This is one of those times when it is hard to put thoughts and feelings into just a few words. I discovered the Local Guides program for the first time in the picturesque and wild mountains of Kyrgyzstan and it’s been my travel advisor, teacher, inspiration ever since, in places far and near.
I N S P I R A T I O N
Traveling is one of my passions. And it is interesting how the Local Guides has been shaping my views on it in various ways. When I was a student with a very limited budget, I would explore my city (which I just moved in at the time) by going anywhere and everywhere: wandering around small non-touristic, yet beautiful parks, exploring each metro station and its unique architecture, playing a tourist in my own city (as more often than not we all tend to be more curious about some distant places, never having time to appreciate what’s near us). As time went by, I was able to travel around Ukraine, meet more people, and finally started to enjoy learning history for the first time. Traveling to other countries is when I really started using tips and comments from local guides when making plans. Local Guides has brought me back to the beginning of my journey to remind me that I don’t have to always be traveling far in order to help out others and inspired me to learn new ways of appreciating local cuisine, architecture, history whilst continuing to value diversity of every country. I find myself falling in love with Kyiv a little bit more each year - with every guided tour, with every newly learnt bit of history about buildings and about people who lived in those building and who shaped this city into what it is today.
Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn’t matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough. (c) Richard Feynman
L E A R N I N G
Even though I’ve been with the Local Guides only about a year, this program has been helping me to grow and to learn how to improve ways of giving back to the community. For instance, by seeing which photos get the most views, I get a better idea of which things are of the biggest interest to people when they are trying to find out more about a place, when making decisions whether place worths a visit. One of my most viewed pictures is for Lan Su Chinese Garden - a photo of tea and snack I ordered at their garden teahouse. Food is something that unites all of us across the glob and for me it plays a big part in getting to know another culture. I also try to note which things am I paying attention to, what do I look for in the comments, so I can improve my reviews in the future, provide more constructive and helpful feedbacks. Now I try to always take pictures of food in coffeeshops, restaurants, guesthouses, and add detailed description. The Local Guides continuously teaches me that in order to contribute I don’t have to have an expensive camera and share only high definition photos, which is a constant internal battle of mine (with perfectionism).
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. (c) Henry van Dyke
C O N T R I B U T I O N [to the community]
Helping others is one of the things that brings me genuine joy and that is one of the reasons I love the Local Guides program as it enables me to contribute to the community (in at least two ways). [1] It seems obvious now, but only with one of my first reviews of the small family owned Guest House Nomad Yard in Kyrgyzstan did I realize how a minute of my time can positively promote and affect someones’ business. [2] By endorsing local businesses like Aperanti Agrotourism Bed & Breakfast or A Vista d’Mar, I am also able to hopefully help people make better choices when making their travel plans, so their vacation is filled with as many great places as possible.
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. (c) T. Roosevelt
The Local Guides is an adventure filled with discoveries, curiosity, diversity, fun, inspiration and I never want it to end!