Introduce Yourself — February 2026

[MoniDi]

Hi everyone! Welcome to Local Guides Connect. Please take a moment to introduce yourself to our community.

As “Introduce Yourself” threads can be lengthy, we start a new one each month and lock past threads. You can check previous threads, like January’s, to see who recently joined and where they’re from. We’ll merge any “I’m new” and “Hello world” posts we find elsewhere with this thread to keep things organized.

Do you want to be featured in our monthly Introduce Yourself posts? Share your introduction in the comments, following the five prompts below, and a horizontal photo of yourself (in landscape mode). The best introductions will be considered for future Introduce Yourself posts. Please note: Your response may be edited for clarity. By taking part in this challenge, you agree to allow us to share your answers and photo(s) publicly here on Connect.

This month, meet @SetyawatiAnik! Anik Setyawati is a Local Guide Level 10, and here’s what she shared.

1. Name: Anik Setyawati

2. Location: Samarinda, Indonesia

3. What led you to become a Local Guide: Due to limited access to communication and information in my area, there are many hidden gems and small and medium-sized businesses that would be a shame if not known to the public. Therefore, I focus on promoting East Kalimantan, especially Samarinda and its surroundings.

4. My favorite thing to explore: I really like visiting new, beautiful places that are not yet widely known, and not only limited to East Kalimantan but also in other areas in Indonesia.

5. Fun fact about me: I really enjoy photography, especially sunsets and sunrises. The best place to take sunrise and sunset photos is the beach, and my favorite place to go when visiting a new area is the beach. But did you know that I’m very afraid of getting near the water at the shoreline? It’s because of a childhood trauma when I was hit by a wave. But my fear is overshadowed by the joy of being able to photograph the sunset or sunrise at the beach I’m visiting.

Now I’ve made peace with my trauma, but I still go to the beach to hunt for photos, which I share on Maps and Connect.

Nice to meet you, Anik Setyawati! Local Guides, don’t miss the chance to say hi to Anik Setyawati in the comments below and share your introduction, too.

[KashifMisidia]

Hello @SetyawatiAnik
I missed meeting you in Surabaya, but I am very happy to see you here and to get to know more about you.

[Kumaarsantosh]

@MoniDi

I really enjoy photography, especially sunsets and sunrises.

Congratulations, @SetyawatiAnik, on being featured in this post.

It’s wonderful to learn about your passion for photography, especially capturing sunsets and sunrises. You may like to check out this amazing album for more inspiration: Captivating sunrise and sunset photos by Local Guides.

A big thank you to @MoniDi for introducing Anik Setyawati to us through this series.

[Sergejs]

1. Name: Sergejs

2. Location: Da Nang

3. What led me to become a Local Guide:
I travel a lot and I eat everything. And by everything, I mean everything that locals confidently say is “very safe.”
My long-term goal is 100 days without food poisoning.

Quick update: I’m proudly back at Day 1. Again.
Consistency matters.

I became a Local Guide to leave honest reviews, photos, and subtle warnings like:
“Fantastic place,” “Very clean,” or “Bring electrolytes.”

4. My favorite thing to explore:
Local food with zero fear and full optimism. Street food, markets, family kitchens, dishes that look harmless but come with consequences.

I rate places based on cleanliness, service, atmosphere, taste - and whether I’m able to function as a human the next morning.

I also love beaches, cafés, markets, weird bars, and places that feel real - not designed exclusively for influencers with ring lights (although yes, I still take photos).

5. Fun fact about me:
I’ve visited truly exotic places like Snake Island… and Jaywick.
Yes, that Jaywick. The UK town so powerful that nobody in the UK wants to officially admit it exists.

I once sat on Santa’s lap in Lapland.
Still not sure Santa approved of a 100 kg grown man suddenly appearing on his lap. He smiled. I suspect Stockholm syndrome.

I almost drowned in the Amazon River and briefly swam with something locals described as an electric devil.
I trusted them. That was a mistake.

I almost saw the Loch Ness Monster, not because I spotted it - but because I nearly drowned not far from where it allegedly lives near Tarbert. If Nessie exists, it definitely saw me struggling.

I fell down Mount Mansfield in Vermont, survived, stood up, and immediately questioned all my life choices.

I love animals. Truly.
But I once fought monkeys for my groceries in the Monkey Forest in Ubud.
The monkeys won.
They always win.

I also love my French bulldog, but sadly he’s too heavy to fly.
When I come back from trips, I tell him all my adventures.
He listens carefully.
Then looks away.
But I tell him anyway.

[doni_hariadi]

wih keren, dari Indonesia mbk @SetyawatiAnik

salam kenal ya mbk. tulisan nya selalu mengispirasi.

kenalkan Indonesia ke Dunia.

@MoniDi

3. What led you to become a Local Guide: Due to limited access to communication and information in my area, there are many hidden gems and small and medium-sized businesses that would be a shame if not known to the public. Therefore, I focus on promoting East Kalimantan, especially Samarinda and its surroundings.

saya pernah berkunjung ke Samarinda dahulu waktu tugas kerja, memang masih sangat jarang terekspose. mungkin yang lebih dikenal Balikpapan nya ya karena bandaranya berada disana. padahal ibu kota di Samarinda.

semoga dengan tulisan-tulisan dari mbk @SetyawatiAnik kota Samarinda semakin di kenal, dan jadi tujuan wisata Dunia. amin…

[RivaniRahmadani]

Hello mba @SetyawatiAnik It’s great to see your review here and thanks for sharing such a creative and interesting self-introduction idea! @MoniDi
My Instagram | My Facebook

[Shaunak]

That’s great. I was waiting for this post @MoniDi.

Congratulations @SetyawatiAnik for getting featured.

[NareshDarji]

Welcome to the Local Guides connect community @SetyawatiAnik

[SetyawatiAnik]

Aaaah …thank you so much for this @MoniDi

It’s meant to me, because I believe after this post,many Local Guides fellows will be know about me and about Samarinda and Kalimantan Timur.

Once again, thank you so much for this

Warm regrad from Indonesia

[SetyawatiAnik]

Hi @KashifMisidia

Nice to meet you too and again…so sad that day when you come to Indonesia we can’t meet in person.

But I hope we can connect in here always

Warm regrad

[NunungAfuah]

@MoniDi

Due to limited access to communication and information in my area, there are many hidden gems and small and medium-sized businesses that would be a shame if not known to the public.

Mbak @SetyawatiAnik memang luar biasa!
Terima kasih @MoniDi untuk tulisannya

[SharmaK]

Hi @Sergejs

It’s great that you introduced yourself by sharing your first post on Local Guides Connect.
A warm welcome to the community!

To connect and explore what’s happening on Connect, you may find these posts helpful:

• 2026: Local Guides Events & Experiences
  If you’re interested in attending Local Guides events, this post is worth reading.
• Forthcoming meet-ups
  Join in-person, virtual, or hybrid meet-ups to connect with the community and fellow Local Guides.

Mapping Local, Creating Global

[SharmaK]

It’s a pleasure to meet @SetyawatiAnik. Your efforts to highlight lesser-known places and support local businesses in East Kalimantan are truly commendable. Your story of overcoming fear to follow your passion for photography is especially inspiring

Thank you, @MoniDi, for introducing her to the community.

[Annaelisa]

Herzlich Willkommen @SetyawatiAnik! Es ist schön dich kennenzulernen

[Annaelisa]

Ein herzliches Willkommen an alle, die sich im Monat Februar neu an Connect beteiligen!

[Sergejs]

Thanks for the warm welcome and the useful links - there goes my free time

[irulmusmus]

Beberapa kali berjumpa di virtual meet up mb @SetyawatiAnik orangnya sangat menghibur dan menyenangkan apalagi kalo sudah duet dengan @doc_dells.

[rtsayles]

Nice to meet you, @SetyawatiAnik Indonesia is a beautiful country, and I bet your photos are spectacular. Thanks for sharing and congratulations

[KetanChhaniyara]

Thanks @MoniDi for introducing @SetyawatiAnik with us. Welcome @SetyawatiAnik

[Darshraj]

@MoniDi thank you and welcome @SetyawatiAnik