We are living in a very delicious world.
And luckily, I have Google Map with me wherever I go, from planning to reflecting. Google Map has recorded every moment I found a thrilling place on “wish to go” and handful of memories as “my reviews”, while the best part is that all these are now shared to many people.
Last year I took 7 trips for vacation. Running into local markets, parks, and restaurants aside from the tourist attractions in such vast cultures, I feel myself more like a local guide who has been trying to live somewhere else. ?
I had my first visit to the UK as a solo trip last summer when most of the days I was just wandering in London, a marvelous city I can’t explore enough. As you can imagine, way before this trip, I have been marking the places I wish to visit. Since my concerts, musicals and museums were lining up in London, the dining plan was certainly following. All the restaurants and food stores were collected to Google Map in the end, for it is most convenient to integrate plans, and it has the most trustworthy reviews.
When my London dream finally came true, it means all my little marks on the Map came alive. Measuring the streets with my own steps felt fabulous. Now Google Map helped me understand the neighborhood, enabled me to manage my commuting, dining, and shopping even when I was new there.
Yet to admit it is wonderful to have local friends accompanying me. Through them, I encountered amazing places that were not famous among tourists but absolutely gave me a taste of lifestyles here.
On the day landing, I went to an adorable farmers’ market with my host who was doing their weekly grocery shopping, and got treated with tasty juice, fruits and focaccia. I couldn’t imagine that this small market could have products with such freshness and varieties. But the true reason I loved here is the feeling of a community – Patrons and stall owners are like friends, and I felt warmly welcomed in such a local and rooted vibe.
Only at a throwback, I realized how much I loved here – when I revisit my reviews and photos. It is my love for the people I met, food I had.
Figure 1 Primrose Hill Market, London
I visited my friend Nao and her family in Tokyo for Christmas.
Nao was excited to show me her childhood favorites. And she was surprised that I “know Tokyo so well” when she found my wish list coincident with her plan so much. My wishes, pulled out from Google Map, were all about what I loved on my last visit. I feel very thankful to Nao and my other friends in Tokyo, who have great taste and know me so well. They showed me the most fantastic side of Tokyo, and made me the sweet memories more than I could expect. Going around with them, I have a much deeper feeling to this City, and whenever I look back to my reviews in this trip, lots of fun we had together just flush back.
Figure 2 Berry tart at qu’il fait bon, Tokyo
Figure 3 Red bean buns at Kimuraya, Tokyo.
Not just metropolitan, but the buzzing Asian cities were loaded with remarkable experience too.
I designed a food trip in Bangkok for me and my mother. For her first visit there, I wanted to show her about authentic Thai flavors and funky Thai fusions. And I managed single-handedly on all the planning and set her carefree, by picking up my marked places along the way. After this trip, we talked about everything we would miss here. In the end, I poured all my carefully selected places and mouth-watering memories into Google reviews too.
And at times our days were fully prepared by my local friends, they were the best times to discover hidden gems.
In India, we attended to my dear friend’s wedding. Overflowed with splendid wedding banquet, we hardly had chances to explore other eateries. However, we still picked up a few local snacks during transit in the airports. Staring at those strange and similar-looking foods, I appreciate it greatly to have my knowledgeable friend making introductions and recommend from her experience. I am so happy to document my learnings on the Map, hopefully it can help not only locals but also visitors at the airports not to miss the impressive food.
At Ho Chi Ming City, we were keen to try Vietnamese coffee at the famous local cafes, so our friend brought us to a most special branch of the Trung Nguyen Café Legend. It was like a garden, with bright plants and cozy breeze. There was even a room grounded with sand, for people to relax as if on a beach. It was such a special brunch that totally refreshed my views, I hope others could take time to enjoy it here too.
Back to my base Singapore where I love especially, it is also where I made the most reviews and lists. I am sharing my experience here because I hope people will have a glance of the beautiful island from my eyes.
The delicious world we are seeing today is a bind of cultures; it is created by other loving and passionate people, brought to us plate by plate. Weaved together with the food were their heartfully service and our smiles.
Google Map is indispensable to me, and it is especially meaningful when I have shared my reviews and all. No matter they were written right at the moment or reflected after some time, they are memories I want to keep. I feel happy to see replies from the restaurants because that is my regard received by people who care about the customers. Moreover, I feel proud to get likes from other users, because I am making valuable things that help people.
Sharing what I see in this lovely world on Google Map feels like sharing to my good friends – friends that I never met but all contributing, that diversified beyond imagination but all connected by our passion.
Welcome to enjoy Singapore with me: Singapore’s Flavour
More about me: My friends call me a Gourmet Radar
With love,
Sara 
Just wanted to reach out as a fellow person based in Singapore to join our FB community that I’ve just set up to share insights and for future meetups etc.