Hello Local Guides from all over the world!
As some of you may have seen, in Februari this year, I took the time to reflect on my memorable Local Guides journey through the years. While that post covered the entire timeline, this one is dedicated solely to the magic of the last twelve months: my Annual Reflection for 2025.
After seven years being as a Connect Moderator, I can confidently say that if I had to describe this year in one word, that word would be: Connection. This year was not just about contributing to Google Maps, but about strengthening friendships, both face-to-face and across screens. Please allow me to share this special recap!
Let’s start with the biggest highlight of the year. My dream finally came true! I was one of the selected Local Guides who flew to Tokyo, Japan, for Connect Live 2025. What made this journey particularly special was that, unlike previous trips where I often traveled alone, I was on the same flight as five other Local Guides hailing from East Java: @FahmiAdimara, @AndiBrata, @Annisa1208, @elyudith and @syaubananas. Sharing the excitement and the long flight with my peers from the same region made the start of this monumental trip feel incredibly warm and supportive. It still feels surreal remembering the moment I landed and finally met friends whom I’d only chatted with in the Connect comment sections.
My journey began with a single, monumental step: attending my very first Local Guides summit back in 2017. It was not just my first summit, it was my first-ever flight outside the country. I still remember the first person I met there was the amazing @ErmesT. I also made a long friendship with @Shirley (and still counting). Watching the speakers on stage, I held a whispered wish that maybe one day, I would get to stand up there. From that moment, I always held this secret wish: to be the one sitting up front, speaking about our community.
My journey toward that stage was built in small steps. I remember attending Connect Live in 2019, and the biggest thing I accomplished then was finding the courage to raise my hand and ask a question during a workshop session. I thought, “Wow, I finally did it, I spoke up!”
Fast forward to Tokyo 2025, and that long journey finally culminated: I was given the incredible honor (thanks to @Julie_A and team) of being one of of the speakers, together with @PaulPavlinovich, @FalguniP and @indahnuria on the Community Panel. Sharing the successes and challenges of the meet-ups I created back in Indonesia with a global audience, I felt the power of persistence. It was truly extraordinary!
Beyond the speaking role, the best moment was the cultural exchange. Walking through the Shibuya Crossing with Local Guides from different countries was an invaluable experience. We shared stories, exchanged souvenirs, and of course: added many amazing Japanese culinary hidden gems to the Map!
This year, I challenged myself to be a more active Host. The biggest lesson I learned was recognizing the unique differences between In-Person Meet-ups and Virtual Meet-ups. Both offer their own unique excitement!
- In-Person Meet-ups: From the very beginning, I’ve always firmly believed that in-person meet-ups are essential for Local Guides to share their experiences and genuinely feel that shared connection. This year, I hosted some meet-ups:
- Sambelan Megilan Food Crawl: a food crawl with Malang Local Guides fellow.
- Let’s Book in: a collaboration with Payung Literasi Malang together with @jihanmw
- World Tourism Day (exploration walk and food crawl): a collaboration with Jelajah Malang
- #LG10ScavengerHunt Team MendolSS
- 101 Guide for Community Contribution with Mas @BudionoS as the speaker
The fun lies in engaging all our senses. We can smell the same food, feel the sun during a photo walk, and hear genuine, uninterrupted laughter. We could laugh together, explore the city side-by-side, and everything felt intimate and like family. The connection feels very intimate and warm.
- Virtual Meet-ups: I initially thought virtual meet-ups would be boring, but I was totally wrong! Virtual sessions this year taught me that geographical boundaries are nonexistent. The excitement lies in its reach. In one session I hosted, the speaker @MutiahA came from Rotterdam, Netherland and @Erna_LaBeau from Michigan, USA. It felt magical to speak about Indonesian independence day from another perspective: Cerita dari Rantau. Even though we were physically far apart, the spirit of Local Guides remained brightly lit.
The success of my initial virtual event was truly encouraging! Following that, I hosted several more virtual sessions: Together with all Indonesian Connect Moderators we talk and discuss about Connect: Tanya Jawab Connect bareng Moderator, and having Mas @ALG87 as the speaker talking about his editing process: Behind the Map: stories from a Local Guide editor, confirming that virtual connection is a powerful and valuable complement to our face-to-face activities. Thanks to @Dinithea, @SyamsieUngu, @MasJon, @Dhatuardhan, @RifanKN and @irulmusmus for always supporting my idea.
Besides hosting events, I also made time to attend meet-ups organized by my fellow Local Guides. One of the most memorable was when I joined the Mlampah: Meniti Langkah Pahlawan hosted by @elyudith and Surabaya Raya Local Guides team. There, I discovered a new place that I had never known existed in the middle of busy town, Surabaya! This proves that the eyes of Local Guides are always sharp in spotting unique places.
I was also incredibly impressed by the experience of attending MUN 4 Surabaya, where I had the opportunity to step up and speak actively in the forum. It was another valuable chance to practice public speaking and share insights with a broader audience-skills that definitely benefited my community work.
A big thank you to all the Hosts who worked hard this year. You inspire me!
Beyond the fun and the global travel, 2025 gifted me with profound lessons that truly define what being a Local Guide means.
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Conquering the Whisper: That moment I stood on the Tokyo stage? It wasn’t just about sharing insights; it was about finally silencing the little voice from 2019 that told me I couldn’t do it. I learned that showing up, even when you’re terrified, is the biggest victory. My biggest takeaway is to always honor your own progress.
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The Necessity of the Challenge: This year taught me that growth often lives outside your comfort zone. It took real effort to adapt my style and host those complex virtual meet-ups, but pushing those boundaries was the greatest lesson. If you want to grow, you must challenge yourself.
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The Power of Sustained Commitment: Being a Moderator for seven years has shown me that the true heart of the community isn’t in a single viral moment, but in consistent engagement and support. I learned that the best way to get inspired and stay passionate is to keep showing up, commenting on posts, congratulating others, and being an active, supportive presence. That effort keeps the community spirit alive.
Before we officially say goodbye to this incredible year, I want to invite all Indonesian Local Guides to join me for one final, special gathering!
To deepen our reflection and harness the momentum we’ve gained, I’m hosting a Year-End Virtual Meet-up titled: The peak of spirit & reflection 2025: Tokyo Unpacked- the East Java Local Guides Year-end Meet-up
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Special Speakers: I’m honored to announce that 4 fellow Connect Live Tokyo alumni will join me to share their individual perspectives on the summit and their 2025 highlights.
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Theme: We will discuss our biggest challenges, our proudest moments, and set exciting, realistic goals for our contributions in 2026.
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Active Participation: This session is specifically designed to be highly interactive! As a host, I strongly encourage all Indonesian Local Guides to participate actively, share their thoughts, ask questions, and contribute their unique voices to the reflection.
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Date & Time: Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 7 PM WIB (GMT+7)
I genuinely hope you can join this final session of the year. Let’s close this chapter and kick off the new one with shared enthusiasm!
This year’s journey taught me that being a Local Guide isn’t just about chasing points or levels. It’s about how we help others discover the best places, and in the process, we find a new family.
Thank you to the Local Guides team and the entire incredible Local Guides community.
What are your biggest hopes for 2026? Share them in the comments below! 
, terima kasih juga ilmu-ilmunya bermanfaat sebagai connect moderator yang diandalkan bagi kami, semoga kedepan bisa bersama berkontribusi lebih baik lagi, dan bisa saling mendukung sesama local guides semuanya.
