After long break, rains are back. Coastal karnataka had poor pre-monsoon rains so far. It has been nearly 20 days without a drop of rain. Today, the heavy clouds streamed from west and engulfed our region. By night, we had light showers and monster shower at midnight. Even though the showers were fleeting, they gave hope that rains are alive. Its been protracted dry days so far. The humidity is soaring, the clouds are seen everywhere which are portending rains in early days. Unlike the ground strikes that occur during pre-monsoon time, the thunder we heard today was mild one which resembled atmosphere during monsoon onset. Lets see how rainfall pattern continues in a week of time. Here are the towering clouds captured on 12th morning. As wind speeds increase, these clouds easily make it to mainland from sea. Currently, wind speeds are not supportive to push them to mainland.
I don't like my vivo v40 pro blowing up highlights. They do not present monsoon vibe appropriately even though nature posed beautifully! Despite complaining them they seem to have no obligation to address customer issues.
Look how parched are the land below. Region is extremely desperate to have rains
Here is wide angle picture. You can see me shooting in shadows!
While west side is abuzz with clouds, the east is bone dry. The shine is smiling energetically jeering at rain deprived vegetation.
Towering clouds to conclude the post!
Met department also has predicted early monsoon and an above average rainfall for rest of May. Hopefully it materializes. Only desire is to witness a heavy rain spell before my stay concludes at home town. I am not hopeful of any further visits to native in near future during monsoon. Even though natural resources are declining, monsoon has been normal so far in our region. However, the trend has been awkward with gaps in between and sometimes monsoon extending beyond the duration. Weather pattern changes are real and can be conveniently concluded from past 5yrs track record.
Meanwhile, we did have early monsoon onset with stations clocking 300mm+ in 24hrs during May end itself. SO this time the prediction has come true but farming community is highly confused
It was sunset time and their display behind the trees in a village is heartwarming gaze. Working in our village is like breathe of fresh air for a month summer despite the perspiration. The humidity was soaring towards 100%, the ground is parched due to lack of sufficient pre-monsoon rains. With absconding rains, we are not seeing any dip in temperatures. The nights are intensely warm that temperature stays at 28 degree C. Even with fans running at high speeds, the perspiration never stops. People are desperately waiting for healthy rains in our region. It rained all round the region but not above us. Not sure why is nature is discrimination :-(. Hopefully the nature will turn the tables soon and blesses us with divine rains.
A well amidst field is always part of cultivation. These are source of water in case of deficient rainfall or for second crop.
I strolled through deserted paddy fields eagerly awaiting monsoon to set in a month of time. Its a unique experience walking through the trails of these fields, balancing yourselves over the narrow path without teetering. This could be challenging during monsoon season where wobbling would end you up in fully grown fields with muck. The sun was smiling and glittering without any obstruction from clouds. The color was pleasant but wasn't. The region desperately needs rain now. This year pre-monsoon has been awful which exacerbating the summer heat.
The cattle grazing field is always a delightful sight. Owners of cattle once in a day sprinkle the water over field if available to grow grass for cattle. The patches of grass seems to be grown from rains we had 3 weeks back.
The pump shed amidst the field is to water the field during break monsoons. Some use it to grow winter crops which need minimal water. The clumsy posture of palms acts as ideal foreground for descending sun.
This overhead tank is mounted over the rock formation. Quite intelligent move! The water sufficient gravity to flow down to taps. Also house owner need to make modification to existing tiled house to accommodate overhead take which would otherwise require RCC terrace or additional elevated construction to mount overhead tank.
While I was rejoicing the evening sun, out of blue, the combination of street and domestic dogs went berserk which scared me to death. The rush of the canines seem to be due to local feud. Some of them barged towards me barking but somehow I managed to shoo them away luckily with shrilling voice. Insane dogs wouldn't bend for such voices. They would ambush at any cost.
That's how the walk concluded horrifically. On way back, saw couple of Malabar pied hornbills to strengthen my mood. My DSLR is dead and I don't have funding to buy newer one. Hence satisfied with mobile capture. My assumption was that they would be in village only during monsoon. Now it looks to be dwelling permanently in our village!
ಬಹಳ ದಿನಗಳ ಬಳಿಕ ನಿಂಗಿ ತಲೆಸ್ನಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಳು. ಏನ್ ಮಾಡೋದು ದಿನ ಬೆಳಗಾದರೆ ಶುಭಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗೋದು. ಪುರುಸೊತ್ತು ಇಲ್ವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಅಪರೂಪಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ದಿನ ಯಾವುದೇ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಇದ್ದರೂ ನಿಂಗಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಲು ಕಷ್ಟವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ದಿನಾ ಭರ್ಜರಿ ಊಟ ಮಾಡಿ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಕೆಡಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಳು. ಗುಂಡನಿಗೋ ಪಾಪ ದಿನ ಅನ್ನ-ಸಾರು-ಮೊಸರು combination ತಿಂದು ತಿಂದು ಬೇಸತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಹೇಗೂ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಸರಿ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ ಅಂತಾ ನಿಂಗಿಯನ್ನು ಬಲವಂತವಾಗಿ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳ್ಳಿರಿಸಿದ. ನಿಂಗಿಗೆ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಸರಿ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಕಾರಣ ಅವತ್ತು ಗಂಜಿ ಉಣ್ಣೋ ಹಣೆ ಬರಹ. ಏನ್ ಮಾಡೋದು ತಿನ್ನೋದು ಅಂತಾ ತನ್ನ ವಿಧಿಯನ್ನು ಅಪ್ಪಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಗುಂಡ..
ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ಚಹಾ ಸವಿಯುತ್ತಾ ನಿಂಗಿ "ಅಬ್ಬಬ್ಬಾ ಏನು ಬೆವರು ಅಂತೀರಾ. ಒದ್ದೆಯಾದ ತಲೆ ಕೂಡಾ ಬೆವರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಒದ್ದೆ ಆಗಿದೆ. ಫ್ಯಾನ್ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಕೂತರೂ ಒಣಗ್ತಾ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಹೇರ್-ಡ್ರೈಯರ್ ಕೂಡಾ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಲ್ಲೇ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಬಂದಿದ್ದೇನೆ ನೋಡಿ"
ಮೊದಲೇ ಊಟ-ತಿಂಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ variety ಇಲ್ಲ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಮಡದಿ ಗೋಳು ಮಾತನ್ನು ಕೇಳೋಕ್ಕೆ ಗುಂಡನಿಗೆ ತಾಳ್ಮೆ ಸಹ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ!
"ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ತಕ್ಕೋಡಕ್ಕೆ ಆಗಲ್ಲ ಕಣೆ! ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಬಂದಿದ್ದು ನಿಂದು ತಪ್ಪು. ಏನು ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಕಡೆ ಎರಡೆರಡು ಕಾಪಿ ಬೇಕಾ ನಿನಗೆ? ಬ್ಯಾಕ್-ಅಪ್ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಕೊಡ್ಸಕ್ಕೆ ಆಗಲ್ಲ." ಎಂದು ಗುಂಡ ತಟ್ಟನೆ ಮಾರುತ್ತರ ನೀಡಿದನು.
"ಒಂದು ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡು. ಅಲ್ಲಿರೋ ಏಣಿ ತಗೊಂಡು ಬಾ. ಕೂದಲು ಡ್ರೈ ಮಾಡಲು ಉಪಯೋಗ ಆಗುತ್ತೆ" ಅನ್ನೋ ವಿಚಿತ್ರ ಸಲಹೆ ಗುಂಡ ನೀಡಿದನು.
"ಏನು ಇಲ್ಲ. ಏಣಿ ಹತ್ತಿದ್ರೆ ಫ್ಯಾನ್ ಬುಡಕ್ಕೆ ತಲುಪೋಕ್ಕೆ ಆಗುತ್ತೆ. ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಗಾಳಿನೂ ಜೋರಾಗೆ ಬೀಸುತ್ತೆ. ಬೇಗ ಡ್ರೈ ಆಗುತ್ತೆ ನೋಡು. ಇಲ್ಲ ಮಕ್ಳನ್ನು ಕರಿ. ಎರಡು ಬೀಸಣಿಗೆ ರಾಜರಿಗೆ ಬೀಸಿದಂತೆ ನಿನಗೂ ಗಾಳಿ ಹಾಕಕ್ಕೆ ಹೇಳು. ಇಲ್ಲ ಫಂಕ್ಷನ್ ಇರೋವಾಗ ಕೂದಲು ಬಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಹೊರಗೆ ಹಾಕು. ಹೇಗೋ ಬಿಸಿಲು ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಗಾಳಿಯಿಂದ ಬೇಗ ಕೂದಲು ಒಣಗುತ್ತೆ. express ಬಸ್ಸಲ್ಲಿ ಹೋದ್ರೆ ಬೇಗ ಒಣಗುತ್ತೆ. shuttle ಆದ್ರೆ problem ನೋಡು. ಪದೇ ಪದೇ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸ್ತಾನೆ" ಎಂದು ಗುಂಡ ಸಣ್ಣಗೆ ಹಾಸ್ಯ ನುಡಿದನು.
ನಿಂಗಿ ಒಂದೇ ಸಮನೆ ಚಹಾ ಕುಡಿದು ಸೀದಾ ಲೋಟೆಯನ್ನು ಸಿಂಕಿಗೆ ಎಸೆದಳು. ಒಳಗೆ ಎರಡು ಪಾತ್ರಗಳೂ ಕೂಡಾ ಪರ್ವತದಲ್ಲಿ ಭೂಕುಸಿತ ಆದಂತೆ ಉರುಳಿ ಉರುಳಿ ಭೀಕರ ಸಡ್ಡು ಮಾಡಿದವು. ಗುಂಡನಿಗೂ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಮನವರಿಕೆ ಆಯಿತು!
ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದಿನದ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಗುಂಡ ಊರಿಗೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದ. ಹೇಗೋ ಕಷ್ಟ ಪಟ್ಟು ಮ್ಯಾನೇಜರ್ ಪುಸಲಾಯಿಸಿ ೨ ವಾರಕ್ಕೆ permission ಕೇಳಿದ್ದ ಮನೆಯಿಂದ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಲು. ಗುಂಡನ ಹೆಂಡತಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಖುಷಿಯೋ ಖುಷಿ! ದಿನಾಲೂ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳು, ಭರ್ಜರಿ ಊಟ, ಜೊತೆಗೆ ನೆಂಟರ ಜೊತೆ ಸಮ್ಮಿಲನ. ಗುಂಡನಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ತುಂಬಾ ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಉರಿಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಕೆಲಸ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಬರಲು ಆಗುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಜೊತೆಗೆ ನಿಂಗಿ ಊಟದ ಮೆನು ಉದುರಿದಾಗ ಗುಂಡನಿಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲದ ಕೋಪ. ನೆಂಟರ ಮನೆಯಿಂದ ಪಾರ್ಸಲ್ ಕೂಡಾ ಬರುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಭರ್ಜರಿ ಊಟ ಮೆದ್ದು ನಿಂಗಿಯ ತೂಕ ಕೂಡಾ ಒಂದು ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಗುಂಡನಿಗೆ ಅಣಕಿಸಲು ಅವಕಾಶವೂ ಸಿಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಇದರಿಂದ ನಿಂಗಿ ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಕಷ್ಟ ಪಟ್ಟು ಅನ್ನ ಸಾರು ಮೊಸರು ಮಾತ್ರ ತಿಂದಿದ್ದೂ ಇದೆ :-).
ಎಂದಿನಂತೆ ಒಂದು ದಿನ ನಿಂಗಿ ಗುಂಡನನ್ನು ಉದ್ಧರಿಸುತ್ತ "ರೀ ನಾಳೆ ನನ್ನ ಅಜ್ಜಿ ತಂಗಿ ಮಗಳ ಮಗನಿಗೆ ಮದುವೇ ಇದೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಬಸ್ ಕೂಡಾ ಇಲ್ಲ ಅಂತೆ. ಹೇಗೆ ಹೋಗೋದು ಅಂತಾ ತಿಳಿತಿಲ್ಲ" ಎಂದು ತನ್ನ ಅಳಲು ತೋಡಿಕೊಂಡಳು.
"ತುಂಬಾ important ಮದುವೆ ನಾ?!" ಎಂದು ಗುಂಡ ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿದನು.
"ಅವ್ರಿಗೂ ಕಷ್ಟಾನೇ ರೀ. ವಾಹನ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಬಸ್ ಇಳಿದು ೫ ಕಿ.ಮೀ ರಿಕ್ಷಾದಲ್ಲೇ ಹೋಗಬೇಕು. ರಿಕ್ಷಾ ಕೂಡಾ ವಿರಳ ಅಂತೆ" ಎಂದು ನಿಂಗಿ ಅಸಾಹಾಯಕತೆ ತೋಡಿಕೊಂಡಳು.
"ಹಾಗೆ ಅಲ್ಲ ಕಣೆ. ಅತ್ತೆಯವರು ಹೋಗ್ತಾರೆ. ನಿನಗೆ ಬರಿ ಮುಖ ಮಾತ್ರ ತೋರಿಸಬೇಕು. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡು. ಹೇಗೂ ಸೆಖೆ, ಬೆವರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಒದ್ದೆಯಾದ ರೇಷ್ಮೆ ಸೀರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯೋದು ನಿನಗೆ ಕಷ್ಟ. ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಯಾಕೆ energy ನಷ್ಟ ಮಾಡ್ತೀಯ. ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ಸೀರೆ ಉಟ್ಟು, ಮೇಕಪ್ ಮಾಡಿ, ಆಭರಣಗಳನ್ನು ಹಾಕಿ ಸರ್ವಾಲಂಕಾರದಿಂದ ರೆಡಿಯಾಗು! ಅತ್ತೆಯವರು ನವವಿವಾಹಿತರಿಗೆ ಆಶೀರ್ವಾದ ಮಾಡಲು ಮಾಡುವೆ ಮಂಟಪಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದಾಗ ನಿನಗೆ ವಿಡಿಯೋ ಕಾಲ್ ಮಾಡಲು ಹೇಳು. ಹೇಗೂ ನಿನಗೆ ಮುಖ ಮಾತ್ರ ತೋರಿಸಬೇಕು ಅಲ್ವಾ.. ವಿಡಿಯೋ ಕಾಲ್ ಅಲ್ಲೇ ನಿನ್ನ ಸೀರೆರೂಪ ದರ್ಶನ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ಅವರಿಗೆ ವಿಶ್ ಮಾಡು. ಸುಲಭದಲ್ಲೇ ಕೆಲಸ ಆಗುತ್ತೆ! ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಭರ್ಜರಿ ಊಟ ತಿಂದು ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ತೂಕ ಕೂಡ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಆಗುತ್ತೆ ಅಲ್ವಾ, ಅದಕ್ಕೆ avoid ಮಾಡೋದು ಒಳ್ಳೇದು! ಹಾಗೆ ಆಭರಣಗಳನ್ನು ರೋಲ್ಡ್-ಗೋಲ್ಡ್ ಮಾತ್ತ್ರ ಹಾಕಿಕೋ! ಯಾರು ಕೇಳಲ್ಲ ನೋಡಲ್ಲ ಆಲ್ವಾ.. ಸುಮ್ನೆ ಯಾಕೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ಅದನ್ನ ಬೆವರಲ್ಲಿ ಒದ್ದೆ ಮಾಡ್ತಿಯಾ!? ಕಪ್ಪು ಆಗೋದು ತಪ್ಪುತ್ತೆ ನೋಡು!" ಎಂದು ಚಟಾಕಿ ಹಾರಿಸಿದನು ಗುಂಡ.
ಗುಂಡನ ಮಾತನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿದ ತಕ್ಷಣ ನಿಂಗಿ ಸಿಡಿಮಿಡಿ ಗೊಂಡು "ಏನಾದ್ರೂ ಸೊಲ್ಯೂಶನ್ ಹೇಳಿ ಅಂದ್ರೆ, ನಿಮ್ಮ ಡಿಜಿಟಲ್ ಜುಗಾಡ್ ಐಡಿಯಾಗಳು ನನಗೆ ಬೇಕಾಗಿಲ್ಲ" ಎಂದು ಹೊರ ನಡೆದಳು.
ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಹೊತ್ತಿನ ಬಳಿಕ ಕಾರಿನ ಚಾವಿ ತೆರೆಯಿತು. ಗುಂಡನ ಎಲ್ಲಿಗೋ ಹೋಗಿ ಬಂದನು. "ನೋಡೇ ಫುಲ್ ಪೆಟ್ರೋಲ್ ಹಾಕಿಸಿ ಬಂದಿದ್ದೀನಿ. ಕಾರಲ್ಲಿ ಪಿಕ್-ಅಪ್ ಅಂಡ್ ಡ್ರಾಪ್ ನಾನೇ ಮಾಡ್ತೀನಿ. ಮದುವೆ ಅಟೆಂಡ್ ಮಾಡಲ್ಲ ಕೆಲಸ ತುಂಬಾ ಇದೆ" ಅಂತಾ ಗುಂಡ ಮಡದಿಗೆ ಸಮಾಧಾನ ಮಾಡಿದನು. ಕಡೆಗೂ ನಿಂಗಿಯ ಮುದುಡಿದ ಕೆನ್ನೆ ಅರಳಿತು. ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಹೊತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ತಂಪಾದ ಪಾನಕ ಕೂಡಾ ಗುಂಡನ ಬಳಿ ತಲುಪಿತು.
Its quite lot of ordeal to wake up early morning during winters. The kids send-off to school needs plenty of time and preparation. Hence waking up is inevitable. There are always doziness and lethargy filled from the moment you wake up. But the time later gets charged up thanks to hustle. There should something in life which makes you hustle. For us, they are kids.
Waking up early also comes with rare rewards, like this full moon of Maagha maasa (from Hindu Calendar). While being in terrace for short treadmill walk, I noticed the bright full moons vehemently dwarfing the city lights. The city was yet to wake up completely even though partial lights were emanating from tall apartments. The time was 5:45AM. The Sun rises early nowadays. The nascent sun coupled with moon light provided perfect setup to shoot large bright moon.
The Vivo v40 pro captures it perfectly in Moon mode. The outcome was excellent for mobile camera costing 40k. Never expected that composite shots could be embedded into the image processing unit. Technology has gone immensely far. Gone are those days when we had to capture composite shots with varying camera parameters and blend them using image editor. I know professional would still prefer traditional methods but for photographers like me, need a photo finish with minor edits. Creating composites and editing would need upgrade of your gears which are expensive for some people like me. Without much ado, here are the shots. Hope you like them.
Our last destination before winding up memorable coord itinerary was "Mallalli Waterfalls". This was in my hotlist from long ago which was getting materialized soon. The day actually started slow since this was only the destination in mind. There was also a plan to visit Mandalpatti peak but we self-restrained due to unavoidable factors.
(i) The Mandalpatti peak would be crowded and getting public jeep would consume huge time
(ii) Once we reach Mandalpatti, a short trek needed to reach peak which would exhaust us.
(iii) Mallalli has significant down-trek and hence we would drain our energy if we visit Mandalpatti
(iv) Lastly, the long drive to Bengaluru was due and hence straining much would fatigue my body especially.
Above factors led us to restrict our visit Mallalli and relish it wholeheartedly. That was sane decision as well. Post breakfast, we set out for 2hour long journey through winding road towards Mallalli. The weather was hot , humid and sunny. Hardly any sign of Monsoon season. The drive is tad strenuous due to eternal curves. The roads were good and flanked by coffee plantations. Unfortunately the abode of rainforest is just coffee canvas shrouded by intermittent tall trees. Apparently looks like thick jungle but just to find coffee plants hiding beneath the mirage. These things never change and culling of pristine rainforests continues.
As we neared the waterfall region, it was densely populated by true rainforest trees. At last some relief from coffee plantations. This is area unaffected by coffee mafia perhaps. The dense jungles reminded me of Sharavathi valley which was truly preserved. The clouds were thick, floating over hills. The rains were sparse and light. The mobile signal was feeble or unreachable. The signboards were rickety but readable. This enabled us to easily reach waterfall sight. The last 3kms was serene with narrow roads and thick jungles. The darkness was due to dense forest cover rather than clouds. After rejoicing through thick forest, we reached the parking lot of waterfalls.
At first sight itself, you will be enamored by the sight of waterfalls. Rapping through the treacherous valley of rainforests, Kumaradhara river plunges from great height to form Mallalli waterfalls. Later the river meanders through the valley of thick forests rapidly. The region is protected under Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary. The west flowing river eventually conjoins Netravati river at Uppinangadi and merges with Arabian Sea near Mangaluru.
The waterfall base can be reached by climbing down curvy 750 steps laid over the trail of hill. The overall trail is in good condition except for minor cracks during heavy rains. The downhill is manageable but uphill is arduous. We saw many tourists toiling to reach back to parking lot! Many people were seen resting for longer periods at every ascension.
The view of waterfall throughout the descent is splendid with every spot providing unique perspective of waterfalls. Thick clouds kept engulfing the region but fortunately zero rains. A check-dam is constructed before the waterfalls which limits the energy of waterfall. The exuberance of waterfalls is multiplied if check-dam releases water but may also result in flash floods risks. The guard in waterfalls informed us that the waterfall entry is neve restricted during torrential rains. Reachability itself is difficult during such periods and rarely see any visitors. The amount of water released is negligible during monsoon season thanks to copious rains. It may matter during dry periods though!
We reached the base of waterfall in 15 mins post capturing multiple views of captivating waterfalls. As we neared the waterfall, the energetic water bouncing off the strong boulders sprayed pristine water on us. There was option to play in waterfall in earlier days during dry days. Now authorities have banned the play thanks to irresponsible dolts who lost lives due to recklessness. Never play with nature is never followed some tourists. This hurts their family most and also people like us who just want to dip our leg in pristine water.
A stay of 20+ mins it was time to return to the parking lot :-(. Heart becomes heavy when heading back. We too toiled climbing 750 steps back to parking lot but reached safely & comfortably. Mallalli was long pending dream which was finally realized. There are other waterfalls nearby but couldn't make it due to time constraints.
Here is video from our visit
With this we concluded our memorable 2 day Madikeri itinerary. That was joyous and worth the money!
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