Hi my friends. It’s me Seedra from Sri Lanka. Here my story on Google Maps.
People use Google Maps not only to get direction from a place to a place or get traffic information. Google Maps helps people in many ways. I don’t need to explain you about the features and facilities of Google Maps, You already know it but I like to explain how Google Maps helps and effect for my life and why I contribute to the Google Maps this much enthusiastically.
I remember my uncle who passed away because of cancer used to search lots of places using Google Maps where he visited and couldn’t visit in his life when he was in the hospital bed. Using Google Maps, he was able to travel places virtually. It gave him hope, and he was enjoying it a lot. He was a good traveler when he was young.
Photos and stories always motivated me to travel and visit those places. Both my father and uncle were good travelers. Seen pictures of the places they visited and hearing their story about tours I always wanted to be like them. I used to see those photos and keep imaging those places because those are taken from many years ago even I was bone. So now those places are different, and some places are no more because during the war in my county those places were destroyed by the terrorists. I understood that photo is the best thing to capture and freeze the time. So that became a habit, and whenever I visited a site, I capture photos of that place. I always visit places, and I like to visit the same place again and again. Each time I can notice changes in those places.
Before I knew about the Local Guides Program, I uploaded my photos to Google Earth through Panoramio program. I am happy to see the number of views of my photos. I was a teenager then, and I had understood the usefulness of uploading pictures to Google Earth for others to see places I visited. Because as an Asian schooling young girl, it was not easy to travel as I wished in those days. But after I came to know about Google Earth and Google Maps in my IT class, I was delighted, and I used to visit the places I liked in the world virtually using them, and I also uploaded photos of places I visited to Google Earth. I was happy because I knew my photos of memories would help millions of people and those will be useful for the future generation. At that time my father’s photo collection was destroyed by the flooding in my area. Only a few people had seen that valuable printed photo collection before they were destroyed. I think that wouldn’t happen to my photos and they are safe for future generations as I am uploading my photos to Google Maps.
After I came to know about the Google Local Guide Program by @AnuradhaP , I noticed we could contribute to the Google Maps in many ways not only adding photos as previous. It is beneficial knowing other’s reviews and rating of places to take the right decision. As an example, when I plan a tour, I always used to read other Local Guide’s reviews, ratings, and see the photos. So my friends always select me to plan our trips and tours. Some ask information about places before arranging their visits. Because they believe that I know the Google Map things than them. I always guide them on how to use Google Maps efficiency and introduce them to the Google Local Guide program to them and teach them how to contribute to Google Maps. I remember them be concern with uploading photos in correct place and add and edit correct information of places. Because people take decision on our information and they believe us and Google Maps. Before my friends called me “travel girl” because they know I am fond of traveling now they call me “Google Girl” because they know how much I addicted to Google Maps. I roam with pegman in cities and places where I like to visit. Kudos to @AnuradhaP and @IlankovanT for hosting a meetup in my area and shearing your knowledge on Local Guide program and Local Guide Connect. That was the start of my Local Guide Connect life. By Local Guide Connect I could have friends in world wide with same desire. I like to read the post of other Local Guides because it make me up dated.
I usually get photos of places in different and uncommon angles, buildings, statues, photos of food dishes, menus in restaurants. And I update and edit information of these places. Specially I like to answer the questions about the places on Google Maps. Not only that I add/uncover missing information about places and check the facts, I also verify information that people suggested. I add missing places. I care about adding small business places, hidden tourist attractions, and information which useful for differently able people such as accessibility information. I hope my contribution to the Google Maps helps many unknown people. So I am pleased and proud of myself. This contribution has enabled me to utilize my leisure time usefully. Another thing is I enjoy getting points and earning badges for my contributions. This is a fun game and try it. Not only that your contributions brings you a big opportunity to participate the biggest event of Local Guide Connect in California. Many thanks to @AnuradhaP for helping and advising me always on this.
In my childhood, I like to travel but not have many opportunities. Then I read novels and stories books. I imagine about the places when I know about Google Maps I used to search those place in Google Maps and then I could get a clear image on my mind. I search for famous places and get virtual tours and street view. I walk through towns when I feel alone. I see beautiful photos and videos, 360’ photos and panoramic photos uploaded by people specially Google Local Guide. I would like to thank them. I see so many people enjoy seen those places and pictures specially sick people and elders who can’t travel and young who have no enough money or time. Solo travelers use Google Maps for planning their trips. To find out tourist attractions,places, restaurants,hotels, etc…
So I invite you to contribute more on Google Maps and be with Local Guide Connect because it make people happy and the world will be an easy place for all.
