Hello! I'm Fernando, the creator of this travel blog called "The Prism of Fer."
Thank you for taking the time to browse this section and for your interest in learning a little more about me. This space was created with the idea of sharing experiences, useful tips, and unique perspectives on each corner I visit, always with the hope that they will help you plan your own adventure.
So, thank you for reading these lines, knowing that our time is a very valuable and scarce resource these days.
Now, let me tell you a little about who I am and my travel-related story.
How this passion for traveling was born
I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, several decades ago. My passion for travel began when I was a child, during those family trips that awakened my curiosity for the unknown and a love of new landscapes.
It was the 1990s in Argentina, the era of the controversial convertibility (one Argentine peso was worth one US dollar), and traveling abroad was an affordable luxury for many middle-class families.
With the salary of a teacher mother and a veterinarian father, we were able to take trips that would have been impossible in other times. Brazil, so popular among Argentines, Mexico, and the United States were some of the countries we were able to visit as a family.
But it was at 22 years old when my journey as an independent traveler really began, without friends or family: alone, in a hostel in San Rafael (Argentina), with a backpack full of expectations and somewhat unsure of what I was going to find.
But that first trip turned out to be just the starting point of a way of life that, over the years, became my greatest source of learning, freedom, and connection to the world.
Over time, I discovered that what fulfills me most when traveling is getting away from the conventional. I fell in love with remote destinations, those corners of the world where the connection with nature is closest and cultures are experienced authentically.
Hiking has become my favorite way to explore: walking through mountains, crossing isolated villages, and letting each step bring me closer to new ways of seeing life.
Visiting Argentina
Before setting out to explore the world, I dedicated myself to traveling around Argentina, my country that never ceases to surprise me.
It is truly wonderful, with a seemingly endless diversity of landscapes: from the mountains and glaciers of Patagonia, to the colorful hills of the Northwest, passing through the Iguazu Falls, the vineyards and mountains of Cuyo, and so many more corners that make you feel that each region is a different country.
South America's time has come
Over time, the borders began to become too small for me and I began to travel through South America, a region that taught me a lot and made me appreciate the brotherhood that unites us. Because, although sometimes on social media or in football it seems like we don't get along that well, the reality is different. We share a common history, we have the same problems, and we are much more similar than we think.
I was able to visit some of Chile, the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, discovering not only breathtaking landscapes, but also very warm people.
Southeast Asia
After so many trips around Latin America, I felt it was time to leave my comfort zone and discover cultures completely different from everything I had experienced until then.
That's how I decided to spend two months traveling through Southeast Asia, one of the most fascinating regions on the planet.
On that trip I visited Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia, each with its own particularities, its spirituality and his unique way of seeing life. It was an experience that challenged me, dazzled me, and expanded my understanding of the world.
It was my first time in Asia, and that trip sparked a never-ending curiosity about the continent. Since then, each return feels like reconnecting with a part of the world that always invites me to continue exploring.
Japan and South Korea
Then came one of the most anticipated trips of my life: 40 days traveling through Japan, a country I dreamed of visiting since I was a child because of my love for anime, technology and Japanese culture.
It was a dream come true to walk through the streets of Tokyo, get lost in the temples of Kyoto and try every dish I found.
And since I was so close, I took the opportunity to cross over to South Korea, a country that I also liked for its mix of tradition and avant-garde.
Middle East
Just before the COVID pandemic hit, I was fortunate enough to take another of those trips that left a lasting impression: a 40-day trip to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. It was a fascinating trip, full of history, contrasts, and unique moments.
From gazing at the Pyramids of Giza, walking through the lost city of Petra, or floating in the Dead Sea, to touring Jerusalem, each place made me feel like I was traveling through the living pages of a history book.
The great journey, 16 uninterrupted months
Until the great trip of my life came. After the pandemic and several years of being unable to move, I felt it was time to make a change.
So I made one of the most important decisions I can remember: I quit my stable job and set off to travel the world with no return date. It was one of the most liberating decisions I've ever made.
I'll expand on this topic in a separate post, but to summarize, I'll share some of the most iconic experiences from this trip.
I hitchhiked along the Pamir Highway and the Wakhan Valley from Osh to Dushanbe, exploring desert landscapes such as the Sahara in Morocco, the Gobi in Mongolia or the Thar in India.
I spent months traveling through India and Sri Lanka, where everything from historic temples and palaces to chaotic markets and streets taught me to appreciate cultural diversity and hospitality in ways I'd never experienced before.
I did a lot of trekking, like the mythical Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Annapurna Circuit in the Himalayas of Nepal, I also walked in the mountains of the Caucasus in Georgia and in the Tian Shan mountain range in Kyrgyzstan.
And so time went by, fulfilling dream after dream.
The Silk Road, from beginning to end
On this trip, I also fulfilled another of my biggest dreams: to travel the Silk Road independently for a year, from China to Türkiye.
Being able to travel through such different countries, cultures that seem so far removed from our reality, visiting ancient markets and landscapes that for years I'd only seen on maps or in documentaries, was an immense experience, full of challenges and moments I'll never forget...it literally changed the way I see the world.
Pause to recap everything we've experienced
After so many months of traveling, I decided to return to Argentina and take a break to recap and process everything I'd experienced.
It was a necessary moment to sort through experiences, emotions, and memories, and take advantage of the opportunity to complete this blog, sharing each place I visited with information I would have loved to have known before embarking on this adventure.
What to expect from the The prism of Fer blog
In this travel blog, you'll find articles designed to help you plan your trips. Yes, many are written with SEO in mind so you can easily find them on Google, but without losing my personal voice. Each post is informed by my perspective, my real experiences, and those sensations you only experience when you're there.
In general, the stories reflect my travel style: backpacking but with certain comforts. I usually stay in hostels. I try to travel cheaply, but I rarely hitchhike (only when necessary rather than by choice). I prioritize attractions to visit in each place; I don't go everywhere. I eat at local stalls or cook for myself; I almost never eat in restaurants.
I promise to keep catching up on the blog; I have a lot to share from my recent trips. There are stories, landscapes, and lessons learned that haven't yet found their place here... but they will soon.
My Instagram account is @el.prisma.de.fer, at the moment I have it private, but if you add me I accept you ;).
I send you my regards, I hope the blog is useful to you and thanks again for your time. If you have any questions, please contact me through this medium or even through Instagram.
