Google Maps is an awesome product from Google. And we realise it only once we actively start using it. Its been almost a year and half since I left my city, Kolkata, India for my job. When I was in my city, I rarely felt the need of using Google Maps as my own city is mostly familiar to me. But this changed once I left my home town for my job. I travelled to multiple cities within India like Chennai, Mumbai and presently living in Bangalore. For me, these cities were unknown to me and I was worried about finding the right places I need for example grocery stores, restaurants, etc. But then Google Maps came into picture. This was the time I actively started using Google Maps. It was just awesome. It gave directions, ETA and even traffic information. Then I turned to the review section and found that other people aka local guides have shared their opinions about the place thus making it easier for me to make a decision. It was from this time that I also started sharing my reviews and photos on Maps of the places I visited. I find mostly there are many small restaurants in the city which most people are unaware of and those restaurants really make tasty and delicious food and at the same much cheaper. So I, as a local guide add review and photos of that place on Maps. Just like I get help from other local guides, I also contribute to Maps in a similar way and I read reviews of that place in Maps and try to add any missing information which other local guides have missed. I have been actively involved with this process of reviewing and adding photos of the places I visited on Maps and helping other people and at the same being helped by others from their reviews. Its been a great journey and I will continue this sharing process in the coming years as well.
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