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St. Regis Moscow: Setting the Standard

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St. Regis Moscow: Setting the Standard

St Regis Moscow Review is part of the Quest Around the Globe Trip Report.

St. Regis is my favorite hotel brand. My love started with the unforgettable St. Regis New York, the picturesque St. Regis Mauritius, the heaven-sent St. Regis Osaka, and the best hotel in Asia, the St. Regis Shenzhen. Though I can only compare the St. Regis Moscow to the Park Hyatt Moscow, an excellent hotel in its own right, it would not be out of turn to say that the St. Regis Moscow is the best hotel in Moscow. Here’s why:

Location

The hotel is within walking distance from the Park Hyatt and in the city center. st regis moscow review

Hotel Itself 

The hotel is for dignitaries. st regis moscow review a black and white rug on a marble floor st regis moscow review a car parked in front of a building a chandelier in a hotel lobby a circular table with a circular design on the floor St Regis Moscow a large room with a large staircase and a large chandelier a staircase with chandeliers and a marble staircase St Regis Moscow a large staircase with a chandelier and a chandelier a large room with a large chandelier and chairs a chandelier with crystal lights from the ceiling

Hallways & Elevators 

I don’t make it a point to take pictures of hotel hallways or elevators, but I felt compelled to this time.

St Regis Moscow a glass doors with a mirror on the wall a chandelier with crystal balls from the ceiling a hallway with a light fixture a chandelier from the ceiling a white door with gold trim

Suite

The room was not a suite in the traditional sense. It was two separate rooms not separated by a door. Though not spacious, every centimeter was elaborately decorated.a bed with pillows on it a bed with pillows and a lamp in a room a framed picture of a ballerina on a walla chandelier in a room a bed with pillows and a bench in a room a bed with pillows on top of a bencha framed picture of a ballerina on a walla statue of a woman in a tututwo framed pictures on a wall a painting on the wall a painting on the wall

Bathroom

Who doesn’t like mirrors? Every corner had one.
a mirror in a bathrooma bathroom with a mirror and sinka mirror on a walla bathroom with a sink and mirrora bathroom with a mirror and sinka tray with toiletries and a gold handletwo glass jars on a countera bathtub with a gold rope from ita bathtub with a towel from the walla gold and glass light fixturea shower with a gold shower head

Courtyard 

The courtyard looks like something out of a Disney movie.a window with curtains and a vase in the background a building with columns and a fountain a courtyard of a building with a glass dome

Breakfast 

Breakfast could have been the only meal of the day. The selection was limitless.
a group of bottles of liquid in a bowl

a glass container with food in it a table with different kinds of food on it a buffet with different food on it a table with food on it a group of small bowls of red caviar in a glass dome a group of bowls of fruit on ice a group of jars with crackers and candy a plate of vegetables and tomatoes a plate of food in a container a plate of food in a microwave a plate of food on a stove a group of food in containers a tray of food on a counter a plate of food with a bowl of caviar a plate of food with sauce

Spa

The best part of the hotel is the underground spa. There was a heated pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a cold pool, and – the best part – it was open late into the evening.
a group of water bottles on a table a group of bottles of water and a bowl of green apples a pool inside a building a swimming pool inside a buildinga ceiling with a glass dome a swimming pool inside a building a swimming pool inside a buildinga pool with chairs and a wall with a fan on the walla pool inside a building a stairs leading to a pool a white tiled bench with round objects a pool in a room a wooden stairs in a sauna a tiled bench in a bathroom a urinal with a black and white tiled wall a wooden chair in a room a small metal container with rocks inside a water falling into a pool a man in a pool with a waterfall

Overall 

Though I thoroughly enjoyed the Park Hyatt Moscow, I would recommend staying at the St. Regis, the best hotel in Moscow.

St Regis Moscow Review is part of the Quest Around the Globe Trip Report.

JetBlue Business Card App: More Info Required

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JetBlue Business Card App: More Info Required

I applied for the JetBlue Business card expecting a struggle (see JetBlue 100k Business Card App: The Wait Begins). And here we are. Barclays is asking for the following:

a white envelope with black text

The KYC rules necessitate asking for these documents, but I’m not sure if I sound more or less shady if I explain my situation. My residence is Puerto Rico, my mailing address is in Houston, and my law office is in NY. I’ll give it a shot and report back. It’s worth the 100k points if I am approved.

Park Hyatt Moscow: Luxury Inside & Out

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Park Hyatt Moscow: Luxury Inside & Out

Park Hyatt Moscow Review is part of the Quest Around the Globe Trip Report.

I like to count how many Park Hyatt’s I’ve visited. Apart from the Park Hyatt NY, Park Hyatt Toronto, and the Park Hyatt Melbourne, they have been great. The Park Hyatt Moscow continues that tradition.

Location

The Park Hyatt Moscow is located in the city center, walking distance to Red Square (see Red Square: The Best Photo Op If You Can Handle the Drama).

Hotel Itself 

Some Park Hyatts are small and quaint (see Park Hyatt Saigon). Some are modern and massive (see Park Hyatt Guangzhou). This one was the latter from the inside but unassuming from the outside.

Park Hyatt Moscow Review a building with many windows Park Hyatt Moscow Review a glass stairs in a building a glass roof with a bar and flowersa building with multiple floors a glass elevator in a building a building with blue lights a city at night with cranes a city at night with buildings and cars

Amenities, Small Touches, and Welcome Gifts

This is what I have come to expect from high-end hotels. Squirrel sculptures and overgrown broccoli are a must.

a glass bear sculpture on a marble surface a green flowers in a glass cup a tea kettle on a counter a book with a horn on it a group of coffee cups and chocolates on a glass table a bottle of wine and two wine glasses on a tray a plate of fruit on a table a box of chocolates on a table

Bedroom

The bedroom was standard park. Even if you’re only staying in a standard room, you can expect a great sleep.

a bed with pillows and a lamp in a room a tv on a table in a room a mirror in a room a couch next to a lamp a glass bottle and a phone on a table

a sign with blue circles and green lights
I need this in my home.

Suite

The suite was massive. a mirror with purple lightsa living room with a couch and a coffee tablea couch with pillows on ita living room with a couch and a tva living room with a couch and a tvBathroom

And the bathroom was full of mirrors. I did my best to hide, a sign of a great blogger. Can you spot me? a bathroom with a white robe on a hook a bathroom sink with a mirror and a sink a sink with faucets and a mirror a group of toiletries and towels on a counter a bathroom sink with a mirror and a counter topa white rectangular object with black rectangular object in front of a mirrora white robe on a door a bathtub in a bathroom a bathtub with faucets and a shower head a shower with a marble wall a shower head in a bathroom

Breakfast 

Breakfast is how bloggers rate hotels (see Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome: Overrated Breakfast). The buffet was not exceptional but the menu items were.

a table with different types of cheeses a table with plates of pastries and pastries a table with different types of pastries Park Hyatt Moscow Reviewa plate of food with scissors and tongs a plate of food and a glass of juice a sandwich with eggs and fish on top Park Hyatt Moscow Review Park Hyatt Moscow Review

Overall

While I prefer the St. Regis Moscow over the Park Hyatt, this hotel is luxury in a luxurious city.

Park Hyatt Moscow Review is part of the Quest Around the Globe Trip Report.

 

Moscow’s Metro: A Living Museum

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Moscow’s Metro: A Living Museum

Moscow Metro is part of the Quest Around the Globe Trip Report.

If you know TPOL, you know I don’t care to visit museums. As an eternal optimist, I think of it as something to do when I’m old and fragile. If you know TPOL, you know that I enjoy visiting living museums like the Cu Chi Tunnel in Vietnam. Another tunnel of great significance and great beauty is Moscow’s metro system. Shanghai’s metro is clean and efficient, New York‘s is full of rats, Prague has the longest escalator, while Moscow’s is alive with both people and art. I spent an afternoon going from one famous stop to another.

a building with a sign on top of it

a red machine with a screen
What other museum costs $0.65 to visit?

people on an escalator

a wall with signs on it
Can NY put up signs of its stops?
a sign with text and a line of directions
Great for practicing your Russian

a group of people in a tunnel a sign on a wall a group of people standing on a staircase a group of people walking in a tunnel a ceiling with lights on the ceiling a group of people on an escalator a group of people walking in front of a buildinga group of people walking in a tunnel a stained glass window in a wall a mosaic of a woman holding a child a stained glass window with a star in the middle a statue of a man with a beard and a man holding a gun

a hallway with many arches and lights

 

 

Chase, Where Is My Damn UR Balance on Desktop!

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Chase, Where Is My Damn UR Balance on Desktop!

My favorite part of the month is when I receive a bill from Chase saying my next payment is due. That means that the URs I earned from the last cycle have posted. On desktop, there used to be a nice box that showed the total of all my UR points accumulated from using my Freedom and Ink Cards. Now, there is no box and the only way to find the balance is to click around or go to the UR homepage. There, the points are shown per account and not as a grand total. That is inconvenient.

On mobile, all the points show up in one spot. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to complain about the stupidity of a bank’s website (see Amex Website Goes from Bad to Worse & Why Can’t Chase Alerts Specify the Account!).

Why is Chase doing this?

a screenshot of a credit card

Red Square: The Best Photo Op If You Can Handle the Drama

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Red Square: The Best Photo Op If You Can Handle the Drama

Red Square is part of the Quest Around the Globe Trip Report.

I travel today so I can have memories tomorrow. And nothing, beyond blog posts, is better for capturing these moments than the perfect picture. It is stressful to secure the perfect photo. It’s not always organic. It may lead to tears with your traveling companion who you demand take the photo over and over again. But when it works out, it justifies the public tantrum that I throw.

While I have been all over the world (see Country Count List), one place I’ve always wanted to go was Moscow. As an avid lover of Tetris, I always wanted to visit Red Square and take a photo at St. Basil’s Cathedral. Leaving the Park Hyatt Moscow, I began to feel anxious as I always do when the mission of the day is photography. What if it starts raining? What if the sight is closed? What if I forgot to charge my phone?

To calm myself, I took many photos along the way. a street with people walking on the sidewalk a building with a gold dome a mosaic on a walla large red building with towers and people walking around with State Historical Museum in the background a large building with towers and people walking around a large red building with towers and people walking in the middle with State Historical Museum in the background a man standing in front of a large brick wall a brick wall with a flag on top a large brick building with a clock tower

So far, everything was going smoothly. Then came the time to take photos with the cathedral. The trouble, I discovered, is that I was not the only one who wanted a photo with the same backdrop.a building with colorful domes and trees a large building with colorful domes

a large building with colorful domes with Saint Basil's Cathedral in the background

The game of posing, taking a photo, and finding out that it was mediocre went on and on. By the time there was a clear shot, the natural joy had turned into a manufactured pose. That required many retakes before I finally had suitable photos. a man standing in front of a large building a building with colorful domesSaint Basil's Cathedral with many towers

After leaving Red Square, I took more photos of the surrounding area in an effort to take my mind off of that stressful event. a boat on a river a road with cars and buildings a man standing on a ledge in front of a red brick wall

To not drive myself crazy, I do not review photos beyond the moment they are taken. It will only lead to more drama and more tears for all parties involved. Instead, I hope for the best and wait till I’m back home to see if the pictures are National Geographic worthy. For insurance, I made the smart decision of returning to Red Square at night. There was no one there, leaving me the perfect chance for an impromptu photoshoot. Here are the highlights: a statue of men on a pedestal in front of a buildinga building with colorful domes a building with colorful domes at night a man standing in front of a building a man jumping in front of a building

Looking at the photos now, I will declare mission accomplished. Even if there are minor changes that could be made, I don’t have the desire to use PhotoShop and fix them. Instead, I rationalize that the imperfections better reflect the mood of the moment.

Do you force your traveling partner to take photos of you? Have you lost traveling partners or lovers due to this?

JetBlue 100k Business Card App: The Wait Begins

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JetBlue 100k Business Card App: The Wait Begins

Applying for a Barclays business card is always a struggle. It was two years ago that I applied for the JetBlue business card (see JetBlue Business Approved! Yes, Alexander Bachuwa Owns Bachuwa Law). I subsequently cancelled that card and now have applied for it again because of the 100k offer. The days of instant approval are long gone as is the motivation to call recon. Even checking online provides no updates as I receive an error message prompting me to call. Obstinate, I will wait and see.

How about you? Any luck on the business side?

a screenshot of a phone number

Punxsutawney TPOL: Leaving My Basement Trip Report

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Punxsutawney TPOL: Leaving My Basement Trip Report

Leaving My Basement is part of the Punxsutawney TPOL Trip Report where I move past The Lost & Found Year(s): COVID Trip Report.

Why am I ready to travel again? Simple. I am running out of blog content. After years of neglecting my blogging duties (see Hangover = Blogger Malpractice?), I am almost completely caught up with all my past trips. I just finished the Year of the Tiger Trip Report. This leaves me with only two more to do: Tahiti Triumph and Quest Around the Globe. That’s the good news. The bad news is that I have gone nowhere in 2020. (Check out my Trip Directory to see the sharp contrast between this year and every other year.)

In an attempt to get back to normal, I’m going to start planning my next trip, one step at a time. The first question is when do I plan to travel. I have no idea but I’m aiming for summer of 2021. The next question is where do I want to go. The initial answer was anywhere. Then I recalled that I’m in the midst of playing the country count game and need to add to that list. Currently, I am at 113 countries (see Where I’ve Been) and need to make up for lost time. I’m considering places like Oman and Monaco along with Algeria and Corsica. The next step is to figure out how to get there. Do I fly Iberia direct from Puerto Rico? I don’t even know if that route still exists. Do I return on Qatar Qsuites? I can’t recall the sweet spots for booking that route. Will I still have hotel status next year? I forgot my AwardWallet password. I do know that my passport was automatically renewed for Global Entry but I don’t remember where I last put it. Clearly, I am a bit tepid and a bit rusty. Fortunately, I have cataloged my Travel Lessons so when Punxsutawney TPOL musters up the courage to leave his basement, he won’t fall flat on his face (see Surrendering Vacation: When to Cut a Trip Short). Until then, I’ll keep posting about my planning in the hopes that I one day hit 270 [countries].

a man with a white eye patch on his face
Looking forward to new bumps and bruises.

Recap! Year Of The Monkey Trip Report

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Recap! Year Of The Monkey Trip Report

Recap! is part of The Year of the Monkey Trip Report which covers the following places:

Here’s how everything happened.

Cathay First Booked: Dates TBD, Imagination Required

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Cathay First Booked: Date Determined, Persistence Required

This is a 4 cabin flight

The Marginal Return of Booking An Added Segment4

Push It To The Limit! Pre AA Devaluation Booked00

HKG-BKK: AA Bumps Me Down to BusinessChampagne or I complain.

Sanya, China: Struggling To Find Where to Stay

capture

The 28,674 Mile Trip In [Mostly] Premium Is Underway!

Checkout the Great Circle Mapper which has me crisscrossing Asia for no particular reason for a total distance flown of 28,674 miles.

Delta Sky Club MSP: A Bloody Mary Under Constructiona group of jars of food and drinks

Stumptown Coffee NYC: What A WaitInvalid request error occurred.

Amazon Locker: 22nd Century Technology a storefront with a sign on the side of it

Andaz Wall Street: A City Asleepa street sign on a street corner with a street sign and cars on the street

British Airways Lounge JFK: Mashed Potatoes & GravyInvalid request error occurred.

Cathay First JFK-HKG: Part 1 to Vancouver

a glass of champagne next to a bottle of orange juice

Cathay First YVR-HKG: The Next Episode14828256051125.jpg

The Pier Vs. The Wing: Battle of Cathay’s First Class Lounges The Pier

Cathay A350 HKG-BKK: I Miss First Already wp-1483103528640.jpg

Thai Uber Asks For Gas MoneyInvalid request error occurred.

Le Meridien Suvarnabhumi Bangkok: Night Golf!2016-12-22-19-57-20

Louis Tavern Lounge Bangkok: Another Priority Pass Miss2016-12-23-04-12-05

Malaysia Airlines: Business Class Review in SE Asia 2016-12-23-05-10-22

Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge KL: Damn Good Soup2016-12-23-09-25-06

VPN: A Necessary Hotel Amenity in China Invalid request error occurred.

Grand Hyatt Jakarta: It’s Where to Stay14837009867986.jpg

Uber Motorbike Jakarta! What Could’ve Been A Great Story2016-12-23-08-01-02

Tinder: It’s Not Just For Sex

Apart from using this post to defend themselves, Tinder subscribers will find it tough sledding to convince their partner that their Tinder use is purely to learn the local spots for eating, drinking, and partying. But that (in addition to sex) is what Tinder can do.

Where To Eat In Jakarta

If you’re looking for authentic Indonesian food and want more than what is offered in the Grand Hyatt Jakarta lounge or what your tinder date recommends, I highly suggest going to Tugu Kunstkring Paleis.

Priority Pass Jakarta Lounge Review: Yuck

2016-12-25-08-05-38

Malindo Air Review: US Discount Carriers Take Note2016-12-25-09-38-08

Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu: The Best Deal in the Hyatt Portfolio

Because of its remote location, it was surprising to find a Hyatt in Borneo. I was even more surprised at the price. It was only 2500 points and $40 a night as opposed to the standard rate of $175.

Kota Kinabalu: Where to Party

There's more to life than pubs, bars, and clubs. Not every place I visit has to have Shanghai nightlife. After some shenanigans in Jakarta, I was looking forward to doing nothing in KK and expected it to be a secluded, underdeveloped beach town. I was completely wrong.

Kota Kinabalu: Island Hopping With Selfie Sticks

As we approached land, I hoped that this was not the island. While I could see the white sand, the tropical fish, and crystal clear water, I also saw a tiny island overrun by people with an elongated sticks in their hands.

Kota Kinabalu: Oh, The Seafood! 

If you are a lover of seafood, you have come to the right place. KK has all sorts of foods to fulfill your under the sea desires.

Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu vs. The Hyatt Regency

What's a vacation without switching hotels every day? Looking to requalify for Hyatt Diamond, I switched to Le Meridien for one night and am glad that I did.

Guns & Butter: Kota Kinabalu Travel Guide

There’s plenty to do in KK. I would recommend devoting 4 full days if you want to see and do most of it.

Uber China App Workaround

In order to use Uber China, you must have a Chinese bank account. Good luck explaining to Uncle Sam that the reason you have a Chinese bank is strictly for a ride share program.

Grand Hyatt Guangzhou: It’s Great to Be Grand

Welcome to the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou, an impressive hotel with great customer service, a beautiful room, and an overwhelming breakfast. But for my stay at the Park Hyatt Guangzhou, I would recommend making this your home when you visit Guangzhou.

Wagyu Pho in Guangzhou: Too Much of a Good Thing?

While visiting the Guangzhou International Financial Center, I stumbled upon Pho Kim Saigon. I rationalized another culturally insensitive meal as something I had to do for the blog.

Guangzhou Towers: Strain Your Neck Walking Tour

It's great to walk around the streets of Guangzhou and marvel at the amazing buildings. Just be sure to bring some Icy Hot for the inevitable neck strain.

Where to Party in Guangzhou!

China today is what I imagine NYC to be like in the 70's and 80's. The clubs are packed and the alcohol never stops flowing.

Ganbei! The Guide to Making Friends in China

The first step to making friends is to realize that you're not in Detroit anymore. The Chinese party different from we do at home.

Park Hyatt Guangzhou: The Sweet Upgrade

Situated in the business district of Guangzhou, the Park Hyatt Guangzhou is one of the best Park Hyatts in the collection.

Premium Lounge Guangzhou: Not Yuck, Not Great

Comparing Priority Pass Lounges to US lounges is a fair way to determine if they pass or fail. Based on this standard, the Guangzhou Premium Lounge gets a passing mark.

New Years 2016! My Last Binge in Bangkok

I needed one more binge in Bangkok before saying goodbye to a city that swallows people whole and never spits them out. After going there half a dozen times, I think it is time to go elsewhere.

Oman Air Lounge Bangkok: Hummus & Hennessy

Recall 2pac’s lyrics where he boasts about riding on his enemies, drinking Hennessy, and eating hummus. That was my experience at the smartly appointed Oman Air Lounge Bangkok.

Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui: Never Again!

Grab your pitchforks! It’s time to revolt against the Hyatt Hong Kong and its shady ways.
Hong Kong to Shenzhen: An Easy Trip on the Train
Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Shenzhen?
St. Regis Shenzhen: The Best Hotel in Asia And Beyond
The KK100 skyscraper, the second tallest building in Shenzhen and the 14th tallest in the world, is home to the spectacular St. Regis.
Coco Park: A Night Out in Shenzhen
Hong Kong has Lan Kwai Fong. Shenzhen has Coco Park, a bar district with something for everyone.
Grand Hyatt Shenzhen: Food, Food, Food!

There's plenty to love about the Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, namely the food.

No Worries: Shenzhen to Hong Kong Via Transfer VanDirect to HKG

Cathay Dragon Coach: Hong Kong to Sanyacathay dragon hong kong sanya flight review

Four Points Sanya: Come for the View, Then Leave2017-01-06 12.29.11

Burgers & Seafood: Sanya Dining Guide2017-01-07 22.56.11

Sanya! Where to Party GuideCapture

Sheraton Sanya Resort: Be Quiet! It’s Relaxation TimeInvalid request error occurred.

Bottoms Up! Crowne Plaza Sanya City CenterInvalid request error occurred.

Marriott Sanya: A Perfect CompromiseInvalid request error occurred.

Priority Pass Sanya: Like Flint’s Empress of ChinaInvalid request error occurred.

Cathay Dragon: Sanya to Hong KongInvalid request error occurred.

Champagne, Cigars, Caviar? The Most Clever Lounge PerkCathay Business HKG-EWR: Not First, But It’s a Solid Seconda man holding a magnifying glass and smoking a cigar

a person's feet in a chair with a television and a screen
a bar with shelves of liquor

Aloft Brooklyn: Nice When the Price Is Right

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Aloft Brooklyn: Nice When the Price Is Right

Aloft Brooklyn Hotel Review is part of The Year of the Monkey Trip Report which covers the following places:

I once wrote Why Is New York So Expensive?. In that post, I referenced that the Aloft Brooklyn was going for $269 before tax. If you think that is a rip-off for an Aloft, your head may explode when the price shoots up to $800 per night. Alofts are Alofts and they should not cost more than $100. Like Hyatt Place, there’s no real reason to write a review of the American properties since they are basically all the same (contrast with Aloft Bangkok). I only do so for completeness and to point out that Alofts are ideally located. All of this is true for Aloft Brooklyn.

Location

Right next to Sheraton Brooklyn is the Aloft Brooklyn. Pick whichever hotel is cheaper.

Pool Table

Always be prepared to gamble on a game of pool. “Break out Lucille.” a pool table in a room

Gym

I actually used the gym believing that one round on the treadmill would make up for weeks of overindulgence. It did not. a gym with exercise equipment

Bar 

The best Aloft bar in NY is at the Aloft Downtown. This one looked like any other Aloft bar.

a bar with shelves of liquor

Patio

Check the season.

a snow covered patio area with chairs and plants

Breakfast

If you’re looking for a real breakfast, Aloft is not the place to be. a group of donuts on a tray a display case with bagels on it a bagel and donut on a table

Room

The room may be typical but it feels like home.

a man taking a selfie in a mirror
How many photos do I have with my travel jacket in an Aloft?

a room with a tv and a desk a bed with pillows and a picture of a bridge

Overall

If the price is right, the Aloft Brooklyn is a good choice.

 

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