China post #60: Thailand 2013 with Noel

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Kevin Messenger
Posts: 536
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 3:00 pm
Location: Nanjing, China
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China post #60: Thailand 2013 with Noel

Post by Kevin Messenger »

Ok, enough time has gone by. One of my reasons for postponing this post back in 2013, was trying to figure out a few more ID’s – versus posting pics without IDs. But I think things have gotten a bit extreme, seeing as how it’s some 7 years later now. So I’m just going to post the pics, if someone has a question on an ID, just let me know. Here we go:

P.S. I don’t expect most of the other entries in the following years to take near as long, as I’m more certain on those IDs than I am on Thai animals.


Final post from 2013, China post #60, herping Thailand with Noel:

A link to the previous post, herping Wuyishan in July with Dan: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18176

3 August 13
Noel Thomas and I agreed to meet up again this year for another herping adventure. Noel joined me in Shennongjia in early July. This next rendezvous was for Thailand. I had talked up the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, which I visited in 2012 for only 4 days and had an incredible time. For a link to that experience, go here:
http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/vi ... =2&t=15818

So we agreed to meet up in Bangkok, and then catch a bus (about 4 hrs) to SERS. My flight out of Hong Kong was delayed, which caused us to end up catching the last bus out of town, leaving at around 6pm. The other thing that kind of sucked is that they didn’t take us all the way in to the station, but instead just dropped us off at the main road, from there we had to walk in. Not super bad, but we had a lot of luggage. The entrance road was roughly a 45 min – 1 hour walk in. On the plus side, we’d get to “road cruise” on our walk in.


Almost immediately we spotted the eye reflection of a slow loris high up in a tree.
ImageSlow Loris by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

As well as plenty of sleeping Calotes versicolor.
Imagesleeping Calotes by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imagesleeping Calotes by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Around 11:30pm, we spotted the first snake. As found (Dryocalamus davidsonii):
Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

We finally arrived at our “hotel” – one of the most awesome research stations I’ve experienced. Here are images of the research station during the day:
ImageSakaerat Environmental Research Station by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0251v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageSakaerat Environmental Research Station by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr


As we made our way to our room (2 beds – plus our own bathroom/ shower – with hot water),
ImageIMG_0774v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0775v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Just outside our room, we found plenty of tokays and other geckos spotting the walls all about, as well as several frog species.

ImageFlat tailed gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageTokay gecko (Gekko gecko) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0197v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0198v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0200v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0201v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0204v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Long day, happy to finally not travel for a bit.

4 August 13
One of the more awesome things about the research station, is you get a room, shower, and three meals a day – which are always great – and if you like to sleep in, as I do from time to time – the staff just puts a plate over your share, so you can eat it later, during non-breakfast times.

That day, we met up with Colin, a friend I met last year when I was there with Anne. Of course Noel and I wanted to go track some king cobras with some of Colin’s technicians.

So we went tracking with Matt. The individual was named “Big John,” a king that measured 4.3 m (for those less familiar with metric, that’s 14’!). As we walked knee high in the tall grass, Matt would point in a general area, indicating where Big John was. He said, sometimes you could see the grass move as the snakes moved (that’s how large they were) – also, as many of us know, kings are highly intelligent, very visual, and very mobile – it makes tracking them quite difficult compared to say… eastern diamondbacks or something – a sit-and-wait ambush predator. Either way, we stayed put while Matt headed in the direction of the signal. Big John was on the move. He obviously noticed us and was doing his best to avoid us. One of the primary refugia the kings here use are massive termite mounds. We finally tracked Big John to one of these mounds, and if we got low, and zoomed in, we were able to get some crappy shots of him inside the mound, staring back at us:
ImageIMG_0225v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0226v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0228v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageOphiophagus hannah (king cobra) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0237v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0239v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr



We headed back for lunch (can you say “awesome”):
ImageIMG_0245v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr


While walking around the lunch area, I spotted a Draco on a tree:
ImageDraco maculatus (spotted flying dragon) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageDraco maculatus (spotted flying dragon) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageDraco maculatus (spotted flying dragon) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageDraco maculatus (spotted flying dragon) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr
ImageIMG_0245v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0254v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0269v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

The dam level was super low:
ImageIMG_0296v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0348v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr


That night wasn’t super. We went up to the hill, where the upper dam was – Taksin let us use the golf cart. Water levels were super low by comparison to the year before. Last year, I was here in mid-September, rather than early August. We found a Xenochrophis piscator and Cyclemys dentata.

Not a super late night that night. We also took some time to take some night shots of the Dryocalamus.
ImageDryocalamus davisonii by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr



There are many things I love about the research station. For the most part, every night, most of the techs working on the various projects, all congregate around the internet porch (the only place in the area that has wi-fi) – I go there, grab a coke or a beer (pay via the honor system), check some FB, download some pics, talk with new friends, look around and see the tokay geckos fighting, or some other species – adjacent to the porch is a small man-made pond with a couple species of frogs that are always calling – it is very nice.




5 August 13
Get up, head over to breakfast. On my walk into the dining room, I noticed a new “student/ researcher/ volunteer/ tech” – whatever term you want to use (prior to asking, that is), sitting out on the internet porch. After breakfast, I checked my mail and all of that fun stuff and started up some slight conversation. The new researcher was named Yuki, a student from Kyoto University. She was there to study butterflies, her specific interest was poisonous butterflies, and the manner/ ability in which butterflies take up these poisons. But she also had a keen interest in herps. She loved lizards and seemed very interested, although somewhat nervous, when it came to snakes. Noel could speak to her in Japanese a bit, due to his years of growing up with various anime shows. I remember one word that Noel said that made her laugh really hard. I think it was “grandfather” or something like that, but Yuki said no one uses that term anymore, and that it went out of style like back in the 16th century or something. Anyway, it was very cool to meet her.

For the day, when wanted to explore the roads. There are basically just two roads, one road going downhill to the main street, and another road going uphill to the upper dam. Beyond the upper dam there were tons of dirt roads, but as far as pavement is concerned, these were the only two. Off of the roads though were tons of habitat, and a few trails dotted here and there.

I wanted to explore the “Rhabdophis” pond – a pond we went to last year where me, Ray, Mary Ruth, and Anne, found a sleeping juvenile Rhabdophis nigrocinctus. I wanted to A) check it out in the daytime, and B) find it again, so that I’d remember where it was come night time.

We eventually found it. Not much active in the day. I did find a juvenile Rhacophorus bipunctatus metamorph in a curled up leaf.

ImageRhacophorus bipunctatus metamorph by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr



We bagged it for the time being. Figured by the time our days here at the station are numbered, it may get a bit more “distinguished” as to what it really is – because for the time being, we were just guessing on the bipunctatus ID.

We headed back for lunch.
ImageCalotes emma by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageCalotes emma by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0376v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0377v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr


More tracking after lunch:
ImageIMG_0382v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0383v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0384v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0386v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr



Dinner, then beer run into town on back of motorcycles,
ImageIMG_0396v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Yuki with her self made ghost busters outfit:
ImageIMG_0397v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0398v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Leo beer:
ImageIMG_0399v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Noel with a massive phantasmid:
ImageIMG_0408v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0409v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0410v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr




ImageDryocalamus davidsonii by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageDryocalamus davidsonii by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

found Pareas carinatus, Lycodon aulicus.

ImagePareas carinatus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImagePareas carinatus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImagePareas carinatus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImagePareas carinatus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImagePareas carinatus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr



ImageLycodon aulicus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageLycodon aulicus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageLycodon aulicus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Then another hike: Crytodactylus intermedias and C. angularis, and weird Polypedates.


6 August 13
Released captives, photographed Dryocalamus, on the walk back found Oligodon fasiolatus

Also found Calotes mystaceous and Tree Skink (not photographed)
ImageCalotes mystaceous by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageCalotes mystaceous by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageCalotes mystaceous by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageCalotes mystaceous by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageCalotes mystaceous by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Dinner that night:
ImageIMG_0430v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0431v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0444v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0445v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0446v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Miscellaneous pics from earlier in the day:

ImageIMG_0463v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageOligodon fasciolatus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0468v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0469v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0470v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0471v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0472v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0473v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0474v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0475v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0476v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0477v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0478v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3235v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3238v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3239v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3242v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3249v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3250v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3252v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImagePygospila tyres (Subfamily Spilomelinae) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3256v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3257v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr



7 August 13
Hiked with Rangers with noel and yuki.

ImageIMG_0501v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0508v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0510v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0511v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0512v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr


ImageIMG_3260v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0523v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0525v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0530v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0541v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr


Psammodynastes pulverulentus and Indotestudinata elongata

ImageElongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageElongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imagemock viper (Psammodynastes pulverulentus) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imagemock viper (Psammodynastes pulverulentus) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imagemock viper (Psammodynastes pulverulentus) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageEutropis macularia by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0546v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0547v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Firecock:
Imageshaky shot of Siamese Fireback by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Dinner:
ImageIMG_0556v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0557v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0558v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageGekko gecko (Tokay gecko) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3319v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3322v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr



Night hike: Trimeresurus macrops
ImageTrimeresurus macrops (Big-eyed viper) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageTrimeresurus macrops (Big-eyed viper) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageTrimeresurus macrops (Big-eyed viper) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageTrimeresurus macrops (Big-eyed viper) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageTrimeresurus macrops (Big-eyed viper) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageTrimeresurus macrops (Big-eyed viper) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr


ImageCyrtodactylus angularis by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageCyrtodactylus angularis by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageCyrtodactylus angularis by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3341v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3343v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr


The internet porch:
ImageIMG_0560v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0561v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr


8 August 13
Daytime: elongata tortoise walking the road

ImageIMG_0565v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr


Taksin let Noel and I take a golf cart for the day, to drive up and down the road as we pleased. Super nice of him:
ImageIMG_0575v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0579v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageOligodon fasciolatus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageOligodon fasciolatus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr



Nighttime: Walking the lower road – found Flying gecko and the bad species of scorpion.
ImageIMG_3390v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr
(supposedly this scorpion is fatal – or at minimum, very serious)

ImageIMG_3393v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imagetail edited to highlight the stinger(s) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3395v2v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr


Drove up to Rhabdophis pond – found Rhacophorus bipunctatus, Chiromantis vittatus, Chiromantis nonghkensis, Chiromantuis sp., Polypedates leucomystax, Microhyla heymonsi, Microhyla pulchra. Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis, Gehyra mutilata, Rhabdophis nigrocinctus, Lesser False vampire bats

9 August 13
Daytime: Davewakeum miriamae searching and photographing.
ImageDavewakeum [Brachymeles] miriamae by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageDavewakeum [Brachymeles] miriamae by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageDavewakeum [Brachymeles] miriamae by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageDavewakeum [Brachymeles] miriamae by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageDavewakeum [Brachymeles] miriamae by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageDavewakeum [Brachymeles] miriamae by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Cool caterpillar:
ImageIMG_3560v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3562v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_3563v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Nighttime: juvenile Rhabdophis nigrocinctus, Rhacophorus koi,

Lunch:
ImageIMG_0682v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0683v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0684v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0685v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Visiting a cave:
ImageIMG_0686v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0687v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0688v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0691v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Dinner:
ImageIMG_0698v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

It was coming up on Yuki’s last night, so Taksin broke out some special alcohol for her.
ImageIMG_0700v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0679v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

After dinner, herping:
ImageIMG_3579v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Rhacophorus koi:
ImageRhacophorus koi by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageRhacophorus koi by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageRhacophorus koi by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Juvenile R. bipunctatus:
ImageRhacophorus bipunctatus metamorph by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageRhacophorus bipunctatus metamorph by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageRhacophorus bipunctatus metamorph by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageRhacophorus koi by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageRhacophorus koi by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageRhacophorus koi by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageRhacophorus koi by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageRhacophorus koi by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageRhacophorus bipunctatus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageHemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageHemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageChiromantis nongkhorensis by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageRhacophorus bipunctatus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr





10 August 13
Daytime
ImageSlow loris by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imageslow loris by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0725v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0727v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0735v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0737v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0738v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0739v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0741v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0746v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Sushi!
ImageIMG_0749v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0752v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0753v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0754v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0756v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0757v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0759v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0760v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0761v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0762v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0766v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageTakydromus sexlineatus by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Nighttime: our last night at SERS – Taksin wanted to take us (and Yuki) out to a local sushi place. It was very authentic, and the sashimi was buffet style. Yuki ordered several dishes, and we ate awesome sashimi in the interim between the dishes. I learned some Japanese customs I didn’t know about. At one point during the meal, I poured my own beer…. Apparently this was very disrespectful… I was supposed to let Yuki pour it for me.

Moth on Yuki’s keyboard:
ImageIMG_0769v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0770v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageScincella sp. by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageRhabdophis nigrocinctus (green keelback) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageGehyra mutilata (four clawed gecko) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageGehyra mutilata (four clawed gecko) by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr


11 August 13
Leave SERS and head to Bangkok. Pizza, mall, books

Imagearound Bangkok by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

ImageIMG_0782v3 by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imagearound Bangkok by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imagearound Bangkok by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imagearound Bangkok by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imagearound Bangkok by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imagearound Bangkok by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imagearound Bangkok by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imagearound Bangkok by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr

Imagearound Bangkok by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr



12 August 13 – fly out to HK

Imagearound Bangkok by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr
Imagearound Bangkok by Kevin Messenger, on Flickr
User avatar
Scott Lupien
Posts: 56
Joined: June 15th, 2010, 5:15 am

Re: China post #60: Thailand 2013 with Noel

Post by Scott Lupien »

Wow, Kevin! Awesome post, as always, and very glad that you've finally started posting again! After going through your post I'm hungry!!
User avatar
zeevng
Posts: 54
Joined: April 27th, 2013, 8:46 pm
Contact:

Re: China post #60: Thailand 2013 with Noel

Post by zeevng »

Had to pinch myself seeing a new China post from you, Kevin!
Been waiting on #60 a few years now. :lol: It definitely delivered, and then some!

I'm sure we'd all love to see more China posts, as well as updates as to where/what you're up to these days!

Thanks for the post, definitely brings me back to my time herping India/Thailand and more of South Asia!
I'll have to dig up all of my India pictures and get some posts going.

Happy herping! :thumb:
User avatar
lancehakker
Posts: 10
Joined: December 29th, 2019, 11:51 am

Re: China post #60: Thailand 2013 with Noel

Post by lancehakker »

A) This is making me yearn for a jungle night walk.
B) This lodge looked amazing.
C) The food!
D) Scrolling through this was fun, thanks.
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