Hi @Anton.S,
I suggest you edit your post and add a horizontal photo (landscape mode), as mentioned in the main post.
Hi @_aviralagrawal
I suggest you edit your post and add a horizontal photo (landscape mode), as mentioned in the main post.
2 Likes
Welcome to Connect and nice to meet you through this platform @Vit_Ale . I can imagine the beauty of Switzerland you bring to this platform. I lived in Geneva from 2007 - 2011 and keep coming back for meetings there and I have to say it’s always exciting to go back to 
Cheers from Indonesia
2 Likes
Hi @LucasLyimo, @Marilia.vr, @Louy.19, @love_gia_han, @Chouhan1, @MichaelNae, @Hemubhandari01, @Keisha08, @Joshimohit, @Yao.Huang, @pistikekuruc, @uqab1, @Tevin_GuideGrid, @malayalitraveller, @gurlalsingh2655, @kazimarufofficial, @Hamid123, @gncnpk, and @sohel7262 a warm welcome to Local Guides Connect! 
Congratulations to everyone on your badge reward! A special shoutout to @LucasLyimo, @love_gia_han, @MichaelNae, @Hemubhandari01, @Joshimohit, @malayalitraveller, and @kazimarufofficial for the reward of 3 badges ‘New Friend’, ‘Newly Popular’ and ‘New Writer’.
Since January 2025, we have been celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Local Guides Program and the 20th anniversary of Google Maps. You have joined Connect at a significant milestone!
So let us celebrate together! Get started with these exciting activities:
Want to know how to write your post? Check out this helpful guide: New to Connect? Try Using # for Headings
Introduce yourself 
I recommend reviewing the guidelines in the main ‘Introduce Yourself’ post if you’d like a chance to be featured in an upcoming months main post Introduce Yourself — July 2025
Attend Meetups Connect with fellow Local Guides
Take Part in Ongoing Activities This Month's Challenges at a Glance
You’re welcome to explore the tutorial available on the tutorial on the Community Guidelines page.
Let’s get to know you!
How did you discover Local Guides Connect?
- After receiving an email
- I discovered Local Guides Connect in a different way
0
voters
Keep exploring, keep sharing, and keep guiding! 
1 Like
Welcome Back and Congratulations!
Hello @Rthyvong, @ppprathamesh, @kinkyoii, @Chouhan1, @BankaVivek, @Jeffrey1448908, and @kimphally a big shoutout to each of you for the reward of ‘New Friend’ badge on Local Guides Connect! 
Even if you’ve been part of Connect earlier, it’s always a joy to see you engaging—your first like is a small step that makes a big impact!
Whether you’ve just returned after a break or are exploring Connect more deeply now, we’re glad to have you here. Connect is not just a platform—it’s a community, and every interaction counts.
Since 2025 marks a double celebration— 10 years of the Local Guides Program and 20 years of Google Maps —your renewed engagement couldn’t have come at a better time!
Here are some ways to keep the momentum going:
- Introduce Yourself: If you haven’t introduced yourself yet, jump into the July, 2025 ‘Introduce Yourself’ thread.
- Attend Meetups: Find or host virtual/in-person events to connect with other LGs.
- Join Challenges: Check out This Month’s Challenges and take part in the celebration!
If you’re from India, don’t forget to subscribe to the Local Guides WhatsApp Channel—link in the post!
Welcome back, and here’s to more milestones ahead!
Let’s keep guiding, keep connecting, and keep the spirit alive!
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Nice to meet you! @Vit_Ale. Love your story!
1. Name: Alexandrea Sumuel Groves
2. Location: Virginia, USA
3. What I love about being a Local Guide: As a travel journalist, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing business owners around the world. On a recent trip to Gothenburg, Sweden, we mostly dined at restaurants owned and operated by multiple family members. Their stories of finally achieving their dream of owning a restaurant were heartwarming. I love writing reviews and articles about these kinds of businesses that haven’t lost their identities to mass tourism or commercialization. I hope that by sharing their stories, I can help others connect more deeply with a destination and to consider supporting smaller local businesses.
4. My favorite thing to explore: I grew up by a beach, so naturally I’m biased toward coastal destinations. My favorite are the smaller hidden gems that often thrive on strong community support. I’ve found that these places usually have incredible arts scenes, fascinating museums, and histories no one has ever heard of before. Exploring these lesser-known coastal communities always feels like discovering a secret world full of stories waiting to be shared.
5. Fun fact about me: My small business, Wander Worthy, has been featured on Google for Publishers, as well as in the 2024 Google Economic Impact Report (Virginia). I also had the pleasure of attending the 2025 Google Business Summit, where I spent time at the Google office in D.C. It was an incredible experience!
3 Likes
Hi @absalve7852
Thanks for the invitation to join Connect. The problem is that people reading your invitation here are already on Connect. Such invitations are intended to be shared elsewhere (on your social media maybe).
Why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself by writing a reply
.
2 Likes
Hello @absalve7852 & welcome to Local Guides Connect.
I want to inform you that I’m merging your post to our monthly feature Introduce Yourself — July 2025 , where you can meet local guides from around the world.
Moreover, Here you can follow the five prompts below and share your introduction In this thread including your photo (in landscape mode).
1.Name:
2.Location:
3.What I love about being a Local Guide:
4.My favorite thing to explore:
5.Fun Fact about me:
A landscape photo of you with a brief description.
I also wanted to recommend to you, check Read first! Connect community guidelines for more information on Connect redesign FAQ: Your questions answered!,
& You can also Visit Community guidelines page for in-depth resources on the Connect features.
and many more 
Thank you
This really cool place to talk and sharing photos your local trips and sharing the experience with us.
I love it 
1 Like
A warm welcome to Local Guides Connect! @Rajkumar1231
We’re so happy to have you here. To get started, check out:
- Welcome to the new and improved Connect!
- Community Guidelines
- How do I write a post on Connect?
- 5 Core Values of Connect
- Sharing photos and videos on Connect? Read these guidelines
Please share a bit about yourself and get to know other fellows in Connect. You can visit our monthly section
1 Like
Hello @Rajkumar1231 & welcome to Local Guides Connect.
I want to inform you that I’m merging your post to our monthly feature Introduce Yourself — July 2025 , where you can meet local guides from around the world.
Moreover, Here you can follow the five prompts below and share your introduction In this thread including your photo (in landscape mode).
1.Name:
2.Location:
3.What I love about being a Local Guide:
4.My favorite thing to explore:
5.Fun Fact about me:
A landscape photo of you with a brief description.
I also wanted to recommend to you, check Read first! Connect community guidelines for more information on Connect redesign FAQ: Your questions answered!,
& You can also Visit Community guidelines page for in-depth resources on the Connect features.
and many more
Thank you
1 Like
Congratulations @Vit_Ale for getting featured here! 39 countries? Wow!!! Such a big milestone!
1 Like
Namaskar
@AngieYC thankyou for sharing,
@Vit_Ale Congratulations for feature in Introduction section..
1 Like
Hello Local Guides 
I’m Sultan, a Local Guide from Saudi Arabia 
currently at Level 7 with more than 8,000 points, on my way to Level 8 soon inshaAllah.
I love exploring coffee shops, local restaurants, and hidden gems in my city, and I share reviews and photos to help others find the best places easily.
I recently started taking my Local Guide contributions more seriously and would love to connect with other guides here, learn from your experiences, and improve my contributions.
If you have any tips for growing as a Local Guide, or if you want to share your favorite Local Guide moments, I’d be happy to hear!
Thank you Google and the Local Guides community for making this platform helpful and inspiring 
3 Likes
Hello @Salanazi5
A warm welcome to Local Guides Connect
Please share your introduction as below:
1.Name:
2.Location:
3.What I love about being a Local Guide:
4.My favorite thing to explore:
5.Fun Fact about me:
Also, please check:
• Read First: Connect community guidelines.
• Connect FAQ: Your questions answered..
Thank you
Hi everyone!
Name: Sultan AlAnazi
Location: Saudi Arabia
What I love about being a Local Guide:
I love helping others discover hidden gems in my city and sharing honest reviews to support local businesses.
My favorite thing to explore:
Cafés, local coffee roasters, and small authentic restaurants. I enjoy exploring places that offer a unique local experience.
Fun Fact about me:
I love taking photos of food and coffee setups before enjoying them, and I like to share small but detailed reviews to help others make the best choice when visiting.
2 Likes
Hi @Vit_Ale! I really enjoyed reading your introduction — your passion for mapping scenic places and helping others prepare for their hikes is truly inspiring. It’s always great to meet fellow Local Guides who love exploring and sharing meaningful content.
Since this is a space to introduce ourselves, here’s mine:
My name is Sophat CHY, and I’m from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I’ve been a Local Guide for many years, but I’ve only recently become more active. It’s more than just pinning places — it’s about making sure the communities, cultures, and people I encounter are visible and valued in the digital world. I’m here on Connect and I recently signed up for the Top 100 Local Guides Leaderboards, and I’m excited to be part of this Community!*
My journey combines a love for technology, education, and travel. I work full-time as a digital literacy trainer and content creator, helping students, civil servants, and small businesses understand digital tools, stay safe online, and use platforms like Google Maps to their benefit. I also lead community events, including Barcamp Cambodia, where I bring together tech minds and curious learners to explore ideas and innovations.
But outside the classroom and workshops, you’ll often find me on the road — riding my Royal Enfield Himalayan across Cambodia’s provinces. Over the years, I’ve traveled more than 50,000 km on my motorbike, not just for adventure, but to tell stories. I document remote places, local businesses, and human experiences through video, helping others discover and appreciate the beauty of everyday life in Cambodia. These vlogs don’t just highlight destinations — they highlight people.
One of the things I value most about being a Local Guide is that our contributions — even a single photo or review — can help someone find the right place, support a local seller, or simply feel safer on their journey. That’s powerful. And that’s why I continue to map, write, and share.
Thanks for reading — I look forward to learning from all of you, and maybe even meeting some of you on the road someday!
2 Likes
Hi @everyone,
I joined Local Guides Connect in April 2023, and this is the first time I am introducing myself here.
I delayed my introduction because, in the early days, I was hesitant—unsure of what to write and how to express myself on such platforms. But as I started writing and engaging on Connect, I gradually gained confidence. And now, in 2025, I finally feel comfortable enough to say hello!
For a while, I thought the Introduce Yourself thread was only for new Local Guides. However, during a recent discussion with my Connect friends @TusharSuradkar, @Rahul001, @curatorofmemory, they encouraged me to go ahead and introduce myself.
So, here’s my intro:
1. Name: Dr. Krishna Kant Sharma
2. Location: Gangapur City, Rajasthan, India
3. What I love about being a Local Guide:
As a Local Guide, I find joy in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by mapping places that truly matter—heritage sites, educational institutions, local businesses, repair-based microenterprises, and environmental initiatives.Being a Local Guide allows me to contribute meaningfully toward key global goals, especially:SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11(Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). I particularly enjoy mapping and reviewing educational institutions, heritage locations, and socially impactful places. My background in academia and community service enables me to identify and highlight places that deserve greater visibility. I see Google Maps as a tool for sustainable development.
2. My favorite thing to explore:
I love exploring heritage sites, educational institutions, green spaces, and places deeply rooted in cultural identity. As an INTACH member and an educational administrator, I often spend hours walking around such places, photographing and documenting their unique stories.I also enjoy visiting educational campuses and community spaces that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—especially those promoting quality education, sustainability, and inclusive development.
3. Fun fact about me:
Despite encouraging many new Local Guides to introduce themselves on Connect, I delayed introducing myself for a long time!Another fun fact — although my academic qualifications include a Master’s in Physics and a Doctorate in Education, I have a deep personal interest in heritage walks and often spend time exploring historical sites on foot.
Let’s connect and collaborate to map a more sustainable world by supporting the SDGs.
2 Likes
Welcome once again, Dr. @SharmaK, to this wonderful community
It is an absolute delight to have you among us.
Through your several posts about sustainability, local guides learnt a lot about this relatively unknown topic.
Additionally, we learned about the various ways in which local guides can contribute to the SDGs.
You are a great asset to the community, and I follow you closely in the community-building initiatives.
1 Like