Namaste and Hello !
I am Shaily, from the city of Nawabs (Lucknow) which is in the land called India.
I am not new to the Local Guide Connect programme but this is my first formal introduction.
I became a local guide just 2-3 years back. I am in my late fifties slightly late to the party but I climbed my way to level 8 quickly.
My motivation behind this…
No big claims, I am not changing the world, neither encouraging the tourism nor making the world more eco friendly, but helping people in their day to day commute*. My sense of direction is poor to the point of being ridiculous*. Since childhood it was a great challenge to remember even the frequented paths, exploring new ones was a dreaded task. My father was in a transferable job so we had to shift from one city to another very frequently, and every shifting made me nervous I used to think, Oh my God! I have to remember new roads and directions.
During the sixties and seventies there was nothing like Google Maps, so I had to ask a number of people about the roads and directions so as to reach my destination. In this process the biggest problem was that often people misguided me. My means of transportation varied between a cycle rickshaw, bicycle or mostly my own feet. In last case the mis-directions became even more painful. Searching for a market, school, stationery shop, cobbler, park and play ground was difficult beyond limits for me.
Any how I struggled through it, but when there was a digital revolution in India, I too learnt the computer and got to know about -Google Maps -, bingo…!!! you won’t believe it was like a "Magic Lamp of Aladdin" for me. My persistent problem since childhood of deciphering the road puzzle was solved finally.
When I started using a smart phone, and used map frequently, Google prompted me to become local guide. I happily became one so I could help those, who are facing a similar problem like me.
I feel pride and have a sense of responsibility too as local guide since I feel my reviews are for those who are new to the town, for the novices, for travelers, students who came for some exam or interview etc.
So mostly I write about Railway stations, hotels, rest-houses, crossings, basic and secondary schools and highway Dhaba (county side eateries), no doubt I write about the tourist’s attractions and restaurants as well from time to time.
I share Digital /Online Payments facility providers, because this practice is very new in India after demonetisation (8 Nov. 2016), It was a challenge for most of the public around how to buy day to day need items with no or less cash. So I felt the need of spreading awareness about digital payments. I started searching and helping people in sensitizing them towards this mode of payment.
The recent funny incident of my life is, I forgot my path again just two years ago even when I went there by myself and I was familiar to the place and its ways too. One wrong turn and I was lost, this thing I realized after covering about 2 kilometres, because I was pretty confident about my knowledge, but thanks to online cab services. I reached home safely.
Now I feel I have made my intent clear about being a local guide and would like to thank Google for giving me this increddible opportunity.