhua Alley is a small street. There are many cafes and bars there, so many of us often thought it would be very nice if it is a pedestrian street or maybe one-way street. It could be a nicer area. The truth is that even during a day it's a bit chaotic.
In eight years, I had so many experiences. In China, in public everybody is fighting for themselves seemingly, but I really found that people in Kunming are very friendly. Sometimes, people just helped me. Taxi drivers, for example. Maybe my Chinese pronunciation is not so good. I asked them to go to a place, but they misunderstood the name for a couple of times. After getting to the right destination, they would give me a discount of a few kuai (yuan). Even though it was my mistake actually. I also had nice conversation with taxi drivers. Sometimes, Kunming people are quite cute.
(Editors:Lynn, Minnie Mao)
Click here to view Chinese report.
