Just by reading my title, you can tell that I never pass up the opportunity to let people know about my city. “Ipoh? Where?” That’s what I usually get, accompanied by a blank look.
Well, in the early days, some people only know that Ipoh is where Bond Girl Michelle Yeoh (1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies) hails from, too. It was only in 2016 that Ipoh was propelled into the radar of international travellers, after being listed on Lonely Planet’s best Asian destinations to visit.
What about the food? Of 'cos we have every reason to rave about the local food (and drinks)! Chee cheong fun, curry mee, kacang putih, bean sprout chicken, salted chicken, soya bean milk, nasi ganja, yong tau foo, Ipoh white coffee, the list goes on and on. This year, Booking.com placed Ipoh first on the list for “Top 10 destinations for tasting local food”, while Ipoh is also one of Asia’s 3 best coffee cities, according to Lonely Planet, and we are mighty proud of these distinctions!
I love Ipoh. While many of my peers have left for greener pastures, I have decided to stay put. Being a Local Guide, I can promote my city by sharing my experiences and foodie discoveries, without having to repeat myself verbally to different people. I see Local Guide as an extension of what I have been doing for more than ten years, writing a blog, with Ipoh along with its state of Perak, as primary focus.
My blog receives about 80% Malaysian readership. On the other hand, Google Maps allow me to reach out to a wider, international audience, which I am thankful for.
By sharing about Ipoh on Google Maps, whether it is a review of the best food spot, latest attraction or new service, I hope that more people know about this modest city, and are intrigued enough to take time to explore it, rather than bypass it travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang and vice versa, using Ipoh as only a 10-minute piss stop.
It gives me an indescribable thrill when I meet tourists in the street, who tell me that they came to Ipoh after reading my blog posts, and made plans after further research on Google. Obviously, Ipoh can do with a lot more tourism Ringgit, and I am delighted to do my part to attract a few more travellers. Can my reviews help gain customers for some of the lesser known eateries? I certainly hope so!
Besides working as a social media manager, I travel extensively as a travel writer and content creator, and heavily utilise Google Maps during my trips. However, it’s strange that I never thought of contributing to it, 'till I met a new friend last year who asked me why don’t I participate, seeing the wealth of information I have accumulated over the years travelling all over Malaysia, especially my home state of Perak. He’s a Local Guide as well, and his Level 7 (now ? stars motivated me to “catch up”.
It’s now my habit to check in to places that I visit, write reviews and share photographs, not only for other users but also as my own travel diary, to remind myself of the places that I have visited, and what I liked about them. I suspect that I am addicted to it, if that’s possible!
