My Name is Rahul from kerala, South India and here is the my Normal day as a local guide series starting from kovalam. Arrived early on kovalam on December 9th, 2021. There was a lot of changes that was made by government and private business in my local areas. Kovalam was one of it and changes were
• Now there is parking fee in front of the beach.
• New streetlight were installed.
• New business/shops started.
• Renovation of existing business/shops.
• More facilities were implemented for tourists by government and private business.
I arrived early at kovalam and paid Rs 5 for 6hours and waited for the sun to peak from sea. Then I noticed there was no beach because of tide. As a precaution for tourists and locals, kerala tourism department has left a board for not going into the water.
After seeing how sea was incredibly rough, I continued taking images of new and existing business/shops. Some shop couldn’t stand the Covid situation, so they closed and some managed to keep up with the situations. At kovalam these business/shop depends tourists but harsh rain for a month and Covid really paused their income. The most heart-wrenching thing is some shops got destroyed by harsh storms and left unchanged. It stays there as a reminder of the harsh weather near the sea.
After editing and taking images in kovalam, I headed to Samudra beach which near to kovalam ( 2km apart by road ). There is park called Samudra Park build by the government. Walls are beautiful painted and shows different traditional culture of Kerala.
As time goes by, i thought of leaving for home. Then i saw a beautiful resort with name UDAY SAMUDRA LEISURE BEACH HOTEL(UDS). My mind had a second thought and I goes in to get permission for taking photos around the big resort. Receptionist were confused when i told them I was a local guide in google map and i wished to take some photo’s around the resort. But eventually i explain who is local guides and how they change and make impact on google maps and helping people who are using it. They gave me a big tour around the resort explaining everything. I was very happy to get that tour and it was one of best resorts in kovalam and Samudra area.
This nearly completed my editing in kovalam and Samudra area. I wish it would have and will help some people who are using Google maps.
Here is a thing : what makes me do this is “Guiding Stars 2021”. It inspires me to contribute more.
My special thanks to @StephenAbraham for inspiring to edit in maps and to @TravellerG who inspires me to take photo
My pleasure thanks to @abrahamjoseph236 who was with me in the last meetup. Even though there was only three people showed up for last meetup, Abraham told not to worry and we contribute a lot.
By this, i concluded this part. See you on the next one!
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@Rahul001 wow… one of my favorite places there for sure. Not sure about now after almost 2 years of no international tourism, I always felt Kovalam a bit touristy for me. I remember not eating anything on the main beach and walking out to the streets to small shops and eating there. 
Thanks for sharing these nice photos… one day we will meet there again.
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Thanks @StephenAbraham . Looking forward to meeting you soon!
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Excellent post, well written and presented.
The photos are really enjoyable and contextual - self explanative.
Appreciate your talent & efforts - both!
Best wishes for the success of this post.
“… Receptionists were confused when I told them I was a local guide in google map …”
This is the very usual situation - Great that you could explain & convince them - Congratulations.
Hope to see more from your side, soon.
Request you not to forget to tag me in your future posts.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful post!
Regards to you, dear @Rahul001
Note:
Could you give the link to Samudra Resort, please - it will be useful to the readers.
PS:
Thanks for your supports, @StephenAbraham & @Dr_AlwyPaul
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Hey @Rahul001 Thank you for an amazing post. It’s great that you’ve mentioned the changes. That’s going to help those who are planning to travel these days.
I still remember going to Kovalam as school trip. Couldn’t get a hold of those photos right now. I can see a lot have changed since. Those paintings and stairs are new I think.
Keep up the good work!!
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@Dr_AlwyPaul I have not seen the paintings before. They look good.
However, whenever I went there, it was mainly lighthouse beach @ Kovalam. Not sure if this is another section of Kovalam? @Rahul001
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Samudra beach is just 5mins walk from kovalam beach but that pathway is on private resort’s property ( you have to talk long route approximately 2km by road). Samudra beach is very quiet and not all tourists know about this!
@StephenAbraham @Dr_AlwyPaul
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Done! I have put the link in the post and also putting here for your convenience.
@TravellerG
UDAY SAMUDRA LEISURE BEACH HOTEL(UDS), Kovalam
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qdABRY1JJ2Xg4yc16
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@Rahul001 Excellent post ,Thanks for sharing the updated information.Nice pictures and description is also perfect.Really inspires the tourists to make a trip to beautiful Kovalam especially Kovalam beach .Live fish and seafood restaurants on the beach side has restarted or are they still closed?
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Seafood restaurants has been started for tourists. New restaurants also been started. @NikhilPillai
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Best wishes, dear @Rahul001
Regards
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@Rahul001 Nice post. Your experience as local guide is interesting. We all have something in common.
My husband laughs at me, and sometimes gets angry when, walking around the city, I suddenly stop and start taking pictures of a store that was not there before, or a cafe decorated for the holiday. The eye notices such things involuntarily. It’s like a hunting instinct.
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Thank you @OlgaKlimchik to read the post. I think there is “instinct” for every local guide to take pictures and find a new shops around our area.
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