1. Who Am I:
Hi every one. Welcome to Google Local Guides Connect .I am Ishtiaq Saikhu, a Police Officer serving in National Highways & Motorways Police from Gujranwala Pakistan. It is my hobby to explore the beauty spread over earth. In pursuit of my passion, I have not only visited Pakistan and Kashmir but I have also got the opportunity to explore the beautiful land of Saudi Arabia. Google Maps and Google Local Guides have helped me a lot in satisfying my thirst for exploration. I would like to share a very interesting story happening during the year 2019 which changed my preferences.
2. Move towards Balochistan :
Before joining the job I used to wander here and there to explore different places at leisure. But after joining the police force my movements got restricted and I could not visit places in my wish list because of my professional constraints. Last year I got transferred to Balochistan on Coastal Highway which is almost 1400 km away from my home station. I was perturbed over my transfer because I was alone away from my friends and family. Balochistan is an area which is still very backward for unknown reasons even though it possesses natural resources in abundance and lacked basic infrastructure of modern life. This pathetic view of Balochistan shaked my conscience but I had no other option but to stay there for stipulated time and untill further orders. But I took heart and planed to convert this hard time into pleasure trip by invoking my old hobby of exploration.
This photo was taken at Zero Point(Coastal Highway) from where the routes for Gwadar and Quetta are separated
3. Amazing Contributions of Google Local Guides:
Balochistan is largest province of Pakistan in term of land and consists of 347190 square km. This province is gifted with a diverse landscape. Its terrain consists of deserts, hills and sea. There are very few populated area in these deserts and hills. Although the land offers too much but trend of tourism is very low. Finding physical guide is difficult that is why I opted to use google maps. When I started search for historical and tourist places on google map, I found picture comments and reviews with it which present the full description of the palce. I also found pictorial view, hotels, road condition, its ratings and even opening closing time. This feature of google maps impressed me the most as to how google maps has enlivened these far off and rarely visited places. Like others I used to use Google maps only to find ways. It was all new for me. Upon search I came to know that the creator of these guidlines are among from local community who upload local data on google maps so that the interested tourist could plan there visits by sitting at home. The term used for these torch bearers id Google Local Guides. I benefited from the this feature of Google maps during my whole stay in Balochistan.
My on duty photo taken on the RCD highway(Balochistan) that got over 28000 views.
4. My best period as a tourist:
With the help of Google Local guides feature I managed to paln visits for these beautiful sites of Balochistan besides tough schedule of my duties. For Instance I explored Princess of Hope, Mud Volcanos, Sphinix of Blochistan, kundh Malir Beach and Cave City etc.
This beautiful sculpture of rock in Balochistan looks like a Princess standing with large crown or turban over her head.It was named ‘Princess of Hope’ by actress Angelina Jolie when she visited the area in 2002 as a Goodwill ambassador from the United Nations.The statue was created due to winds and strong rains in the area for centuries.
Chandragup mud volcano, known as world’s largest and highest mud volcano
Famous natural rock formation in Hingol National Park Balochistan that resembles the man-made Giant Sphinx Pyramid in Giza, Egypt.
Kundh Malir Beach, The water at this beach is crystal clear and refreshing, whereas the sand alongside the beach compliments the natural beauty. A place where you can see Desert, mountains and Nature.
Cave City is no less than a wonder of Balochistan. Historians believe that the town was once a large Buddhist monastery dating back to the eighth century, when the region was part of a Buddhist British rule, around 1500 caves were reported, but now only 500 remain.
Google Local Guides helped me alot to visit all these amazing places. I was really impressed by this feature because it enabled me to explore fairy land of Blochistan without help from anyone. I was more useful than my anticipation. I provided me opportunity to occupy my time in exploring local avenues. The time flew and I returned back to home station.
5. Most intresting thing for Me:
After my return from Balochistan I decided to contribute as Google Local Guide. I took my camera and started uploading pictures of hospitals, schools, shops, food points and other important places missing on the map. This activity is very interesting for me as it lend me opportunity to improve my knowledge about my surroundings precisely. I found many shops and other valuable places around me for which I have to travels mile away. Thus the work I started for others has helped me a lot.
6. A Wish of the life:
Now when people seek guidance from my reviews and pictures and appreciate, I feel elated with the feeling that I became able to guide the finest creature of God. I wanted to extend this act not only in Pakistan but I was wanted to broaden it to whole world. I hope God will fulfill my honest wish.
