International travel

Where to Buy Discounted Hong Kong Attraction Tickets or Passes

yAn A.L. — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 13:03:00 +0000

It is unwise to spend all your travel budget. Likewise, spending more than what you allocated for the trip is a total nightmare. The worst is, if you swipe your credit card for unplanned expenses while away from home. When you travel, every savings count. It will not only let you escape from imminent financial […]

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Discover Central America’s charming nature in El Salvador

Team FW — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 02:26:40 +0000

Are you planning a quick getaway before the year ends? Are you after sandy beaches or are you feeling sporty enough to go hiking and climbing up volcanoes? Do you fancy historical sites to learn about ancient civilizations? Well, you might start considering El Salvador, a small, but gorgeous country in Central America that is ready to serve. […]

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Single Trip Around Earth

Team FW — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 00:27:20 +0000

The world where we live is indeed an amazing and exciting place. Located in the galaxy between numerous stars and planets, it hides many mysteries and extraordinary locations all over the surface. Nature was indeed generous while creating our planet, and tourists are often blown away by the scenes of some of these. Many nations […]

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Siem Reap Cambodia Travel Guide: Beyond the Temples

yAn A.L. — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 18:25:00 +0000

The modern day Siem Reap, a home to 9th-century temples, is an archaeological haven. Antique enthusiasts flock to this humble yet vibrant city to witness the grandeur it once have. Though all that is left are empty structures and rubbles of the angkors (or temples), people from around the world are still interested and curious. […]

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Around Yogyakarta: A Comprehensive Travel Guide

yAn A.L. — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 17:41:55 +0000

Yogyakarta, a host to temples which beginnings are even earlier than the construction of Khmer Empire’s Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, is a testament to Indonesia’s rich and extensive history. Aside from the temples, travelers could experience the best of Indonesia’s cuisine, night life, and hospitality in Yogyakarta. It is pronounced and commonly spelled as Jogjakarta. […]

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10 Amazing Things to do in Kuala Lumpur for First-timers

Rowena Getutua — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 14:10:52 +0000

Being in a foreign country for the first time can be both challenging and exciting. The planning, the budgeting, the itinerary—everything needs preparation. But the excitement of doing new things for the first time is something to look forward to. Here are some suggestions for the fun activities you can do during your stay in […]

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How it Felt to be at the Top of Petronas Twin Towers

yAn A.L. — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 21:27:52 +0000

When in Kuala Lumpur, seeing Petronas Twin Towers should be on every traveler’s list. Scaling the world’s highest twin towers is optional, but is highly recommended. I intentionally scheduled my visit few minutes before sunset—a time when the sun starts to disappear from the horizon and a moment when the tinge of the welkin alters. […]

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Shwedagon and the Unexpected Friendship in Yangon

yAn A.L. — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 06:09:01 +0000

Upon our arrival at Yangon’s Aung Mingalar Bus terminal, taxi touts swarmed the few travelers who disembarked the bus to offer their services. I was observing the ruckus when I heard two of my co-passengers were going downtown. I approached them if it is okay to share the ride. Luckily, they both agreed. Kai, who hailed from the US, was […]

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All Fun Despite the Misadventure at Inle Lake, Nyaung Shwe

yAn A.L. — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 14:29:05 +0000

When I booked my seat, I repeatedly asked if the bus will go directly to Nyaung Shwe. I always got a yes. So, despite the troubled compulsion, I took it. By the way, I cut short my Bagan stay to head to Nyaung Shwe and added the lake south of it, Inle lake, to my […]

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Bagan, Myanmar: A Display of Vast Structural Wonders

yAn A.L. — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 10:48:33 +0000

Touts approached every single individual alighting from every single bus that arrives in Bagan terminal. They offered taxi services with exceptional persistence. The sun was almost up and it was their major selling point—the guarantee of getting you at any available pagoda where the view of the sunrise is stunning. No other available cheaper transport that […]

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Postcard: Lights and Edifices of Victoria Harbor Hong Kong

yAn A.L. — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 09:52:41 +0000

I could see your eyes from the sparking lights

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The Sunset from Above Petronas Twin Towers

yAn A.L. — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 22:08:11 +0000

The structure is so majestic as it stands proud and paramount in Malaysia. When I got to its greatest height, I realized that it was even more stunning. I could relate as to why people at the top would do whatever it takes to remain in their post – it is because falling is really […]

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15 “Backstabbing” Photos During Our IndoChina Tour

yAn A.L. — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 16:30:00 +0000

Last year, I organized a backpacking tour with my office mates to visit Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. While Aaron and myself were busy with some other stuff, Roderick silently took our photos from behind. All these fifteen photos are courtesy of Roderick Ordoñez. 1. Arrival in Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok) It was Aaron’s first time to […]

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7-Day Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam Tour Itinerary

yAn A.L. — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 21:17:23 +0000

Before we headed to our 7-day Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam Tour, I made some research as to what are the places to visit, transportation to take, and their corresponding fees. Here is the actual result of that research which includes the commuting guide and itinerary. I provided some links (colored fonts) just in case you wanted to know […]

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Teary-Eyed in the War Remnants Museum

yAn A.L. — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 19:51:07 +0000

Whatever is causing the conflict, don’t ever resolve it with war – that is what I learned when I visited the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam last December 2013. We only had a day in Ho Chi Minh – technically, just a half day. We arrived in the southern Vietnamese city […]

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Shutter Gallery: The Reunification or Independence Palace

yAn A.L. — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 17:06:36 +0000

Below is the gallery of the photos I got from the Independence or Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City, the last stop of our 7-day Indochina tour. If you want to use one of the photos below, please read our terms and conditions then contact me. [custom_gallery id=”8306″ layout=”masonry”]

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The Sprawling Roots of Ta Prohm

yAn A.L. — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 00:05:42 +0000

From Thommanon, our guide drove us to Ta Prohm, our final stop in our Angkor Tour. When Aaron heard that it was the featured location of Angelina Jolie’s 2001 film, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, he surprisingly got excited. Maybe he was already well rested when he refused to climb the Phimeanakas, and he’s also a great […]

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The Devatas of Thommanon Temple

yAn A.L. — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 18:22:27 +0000

After getting dumbfounded in Angkor Wat, we headed to Angkor Thom and explored every temples within the complex. We stumbled in Bayon, ascened to the top of Baphuon, climbed the highest point of Phimeanakas, wondered around the Royal Palace, lingered the stretch of the Elephants Terrace, and roamed in the the channels of Leper King […]

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The Phimeanakas and the Remains of Angkor Thom Royal Palace

yAn A.L. — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 00:50:12 +0000

The Phimeanakas (or Prasat Phimean Akas) is a Khmer pyramid-like structure, which name translates to celestial temple. It was built in the later part of 10th century and was situated at the heart of Angkor Thom‘s Royal Palace. The royal palace seats in the north of the Baphuon temple. Since the Royal Palace is pretty […]

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Baphuon Temple and its Giant Reclining Buddha

yAn A.L. — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 23:07:51 +0000

Immediately after exiting Bayon temple, we moved to the Baphuon temple. It is only few hundreds of meters (350+) away from Bayon, including the 150-meter walkway from the main road. The surrounding of the temple is a swamp, which gets deeper on wet season. That was probably why its builders created an elevated pathway. Pyramid-like Temple Baphuon […]

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The Four-faced Towers of Angkor Thom’s Bayon Temple

yAn A.L. — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 20:56:57 +0000

After witnessing the breathtaking view of Angkor Wat’s sunrise and wondering around its bewildering structure, our guide lead us to Angkor Thom. We entered the Angkor Thom complex via the south gopura (or an arched gate), and what welcomed us were stone figures seemingly pulling a log (a scene in a classical movie wherein the […]

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The Angkor Wat, Bow!

yAn A.L. — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 04:01:04 +0000

I never thought that I would be crossing out one great entry in my bucket list this year. This 12th-century temple was always a dream and then, just this December, I finally laid a hand to the world’s largest religious- and well-preserved monument – the Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat forms part of Angkor, the seat […]

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Things to do in Siem Reap (at Night)

yAn A.L. — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 14:32:57 +0000

It was already late afternoon when we arrived in Siem Reap. We’d been on the road for almost the entire day since we only took a public land transport from Bangkok. After a short rest in Angkor Wonder Hotel, we went out to the entertainment or tourist triangle, an area within Sivatha Road, 2 Thnou […]

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The Unusual Hospitality of Angkor Wonder Hotel

yAn A.L. — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 22:30:32 +0000

I did not ask for peer recommendations when I booked our accommodations for our Indochina tour. The only criteria I had in mind is – as long as I can afford it. We will be spending 7 days in foreign lands, so I have to make sure that we won’t run out of funds. I […]

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Cheapest 9-Hour Commute from Bangkok to Siem Reap

yAn A.L. — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 01:03:23 +0000

We checked out early on our 4th day in Bangkok to catch the 05:55AM train to Aranyaprathet, the closest Thai town to the Cambodian border at Poipet. There are buses that ply directly from Bangkok to Siem Reap but we chose the train because we wanted the tour to be more indulging. We wanted to […]

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All that Remained in Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Ayutthaya Kingdom’s Grand Palace

yAn A.L. — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 20:32:29 +0000

Ayutthaya Kingdom [1351 to 1767 AD] was once considered as Southeast Asia’s most formidable. But not until 1767 when it fell to Burma’s fury. At the present, all that remained were ruins and the reinforced chedis. These ruins were under the protectorate of Ayutthaya Historical Park and were listed to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. We […]

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The Ruins of Wat Maha That

yAn A.L. — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 22:02:33 +0000

Also called as the Monastery of the Great Relic, the Wat Maha That was built during the reign of the Siamese medieval empire, the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Now, it is one of the most stunning historical artifacts in Thailand’s former capital. Wat Maha That was the third stop of our temple run in Ayutthaya during the day 2 of our […]

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Day 3: Walking Tour in Bangkok Continued

yAn A.L. — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 16:06:41 +0000

Our Day 3 in Thailand wasn’t an ordinary day but a big protest weekend. Our hostel posted places to avoid because of the massive protests and most of our designated stops for our day 3 were on the list. Actually, Wat Saket, the Royal Pavilion Mahajetsadabadin, Wat Ratcha Natdaram, and Wat Suthat were scheduled for […]

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Startled in Wat Suthat

yAn A.L. — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 22:15:17 +0000

We walked a kilometer from the Royal Pavilion Mahajetsadabadin to see the Giant Swing. We never expected that we will see another holy stunner nearby, the Wat Suthat. Wat Suthat is one of the oldest and largest temples in Bangkok. It is known for its distinct roof line, 25-ft tall golden Buddha, elaborate mural paintings, […]

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A Morning Hike to the Golden Mount (Wat Saket)

yAn A.L. — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 22:41:47 +0000

After some hygiene fix (and without breakfast), we immediately boarded a Khlong boat at the Hua Chang station to see the first stop of our Day 3 Tour in Thailand, the Golden Mount (Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan or simply Wat Saket). Some Quick Facts and History Seating on an artificial man-made hill, the […]

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How to Commute to the Golden Mount (Wat Saket) from Siam Square

yAn A.L. — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 19:32:13 +0000

If you are going to the Golden Mount (Wat Saket), the Democracy Monument, the Royal Pavilion Mahajetsadabadin, the Giant Swing (Sao Chingcha), and Wat Suthat, you can take the Golden Mount line of Khlong Boats of Saeh Seap canal. The Khlong boats operates daily from 05:30AM to 08:30PM (until 07:00PM only on weekends). 1.) The […]

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Day 2 in Thailand: A Temple Race in Bangkok and Ayutthaya

yAn A.L. — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 22:16:57 +0000

We’d been awake the longest during our day 1 but we accomplished a lot on our day 2. We’d able to visit the major attractions of the two great cities; Bangkok and Ayutthaya, rode a 4-hour back-and-forth train, and made a late-night walkathon to check the newly-added attractions on our list – yes, we made […]

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Amazed the Second Time Around in the Temple of the Reclining Buddha

yAn A.L. — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 21:50:25 +0000

We never expected that our confoundment still had a part 2. The Grand Palace was already the perfect stunner but the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (commonly Wat Pho or officially Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhlaram Ratchaworamahawihan) still marveled us. Though not equally overwhelming and dazzling, the temple offered some great three-dimensional artwork and excellent […]

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Amazed and Dazzled in the Grand Palace

yAn A.L. — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 21:37:34 +0000

After our sightseeing along the Chao Phraya River and a simple local breakfast at Tha Chang Port, we headed to the Grand Palace. Well, the reason why we took the boat was to reach the Grand Palace, and since cruising Chao Phraya River with locals is an awesome activity as well, I piled it to […]

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Shutter: Angkor Wat Sunrise

yAn A.L. — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 23:11:34 +0000

Angkor Wat is one of the destinations you must see before you die. December 2 this year, I crossed out one of the entries in my bucket list and saw it from the moment it was pitch black until it slowly revealed itself as the sun lit the surroundings. Seeing the world’s largest religious monument […]

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Shutter: The Image of Brahma at the Erawan Shrine

yAn A.L. — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 20:29:08 +0000

The Erawan Shrine (ศาลพระพรหม or San Phra Phrom) seats at the intersection of Ratchaprasong and Ratchadamri Roads in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok. Unlike any other Thai temples in city, the image, which is a Thai depiction of the Hindu god of creation, isn’t sheltered with a big mondop. The shrine was built in 1956 by Erawan […]

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Sightseeing while Cruising Chao Phraya River

yAn A.L. — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 18:32:54 +0000

Our first stop for the day 2 of our Indochina tour was the Grand Palace. To reach the place, we boarded BTS at National Stadium station and got off at Saphan Taksin station. Sathorn Pier was just few steps away from the west exit of Saphan Taksin. We hopped on a boat, and then it […]

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Day 1 of the 7-day Indochina Tour: A Walkathon in Bangkok

yAn A.L. — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 22:51:12 +0000

Before the walkathon in Bangkok, let us talk about our amazing race in the Philippines first. I did not go on leave a day prior to our trip. I took a mid-shift work schedule wherein I came to the office at 03:00PM and left at 12:00AM. I had all my stuff ready to make sure […]

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A Great Stay in Lub D Bangkok Siam Square

yAn A.L. — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:35:44 +0000

We stayed in Lub d Bangkok Siam Square on the first leg of our Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam tour. We spent three nights in the cozy hostel and the experience was totally great for us. Well, not mentioning the strategic location and a lot of freebies for guests, we shared memories with other travelers, and, of course, gained new […]

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A Temple Run in Ayutthaya

yAn A.L. — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 22:24:16 +0000

We reached Ayutthaya around 3PM on the second day of our Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam tour. That means that we only had three hours to explore the ruins of the capital of the once prosperous and Southeast Asia’s most invincible, the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351 to 1767 AD). Ayutthaya, by the way, was the capital of the Empire of […]

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5 Days and 4 Nights Hong Kong + Macau Itinerary and Guide

yAn A.L. — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 19:44:44 +0000

This Hong Kong + Macau Itinerary and Guide is based on my actual assessment on how to possibly fit-in all your “things to do” during your travel. We were a large group (15 individuals) when we traveled to Hong Kong and we fit-in all the tourist destinations in our list for just 5 days. So if […]

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A Day of Adrenaline Rush at Ocean Park Hong Kong

yAn A.L. — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 22:02:28 +0000

The 4th day of our tour was spent in Ocean Park Hong Kong. It wasn’t all about the aquarium and the marine animal shows, but also for jittery fun. There is no room for kinetophobes, tachophobes, and acrophobes in Ocean Park. It isn’t a good place to hang out for individuals with weak resolution and, […]

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Hong Kong Disneyland: Feeling Like a Child Again

yAn A.L. — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 21:31:41 +0000

Many said that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth, and once you fully give in, it awakens the child in you. However, I have a different sentiment. Probably because I just have a different childhood—a lot more different than any other child have—that is why, I did not completely enjoy it. We took an early […]

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An Exasperating Macau Walkathon: Day 2 of Hong Kong + Macau Tour

yAn A.L. — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 21:30:50 +0000

We slept very late the day before to squeeze in all our “things to do” for day one because we started late. However, we had to wake up early to catch the 9:00AM Cotai Jet schedule to Macau. Everybody was tensed when the clock ticked closely to eight, and some weren’t even dressed up yet. Imagine, […]

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Day 1 of Our Hong Kong + Macau Tour

yAn A.L. — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 01:34:56 +0000

August 24, 2013, the Day 1 of our Hong Kong + Macau Tour, was probably one of the longest day I had. At 1:00AM, end of my shift, I met my friends in Valero St., Makati, and then waited for the van that will bring us to Clark International Airport. We left Makati at around […]

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Shutter: Mickey Mouse the Whalers at Hong Kong Disneyland

yAn A.L. — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 23:49:10 +0000

Mickey Mouse the Whalers is worthy for a shutter feature. I took this photo last August 26, 2013 in front of the main entrance of Hong Kong Disneyland. Mickey appears surfing on the water spraying from the whale’s “blow hole”. (click on the image to share and view full size) Exif: Camera: EOS 1100D Aperture: F/11 […]

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Shutter: Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Colors

yAn A.L. — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 21:45:03 +0000

It took me several hours for me to take good shots of Sleeping Beauty’s castle during our visit in Hong Kong Disneyland. I witnessed how the colors transitioned, displaying a great contrast against the deep blue sky during the twilight. It also blends the with color of the dark night. This made Sleeping Beauty’s castle […]

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Suggested Macau Day Tour Itinerary

yAn A.L. — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 18:47:33 +0000

We spent the day 2 of our Hong Kong+Macau Tour in Macau. I prepared the Macau day tour itinerary to fit in most of Macau’s tourist spots in one whole day. This itinerary applies for solo travelers or small groups coming from Hong Kong. Make sure that you take the earliest boat to Macau so […]

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Macau Museum Gallery and Guide: Inside and Around

yAn A.L. — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 14:50:31 +0000

When your visiting Macau’s famous landmark, The Ruins of St. Paul, don’t forget to drop by at Macau Museum. The museum is situated on the top of Fortaleza do Monte or Mount Fortress which is right beside the Ruins. With just HKD/MOP15.00 entrance fee ( for adults), you can see Macau’s history, tradition, and culture and […]

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