Thursday, January 23, 2014

Date with Butterflies

One thing that can keep me going even after being battered and bruised is nature and wildlife. The national park was about 1.5 hrs from the Georgetown area by bus. Though the journey was amazing; the trek left us tired. Moreover that day; it was noon and it didnt rain.

But the thought of not watching the butterflies was never acceptable. The farm is 2 kms away from the national park and frequent buses ensured we got to the farm at 4 pm with 1 hours left for the last entry.

The ticket is bit on the expensive side of 30 or 40 RM but worth it for sure. Why wouldnt you like to be surrounded by butterflies fluttering all over. I was sweaty after that long and tough day but that turned out to be a boon. I remember reading somewhere bees and flies swarm over you to drink your sweat. Thats what happened at Brunei's rainforest as well.

And so; I had the butterflies all over me; sitting on my hands; my face. Never going away even after attempting to shake them off. This living museum houses exotic butterflies; Malaysian species and some of the world's rarest and endangered. There are also tropical plants and other creatures like hude centipedes, frogs, spiders and snakes encases in glasses. Got to buy some cool souvenir in the form of pendants and keychains having real butterflies and insects.

Overall, it was a fitting end to an otherwise tiring day. Journey back to Georgetown was with sleep laden eyes and music while watching the sea coast of Batu Ferringhi pass by where the tourists had already started swarming into cafes for chill beers. One thing that was amazing was the transport and connectivity. One bus comes to the butterfly farm to transport passengers to the main bus stop 2 kms away. You dont have to worry about walking or trying to get bus! Loved Penang for that reason.

Paper kite of Rice Paper Butterfly. Its of SE Asian Origin


The rare Indian Leaf Butterfly. Also called Orange Orange Oakleaf; found in tropical Asia to Japan. Very attractive and colorful


As much as being colorful with attractive patterns; with wings closed; it resembles a dry leaf and its a spectacular camouflage. For this reason; its also called as Dead Leaf Butterfly


They were all over!


Leopard Lacewing; found from India to China; recent arrival in Malay peninsula


The Cruiser


Common Eggfly


A Indian Leaf pair


Name not known. I couldnt find it on internet. It sure must be a tropical species. Black and red head


Clipper


Yeah!!!!


The endangered Yellow Birdwing. Birdwings are native to Indian subcontinent, SE Asian archipelago and Austrlasia. This one particularly is endangered and now protected


Name not known.


Yellow Glassy Butterfly


This one is special. Rajah Brooke's Birdwing. Its from the rainforests of Thai Malaysian Peninsula, Borneo, small islands of Sumatra. Its a protected species and the national butterfly of Malaysia


New Lacewing; mainly found in SE Asia and Australia


Remember your Botany classes? This is a Nepenthes pitcher hanging from a tendril. They are carnivorous plants


:-P


Can someone identify this species?



The Black Bat flower; unique looking


A Green snake; not the vine snake though


Color Sergeant butterfly



A pair of Yellow Birdwings


There were more! 4000 individual butterflies of 120 kinds! All I click were some of these

19 comments:

  1. Lovely pictures! Am sure this must have been a very rewarding experience!

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  2. Thanks for the nice travelogue. And, thanks for the excellent photos. After reading this, a quote from Carl Sagan comes to my mind:

    We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.

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    1. Thank you SG. I read another quote yesterday by Carl Sagan. It was just a coincidence that you also quoted Carl Sagan. Here is what I read - "We humans look rather different from a tree. Without a doubt we perceive the world differently than a tree does. But down deep, at the molecular heart of life, the trees and we are essentially identical"

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  3. Bindu,
    I know nothing about butterflies ,but these pictures are awesome.
    In fact,you yourself look like a butterfly in the picture.
    Cheers .

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    1. Chowla sir,

      Thank you. Aah I look like a butterfly; you made my day!

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  4. wow! what an array of colors! so lovely and refreshing to look at...

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    1. The blue-black one is Parides Atrophaneura varuna varuna from Borneo

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    2. Thank you so much Ashok for the name. i went crazy searching on the web. They were lovely and it was exhilarating to see beautiful colorful ones fluttering by

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  5. I've always liked Butterfly museums/houses. It's a great place to enjoy the silence, surrounded by the myriad colors of butterfly. Makes a great photographic opportunity too! Lovely pictures!

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    1. Yes exactly! I was very happy that I carried my zoom lens because there were so many colorful ones

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  6. Butterflies , to me looks increasingly prehistorical like the once ubiquitous sparrow.. Pretty soon we may have to hunt at the taxidermist to see the relics of this fantastic , nimble creation.
    Thoughtful of you B, to think of them and picture.
    The green snake shot is pretty, beautiful.

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    1. Sadly yes Anil. Any many in this list are either rare, endangered or protected. The snake picture - I was surprised at the outcome too. It was encased in the glass box; in a dark area with minimal lights and flash was prohibited. So this really came out good without reflection

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  7. Wonderful collection there Insi..A big thanks from my lill K,she is so much into butterflies.

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    1. Thanks Melange. Oh wow! I am glad your little one will love these pictures.

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  8. Wow they all look gorgeous.... :D awesome

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  9. The Blue Butterfly you asked to be identified is a Papilio memnon
    Papilio memnon Linnaeus, 1758 – Great Mormon

    Subspecies in India:

    (1) Papilio memnon agenor Linnaeus, 1758 – Continental Great Mormon
    from: http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/#!/sp/521/Papilio-memnon

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    Replies
    1. Wow! Thank you so much. I am glad i finally found its name.

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