Sometimes, we don’t let ourselves enjoy the moment and the ambience of our surroundings when we visit a certain place. Either we’re busy with our mobile phones, or we’re too overwhelmed by the problems that are stuck in our minds. In that way, we tend to lose the details and miss the beauty that lies within the place that we’re visiting.
I believe that every place has its own story. For me, writing reviews on Google Maps has become a way to increase my awareness of small yet extraordinary things in the place that I visit. After becoming a Local Guide, I try to notice every single detail so that I can leave an accurate review on Google Maps. Here are two of the places that, aside from its fame or name, have left a nice impression and motivated me to write a truthful and complete review.
Citarate Beach
One of the prettiest destinations that I have ever been to recently is Citarate Beach in Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia. The hidden beach is located around 2 km from the main road, and the only access is through a bumpy road that goes uphill and downhill with rubber tree plantations along the way. Since it’s quite difficult to reach, this beach is relatively quiet and not crowded. When I went there, I didn’t find any other tourists except my groupmates. This place hasn’t been developed as a tourism destination, there aren’t any inns or restaurants around so we set up some tents and cooked for ourselves. Overall I had a pleasant time at Citarate Beach. I arrived early in the morning and was greeted by the sunrise, got the chance to swim in the afternoon, and had a peaceful me-time at noon while sitting by the seashore. The whole experience was fun and refreshing. The unavailability of internet connection in the area didn’t become a distraction for me because I was really enjoying the vacation.
Kineruku
There’s this one small library in my hometown (Bandung, Indonesia), located in a residential area, not too far from the main road. The place would be hardly noticed if they didn’t set a flashing orange light outside their fence. The name is Kineruku. They have a wide range of book collection with many genres, from architecture and art to Indonesian novels. Apart from books, they also sell CD albums by local musicians and handmade crafts and stationeries to support local artists. I suppose, the owner intends to maximize the visitors’ reading experience by not installing WiFi in the library. The music that they play in the background always adds a warm and relaxing atmosphere to every corner. My favorite time here is around 10 AM, the air is still fresh, I usually sit on the porch facing their backyard, listening to a bird singing from the trees while sipping a glass of iced chocolate. I feel refreshed and I never thought that a small place like Kineruku would be so meaningful to me.
In the end, my attempt at writing an honest and comprehensive review on Google Maps turns me into a more conscious and attentive person, which also improves my well-being and happiness as well. Whether it’s grand or small, popular or hidden, sweet-smelling or stinky, I hope I can see every place as a whole, not just a name and space.