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Phare, the Cambodian Circus, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Siem Reap Circus is a Must Do When You’re in Cambodia and Here’s Why

Siem Reap circus is a must do when you’re in Cambodia’s Temple Town. Supremely entertaining, it provides an insight into everyday life in Cambodia that you won’t see at Angkor Wat or sitting with other tourists downing cheap beers on Pub Street. It’s an absolute must-see.

When we talk about ‘circus’, we’re talking about Circus Arts. There are no animals, just extraordinarily talented young Cambodians, accomplished in contortion, acrobatics, aerial ballet, balancing, fire dancing, tightrope walking, vaulting, juggling, dance, drama, music, mime, and comedy. The Siem Reap circus stars are massively entertaining.

Think of it as a down-to-earth Cirque du Soleil, which is what I wrote in my CNN Travel piece on Phare Cambodian Circus five years ago, just a few months after they erected their big top in Siem Reap.

But what makes the Siem Reap circus really special is that it’s distinctly Cambodian. The music, dance, settings, themes, and stories provide an insight into Cambodian culture and everyday life that’s difficult to experience scrambling temple ruins.

Here’s what to expect from the Siem Reap circus and the show, Khmer Metal, which has been brought back to celebrate the fifth birthday of the Phare Cambodian Circus.

Buy tickets online for nightly shows on the Phare Cambodian Circus website.

Siem Reap Circus is a Must Do When You’re in Cambodia and Here’s Why

A young Cambodian bar owner arrives to find his bartender still drunk. He’s sleeping on a floor littered with empty beer bottles and cans. The band arrives, carrying a beaten-up car door, which they inexplicably hang on stage.

The intoxicated bartender, now awake, is incapable of walking a straight line. Yet the inebriated bloke takes to a tightrope strung across the bar to do tricks to impress the cute female vocalist. It’s not for the faint hearted and is edge of your seat stuff.

It’s also not a scene from some crazy local bar. Although it could be! It’s the opening act of Khmer Metal, a show by the Siem Reap circus, more correctly known as Phare, The Cambodian Circus.

Why You Need to See the Siem Reap Circus

For most tourists, Siem Reap is little more than the departure point for exploring the dazzling Khmer Empire era archaeological sites at Angkor Archaeological Park, such as Angkor Wat. So a night at the Phare Cambodian Circus probably seems like a strange way to spend an evening when most other tourists are making a beeline for the cheap beers on Pub Street.

But increasingly, visitors interested in a more immersive and deeper experience when they travel are opting for a taste of contemporary Cambodian culture, everyday life and entertainment under the big top at the Siem Reap circus.

Their choice to see the Siem Reap circus is keeping performers employed and helping make their parent, non-government organisation Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS), self-sustainable. Home to the circus school, PPS is keeping disadvantaged kids off the street, educating and training them, and helping to pull the community out of poverty.

Help Keep the Rich Ancient Circus Traditions Alive

Cambodia’s rich circus tradition dates to the 6th century as carvings at temple ruins in Kampong Thom province attest. There, and on the walls of 12th century temples Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphuon, and Ta Prohm, bas-reliefs vividly illustrate circus artists performing balancing acts, juggling and acrobatics for ceremonies and festivals.

Circus scenes are also depicted in intricately detailed murals decorating 19th century Wat Kampong Tralach Pleu pagoda in central Cambodia. In the 1960s, Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihanouk encouraged a revitalisation of the circus, only to see it die in 1975 when Pol Pot’s brutal Khmer Rouge abolished all forms of art, culture and creative expression, and murdered artists.

After the Vietnamese occupation sent Khmer Rouge fleeing into the jungle, eight young Cambodians who’d been in a refugee camp on the Thai border decided to help rebuild their country by reviving the arts and culture.

Help Lift Cambodian Communities Out Of Poverty

In 1994, the group established Phare Ponleu Selpak (Beacon for the Arts), opening a school for visual and performing arts, including circus skills, in a place that needed it most: Battambang.

Close to Thailand, the rural city had been a magnet for repatriating refugees, including orphans, most suffering post-traumatic stress. Battambang became plagued with poverty, domestic violence, health and social problems, including drug and alcohol abuse and juvenile delinquency.

The school came to the rescue, providing free food, education and training – and in 2013, after raising its shiny-red big top in Siem Reap, launching a program of shows starring circus school graduates – it also provided jobs.

A Circus Without Animals, the Spotlight is on Young Cambodian Performers

Phare is no ordinary circus, but an edgy, alternative, down-to-earth, all-singing-and-dancing Cambodian Cirque du Soleil. A contemporary circus without animals, the stars of each show is the cast of talented young Cambodian performers.

Accomplished in acrobatics, contortion, aerial ballet, balancing, tightrope walking, fire dancing, vaulting, juggling, music, dance, drama, mime, and comedy, the Siem Reap circus stars are extraordinarily entertaining.

Why You Need to see Khmer Metal – Love, Life and Rock ’n’ Roll in a Cambodian Bar

The Siem Reap circus show Khmer Metal is about love, life and rock ’n’ roll. Set over the course of one night in a crazy bar, it’s edge-of-the-seat stuff. The drunk bartender totters back and forth on the tight rope, juggling cardboard beer cases and ‘accidentally’ entangling his body in the swinging rope.

A cocktail-sipping customer in mini-skirt and high-heels does an elbow stand on the table, folding her legs over her back and head with ease to shoot a bow and arrow at a balloon with her feet.

A moneyed muscle-bound customer she fancies in skinny white jeans, who has had his iPad stolen, takes to the bar, doing some impressive hand-balancing moves on beer taps to grab her attention.

In between these daring feats and complex tricks, bar staff and customers break into choreographed dance numbers as the band performs Cambodian rock songs, incorporating an array of samples, from heavy metal to hip hop, traditional Khmer folk music to 1960s Cambodian pop.

Musicians swap instruments, share vocals, and at one point the contortionist takes the microphone to sing “Who took my lover?” as her companion exits the bar with the rich guy.

Other Siem Reap Circus Shows You Should See

Eclipse – Chinese Ghost Films, Gangham Style, Brazilian Caipoeira and Break-Dancing

While Khmer Metal is thoroughly modern in its setting and storytelling, post-modern show Eclipse is steeped in tradition, drawing from folk stories, religion and popular beliefs. Eclipse tells the story of a bullied hunchback, rejected by villagers, who seeks divine intervention from an angel-like Apsara, the celestial maiden who graces Angkor temple walls.

Wearing the simple black garb of rural peasants and using few props, the artists perform elaborate acrobatics and audacious stunts. They form human towers to strike Apsara poses and do somersaults mid-flight, executing an impressive aerial strap routine. In between acts, the performances do a spirited, high-energy dance to the catchy upbeat rhythms of the traditional xylophone, guitar and drums.

Like Khmer Metal, Eclipse is post-modern, imbued with cultural references from around the globe, from the American movie Fight Club, Chinese ghost films, Brazilian caipoeira, break-dancing, martial arts, and even a Gangham Style dance.

As clever as it is, Eclipse is ultimately uplifting fun, the energy and enthusiasm of the artists contagious. It’s hard not to smile when young performers in front of you are grinning from ear to ear and having such a great time – especially when you know how challenging their lives were before they joined the circus.

How to Buy Tickets to the Siem Reap Circus and Tips

  • Buy tickets online for nightly shows on the Phare Cambodian Circus website.
  • NOTE: During high season, shows are sometimes held twice-nightly: from 1 November 2017 through to 31 March 2018 there will be 2 shows on Monday, Thursday and Saturday from 5-6pm and 8-9pm. On other days, there’s only the 8-9pm show.
  • Ticket prices: Preferred Reserved Seating (Section A): Adult (age 12+) US$38 / Children (age 5-11) $18; Preferred Open Seating (Section B): Adult US$28 / Children US$15; General Open Seating (Section C) Adult US$18 / Children US$10.
  • Shows rotate, so check the website ahead of time to find out what shows are on while you’re in Siem Reap. They’re all wonderful, but some are light and funny, such as Same Same But Different, while Sokha is more serious, a little sad, and abstract in parts, yet it still has its moments of sunshine and laughter. (I’ll write about both of those soon.)
  • Our advice: get there an hour before the show, pick up your tickets, have a glass of wine and crispy spring rolls and Cambodian-style satay sticks at the cafe, then browse the gift shop for beautiful Cambodian-made products before the show.
  • Make sure your tuk tuk driver knows the new location on Ring Road, south of the intersection with Sok San Road. If you’re coming from the centre of Siem Reap, allow 15 minutes for the trip in case of traffic. Have the driver wait for you or return at 9pm.
  • You can take photos at the circus, but please make sure you to turn your flash and sound off as it can be dangerous for the performers if you don’t.

Phare Cambodian Circus is fantastic for kids; see our Siem Reap for Families guide for more fun things to do. If you’re still planning your trip to Cambodia, take a look at our recommended hotels in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Battambang, all tried and tested.

When you’re in Battambang, make sure to visit Phare Ponleu Selpak, which offers guided behind-the-scenes tours of the school on Monday to Friday at 9.30am, 10.30am, 2.30pm, and 3.30pm, along with circus shows.

Note that this is an edited and longer version of a piece Lara originally wrote on Phare Cambodian Circus for CNN Travel in 2013.

Support our Cambodia Cookbook & Culinary History Book with a donation or monthly pledge on Patreon.

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About Lara Dunston

A travel and food writer who has experienced over 70 countries and written for The Guardian, Australian Gourmet Traveller, Feast, Delicious, National Geographic Traveller, Conde Nast Traveller, Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia, DestinAsian, TIME, CNN, The Independent, The Telegraph, Sunday Times Travel Magazine, AFAR, Wanderlust, International Traveller, Get Lost, Four Seasons Magazine, Fah Thai, Sawasdee, and more, as well as authored more than 40 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, DK, Footprint, Rough Guides, Fodors, Thomas Cook, and AA Guides.

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Lara and Terence are an Australian-born, Southeast Asia-based travel and food writers and photographers who have authored scores of guidebooks, produced countless travel and food stories, are currently developing cookbooks and guidebooks, and host culinary tours and writing and photography retreats in Southeast Asia.
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Still looking for Christmas cooking inspo? Check o Still looking for Christmas cooking inspo? Check out our seafood recipe collection, especially if you celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve with a fish focused meal in the Southern Italian tradition, transformed by Italian-Americans into the Feast of the Seven Fishes, or like Australians, who celebrate Christmas in the sweltering summer, feast on seafood for Christmas Day lunch, we’ve got lots of easy seafood recipes for you.

Our recipes include a classic prawn cocktail, blini with smoked salmon, a ceviche-style appetiser, and devilled eggs with caviar. We’ve also got recipes for fish soup, seafood pies and pastas, salmon tray bake, and crispy salmon with creamy mashed potatoes.

You’ll find the recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/seafood-recipes-for-christmas-eve-and-christmas-day-menus/
(Link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Merry Christmas if you’re celebrating!! 

#christmas #christmasfood #seafood #fish #recipes #christmasrecipes #foodstagram #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood #picoftheday #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #grantourismo #grantourismotravels #xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas
If you’re still looking for food inspo for Chris If you’re still looking for food inspo for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day meals, my smoked salmon ‘carpaccio’ recipe is one of dozens of recipes in this compilation of our best Christmas recipes (link below). 

The Christmas recipe compilation includes collections of our best Christmas breakfast recipes, best Christmas brunch recipes, best Christmas starter recipes, best Christmas cocktails, best Christmas dessert recipes, and homemade edible Christmas gifts and more.

My smoked salmon carpaccio recipe makes an easy elegant appetiser that’s made in minutes. If you’re having guests over, you can make the dish ahead by assembling the salmon, capers and pickled onions, and refrigerate it, then pour on the dressing just before serving. 

Provide toasted baguette slices and bowls of additional capers, pickles and dressing, so guests can customise their carpaccio. And open the bubbly!

You’ll find that recipe and many more Christmas recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/best-christmas-recipes/ (link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Merry Christmas!! X

#christmas #christmasfood #recipes #christmasrecipes #foodstagram #salmon #smokedsalmon #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood #picoftheday #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #writingacookbook #grantourismo #grantourismotravels 
#xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas
If you haven’t visited our site in a while, I sh If you haven’t visited our site in a while, I shared a collection of recipes for homemade edible Christmas gifts — for condiments, hot sauces, chilli oils, a whole array of pickles, spice blends, chilli salt, furakake seasoning, and spicy snacks, such as our Cambodian and Vietnamese roasted peanuts. 

I love giving homemade edibles as gifts as much as I love receiving them. Who wouldn’t appreciate jars filled with their favourite chilli oils, hot sauces, piquant pickles, and spicy peanuts that loved-ones have taken the time to make? 

Aside from the gesture and affordability of gifting homemade edibles, you’re minimising waste. You can use recycled jars or if buying new mason jars or clip-top Kilner jars, you know they’ll get repurposed.

No need for wrapping, just attach some Christmas baubles or tinsel to the lid. I used squares of Cambodian kramas (cotton scarves), which can be repurposed as napkins or drink coasters, and tied a ribbon or two around the lids, and attached last year’s Christmas tree decorations to some.

You’ll find the recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/homemade-edible-christmas-gifts/ (link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Yes, that’s Pepper... every time there’s a camera around... 

#christmasgiftideas #ediblegifts ##christmasfoodgifts #foodgifts #giftideas #homemadegifts #christmasfood #ediblegiftideas #hotsauce #chillisauce #sriracha #pickles #homemadepickles #recipes #foodstagram #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood 
#blackcat #blackcatsofinstagram #picoftheday 
#christmas #christmastree #xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas #cambodia #siemreap
This crab omelette is a decadent eggs dish that’ This crab omelette is a decadent eggs dish that’s perfect if you’re just back from the fish markets armed with luxurious fresh crab meat. It’s a little sweet, a little spicy, and very, very moreish.

Our crab omelette recipe was one of our 22 most popular egg recipes of 2022 on our website Grantourismo and it’s no surprise. It’s appeared more times than any other egg recipes on our annual round-ups of most popular recipes since Terence launched Weekend Eggs when we launched Grantourismo in 2010.

If you’re an eggs lover, do check out the recipe collection. It includes egg recipes from right around the world, from recipes for classic kopitiam eggs from Singapore and Malaysia and egg curries from India and Myanmar to all kinds of egg recipes from Thailand, Japan, Korea, China, Mexico, USA, Australia, UK, and Ireland.

And do browse our Weekend Eggs archives for further eggspiration (sorry). We have hundreds of egg recipes from the 13 year-old series of recipes for quintessential egg dishes from around the world, which we started on our 2010 year-long global grand tour focused on slow, local and experiential travel. 

We’re hoping 2023 will be the year we can finally publish the Weekend Eggs cookbook we’ve talked about for years based on that series. After we can find a publisher for the Cambodia cookbook of course... :( 

Recipe collection here (and proper link to Grantourismo in our bio):
https://grantourismotravels.com/22-most-popular-egg-recipes-of-2022-from-weekend-eggs/

If you cook the recipe and enjoy it please let us know — we love to hear from you — either in the comments at the end of the recipe or share a pic with us here.

#recipe #recipes #eggs #eggslover #breakfasteggs #WeekendEggs #egg #breakfast #brunch #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood  #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #lookingforapublisher #writingacookbook  #grantourismo #grantourismotravels
I’m late to share this, but a few days ago Angko I’m late to share this, but a few days ago Angkor Archaeological Park, home to stupendous Angkor Wat, pictured, celebrated 30 years of its UNESCO World Heritage listing. 

That’s as good an excuse as any to put this magnificent, sprawling archaeological site on your travel list this year.

While riverside Siem Reap, your base for exploring Angkor is bustling once more, there are still nowhere near the visitors of the last busy high season months of December-January 2018-2019 when there were 290,000 visitors. 

Last month there were just 55,000 visitors and December feels a little quieter. A tour guide friend said there were about 150 people at Angkor Wat for sunrise a few days ago.

If you’re looking for tips to visiting Angkor, Siem Reap and Cambodia, just ask us a question in the comments below or check Grantourismo as we’ve got loads of info on our site. Click through to the link in the bio and explore our Cambodia guide or search for ‘Angkor’. 

And please do let us know if you’re coming to Siem Reap. We’d love to see you here x

#siemreap #cambodia #asia #travel #instatravel #traveldeeper #slowtravel #localtravel #experientialtravel #exploremore #neverstopexploring #goexplore #igtravel #angkorwat #angkor #temple #temples #angkorwithoutcrowds #unesco #unescoworldheritagesite #unescoworldheritage #archaeology #archaeologicalsite #traveladdict #beautifuldestinations #beautifulplaces #travelgram #wanderlust #picoftheday📷 #grantourismotravels.
Our soy ginger chicken recipe will make you sticky Our soy ginger chicken recipe will make you sticky, flavourful and succulent chicken thighs that are fantastic with steamed rice, Chinese greens or a salad, such as a Southeast Asian slaw. 

The chicken can be marinated for up to 24 hours before cooking, which ensures it’s packed with flavour, then it can be cooked on a barbecue or in a pan.

Terence’s soy ginger chicken recipe is one of our favourite recipes for a quick and easy meal. I love the sound of the sizzling thighs in the pan, and the warming aromas wafting through the apartment. 

It’s amazing how such flavourful juicy chicken thighs come from such a quick and easy recipe.

Recipe here (and proper link to Grantourismo in our bio): https://grantourismotravels.com/soy-ginger-chicken-recipe/

If you cook it and enjoy it please let us know — we love to hear from you — either here or in the comments at the end of the recipe on the site or share a pic with us x 

#recipe #recipes #chicken #soygingerchicken #asianfood #southeastasianfood #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #cookingtime #recipe #recipes #comfortfood #foodblog #food #foodstagram #healthyfood #instafood #healthy #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #writingacookbook #grantourismo #grantourismotravels
Who can guess the ingredients and what we’re mak Who can guess the ingredients and what we’re making with my market haul from Psar Samaki in Siem Reap — all for a whopping 10,000 riel (US$2.50)?! 

Birds-eye chillies thrown in for free! They were on my list but the seller I spent most at (5,000 riel!) scooped up a handful and slipped them into my bag. She was my last stop and knew what I was making.

My Khmer is poor, even after all our years in Cambodia, as I don’t learn languages with the ease I did in my 20s, plus I’m mentally exhausted after researching and writing all day. I have a better vocabulary of Old and Middle Khmer than modern Khmer from studying the ancient inscriptions for the Cambodian culinary history component of our cookbook I’m writing.

So when one seller totalled my purchases I thought she said 5,000 riel but she handed back 4,500 riel! The sum total of two huge bunches of herbs and kaffir lime leaves was 500 riel.

Tip: if visiting Siem Reap, use Khmer riel for local shopping. We’ve mainly used riel since the pandemic started— rarely use US$ now as market sellers quote prices in riels, as do local shops and bakeries, and I tip tuk tuk drivers in riels. I find prices quoted in riels are lower.

Psar Samaki is cheaper than Psar Leu, which is cheaper than Psar Chas, as it’s a wholesale market, which means the produce is fresher. I see veggies arriving, piled high in the back of vehicles, with dirt still on them — as I did on this trip. 

The scent of a mountain of incredibly aromatic pineapples offloaded from the back of a dusty ute was so heady they smelt like they’d just been cut. More exotic European style veggies arrive by big trucks in boxes labelled in Vietnamese (from Dalat) and Mandarin (from China), such as beautiful snow-white cauliflower I spotted.

Note: the freshest produce is sold on the dirt road at the back of the market.

#cambodia #siemreap #foodwriter #foodblogger #foodphotography #igfood #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #instadaily #picoftheday #market #siemreapmarket #psarsamaki #marketfresh #vegetables #healthyfood #marketshopping #traveltips #foodtravel #culinarytravel #localtravel #cooking #cookingtime #curry #homemade #currypaste #grantourismotravels
My Vietnamese-ish meatballs and rice noodles recip My Vietnamese-ish meatballs and rice noodles recipe makes tender meatballs doused in a delightfully tangy-sweet sauce, sprinkled with crispy fried shallots, with carrot-daikon, crunchy cucumber and fragrant herbs. 

The dish is inspired by bún chả, a Hanoi specialty, but it’s not bún chả. No matter what Google or food bloggers tell you. Names are important, especially when cooking and writing about cuisines not our own.

This is an authentic bún chả recipe:  https://grantourismotravels.com/vietnamese-bun-cha-recipe/ You’ll need to get the outdoor BBQ/grill going to do proper smoky bún chả meat patties (not meatballs).

My meatball noodle bowl is perhaps more closely related to dishes such as a Central Vietnam cousin bún thịt nướng (pork skewers on rice noodles in a bowl) and a Southern relation bún bò Nam Bộ (beef atop rice noodles, sprinkled with fried shallots (Nam Bộ=Southern Vietnam) though neither include meatballs. 

Xíu mại= meatballs although they’re different in flavour to mine, which taste more like bún chả patties. Xíu mại remind me of Southern Italian meatballs in tomato sauce.

In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, home to millions of Khmer, there’s bánh tằm xíu mại. Bánh tằm=silk worm noodles. They’re topped with meatballs, cucumber, daikon, carrot, fresh herbs, crispy fried onions. Difference: cold noodles doused in a sauce of coconut cream and fish sauce. 

Remove the meatballs, add chopped fried spring rolls and it’s Cambodia’s banh sung, which is a rice noodle salad similar to Vietnam’s bún chả giò :) 

Recipe here: (link in bio) https://grantourismotravels.com/vietnamese-meatballs-and-rice-noodles-recipe/

For more on these culinary connections you’ll have to wait for our Cambodian cookbook and culinary history. In a hurry to know? Come support the project on Patreon. (link in bio)

#recipe #recipes #vietnamesefood #cambodianfood #asianfood #southeastasianfood #ricenoodles #rice #noodlebowl #meatballs #igfood #igfoodie #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood  #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #writingacookbook #writingacambodiancookbook #patreon #patreoncreator #grantourismo
It is pure coincidence that Pepper’s eye colour It is pure coincidence that Pepper’s eye colour matches the furnishings of our rented apartment. So, no, I did not colour-coordinate the interiors to match our cat’s eyes. 

I keep getting DMs from pet clothing brands wanting to “partner” with Pepper and send her free cat clothes and cat accessories. Although she did wear a kerchief for a few years in her more adventurous fashion-forward teenage years, I cannot see this cat in clothes now, can you? 

#pepper #blackcat #blackcats #blackcatsofinstagram #blackcatsrule #blackcatsmatter #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catstagram #catlover #catlovers #catlove #catoftheday #catphoto #catpic #catpics #cambodiancat #cambodiancatsofinstagram #catlife #catloversclub #catoftheday #catgram #catstagram #cats_of_instagram #catphotography #catsofig #catsoftheworld #catsofinsta #cats🐱 #siemreap #cambodia

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