Thanks for Google Local Guides program, I discover the reliable way to explore the world, the worldwide platform to leave my travel footprints and the everyday topics that can be shared among friends. 
The start
The reason why I joined the Local Guides program is a simple one. I found it helpful so I wanted to help others too. I joined the program in 2016 by accident. I was walking around Taiwan for 60 days at that time. It was a 1200 km walking journey that ended up making a circle route of Taiwan border. “Which hostel do I stay?”, “What do I eat?”, “Where do I visit?”. These are questions I asked everyday and the local guides in Google Maps gave me reliable reviews and information to help me finish the wonderful journey! So, why not change my role from a receiver to a giver, share my travel experience from big cities to rural suburban?
1. Local Guide means a way to explore the footprints in the world.
After the experience in Taiwan, I am addicted to the program! Whenever I need to find a restaurant, a dating place or a place to get entertained, I go to Google Maps and locals guides all over the world will give me a helping hand! I will share the links with my friends to decide where to dine.
The star rating system helps me located the popular place that worth to explore when I am traveling in another country. I believe the reviews by Local Guides are more reliable than other online platform or apps as they have no reason to advertise a particular restaurant. I trust the Local Guides!
2. Local Guide also means a way to leave my footprints in the world.
I am a blogger. Writing and photography are my hobbies. More than that, I love to walk! I would rather go from one place to another on foot that takes me over 1 hour than travel by public transportation. I am not kidding. So, while I walk through the city, I leave my “footprints” on Google Maps as a local guide, posting photos and writing reviews. It somehow becomes my practice every time I hang around. I am used to creating lists to mark “stars” to the places I plan to visit and being visited whenever I plan a travel. For example, I created the “2019 Shikoku Trip” and “Poland trip 2019, food I ate!” lists. These help record my footprints.
3. Local Guide means a way to share.
What am I contributing to the Local Guides program becomes the daily topics among friends. Every time I take picture once I enter a restaurant or type the reviews on the phone after a meal with friends, they always feel curious not to the reason why I am doing this but the reason why I am doing it AGAIN AND AGAIN! I will share my work, show them my photos and reviews with the highest views. There was a time they are amazed that some of my photos have over 700,000 views. “You may achieve this too! Every individual matters in this program. Anyone shares and anyone read!” I said.
Indeed, I love reading the contribution page of my Google Local Guide profile. This is the most exciting moment every time I open the Google Maps in my phone! I hope there are lots more people are being helped by my reviews and photos. The number of views really boost me to contribute more because it gives me a sense of satisfaction by helping and giving back to others.
As there is not so many meet-ups in Hong Kong area, I look forward to meet new friends and share the stories as a Local guide!