Friend or Foe

Ever since the google street map, you can take a tour of any major cities in the world at the comfort of your home.

This is what you do, go to http://map.google.com/, click on the little orange man and drop it on the street which you want to see.



Next, release your click and tada you get a view of the place. What you see are no longer squares and lines on the map, but buildings with colour, texture and everything detail of the street.



I enjoy the sense of security this application brings me. I am no longer afraid that I can't recognise a particular building due to its hidden block number. I no longer under-estimate the time taken to walk from point A to point B as I can do a trial walk. I can even search for the nearest 7-11 or guradian pharmacy from my hotel without taking a single step.

But, there are always two sides on a coin. With all these predictability, the exploring element of a trip is lessen. Same goes for the surprise when you turn at a corner and discover the shop you are looking for.

Although this application dampens the spirit of an explorer, it is too helpful for me to give it up.

But some day, I want to buy an air ticket, fly to the place and explore its beauty with my feet. No prior research.