04-19-2017 12:09 PM - edited 04-24-2017 11:46 AM
I myself.
Hello there! It’s me Ilankovan Thushyantha.
I’m a level 5 local guides from Sri Lanka and also the owner of Batticaloa Local Guides Community. I became a local guide by coincidence but eventually, it became my passion. Travelling and Photography are my passions. I nurture my local guide life by collating it with my passion photography and travel.
I started photography when I was a teen and now I have upgraded myself into 360 photography; catching up the minute facets of it. Initially, I have been using Google maps for navigation while traveling and have been adding some photos and reviews here and there. One good day when I tried to upload a photo I found some orange star on my profile and started digging on. While reading through only I comprehended the prominence of contributing to Google maps and was super excited to continue expanding this breathing space and day by day I became an aficionado.
I love sharing my photographs and 360 photographs on Google maps to help other travelers see the place through my lenses. Writing genuine reviews for business places, of course, helps local and foreign travelers to make significant decisions. More than everything, adding pins and editing places makes me feel like a pro who redirects the lost ones on to the right place. On the whole, being a local guide enriches my personality while nurturing my inner soul by stretching self-satisfaction.
Me and my community
Batticaloa is my birth place which is located in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka. There are many tourist attractions in Batticaloa. In good time, I coined a supported community “Batticaloa Local Guides ” gathering people with similar interests from Batticaloa area. It was an amusing experience to see much more people joining hands from Batticaloa and from various parts of Sri Lanka to take the mission forward. We had several meet-ups such as Geo-walks, Photo-walks, hangouts and several other knowledge sharing sessions to strengthen our bond and to share knowledge, experience and to disseminate practical knowledge on emerging features of Google maps. It is fun to have and interact with people who have similar interest around you.
Passing on the message
It was another exuberance to host the first ever meetup in Sri Lanka and to meet a big number of Local guides from all over the country at the National LG meetup. I stepped into another era of my local guide life from this point getting to know many other natives with similar interest. Even though Sri Lanka is a very small island, it is filled with many tourist attractions and emerging business places scattered all over the island. I realized the fact that I cannot complete this mission being one man or only with few active local guides. Therefore, I satisfy myself encouraging many others from all over the country to do the same and contribute more to Google maps.
I feel so contented getting connected with so many natives with similar interests through Local guides program. We do invite each other to our meetups to share experiences. The chain gets longer and longer day by day and the spirit and passion spreads on and on.
A passionate host
I have so far hosted many meetups including Geowalks, Photowalks, Map editing, Hangouts and Knowledge sharing sessions. During the Summit 2016, I got cheered for the meetups hosted. Also, I hold the pride of hosting the first ever meetup in Sri Lanka being an owner of a supported community.
The following are some significant meet-ups, hangouts and knowledge sharing sessions I have hosted so far.
1- lagoon trail – Video
3- Batticaloa photowalk - Video
4- Batticaloa Geowalk - Video
5- National LG meetup – Video
6- Batticaloa book donation – Video
8- SriLanka Local Guides Geo Walk - Video
9- SriLanka Local Guides Geo Walk - Video
10- Sri Lanka - The "36" Arugambay - Video
11- Knowledge Sharing Session – Video
12- Sri Lanka Local Guides Community Hangout - February 2017
13- Sri Lanka Local Guides Community Hangout - March 2017
14- Sri Lanka Local Guides Community Hangout - April 2017
15- Batticaloa Local Guides community moderators hangout
Some of my favorite posts
Local Guides Meet-ups I hosted in Sri Lanka in 2016
Batticaloa Local Guides Knowledge Sharing Session
12 Tips for a Successful Hangout
Local guides one on one meet up challenge!
Me and my camera
Being a passionate photographer I have an immense collection of photographs and videos shared on LG connect, G+, YouTube and other social media sites.
Most of all, I didn’t miss to capture the meet-up's I have attended so far, even though they were hosted by other fellow local guides. Have a look at how my camera feasted at those meet-ups.
South Asia Meet-Up & A Trip to Kolkata
Sri Lanka Local Guides - Dambulla Meetup
Anuradhapura Local Guides - Photo Walk
I would like to cast my gratitude to @TraciC @CorrieD @JessicaS and others for guiding me towards to this extent. it has been a wonderful journey traveling with you all moderators and friends!
04-19-2017 12:19 PM
Great post, Ilankovan! I enjoyed reading your post about how you evolved as a local guide. I like how you created your own community and used it to host local hangouts!
I am still evolving as a local guide and I'm interested in finding more local guides in my area. How would you suggest I do that? I posted about a possible meet-up but haven't had any responses.
Thanks for your post and insight into being a local guide.
04-19-2017 01:04 PM
@IlankovanT Well written and tells the story of your journey as a Local Guide in an attractive way. Best of Luck !
04-19-2017 01:36 PM
Hi @SeanO5555
Nice to see your enthusiasm in hosting meet-ups and gathering people with similar interests. My motto for gathering supportive members for community and meetups is "Know your audience". First of all, evaluate the invitees, know their interests and you can plan meetups based on their interests. Then there will be more people coming around. Start influencing them through your interests, this will end up as a win-win situation.
@AnuradhaP Thank you 🙂
04-19-2017 03:11 PM
Hi @IlankovanT
Laudable efforts Man! The posts displays the praiseworthy effort you have put in the Local Guides Program and it will inspire many people not just from Sri Lanka but all over the world.
People like you are the one who inspires me to contribute greatly to this program.
Good Job! Keep it up!
04-19-2017 10:16 PM
Thanks @Lakshay. It's great to hear this. I enjoy doing the same.
04-19-2017 10:23 PM
04-20-2017 02:42 AM
@IlankovanT you are quite the photographer! I love your posts on G+ 🙂
04-20-2017 02:51 AM
Thank you @Shirley. Check, my FB photography page also 🙂
04-20-2017 10:01 AM
Very interesting story @IlankovanT. I'm a big fan of your photography. Keep it up. All the best..!