2022
[RECAP AND SUMMARY]
Kerala Local Guides Meet Up Marathon - 11 Cities/Towns, 11 Days, over 700kms, Jan 25 to Feb 4, 2018
Just such an amazing experience, with an even more amazing community!
We completed this amazing Marathon Meet-Up event! As part of India Republic Day's celebrations, the Local Guides community in Kerala hosted a marathon meet-up series of events in different locations in the State of Kerala, in South India. We met up in 11 cities/towns in 11 days over 700 kms. We wanted to celebrate local contributors in local places helping the local communities via Google Maps. These are the local heroes who keep Maps up to date in our locations. Thanks to community members who joined us for the event, and the biggest thanks to each Host for making arrangements for each of the meet-up.
Our original meet up annoucement post/blog here: https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/Let-s-Meet-Up/Kerala-Local-Guides-Meet-Up-Marathon-11-Cities-T...
A must watch! Our short feature video below! Watch in full screen in Full HD.
The below is my personal experience with the community in the meet up locations.
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Day 1: Jan 25, 2018. Thiruvananthapuram Meet-up.
Thiruvananthapuram is the governing capital of the state of Kerala. Earlier Biju and myself had gone to the printers to get some posters printed for the event, and headed to the event venue. We met near the Kanakakunnu Palace, and spent some time getting to know each other. It was a great experience for me to meet new friends there, and after having some evening tea and snacks, we proceeded to the palace museum grounds for some photo and video shoot and knowledge sharing with everyone. It was nice meeting lots of new Local Guides who helped keep Maps up to date in the area.
Host: Biju Sreekumar @bijusreekumar @bijusreekumar
Event page: https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/kerala-marathon-meet-up-tvm-thiruvananthapuram
Recap page: <TBA>
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Day 2: Jan 26, 2018. Kerala Local Guides Kollam Meet-Up (first meet up in this town)
It was my first time visiting Kollam! After a quick lunch with our host Arun, we were off with some friends to visit the Kollam light house and the Kollam old fort area. We met in the 8 Point Art Cafe in Kollam, one of the best meet up spots in Kollam. It was the first meet up for the Local Guides Community in Kollam city, so everyone was excited to meet each other. Soon after, we went exploring around the Kollam Government quarters and the surroundings towards the lake side, a slow walk through a green patch of trees and old houses. We took lots of photos and members learnt a thing or two about the area. Later we had gone to Kollam beach, walk through the warm sand and sat until the sun had set.
Host: Aron Muralidhar @ArunMuralidhar @ArunMuralidhar
Event page: https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/republic-day-meetup
Recap page: <TBA>
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Day 3: Jan 27, 2018. Kayamkulam Meet-Up (first meet up in this town)
I had taken a late morning bus ride from Kollam to Kayamkulam. A place I really wanted to come back to because many friends are here in the vicinity. And it was our first meet up in this town! We started by having a cool drink in a bakery just opposite the bus station to have everyone get to know each other, and took some photos of the group. Then we proceeded to visit the Shankar Memorial Museum. After which we took a leisurely slow journey to the Azheekal Beach where we spent most of the evening We watch the sun set and then went to walk on the beach until the sun went down. It was just such a cool evening after a super hot afternoon.
Host: Aslam Nazar @aslamnazar @aslamnazar
Event page: https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/kayamkulam-local-guide-meetup
Recap page: <TBA>
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Day 4: Jan 28, 2018. Kottayam Meet-Up, Kerala (first meet up in this town)
It was about 3pm when I reached Kottayam from Kayamkulam after a 2 hour local KSRTC bus ride. Our meet up was scheduled to be in the Thirunkkara Mahadeva Temple grounds. Although it was a Sunday, many of the Local Guides here were off-site for work. And only 4 of us made it for the meet up today. We spent a bit of time getting to know each other and then talked a lot about what was truly important to be Local Guides. Spent a bit of time shooting some photos along the temple grounds and then headed to Kumarakom on motorcycle for more photo shooting.
Host: Kumaresan Subash @cskumaresan
Event page: https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/kottayam-local-guides-meetup
Recap page: <TBA>
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Day 5: Jan 29, 2018. Kozhikode Meet Up
Another place I had long to come back to because so many friends are here. Arrived at Kozhikode via train in the afternoon, and our host Hyder Ali and myself had visited the city famous Paragon Hotel for a delicious Biryani lunch before heading to the venue for our meet up. We were sitting by the beach as members arrived. We had spent some time getting to know each other and chatting about the Local Guides program. Many members had their experience to share on how they are contributing, and we had got many first time attendees in this meet up. We took a long stroll along the beach enjoying the sunset and taking lots of photos and videos. We then headed to town for a photowalk around some of the new restaurants in town, and we must have spent some time exploring as the evening closed in.
Host: Hyder Ali @hyderali @Hyderali
Event page: https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/photo-walk-meetup-at-kozhikode-kozhikode
Recap page: https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/Let-s-Meet-Up/RECAP-Photo-walk-meetup-at-Kozhikode/m-p/625050/...
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Day 6: Jan 30, 2018. Palakkad Meet-Up, Kerala (first meet up in this city)
Finally got.back to Palakkad after so long, it must have been at least 2 years. Navaneeth our host had met me earlier before the meet up and we had some evening tea and snacks in one of the many road side stalls. Soon, our Kerala Local Guides members arrived, most are first time event joiners and it's our first event in Palakkad. We had spent some time talking about Local Guides program and Navaneeth was sharing also on his own experience with his journey. We then had a photo walk around the Palakkad fort and the surroundings before just sitting outside the fort and enjoying the evening view and each other's company.
Host: Navaneeth Sajeev @NavaneethS @NavaneethS
Event page: https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/meet-at-palakkad-fort-5pm-ist-palakkad-1
Recap page: <TBA>
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Day 7: Jan 31, 2018. Thrissur Meet-Up Kerala (first meet up in this city)
Thrissur is the cultural heart of Kerala. I'm always excited to come back to the city. Kerala Local Guides in Thrissur had selected the temple grounds of the Vadakkunnathan Shiva Shacthram as our meeting point. One of the most popular and important part of the city. We had met there and as members came, we spent time getting to know each other. We had a good crowd of participants including 2 "new" senior Local Guides and a veteran Mapathon contributor Skaria chettan who is 75 years old. We were sitting outside the entrance of the temple as he shared some of his old experiences. We then proceeded to a local restaurant for trying out their new food and offerings. Local guides were chatting about all thing around the city. And stayed until late, although I had to leave earlier.
Host: Augustine Simon @aachusa @aachusa
Event page: https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/thrissur-local-guides-meetup-thrissur
Recap page: <TBA>
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Day 8: Feb 1, 2018. Kothamangalam Meet-Up Kerala (first meet up in this town)
Kothamangalam is a town located between the bustling Kochi and the green hill station of Munnar. We had met our host Rasi there and I was given a nice tour around their college where he and his colleagues studies in. We spent a bit of time chatting about the Local Guides program and how it had impacted their lives. Then we had proceeded to the Kothamangalam municipal park where other members joined us and we shot more photos and got to know each other better. Finally towards the evening time, we had taken a ride to Ayyappanmudi a view point temple on top of a rocky hill to witness the sunset.
Host: Rasi @Rasi @Rasi
Event page: https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/xplore-kothamangalam
Recap page: <TBA>
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Day 9: Feb 2, 2018. Mulanthuruthy Meet-Up Kerala (first meet up in this town)
Mulanthuruthy is a small peaceful town located about 1 hour's bus journey from Ernakulam. It's also a place with some peaceful lake side locations, beautiful old churches and other attractions. Our meet up in Mulanthuruthy was hosted by Varghese Jose, and today he had arranged a more educational event for sharing his knowledge about Local Guides and other Google solutions with new members. Our meet up was held in a friend's convention room. We had over 30 participants joining the meet up and it was amazing to be able to share with them all things Local Guides and Google.
Host: Varghese Jose @Varghese @Sariga
Event page: https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/ernakulam-local-guides-meet-up
Recap page: https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/Let-s-Meet-Up/RECAP-Kerala-Local-Guides-Marathon-meet-up/m-p/6...
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Day 10: Feb 3, 2018. Ernakulam Meet-Up Kerala
We are back to Ernakulam after an almost round the state trip. Ernakulam & Kochi is like the business center of Kerala. About 12 of us met up in Marine Drive in Ernakulam just after mid day. We took some time to get to know each other and shared about some of our experience with Local Guides program. We took some time to walk around Marine Drive and enjoyed the view, then proceeded to the Broadway market area where we explored the shops and shot lots of photos for Google Maps. We stopped for a quick tea before proceeding to explore further down the area. Through the walk, we had visited a few churches, an old synagogue that's being restored and lots of marketing shops. We then went back to the beach area of Marine Drive and just enjoyed watching the sun set.
Host: Midhun Harikumar @Midhunhk @Midhunhk
Event page: https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/ernakulam-local-guides-meetup
Recap page: <TBA>
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Day 11: Feb 4, 2018. Angamali/Nedumbassery Meet-Up Kerala
It's the final day of our Kerala Local Guides Marathon Meet Up. Our final meet up this time was located at Nedumbassery near the Kochi International Airport, and we had a few close friends come together. We met for a nice tea with everyone and chatted about the entire amazing journey for the last 11 days. And shared our experiences about our personal journeys. We then proceeded to explore the area around the airport looking for a good food place beside the paddy fields, and although some of our favorite places were not opened today, we settled at a bakery eating fresh vegetable puffs.
Host: Anoop Thomas @Attokkaran @Attokkaran
Event page: https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/cochin-airport-photo-walk
Recap page: <TBA>
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Thanks for everyone and everything who's been a part of our journey the last 11 days. Special thanks to all the hosts who's made all the meet ups possible, and thanks to all friends and family who's joined us. Thanks for taking all the time to keep the community up and running, and we are sure that we certainly are one of the best community there is.
