Growing up in a remote desert area in Saudi Arabia, we rarely use maps and it had never been a travel mate. So, travelling around the world since 2009 would have been an absolute nightmare without Google Maps App, which has lead me at a later time to the Local Guides program, and to become a Local Guider, then without planning getting Level 8th.
The Local Guides program has influenced my daily life since 2014 when I made my longest trip from UK, USA to Mexico. It is a must have travel tool to discover a small family local restaurant and cafe in the imperial city of Marrakech or Istanbul, a hidden museum and historical street in Warsaw or Budapest, a rural cottage and farm outside Groningen or Santiago de Compostela, or whatever life may surprise you while travelling.
One day by accident I discovered a tiny restaurant in the one of the quiet streets in Marrakech, I really like it, it is run by an old couple who has no idea about technology, neither Google Maps, so I created a place and shot some photos and added some information to introduce the place to others on the program. It gives me an amazing feeling to do such thing; it is like putting a life into a dead place. Also, in Riga of Latvia, one day after long travelling by bus then taxi, I found a place shut down and does not exist, so I suggested an edit to remove it from Maps, so save other people time.
The Local Guides program has enhanced my photography skills, as my friends always tell me that and encourage me to be a photographer, but I keep it for helping the community by contributing to The Local Guides program. And my slogan is “creating a place helps locals”.
This program helps you to be creative, selective, and reasonable, as you explore and share your experience and culture with millions of people. Sharing words and pictures.