Hi, This is Jyotsna from India and I’m sharing my interesting experience over here as a local guide. Just before three or four years I was not much dependent on google map, however I was well familiar with it but did not use regularly. I’m travelling since last ten years, and for initial few days my father accompanied me but it was not always possible for him to be around me and guide me, due to his own profession and other responsibilities. During 2018, I worked for TCS where an official pickup and drop transport facility was provided, and I was bound to enable google location in my phone. Soon I started getting notifications to rate my visited places and write experiences about same so I gave random ratings for some places just for fun, although it;s also true that I always prefer to go through google reviews while planning my visits for any particular place. But writing detailed reviews started by me in Aug or Sep 2019, when I had to appear for few job interviews in different states just within four to five days and I had never been earlier at some places as well as had really no clue how to reach there. It was kind of my first solo trip, planned with the help of ‘Google Local Guides’.
The journey started from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi then Haryana, Chandigarh and finally landed in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh (India). I had to appear for a PSU interview, located somewhere in outskirts of Shimla. I tried to find detail review about place which can guide me properly, but found pictures only. Meanwhile travelling from Chandigarh to Shimla, fortunately met to two lady travelers, routed from Shimla. I started communicating them and they guided me well about my destination as much as they can. When I reached Shimla, found that the cab facilities like Ola or Uber was available hardly as most of time cab drivers used to cancel my rides. Now there was only option to take prepaid taxis to reach at my destination but I was curious to explore a new route through public transport, just because wanted to add a detail review about that place, what is SJVN Ltd.
I checked out from hotel before three hours of my reporting time. Turned on GPS and asked to local people about place and thus walked with some random directions. I took a bus from local bus stand (Old Bus Stand Shimla) what needed to change somewhere in between and take the other one but finally reached at destination safely. I found that there was only me, who was a solo lady traveler, however other candidates came either with their family members or relatives. The best part of my entire travel was that I got chance to interact with local people, having amazing stories and etiquette. Ultimately my overall experience was wonderful and inspired me to explore such new places. As a local guide, mine too started putting my experiences into words which could help people. Thank you ‘Google’ and ‘Local Guides’ for being with us at everywhere!! 
