For someone who finds approaching strangers for direction daunting when in a new country, Google Maps is a life saver. Most of the time, I would rather figure things out by myself than to go through the whole rehearsal of approaching each stranger in my head just to ask for direction, not to mention the process of elimination on who is the right one to talk to!
Ever since I’ve discovered this tool which I can just install into my handheld device and it will guide me to where I need to be, travelling solo has become so much more comfortable now as compared to feeling nervous and anxious whenever I got lost with no familiar faces were around.
Sometimes, however, the information on Maps isn’t as accurate or the place I want to go to just doesn’t exist on Maps, I would then make it a habit - that turned into a hobby - to make the necessary corrections or to add these places on Maps. It’s something that I am enjoying a lot these days.
I do consider myself a heavy Maps user. All my travels and visits to the many planned locations in different countries rely solely on the recommendations and reviews of other Local Guides. Again, they make solo traveling so much easier now.
From all of it, I unknowingly discovered and have became a Local Guide; contributing and being part of it’s community.