2022
I am a foodie and a traveler. I enjoy cooking and eating Mexican fajitas to Japanese sushi and everything in between. 
My love for travel has taken me to many countries in Asia, Europe and Americas.
I traveled more in Spain than in any country and learned Spanish there, then lived in London, United kingdom where I studied for my MBA and enjoyed meeting people from every nook and corner of the world (no wonder I have read 50k+ messages on local guides connect, mostly LG's introductions).
Google maps has been a reliable friend during my travels and with Local guides, I have the opportunity to give something back, I love doing it by putting small and medium businesses literally on maps. My focus has been on Arts and culture and was honored to receive the below email from Local Guides:
By living in the west, I realised how important it is for local businesses to develop their digital footprint, especially when india is going through an digital revolution with usage of smart phones next only to China. Being a local guide has allowed me to help small businesses like putting the local cobbler in my area on google maps who has been sitting and doing his excellent work for many decades and has only hand painted the signage on his small shed which he calls his workshop, when I told him that it is important now a days to have a presence on maps so that people will know about his quality work, he just nodded. Now when I see him, he tells me the the instances of new customers telling him that they found his shop on google maps, his eyed light up!
Experiences like these motivate me to continue being a local guide and I just love to meet like minded local guides on connect.
My contribution to maps has earned me 37000+ points and my 4000+ photos have accumulated over 9+ million views.
I want to share my discoveries, local favourites, hidden gems and put small businesses on maps which will give them much needed exposure to survive and thrive in this fast changing digital world. I want visitors to my city enjoy traveling as a local, and know the best places to visit and to be able to make informed choices before they visit any restaurant, shop etc. It is after all, all of us want to do, and all the information on maps doesn't come by itself, someone and all of us have to contribute to make it better for everyone!
I am one of the most active local guides on connect, earning me 34 badges by posting over 650+ messages and getting over 2500+ kudos for it.
I love interacting with local guides from around the world and made friends with many of them.
After reaching level 8, my goal has been to mentor other local guides in improving maps and shading ideas and knowledge to grow the community here in Hyderabad as there is a lot to be done to make information more relevant and timely For which have created a group on one of India's favourite social media App 'whatsapp' to connect with Local guides from Hyderabad. 
Hosted multiple meet ups themed around Geo walk, Photo walk, Food crawl and Map editing in Hyderabad. 
Got the opportunity to attend study group in Hyderabad and meet @YanniY @BellaWi @AradhanaB
Also got the opportunity to be part of local guides videos on YouTube:
Where to eat Biryani in Hyderabad https://youtu.be/sJ4nq4elcPQ
Shopping for Biryani ingredients for Hyderabadi Biryani https://youtu.be/LvaOmUoREK0
Pet adoption at SF SPCA https://youtu.be/2oaxoOMi8KM
Featured in article titled 'Putting Biryani on map' https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/News-Updates/Putting-Hyderabad-s-famous-biryani-on-the-Map/ba-...
With my contribution to maps and my interaction with local guides from around the world on connect, I see more opportunity of growth and improvement of maps and Local guides Connect live will provide that perfect opportunity for us volunteer local guides to meet with the leadership and brainstorm and share ideas to chalk out way ahead, congratulate one another for our achievements, and most importantly see each other in person.
@HelloJess was an amazing moderator for that session 
@TraciC was one of the most energetic and gracious host managing the summit.
Local guides Connect live 2018 will showcase our growing movement and my expectation is that it will bring up ideas to take maps to the next level, by making it more interactive.
