When did you start trekking for Google Street View?
I had actually been working as a Google Street View driver since 2011 after I stumbled on an advertisement asking for people who love to travel, love taking pictures and gathering information. I applied for it not knowing that the company was Google Street View. I would be willing to do this job for free! What kind of job allows you to get out from the boring office environment and explore places you’ve never visited before? I volunteered to be a trekker without putting much thought into it. I’m normally an adrenaline junkie anyway. I did marathons and cycling races back then so there was no problem with my health. I just had to get used to the Trekker Street View camera, which is huge.
How much does it weigh?
It’s 18 kilograms for the body and 25 kilograms with batteries.
What was the first site youexplored?
It was Thai Stone Park in Pattaya where I shot everything, even the crocodile zone. Soon after I did Elephants World in Kanchanaburi, where I shot while riding on an elephant’s back.
How do people react when they see you wearing this gear?
They are usually excited, especially kids. They run to me and ask, “What is that? Is that an alien? World Cup Trophy?” Many people in villages also ask me to shoot at their places. Doing this job has made me realize that lots of old people really enjoy using the internet. One old guy who I caught in a picture even asked me, “Why did you censor out my face? I want to see myself there!”
What has been your toughest trek?
It must be Doi Angkhang, the Royal Project in Chiang Mai. We had to go there twice because the first time we visited the weather was terrible. It rained the entire day. I couldn’t walk at all. We went back again the year after and I trekked to every major site. It was so hard walking through the slippery jungle trails but really worthwhile. I love the view from the tea plantation. It’s so stunning, with the mist floating in the mountain valley.
How often do you shoot?
My trips usually last one to three weeks. We pick hot destinations based on what people are searching on Google, and inspect the site and its walking routes before I start carrying the camera. I’m currently training for a triathlon so need to manage my time to practice constantly before I start work. I wake up early to exercise for an hour—running on Mon-Wed-Fri, swimming on Tue-Thu and cycling on Sat. Most importantly, I need to take care of my feet. I worked through four pairs of sneakers doing this job, so now I’ve changed to hiking shoes which are much safer.
Check out some of the hottest routes on Google Street View Treks:
Hin Ta Hin Yai Viewpoint, Koh Samui.
Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai.
Elephant World, Kanchanaburi.
2000 Tea Plantation, Angkhang Royal Project, Chiang Mai.
See more Thailand highlights here.
