What is the first thing you have to do when you arrive in a new place?
YES! You turn on your Google Map and start exploring the place and local food!
In 2017, I went to Taiwan for the first time in my life,
and I DROPPED my jaw after discovering various different kinds of foods in Taiwan.
Every corner, every street of this beautiful island was full of amazing food that would fill your stomach with local flavors. However, I was hesitant to try them out at the first time, I needed an encouragement to try the food that I have never had before. Then, I found out Local guides on Google map have provided detailed reviews and pictures. Those reviews and pictures helped me not only to enjoyed the food that I have not tried but also to discover local restaurants. After couple of weeks later, I myself joined Local guide program because I was eager to share my favorite Taiwanese local food with friends who are visiting Taiwan.
Let me tell you interesting things that I have done as a Local Guide!
My Google Local Reviews = Foodie’s diary
In order to share and recommend the BEST Taiwanese food, I have to try out many food and explore different restaurants, and select the good ones. In this aspect, Local guide program was a perfect platform for writing a my own food diary. The reason why I call Local guide program as a food diary is because I have wrote reviews as if I was explaining to my friends what I think about this place and uploaded pictures of myself enjoying food from night market and resturant.
I wanted my reviews to be more credible, thus I always wrote detailed reviews desciribing not only how it tastes but also how to enjoy the food! I would remind my readers to add some cliantro when odering noodle in certain restaurant and give suggestions like order corn pork soup when having Guabao in restaurant.
about the atmosphere of the restaurant, whether the price was reasonable and specifying what is special about this restaurant.
I felt very proud especially when I have encouraged people to try out new food and they like the food so much! I’m leaving close to university where there is a lot of both international and local Taiwanese students. I wrote reviews for restaurants that are around the campus and people would give me likes to my reviews.
However, the best part is when other international students would actually come up to me and say they really enjoyed the food that I recommended. That is a moment where I get a motivation to continue to taking part in Google local guide.
While I’m staying in Taiwan, I will continue to inspire friends around the world to explore Taiwan, and encourage them to try out amazing taiwanese local foods.
And for myself, I will keep making progress by consiously getting out of food comfort zone and discover different aspects of Taiwanese Culture.
Hope you could find my reviews on Google map when you visit Taiwan in the Future!
