Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park
I had my two Swedish friends visiting me here in the Philippines, so I wanted to show them how beautiful the nature can be in Negros Oriental. I decided to take them to Balinsasayao Twin Lakes not far from Dumaguete. We had our own transportation so the ride from Dumaguete went smooth as silk. Every time when I drive up that mountain slope of Mt Talinis I get stunned how beautiful it is.
Behind the visitors center...
Behind the visitors centers we took some stunning pictures. There is this lake which I don't know the name of which is really beautiful. The surface of the lake was like a mirror. After registration and paying the entrance fee we saddle up again and drove for another 10 minutes before we came to Lake Balinsasayao.
Walk or rent a boat
When we arrived at the Lake Balinsasayao I presented the two main options for my friends. Walk or rent a boat. We wanted to go to the watch tower between the two lakes so either we could walk the trail along the shore or rent a boat. But since we all needed a little bit exercise they decided that we would walk the trail. The trail itself is not long, only maybe around 600-700 m to the watch tower.
The watch tower
Our walk to the watch tower went well and took about 20-30 minutes. I was amazed by the fresh air and how quiet it was. We only met a few other visitors here. We stayed for a while and just enjoyed the scenery before we started going back. If you are the sporty type of person, I recommend the trail if not go for the boat.
The video is a compilation of our walk back and forth the watch tower
Facts:
Description
Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park is a natural park surrounding Lake Balinsasayao and Lake Danao in the province of Negros Oriental, 14.5 km west of Dumaguete. Lakes Balinsasayao and Danao are two small crater lakes separated by a narrow mountain ridge. They are located on the eastern slope of the Talinis mountain range which are volcanic in origin. Lake Balinsasayao has maximum depth of around 90 metres (300 ft). The smaller Lake Danao, on the other hand, has a maximum depth of around 58 metres (190 ft). Entrance fee The entrance fee to the park is P100 for foreigners and P50 for Filipinos. A restaurant also At the Lake Balinsasayao there is a restaurant that offers variety of dishes at an acceptable rate. To get there:
Own transportation
The far most convenient way is to have your own transportation. Beware of that the road going up the mountain is very steep at some points, means slippery when it's raining. It's possible to drive your own car all the way up there but motorcycle is preferable. Public transportation With public transportation you can go by bus or jeepney to the Lalaan junction for Twin Lakes, 7.5 km from the Sibulan town or 13.5 km from Dumaguete. Around P10-15 per person. From the Lalaan junction take a habal habal up the mountain an additional 13 km until you reach the Twin Lakes. You find the drivers at the junction. Standard rate is P300 for a solo passenger and P400 for two back and forth. You will probably need to pay the entrance fee for the driver as well since after registration there is an additional distance to cover before reaching the lake. The driver will wait for you until you like to go back. Related links to Negros Oriental >>>
If you like to see other blogposts (including this one) related to Negros Oriental click the link above!
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Breakfast before hiking
Before you go hiking you need to eat a real breakfast, right? So this morning Danica went out and bought the breakfast... I usually advised her not to buy so much food, but as usual it was more than we could finish. For just around P100 we got noodles, chicken livers, vegetables, some kind of pork meat, soup and of course the mandatory rice!
Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary
One of the starting points for the hike is the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary. We had decided to make a combo, first visit the Tarsier Sanctuary and then do the hike since the hiking trail starts just behind the sanctuary. As usual we were assigned a guide who took us along some narrow trails around the sanctuary. Despite the dense vegetation I was able to spot several of the shy tarsiers and I regretted deeply that I had been lazy and hadn't brought my big camera with me. Grrr...
After tarsiers then hiking
Our main objective this day was the hiking. We easily found the beginning of the trail behind the actual sanctuary but after a couple hundred meters into the rainforest the trail wasn't that that clear to follow. We had been told it was easy to "just follow" but suddenly it didn't feel obvious. Danica was more concerned of the potential "monsters" hiding in the rainforest but I was afraid to get lost.
The rewarding view
Soaked in sweat with empty water bottles we finally came up to the viewing deck one. The view was breathtaking! We had almost a 360 degrees view over Bohol. It was worth all the blood sweat and tears to come here. A perfect spot to take photos from or having a romantic picnic or why not do both! Maybe even stay here overnight to experience the most awesome sunset and the sunrise... in that case I guess I have to convince Danica that there are no monsters hiding in the bushes beneath...
Facts:How to get to Corella
It's about 13 km going to Corella from Tagbilaran City.
Via public transport: From Sikatuna Jeepney Terminal, (This is right infront of Island City Mall) get into a jeepney bound to Sikatuna via Corella. This jeepney drops you off at Philippine Tarsier Foundation. Fare is P17.00. Tell the driver of the jeepney that you are headed to Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella. Upon arrival there is a huge signage and rough road, take it and walk for 300 meters to the research building. Going back, just take a jeepney headed to Tagbilaran. And yes it is safe to hitch hike here. Fare is P15.00 for jeepney. If you have your own motorcycle it's very easy to go there, just follow Google maps. Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary and the Sikatuna Tree Park
You can start your hike either at the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary or at the Sikatuna Tree Park. There are two viewing decks to visit and the hiking trail connects the Tarsier Sanctuary with the Tree Park. Just follow the signs. Viewing deck one is closer to the Tree Park and the viewing deck two is more close the the Tarsier Sanctuary. Hiking from the Tarsier Sanctuary, visiting both viewing decks and end up at the Tree Park should take around 2-4 hours depending on your fitness level.
Comfortable shoes and water
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, it can be very slippery. Bring lot's of water. Plan ahead so you will be out from the rainforest before it gets dark, unless you intend to spend the night there. When it's dark it will be very hard to negotiate the trail.
Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary is worth a visit
If you begin your hike at the Tarsier Sanctuary you should take the opportunity to visit the sanctuary itself. The entrance fee to the sanctuary is P60. If you just go for the hike, it's free of charge whether you start from the Tarsier Sanctuary or the Tree Park.
Click this link to see other posts about Bohol:A real Filipino breakfast is never wrong!
What can be better than salty bangus (fish) fried to crispy perfection, scrambled eggs, rice together with spicy sawsawan sauce? Did I hear crispy bacon and eggs?? Well, I guess nothing excludes the other, right?
Why are mangroves so important?
Fully loaded with protein, good healthy omega 3 fats, carbohydrates and caffeine we headed for Oboob Mangrove Garden. Maybe you have heard that mangroves are important...? So why are mangrove habitats so important? Basically Shoreline protection. Mangroves protect shorelines from damaging storm and hurricane winds, waves, and floods. Mangroves also help prevent erosion by stabilizing sediments with their tangled root systems. They maintain water quality and clarity, filtering pollutants and trapping sediments originating from land.
Oboob Mangrove Garden/Eco Park
It was easy peasy for us to go there with our beloved scooter. We paid the entrance and then attended a short lecture about the Eco park. In my opinion they are doing a great job preserving this sensitive habitat. We were assigned a guide who told us more about the Eco park and of course she even helped us to take some pictures according to Danica's directives.
Tropical storm Basyang
This morning at breakfast it had been quite windy. So later when we came back to our resort we heard about the tropical storm Basyang. There were rumors that the ferry would be cancelled for going back to Cebu Island. So of course we became a little bit worried. It was not the first time we had been stranded on an island. We had already been away for two weeks and it was time to go back to Dumaguete. In the evening we clearly noticed that the wind gained strength. Me: What's the problem it's romantic to be stranded on an island, right? But Danica: I am longing for my daughter huhu...
Stranded
The typhoon luckily became degraded to a tropical storm but still with hard winds and lot's of rain. The result was that the ferry going back to Cebu island was cancelled. We decided to move from the somewhat remote Bantayan Nature Park and Resort in to the more central located Adelaida Pensionne. We were lucky, we got the last room! There were many other guests with the same strategy, staying near the ferry terminal and wait for the ferry to resume.
The ferry was resumed
After a couple of days the ferry was resumed. That day we had a quick breakfast at the Boulangerie Francaise and off we went. We reached Cebu Island at lunch time and then we had roughly 300 km to travel from north to south to our second ferry over to Negros. We had our dinner break at McDonalds in Toledo. I was beginning to be stressed. Time was already 5 pm and in one hour it would be dark.
The driving went awkward
Around Barili the the driving really went awkward. The tricky road crosses the mountains and the traffic was horrendous. Big trucks and buses speeding and overtaking each others and not to mention it was pitch black! We took a short break at a little sari sari store and I swept two Coca Colas to regain some energy. We still had roughly 60 km to Alegria where we had booked a room at Lucci Pension House for the night. Slowly I realized my mistake, 60 km is very far when driving in the Philippines specially when it's dark and you are drop dead tired. Lesson learned, be sure to plan ahead so you can avoid to drive long stretches in the dark.
Back to Dumaguete
From our lunch stop at Dulot we just had a couple of hours more to go before we came to the ferry over to Negros and back home. We had been away for roughly 2 weeks. We drove 600 km back and forth and maybe at least 200 km on Bantayan Island.
Road trips are fantastic!
Making a road trip is really a fantastic way to experience the true Philippines. You see a lot and have full flexibility to go and stay wherever you want. But beware of that the traffic might be very different from what you are used to from back home. In my experience you need to adjust yourself to the Filipino way of driving otherwise it might be difficult. Always bear in mind that there are many accidents daily in the traffic so driving a scooter in the Philippines is certainly a high risk activity. Use your common sense and follow some basic guidelines and you will be less likely to get in serious trouble.
The guidelines:
1) Be sure you rent a scooter in good condition and with all paper works in order
2) Don't drink and drive and always wear helmet 3) Don't drive fast and furious, better to be safe than sorry 3) Avoid driving in the dark. You don't want to collide with a stray dog... 4) Plan ahead, out in the province it can be far between the nice places you want to stay at 5) Don't bring too much stuff, travel light and easy is part of the freedom! Related linksA day at the beach
Get the girls on the motor, don't forget the snorkel and the mask. Leave the bustling city and drive for 30 minutes. Once there, rent a table and buy some snacks and then enjoy the day.
Below the surface
The beach might look a little bit dull with its brownish sand. But wait until you plunge in the sea fully equipped with a mask and snorkel.
Facts:
Marine Sanctuary in Dauin, is about 15-30 minutes travel from Dumaguete City. For those taking the public transport, you can find jeepneys to Dauin at the bell tower in Dumaguete City or near the Robinson's Mall. Fare is PHP 13.00. Inform the driver you are getting off at the corner leading to the Marine Sanctuary. It’s a couple of blocks away or a good 4-5 minutes brisk walk. The entrance fee for the sanctuary is PHP 150 with a table included. Without table it will be less.
Related links:
Review of Allegre Bar and Restaurant Red Rock Hot Spring, Valencia Dumaguete Going to La Verna with the girls Happy birthday Jas Sexy mama The Japanese Shrine Shopping spree Apo island the pearl of the Visayas Outing with the girls Baslay Hot Spring in Dauin Road trip to Sipalay A day of exercise The fine art of eating an ice cream Review of GK Coffee shop in Dumaguete Review of The Tres Bistro in Dumaguete Review of Chapters Café in Dumaguete The Christmas House in Dumaguete Tarbush, a story of love The boulevard in Dumaguete Review of 2Story kitchen in Dumaguete, Negros Review of Gabby's Bistro (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Fish 153 Korean Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Mooon Café Robinsons Place (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Café Mafioso (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Atong Kamalig Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of San Rival Bistro (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Sta Teresa Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Tierra Alta Residential Resort, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines Madridejos, Bantayan Island
One beautiful morning we decided to explore the north side of the island. We were heading for the very north tip, the Kota Park in Madridejos. So off we went with our scooter. As usual I kept one eye on the road and the other eye on Google maps. There were basically two main roads going north so that shouldn't be complicated, right? But crazy as it sounds we ended up going south instead of north... oh my gosh! Anyway after a big roundabout I got the bearings right.
Old Kota Fort
Finally we reached our destination, the Kota Park. We found a parking spot just near the Old Kota Fort. Obviously there had been some kind of meeting among the big guys equipped leather vests, tattoos and bigger bikes than our cute little scooter! But they left at the same time we arrived.
The Kota Fort is just adjacent to the parking. When we reached there and read the signage outside the Fort you could really feel that this was a historical ground. I could lively imagine the dramatic scenes which have been taken place here over the years. The beach
Where there is a sea there is a beach or at least a shoreline. So we went down to the pier and walked along the beach. The water was really seductive, clean and clear. Farther down they were playing music as loud as they only can do in the Philippines. Though it was my kind of music I can only hope that the neighbors in the hood liked it too, otherwise it would be impossible for them to live there...
We made lot's of friends
As always in the Philippines the kids are very curious. They came and asked us where we came from, what we were doing there etc etc and Danica did her best to keep up with all their questions. We saw some kids playing in the water and they had such a nice model of a fishing boat.
The two fishermen
We also met two fishermen which just had come back from the sea. They had a really nice catch of big squids. If it hadn't been for our poor cooking facilities at our place I had bought one squid. Mmm... super fresh squid directly from the ocean cooked in it's own ink, so yummylicious!
The buko stand
I use to say, buko juice is the travelers best friend, at least in the Philippines where it's available almost everywhere. With that being said, so just before we started our trip back to our hotel we refueled ourselves with fresh healthy buko juice (coconut juice). Danica was hungry as usual so she even scraped the coconut meat out from the shell and ate it.
Related links:
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next > Bantayan road trip part 1 Bantayan road trip part 2 Bantayan road trip part 3 Bantayan road trip part 4 Paradise beach Bantayan Review of Allegre Bar and Restaurant
Allegre Bar and Restaurant is nicely located on Rizal Bouleward and comes with sea view. The competition is fierce in this end of the Bouleward, since Allegre is located just beside Honeycomb and Why Not and they all attract many customers specially in the evenings.
Fully recommended!
Aside from beer and drinks in the bar, Allegre serves tapas, steaks, pasta and pizza. We ordered chicken fried with onions and squid cooked in its own ink. The food was delicious and the staff was friendly and helpful. More good things, the prices were reasonably, they had WiFi and the comfort room was clean. So Allegre Bar and Restaurant is fully recommended!
Related links:
Review of Allegre Bar and Restaurant Red Rock Hot Spring, Valencia Dumaguete Going to La Verna with the girls Happy birthday Jas Sexy mama The Japanese Shrine Shopping spree Apo island the pearl of the Visayas Outing with the girls Baslay Hot Spring in Dauin Road trip to Sipalay A day of exercise The fine art of eating an ice cream Review of GK Coffee shop in Dumaguete Review of The Tres Bistro in Dumaguete Review of Chapters Café in Dumaguete The Christmas House in Dumaguete Tarbush, a story of love The boulevard in Dumaguete Review of 2Story kitchen in Dumaguete, Negros Review of Gabby's Bistro (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Fish 153 Korean Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Mooon Café Robinsons Place (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Café Mafioso (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Atong Kamalig Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of San Rival Bistro (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Sta Teresa Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Tierra Alta Residential Resort, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach is for sure one of the best beaches on Bantayan Island, ideal for swimming and sunbathing. It comes with nice crystal clear water and clean white sand. It’s a perfect setting to work on your tan because you are away from any foot traffic passing through. With that said, you should know it's really lack of shadow along the beach. So if you don't like to be burned by the unforgiving sun you need to be there relatively early in the day to find a spot with some shadow.
Not what it looked at first
When we came there the first time we thought the beach was located just near the camping site. It wasn't much to be called a beach to be honest! Just a small tiny strip of sand. But luckily we discovered that we could walk along the shore and when we turned around some cliffs we suddenly came to the actual Paradise Beach. And by the way, the sunsets here are amazing so just stay and enjoy the sunset before heading back to Santa Fe. The video clip shows our confusion at first, before we found the actual Paradise Beach.
Facts
You can easily get here on motorbike, just a 15-20 minutes ride from Santa Fe. There is safe parking at the camping site where you also can buy snacks, sodas and water. You have showers and comfort rooms there as well. From the parking you need to walk for about 10 minutes. The entrance fee is 50 pesos for adults and 25 pesos for children and the beach is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily. We always left the beach after the sunset and it was no problem more than that the reception at the camping site was closed.
Related links:
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Bantayan road trip part 1 Bantayan road trip part 2 Bantayan road trip part 3 Bantayan road trip part 4 A review of Bo's Coffee in Dumaguete
When I came to Dumaguete for the first time it was Bo's Coffee shop which greeted me when I left the pier. Bo's Coffee has a very good location just outside the port on Rizal Boulevard. Under my stay in Dumaguete it almost became my second living room. Good coffee together with something chewable and a reasonable good WiFi, what else can you ask for?
The coffee made me smile
I wrote in my previous post, the review of UCC Vienna Coffee Shop in Manila, that good coffee makes me smile. It really did specially here at Bo's Coffee! It must have been some artistic soul with the urge to express her (or his) creativity when doing my Lattes. Who wouldn't be smiling when a little bear peers at you from the coffee cup? I appreciated their efforts a lot.
The WiFi could have been better
The staff was always friendly and helpful. The WiFi was reasonable good, but it could have been much better. You couldn't really rely on it. If I had important work to be done I usually went somewhere else where I could be more sure that the WiFi really would work.
All in with the Bo's Big Breakfast Club Plate
Bo's Coffee shop offered breakfasts, pastas, sandwiches, omelettes, and a variety of sweet pastries. Sometimes when I was really hungry and I knew I wasn't going to eat for a while I took the Bo's Big Breakfast Club Plate. Nothing for the one who is on diet and thinking about the cholesterol. Sausages, crispy bacon, home made corned beef, scrambled egg and toast. Everything with a perfect taste. After the Big Breakfast Club I stayed more than full the whole day!
Less hungry
If I was less hungry I went for the Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich as breakfast. It always came with crispy bacon and French toast, which is more tasty than the regular toast. They also had vegetarian alternatives like for example the Three Cheese Omelette or the Grilled Italian Veggie Sandwich. When it came to the sugar doping, one of my favorites was the Oatmeal and Raisin Cookie or some of the delicious cheesecakes they had, for example the Blue Berry Cheesecake.
A new competitor the next door
I really like Bo's. They make one of the best Cafe Latte in Dumaguete and have many delicious options to eat. I felt at home there, almost like my second living room. But now there is a new coffee shop actually next door to Bo's. Tom N Toms coffee shop is already open. Unfortunately it was still under construction when I was there but next time I come to Dumaguete I am excited to try Tom N Toms for the first time. I guess the competition will be fierce since they are located door to door to each others.
Related links:
Red Rock Hot Spring, Valencia Dumaguete Going to La Verna with the girls Happy birthday Jas Sexy mama The Japanese Shrine Shopping spree Apo island the pearl of the Visayas Outing with the girls Baslay Hot Spring in Dauin Road trip to Sipalay A day of exercise The fine art of eating an ice cream Review of GK Coffee shop in Dumaguete Review of The Tres Bistro in Dumaguete Review of Chapters Café in Dumaguete The Christmas House in Dumaguete Tarbush, a story of love The boulevard in Dumaguete Review of 2Story kitchen in Dumaguete, Negros Review of Gabby's Bistro (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Fish 153 Korean Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Mooon Café Robinsons Place (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Café Mafioso (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Atong Kamalig Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of San Rival Bistro (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Sta Teresa Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Tierra Alta Residential Resort, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines A visit to UCC Vienna Cafe in Mall of Asia
Yes, good coffee smile, at least good coffee makes me smile! In my hunt for good coffee and cravings for something sweet I ended up at UCC Vienna Cafe in Mall of Asia. They offered a wide variety of dishes not only coffee and pastries. They had breakfasts in different styles, soups, salads, burgers, pastas, pastries etc and even Japanese dishes. But for me, I had cravings for something sweet and a cafe latte.
Cafe Latte and pancakes with ice cream
I ordered a Cafe Latte and pancakes with ice cream and whipped cream. The Cafe Latte had a quite strong coffee taste which is good for some but I myself prefer a little bit more mild taste. The pancakes was to my full satisfaction. At a previous visit I tried their Blue Berry Cheese Cake, good for two, which was among the best I ever tried.
Conclusion
Vienna Cafe in Mall of Asia has a nice ambience, offer good quality but they are a bit pricey compared to other coffee chains.
Related links:
Where to eat the fiery style in Manila? Visit Intramuros in Manila Manila American Cemetery & Memorial Visit the Manila Chinese Cemetery Review of Jatujak Thai Restaurant, Manila Review of hotel Isabelle Royale in Makati, Manila Review of Kyochon restaurant in Mall of Asia Review of Arya Persian Restaurant in Pasay Hiking trip to Mt Pinatubo Review of Casa Verde Boutique Hotel and Gardens, Imus, Manila Review of Chili's Restaurant in Mall of Asia Review of Burgoo, American Bar and Restaurant in Mall of Asia Review of Pinoy Pamilya Hotel in Pasay Review of 88 Courtyard Hotel in Pasay Video clips Manila Ocean Park Bringing the girls to Red Rock Hot Spring
Going to Red Rock Hot Spring is a perfect getaway for a day, specially if it's cold weather since the water in the pools are nice and warm. The water is volcanic and comes naturally from the mountain. There are now two pools, they added a kids pool since last year. Well I know everything is relative, but some days can actually be colder than others even in the Philippines and then it's really cozy to slide down in the warm water.
Clean and well maintained
We paid 25 PHP per person to get in and 150 PHP for a table with chairs. They had a kiosk where they sold crisps, biscuits, soft drinks etc and they also had a menu with some simple dishes. We ordered Pancit Canton (noodles), and deep fried fish with fries. Everything was clean and well maintained.
A great time!
To bath and swim in the warm pool was really enjoyable specially for the little one, she had a great time. She behaved almost the whole time... so check the video!
For more info, visit their Facebook page:
Related links:
Going to La Verna with the girls Happy birthday Jas Apo island the pearl of the Visayas Outing with the girls Baslay Hot Spring in Dauin Road trip to Sipalay A day of exercise The fine art of eating an ice cream Review of GK Coffee shop in Dumaguete Review of The Tres Bistro in Dumaguete Review of Chapters Café in Dumaguete The Christmas House in Dumaguete Tarbush, a story of love The boulevard in Dumaguete Review of 2Story kitchen in Dumaguete, Negros Review of Gabby's Bistro (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Fish 153 Korean Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Mooon Café Robinsons Place (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Café Mafioso (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Atong Kamalig Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of San Rival Bistro (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Review of Sta Teresa Restaurant (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines) Tierra Alta Residential Resort, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines |
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