I’m Going to Regret Reviewing the Escape Hua Hin Hotel…
Why? Because there’s a chance there will be more people looking to book this hotel and I won’t be able to get a room. That’s how much I like the Escape Hua Hin. But regardless, here I go.
Hua Hin is one of my favorite city by the beach in Thailand. It’s one of the places I make a pit stop to the scenic and majestic mountains of Khao Sam Roi Yod.
To rest for a night or two before driving further south my wife and I enjoy staying at the 3 star Escape Hua Hin on 25/2 Phetchkasem Road, right in Hua Hin’s city center.
I usually stay over a few nights in Hua Hin whenever we drive down to Khao Sam Roi Yod…
I’ve been staying at the Escape Hua Hin frequently for years. And it was renovated about 5 years ago after it was bought by Sansiri, a popular Thai property conglomerate.
Not Exactly on the Beach – But Close Enough
In general, the closer the hotels are to Hua Hin’s sandy beach, the more money the hotels and resorts will cost. The Escape Hotel is a short 200 meter stroll to the beach.
Which means Escape’s rates won’t be cheap. Though it’s not considered expensive either. But guests can expect a satisfactory 3 star hotel experience. I certainly did every time I stayed there.
Hua Hin’s beach is quite long. The Escape Hua Hin puts you right in the middle of the beach which is much quieter…
Escape Hua Hin is situated right by the main road of Phetchkasem in central Hua Hin. So it is very easy to find.
Yet the buildings where guest rooms are situated are neatly tucked away from the noises of passing vehicles. If you want peace and quiet, you’re going to get it at the Escape Hotel.
Escape Hotel Hua Hin property is not so big but still beautiful…
Matter of fact that’s exactly what I like the most about the Escape Hua Hin. It’s private with an exclusive feel without the price tag that’s associated with privacy. This hotel is small and cozy to boot. There are only 46 rooms split among five buildings with two floors each.
The Escape Hua Hin’s Room Review
There are two types of rooms to pick from. Deluxe and deluxe poolside. Deluxe rooms are on the second level and poolside is of course on the ground level where guests have easier access to the hotel’s wonderful little pool.
Deluxe rooms are roughly 31 square meters while poolside rooms are just slightly larger at 35 square meters.
The bathrooms are very spacious and take up roughly 1/3 of the entire room space.
There are these special little speakers by the bed side that pipe soothing and relaxing music. I left that music on at night and had the best sleep of my life.
The deluxe room bathrooms are spacious…
Both room types are the same quality though each building has a different decor theme. And I have stayed in a few different rooms in different buildings and find that the rooms are very clean.
But what you’re going to like most, especially if you’re traveling with a group of friends is the large balcony seating space.
A lot of space to chill out and enjoy a wonderful night…
How Much Will it Cost?
When I first started staying at the Escape years ago it cost me about 2800THB a night including breakfast and taxes. Today, I see that the rates are about 4000THB per night including breakfast and taxes.
That kind of pricey considering you can get cheaper rooms elsewhere. However, you won’t get the same quality rooms.
My only gripe is the breakfast however. The offerings and variety are a bit weak. But to be fair to the hotel I typically stay during the low season. Which means less hotel guests.
You might think the Escape Hua Hin is pricey. But consider the location, cleanliness and convenience…
Which means maybe they don’t want to have too much food laying around with not enough guests to serve it to.
I also want to note that I usually stay on the second floor deluxe rooms. The first floor deluxe poolside rooms cost about 1000THB more. So if you pay 1000THB or so more you’ll get a room as same level as the pool.
To be quite honest staying on the second floor and saving that 1000THB and spending it instead on a nice seafood dinner is what I’d rather do.
Escape’s Complimentary Shuttle Service
My wife and I prefer to get around on our own with our car. But Hua Hin’s traffic is getting worst these days and good parking space could be hard to find.
The Escape Hua Hin provides a complimentary scheduled shuttle service to several nearby points of interest. Such as Hua Hin night market, Cicada night market and Market Village. I use their shuttle service to visit Hua Hin Night Market so I don’t have to find parking in that area.
Cicada Night Market in Hua Hin is a must to visit while you’re in the area. It is open Friday thru Sunday from 4pm to midnight…
Otherwise, if I used a normal tuk tuk in Hua Hin I’d get charged 150THB one way. So I save a little bit of cash using the hotel’s personal shuttle service.
And the shuttle will also pick up customers at a pre-determined time and location. The shuttle is actually a 6 seater tuk tuk. So best to reserve some seats ahead of time at the hotel’s reception lobby.
The Final Word
For me, the Escape Hua Hin is totally worth the 4000THB price point. Part of the increase went into effect when Sansiri acquired the property years ago. Another part of the price increase is most likely due to the brand new Blúport Shopping Center opposite the Escape Hua Hin.
The hotel has just went up the scale in desirability because of the newest mall edition in Hua Hin’s city center. So the Escape is now considered prime real estate.
A trendy spacious lobby at the Escape Hua Hin…
Which is a shame because that just means there could be more traffic near the Escape Hua Hin. But no matter. Even if the price is a little bit higher I still think it’s well worth it. Because the Escape is a very comfortable and clean hotel with an easy walk to a section of Hua Hin’s wonderful soft sandy beach.
The Hua Hin Escape Hotel is one of the best hotels I’ve stayed in the city’s center. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Escape Hua Hin Hotel – 3 Stars Address: 25/2 Petchkasem Road , Hua Hin City Center, Hua Hin / Cha-am, Thailand Click to Book This Hotel
The Izumi Hotel – Just One of Many Two Star Budget Hotels in KL
I’ve come across the Izumi Hotel name quite a few times while searching for budget 2 star hotels in the Bukit Bintang neighborhood of Kuala Lumpur.
So this time I decided to book a room at the Izumi for a couple of nights so I could do this review.
Bukit Bintang has tons of budget hotels and guest houses. But the Izumi is in a pretty good location. Just a short 5 to 10 minute walk from Air-Asia Bukit Bintang KL Monorail station.
And there are so many shopping centers, restaurants and nightlife to enjoy also within walking distance near Izumi Hotel.
The Izumi hotel is not far from Air Asia Bukit Bintang KL Monorail station…
Bukit Bintang’s famous Jalan Alor food street is about a 10 minute walk and you’ll also find many bars and pubs as the area is quite popular mostly with tourists.
I always tell fellow travelers that Bukit Bintang is a good choice for budget hotels and the Izumi Hotel is a perfect example.
Two Stars But Nothing More
The Izumi Hotel is a 2 star rated hotel at most. On some hotel booking websites I see it rated as 3 star hotel. Not sure where that extra star came from but whatever.
There is nothing wrong with 2 star hotels in my opinion as long as they’re clean and comfortable.
I stayed in a standard no window room. Having no windows is not as bad you might think…
As in the case of Izumi Hotel I like it because it’s clean, comfortable and modern. And the hotel is relatively new because the Izumi Hotel was built in 2014.
Like many other budget hotels in KL, showers have no curtains or partitions…
That said, you’re always going to find minor faults at any budget hotel in KL. In the instance of Izumi there were small reddish brown stains on bed linen. Some of the bathroom fixtures looked as if it needed some screw tightening.
Pretty much every budget hotel I’ve ever stayed in KL have some sort of room maintenance issue and stains on bed sheets. It just comes with the territory I suppose.
Take a look at my reviews for Sky Hotel Bukit Bintang and Hotel Capitol that are all in the vicinity of Izumi Hotel. All have the same particular faults but not a big deal really.
Izumi Hotel is right behind Jalan Alor, a very popular night market known for food…
Location, Location, Location
I can easily recommend Izumi Hotel to anyone visiting Bukit Bintang. It’s at a great location near KL monorail stations. Plenty of food option from Indian, Malaysian and Arab. Lots of shopping centers if that’s what you’re into.
What I do like is a good massage and there are plenty of massage shops near the Izumi Hotel.
Nothing like a nice foot massage after dinner…
And I paid about $40USD including taxes for the night. No breakfast. But the free Wi-Fi worked pretty well and the air con kept me chilly. And the bed was comfortable as long as I stayed away from the side with the stains.
Overall I can easily recommend the Izumi Hotel as one of the better budget hotels in Kuala Lumpur.
Hotel Capitol – A Nice Budget Hotel in Bukit Bintang
Recently I booked a few nights at Hotel Capitol in Kuala Lumpur to make this review. Usually I stay over at the nearby Sky Hotel Bukit Bintang but I passed by Hotel Capitol many times. This time I decided to stay at Hotel Capitol so I could check it out and share my thoughts here.
Also while I was checking room rates I saw Hotel Capitol was charging about $60USD a night including taxes on Agoda. So I figured why not check it out for a couple of nights. As it wasn’t that expensive at the time.
Hotel Capitol is listed as a 3 star hotel but there’s no gym or swimming pool. Which is not unusual for budget hotels around Kuala Lumpur.
Hotel Capitol Location
If you want to be in the heart of shopping centers with good mix of Malay, Chinese, Middle Eastern and Indian foods, Bukit Bintang will not disappoint you.
Hotel Capitol is located on Jalan Bulan 1, just several minutes walk from the main drag of Jalan Bukit Bintang. It’s about a 5 minute walk from Imbi KL Monorail station.
I never bothered taking a taxi to any hotel I’ve stayed in Bukit Bintang. I’ve always used the KL Monorail system because it’s easy and cheap from KL Sentral station.
If you are not familiar with the area, the best way to find Hotel Capitol is to locate Low Yat Plaza, a popular electronics mall in Bukit Bintang. Low Yat Plaza is directly right across from the hotel.
What’s Nearby
As I already mentioned there are many restaurants near Hotel Capitol especially shopping centers:
Jalan Alor – This very popular street food area is a 5 minute walk from Hotel Capitol and opens during the evening hours. Although Jalan Alor is popular I suggest checking out other restaurants especially local Indian food centers.
Fahrenheit Shopping Center – A shopping center brand name and loca Malay shops as well.
Pavilion Shopping Mall – The is KL’s premier luxury shopping center.
Lot 10 – Not a great selection of shops at Lot 10. But there is a very good food court in the basement level.
Sungwei Plaza – This humongous shopping center is particularly popular with the locals. It’s kind of like the MBK shopping center in Bangkok. You can find a lot of knock off and counterfeit items inside Sungwei Plaza.
Berjaya Times Square – Of all the shopping centers the Berjaya Times Square is the most popular particularly with the locals and foreign tourists. There’s even a small amusement park inside.
Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur Review
Hotel Capitol is not a big hotel with 235 rooms. When I made my booking via Agoda I requested a non smoking room on a high floor. If you can’t stand the stench of cigarettes you best ask for a non-smoking room because in Malaysia a lot of people smoke.
For the first night I had to stay at a smoking room though because there were no non-smoking rooms available when I checked in. Luckily the next day one was available so hotel reception helped me make a room change.
A million dollar view for budget room price at Hotel Capitol…
I specifically requested a high room because I’ve read that you can get a really nice city view of Kuala Lumpur, especially the magnificently lit up Petronas Twin Towers.
And I got a room on the 11th floor which I was happy to find out that the entire floor has non smoking rooms. So you don’t really need to get a room that high up.
Still A Good Budget Hotel in Kuala Lumpur
Hotel Capitol was built in 1997. So it’s an old hotel and it really shows on the room carpets. I am not aware if the hotel has gone through any major renovations but I certainly do see certain repairs and upgrades, at least in the rooms I’ve been in.
I do have a gripe which is I found a few old stains on the bed sheets. I’ve been to many budget hotels in Asia and it’s one thing you just learn to expect.
I have seen some photos of Hotel Capitol’s premium and bigger rooms but those cost 4 times the price of a superior room. To me I can’t justify paying that much for a 3 star hotel.
But if you’re traveling alone and you just need a good clean(ish) hotel to sleep in with many excellent nearby restaurants, shopping and train stations Hotel Capitol is a recommended budget hotel in Bukit Bintang.
For discounts and and to read current guests reviews for Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur click here.
Affordable Resort Right on Chaweng Noi Beach, Koh Samui
I have stayed at the Impiana Resort several times over in Koh Samui. It’s one the nicest affordable 4 star resorts along the southern stretch of Chaweng Beach. And in my opinion Chaweng is one of the best beaches on Samui. By booking a hotel at Impiana Koh Samui you won’t need to go pay for a tour to get to another beach. Because the beach right outside of the Impiana is very beautiful already.
For this trip my wife and I purchased some promotional hotel vouchers for the Impiana Resort Chaweng at a special tourist promotion event at the Queens Sirikit Convention held twice a year.
From Don Meung airport to Nakhon Si Thammarat airport…
We got a pretty good deal. It was a 2 night 3 day package that included a free set dinner for 2 and free transfer to either the Samui airport or the ferry port. The free hotel transfer in itself was worth at least 1000THB. For this trip we flew on Air Asia to Si Thammarat airport, took the 1 hour bus ride to Raja Ferry Port and took a 45 minute ferry boat ride to Koh Samui. When you book a ticket on Air Asia you get an option to add on island transfer for a fee.
Leaving Rajah Port on a ferry boat to Samui island…
Breakfast was included but because we purchased the special voucher we also got 10% off on all meals including drinks purchased on resort.
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of all for purchasing this special promotion is the free hotel transfer. And if we took a direct flight to Samui’s airport a driver from Impiana will pick us up from there. But since we were arriving from the ferry port the driver met us there instead. All we had to do was call the resort up right when we left the port.
As I mentioned I’ve been to Impiana before and on this trip this was my second time. The first time I went was about 6 years ago. And it definitely looked different from the last time I went.
The hotel lobby is open air and spacious…
Checking in was a cinch and the staff were very friendly and helpful. We presented our voucher and they were expecting us because you have to call them up and let them know which days we were arriving.
The hotel grounds was nice and well kept. It’s a small resort with superior rooms in the back, deluxe rooms in the middle with views of the beach. But there are ranch style cottages which are closer to the beach. Maybe next time we’ll go for the cottage styled rooms.
Not sure why I wasn’t holding the camera straight…
There are only two floors for the deluxe rooms but ours was located on the second. I wish we could’ve gotten a room on the first. Deluxe rooms on first floor had a balcony with a door that led directly onto the hotel grounds near the pool.
While our room on the second floor we just had to walk back a bit. Since our superior room was a bit back at the end we had a limited view of the beach. But most important to us was the room was clean, modern and comfortable. Though a bit small at 23 square meters.
This was my wife’s first trip to Samui and she was eager to check out the beach. So we quickly changed and headed out over to the beach right in front of the Impiana Resort.
And wow, the water was just as clear and beautiful as it was 6 years ago. Swimming in it was like a privilege. I’m 6 feet tall and eve up to my chest my feet was still visible through the water. My wife was just as overjoyed. She’s been to a couple of beaches closer to Bangkok like over in Koh Samet.
Crystal clear waters, soft side just right outside Impiana Resort…
Really folks Chaweng beach should be your first choice if you want to stay at a resort closest to some of the clearest waters in all of Thailand.
During our first night for dinner we used our prix fix menu coupon and the food was quite nice. In the evenings there is a buy 1 get one 1 free deal for mixed drinks. It was as good as any time to order up some Mai Tais.
Lightning storms make a pretty show. And the Mai Tai were really tasty…
Impiana Resort Chaweng is a nice hotel with very friendly and helpful staff. It’s not that expensive if you can locate some good deals online especially off season which are the months of May and June. But even then knowing that Chaweng beach is gorgeous I really do believe Impiana Resort Chaweng is simply one of the best valued 4 star hotel in Koh Samui I’ve reviewed.
Most of the time when I stop over in Seoul I stay at this place called Seoul City Hotel. I chose it because it’s right between Namdaemun Market and Namsan Park which is where Seoul Tower is situated. And Seoul City Hotel is also very near another popular neighborhood known for shopping called Myeongdong. And Hoehyeon subway station is just a few minutes walk.
With the convenience of a nearby subway station plus three very nice tourist hotspots, Seoul City Hotel is a really good hotel for anyone not looking to spend a whole lot of money on a room.
I usually stay at Seoul City Hotel around the month of mid March. And usually pay about $50USD to $60USD, breakfast included. January through April is typically the low season, except during new years, is the time you’ll find the lowest hotel rates.
A Room with Windows or No Window?
It’s typical today that most budget hotel rooms in Seoul either have a window or no window. You are given a choice while making a reservation. At Seoul City Hotel a room with a window cost about $5USD extra per night. I’ve stayed in both style rooms before. Of course I prefer the room with a window, even though the view may not be so great. For this review I stayed at a room with a view of a parking lot.
They have single rooms (1 twin bed) which are about 10 square meters, double rooms (1 queen bed) at 15 square meters and family rooms with 2 queen size beds.
I stayed in single room room before with no window last year around March too and for me it’s not that bad.
Every room has bottled water and a kettle for making tea. There are tiny packets of shampoo, soap and tooth brush and tooth paste. They even provide hair spray and gel.
And the free internet Wi-Fi is fast as every room has it’s own dedicated router. Plus there is a charging dock for cell phones using mini-USB ports.
But there is an advantage for staying at a room with no window. Especially during Korea’s winter, which is the time I was in Seoul. Because it can get really cold there. I visited mid March last month and the temperature was around 45°F (7°C) during morning and night times. Though during afternoons the weather warmed up and felt wonderful. Doesn’t hurt to pack extra sweaters in case if you’re planning to visit Seoul in the winter.
Anyways, Seoul City Hotel also provides free breakfast, as most budget hotels do all over the city as a way to compete for hotel guests.
Not a lot of seating area inside but there is outside seating too.
Seoul City Hotel breakfast pantry.
Sweet potato and hard boiled eggs.
Some thick congee (rice porridge), cereal and fruits.
They don’t serve a big breakfast by Western standards. But what they have is sufficient so I’m not complaining.
And everything is self serve. And you also have to place your used plates and cups in the sink provided. But you don’t have to wash.
One slight complaint is they might want to change up the variety because every day it was nearly the same food.
The Final Verdict
I really like Seoul City Hotel. It’s not a fancy hotel with fancy services and personally I don’t need all of that. There are not a lot of hotel staff but it’s not a big hotel with only 26 rooms. All I care about is that the hotel is clean and easy to get to in a good location. I can easily walk to so many restaurants, convenience stores and cafés right around the hotel. So Seoul City Hotel meets my expectations.
There is a restaurant nearby called Pomato. You can find delicious food there for around $4USD to $6USD.
How to Get to Seoul City Hotel
Seoul City Hotel is just a few minutes walk from Hoehyeon Station (Line #4) which is one stop away from Seoul Station (Line #1). When you exit the train look for street exit #1. Matter of fact you can walk from Seoul Station to Seoul City Hotel which would take about 20 minutes at a leisure stroll.
From Hoehyeon subway train station look for entrance/exit #1.
When you are up the stairs walk to the corner. Look to your right and you will see Seoul Tower up on Namsam Park. Walk up this street. You will pass Rex Hotel to your left and Mido Hotel to your right. Both of these hotels are about $5USD to $10USD more expensive than Seoul City Hotel. But they are also good clean places to stay too and affordable in my opinion as well. Reviews for both coming soon.
Walk up this street, Seoul City Hotel is about 100 meters up.
When you finally see a restaurant called Black and Cook turn right and you will find Seoul City Hotel entrance.
Black & Cook is a restaurant downstairs from Seoul City Hotel. You find this restaurant and you’ll find the hotel.
Keep in mind they have a strict policy for check in time which is 2pm. Check out time is 11am. Of all the times I’ve asked for late check out they always refused. I’m not telling you this because I’m upset. Just letting you know because they are a popular budget hotel in this part of Seoul so hotel staff need time to clean the rooms for the next reserved guests.
The Takeaway
It’s not a fancy hotel with white glove services. But as a solo traveler most of the time it’s something I don’t want to be pampered. Every time I stay at Seoul City Hotel I get a clean room and I can easily walk and explore Seoul on foot. I especially enjoy the walk to nearby Namsan Park even when the mornings are chilly. Seoul City Hotel is okay in my book.
Click Here to read more guest reviews and find discounts for Seoul City Hotel.
BP Hotel – Affordable Hotel in Tsim Tsa Tsui District HK
You really don’t need to spend over $100USD for a good clean 3 star hotels in Kowloon Hong Kong. I’ve been recommending BP Hotel since I first stayed there.
The first time I stayed in BP was about 6 years ago which I also did a review too. Since that time I’ve stayed there again for about three more times. BP International Hotel was built in 1993 and last checked it was renovated in 2007.
Today there are some improvements such as free internet Wi-Fi and softer beds. And the towels were cleaner and newer too. One of my biggest gripes awhile ago were the old towels. And there are these spiffy new flat screen televisions with Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, English and Japan channels.
The BP Hotel is located in Tsim Tsa Tsui on the Kowloon Peninsula or simply TST as the locals call it. If you don’t know already, Hong Kong consists of a peninsula called Kowloon which is connected to China as well as an island named Hong Kong.
What I like about BP Hotel
HK hotels are infamously expensive. Especially when you visit during the convention season. This time around I stayed at the BP mid February right after the Chinese Lunar New Years festivities.
I booked my rooms via Agoda.com when I found city vista category rooms for $65USD including taxes. Those are the cheapest rates I have ever seen. Six years ago I paid twice that price in the month of August which was HK low season rates.
We got some good rates at the BP Hotel and this view is priceless…
If you love a good view make sure you choose a high floor room. Our room was on the 27th floor…
Because right now is the best time to find hotel deals in HK due to political problems with China. Even the more expensive hotels have reduced their rates but still expensive in my opinion. While many more affordable hotels such as the BP offer guests considerable savings.
Rooms are small and compact but comfortable for 2 adults…
Bathroom is small but not so bad, but the shower is narrow..
A clean bathroom with a few toiletries…
I booked a city vista rooms and no surprise they are small but quite normal by HK standards, about 22 square meters. Just right for 2 guests in a room. Anymore than that and it’ll be a tight squeeze.
Also BP has at least 5 dedicated non smoking floors. So there’s plenty of smoke free rooms.
What I Don’t Like About BP Hotel
Checking in and checking out is a breeze at BP Hotel…
There really isn’t much that I don’t like about BP. No surprise there. But they have the worst elevator system I’ve ever seen so far. There are 4 elevator banks. Even though there aren’t as many mainlander Chinese visiting Hong Kong these days there’s still a lot. Plus all the other tourists around the country too.
So the elevators would get packed right before check out time which is 12pm. The size of the elevators are normal but if you include all the luggage and people you can imagine it’ll be tight inside.
Long wait times can happen during checkout time…
One day while heading out around 11am I had to wait about 10 minutes for an elevator that had enough room. I suppose elevator wait times are not in control of the hotel. However, one evening we were waiting for the elevator at the lobby. For some reason the elevators were super slow and we could see it was stopping on every floor.
There were a bunch of guests waiting too. One elevator finally came down to the lobby floor but we couldn’t get in because a hotel staffer was taking garbage down to the basement level. And then the elevator went all the way back up somewhere. About 5 or so minutes later it came back down to the lobby and when the doors opened it was the same staffer with another load of trash to take down to the basement. Maybe it’s not a smart idea to take trash down during peak hours.
The Location
BP Hotel is on Kowloon Peninsula in Tsim Tsa Tsui district on Austin Road about 200 meters from Nathan Road; a major avenue in Kowloon. This is the area to be if you’re not so familiar with HK. But overall, HK is a very easy place to travel around.
And there are lots of shops and especially restaurants to eat around the hotel’s vicinity. Kowloon Park is right outside too and it’s a nice spot to walk around and check out. Best time to visit and walk down Nathan Road in the TST district night time when the shops light up the avenue.
Close to Jordan MRT Subway Station
The nearest MRT station is called Jordan and it’s only a short 5 minute walk to reach it. Riding the subways is the quickest and cheapest way to explore other parts of Kowloon. You can even ride it all the way to Hong Kong island, Disney Land and Hong Kong International airport.
You can catch the A21 bus to the airport on Austin and Nathan Road intersection, a short walk from BP Hotel…
However I like taking the Airport Express Bus #A21. This particular #A21 bus makes trips from hotels along Kowloon with a final stop at HK international airport. As of writing the fare cost $33HKD. Make sure you have the correct change before boarding.
Hotel prices fluctuate according to season and demand. I don’t even know if I’ll ever get the same $65USD rate. But even if I visit HK again and find a price of $85USD to $90USD at the BP Hotel I would still think that’s a fair price. That’s just how much I like BP Hotel.
“BP International Hotel requires a 500HKD deposit upon check in.”
As much as I would like to make more Hong Kong hotel reviews I don’t want to spend money on hotel rooms I know I won’t enjoy. And the BP is always reliable. However, there are a few other names of HK hotels I’ve spent nights in that are good too but the price wasn’t right at the moment.
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