Hello, this is my first post on google local guide connect platform.
Let me introduce myself. I am Gabriel Sas Hernando Nurhadi, or you can simply call me: Nando.
I love for being Google Local Guide.
From being a local guide, we could feel the spirit of togetherness, bringing impact together into the community, the spirit of caring to others, the spirit of local uniqueness, the spirit of sharing – sharing the right and trusted .information -- about our own local surroundings and its needs –
I was born around three decades ago. I never imagine, that the world right now could be this fast, information sharing could be this easy, being useful to others could be…. just in a few clicks.
When the 1st time I know about the google local guide, it feels like walking on air, I couldn’t be more excited.
How Google maps could make an impact on my work life.
Honestly, at my 1st step, I did not set any target. But as far as I remembered, the 1st time I formally became google local guide was around 2-3 years ago. If I am not mistaken, it was around 13rd September 2016.
At that time, it was my earlier stages working as a Bankers on Central Java Regional Development Bank (We simply call it Bank Jateng in Bahasa Indonesia). My first edit was about my office. I found that its location was pretty inaccurate. So, I moved that location pin into where it supposed to be. How does the customer could find us easily and enjoy our services if our location on digital maps were inaccurate?
Few years prior, I got my undergraduate degree from Telkom University, Bandung, West Java. When I was a college student, I found out that an accurate location on google maps was very important. Because, as far as I know, some mobile application, whether it’s an Android-based or iOS-based are using Google API for their location or maps-related purposes.
Back into my work life story, later on, I found out that not all of our Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) were already displayed on google maps. There were only a few. Besides, it came with an unspecific description related to its location. For example, it was only mentioned “Bank ATM Java”, a brief forthright translation without any further description based on its location. Some of them were also not yet displayed on the google maps. So, I independently create its location. Mainly, for the ATM that belongs to my responsibilities. Few of them are ATM Bank Jateng Stasiun Tawang, ATM Bank Jateng Stasiun Poncol, ATM Bank Jateng SPBU Ngesrep, ATM Bank Jateng Poltekkes, etc. Later on, my team and I make it more relatable.
A few months later, 17 Jan 2018, corporate secretary of my office with a legal memo (No.0495/SEKPER.03.01/2018) ordering all the branches to concern about their office location and its ATM on the google maps. Small steps about what we did on google maps, make an impact. Or in a sentence, google maps has an impact on my work life.
How being a local guide also supports the culinary hobby.
Being a local guide it’s not only about my working life, but also my personal hobby. I love to eat & to share with my friends. I love to tell stories to my community about where to eat some local delicacies.
My hometown Magelang for example. Not only famous for its historical wonders of the world: Borobudur temple, Magelang also famous for its local culinary signature. Kupat tahu for example, it is made from kupat (ketupat) kind of dumpling made from rice pack, into diamond-shaped woven palm leaves. Ketupat is cut open, and then its woven palm leaves being removed.
After that, the inner rice cake is cut into pieces. After that, Magelang-style kupat tahu comes with slices of deep-fried tofu, sprouts, slices of vegetable tempura, cabbage, traditional rice/prawn crackers, finished with traditional mix secret seasonings soy sauce as a dressing. The taste is amazing and authentic. Kupat tahu pojok Magelang is the famous one. Mr. Yudhoyono (Indonesia former president) is their loyal customer since his education in Indonesia military academy that also located in this city. His Excellency Mr.Yudhoyono often come when he visits Magelang on Lebaran holiday or on the other occasion.
Magelang has many stories to tell, besides its kupat tahu, this peaceful city has Senerek. My Favorite is** Sup Senerek Mbak Ratmin Pisangan** It is a traditional red bean soup with clear gravy. Also comes with carrot, spinach, onion leaf, tomatoes and slices of meat. As written on my personal blog.
But, there is something that my blog doesn’t have but the google maps do. And in my humble opinion, this feature is very important. Instant translation on local guide reviews sections. Because mostly I wrote on my blog in my native language, Bahasa Indonesia.
Google maps, make my works on culinary adventure become simpler. Just check in, give a rate, take some mouthwatering photos, and write it down on some reviews about its pros & cons and it’s done! Simpler than it used to be. It couldn’t be more enjoyable isn’t it?
But later on, I realize Google maps is more impactful that we have ever imagined
After all, there is a story, inside my community that I would love to share with all of you. Still from the same city, Magelang.
Some of our brothers and sisters out there were born with a disability, some of them choose to give up on their life. Here in my community, I know someone who didn’t.
Instead of giving his life up, he put a great effort to contribute to the neighborhood and his surroundings. His name is Pak Mukiran. He was born 1970 (Now 49 years old). This person I know, when he was a little baby, he had suffered from an allergic. This allergic attacked him so bad. Trough out his eyes. Make his vision going to low from time to time. Until then, he became blind.
Based on our Republic of Indonesia constitution 1945 article no 34 section 1 is mentioned that “Fakir, miskin dan orang terlantar dipelihara oleh negara (translation: “destitute, the poor and homeless people are taking care of by the country.”). Because of that, then he was being moved into an orphanage and taking care by the government social department & ministry.
The government also gave many kinds of courses like massage, sewing, cooking to give life-supporting skills for people with disability like Pak Mukiran. So he took this as an opportunity.
Later, when he was 17 years old, struggling for his independence – how to earn an income by himself – he began to learn a lesson about massage. That course was fully provided by the government. He learns almost every aspect that he needs to become a well-trained & certified masseur.
Pak Mukiran said, “To be a good masseur, we must at least learn 3 basic aspects of a massage.
First, learn about anatomy. It will give you a sense and complete understanding of muscle and the human body. Second, we must learn about physiology. It will teach us about our body mechanism, its organs, and its chemical reactions. Finally, we must also learn about our nervous system. Learning about the nervous system will make us understand part of our body that regulates and stimulates our muscle activity. Massage is not only about physical aspect but also has an impact on our nerve.” Said Mr. initiator of Klinik Pijat Enggal Waras.
“Of course, by the time, we will gain experience. More and more from time to time. From our experience, we have a better understanding of how we give some stimulus to our patient body, and how their body will react to.” He continued.
“From experience, we will also understand about giving pressure (to the body) and rhythm to our massage. Also, energy management. When I was at the beginning, I got tired easily. Already run out of energy after 3 of my clients. But, for now, 10 clients a day is not a problem at all.”, He explains with a joyful laugh at the end of the sentence.
On my visit in August 2017, I offered him to add his massage parlor into google maps, to make his place visible online using my google local guide feature. He delightfully agreed! “Ah, good idea, Mas Nando, so people could find me easily! “He said. After that, I put the correct location, insert the phone number, wrote down the operational hours, and every detail we need.
Until two weeks later, around the 2nd week of September 2017, his massage parlor got a call from Google Indonesia staff. Google staff did some facts check/verification process. He was being asked whether the information we put into google maps were correct or false.
The impacts are really out of our predictions. As we could watch on the youtube video below:
After gaining big success in his hometown, Mr. Mukiran helps his friends (who are also disabled people) in the other town. Mr. Mukiran, together with his friends and community, opening a new massage parlor branch in Semarang, also in Central Java.
He teaches his fellow how to managing massage parlor financial, how to massage properly, how to manage people who are completely not seen with their eyes. He shares his knowledge and duplicates his pattern to other people in other town and community. He also asked me to put Semarang Usada massage parlor location and its detail into google maps.
This is living proof, that technology could do something more for disabled people. Maybe it is also living proof that this equation:
Disability + Technology = Ability is really working and happening into our community. Thank you so much google maps and its local guide platform.