I believe that the Google Local Guides program for me is like working for God. I am saying it because, in the past, I faced many incidents. In each incident, I prayed to god for Help then Google Maps and information posted by Local guides helped me, my family and my friend as ‘a messenger of God’. So, Whenever I contribute to the Local Guides program, I ensure that details are accurate and helpful. With which, Someone can make a plan or take action, especially in the time of need.
I am sharing an incident. In which Google Maps and Google Local Guide Program helped me or I can say, saved me and my family.
We live in Delhi. My family is not literate. It is like a traditional middle-class family of India.
2 years ago in April, I went to Kolkata with my family for worshiping and performing a ritual to Goddess Kali in the famous temple Kalighat. It was the first time, we were going to Kolkata. The distance between Delhi and Kolkata is up to 1500 KM. In Delhi, we speak Hindi but In Kolkata, People speak Bengali.
We reached Kolkata’s Howrah Junction at 10 AM. Then, we took a taxi to reach the nearby Temple. It was about 1 PM in Afternoon, We started finding a hotel or a place to stay. I went to hotels one by one for asking room availability but I was getting negative responses. I walked about 4-5 KM and I approached about 40-50 Hotels. Every hotel owner was saying, ‘rooms are not available’ or ‘we can’t give you rooms’. Till 6 PM, I had approached almost every hotel of that area and nearby area for the rooms but no one was ready to give us a room or place to stay.
Now, It started to get dark. I was worrying, where will we stay. Then, I started to approach some local people in hope of homestay but many were not able to get my language and others denied giving us a place to stay. I also lost my last hope. It had been 8 PM. We had not any place to stay.
I was 1500KM away from my home with my family. We had not properly rest from the last 10 Hours. We were hungry and especially we had not a place to stay at night. I had lost all of my hope. I was praying to God for help and I was doing whatever I can do for finding a place to stay.
Finally, I fed up and sited on the roadside. I took out my mobile. I don’t know why, but I searched, ‘nearby Gurudwara and Dharamshala’ on Google Maps. After that, I got some suggestions. I read and check online reviews, images, and details… Then finally, I called 3 places and 3rd places that were a Dharamshala near a local temple, they agreed to give us a place for night stays.
I was thankful for google maps and Local Guides who had listed those places and posted details, reviews, and photos.
From that day, I know what is the real power of Google Local Guide. The information posted by Local Guide can be a lot helpful and lifesaver sometimes. It is hard to imagine how a single review, rating or photo can impact someone’s life. Many People take the major decision of their life based on the information posted by Local Guides, Such as People choose the workplace, place to stay, college, education institute, hospital, etc.
“Local Guide program helps everyone, everywhere and anytime like God Helps everyone, everywhere and anytime.”