Balakrishnan ji, Amazing pictures! It was a once in a lifetime oppurtunity & you never let it go :)
Regards, Rohini On Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 8:29 PM, balakrishnan valappil < [email protected]> wrote: > Dear friends > > > > We two, myself and my wife Seena, reached Dibrugarh in Assam , > > after traveling more than 3000 kms . Our destination was Namdapha > National Park in Arunachal Pradesh > > The tour operator told us that the next day (07 April 2008) - the founders > day of the bodo agitations-will be a bandh day ,though no bandh was > announced. The Tour operators seemed much worried and they warned us that > anything could happen > > on April 07.They were ready to arrange a vehicle to Namdapha NP,provided > the risks should be meted out by us. After thinking for a while ,I told > the operators to make the necessary arrangements to start the trip early > in the morning > > and they did so. > > > > After undergoing thorough security checks all through the way by > gunweilding armed soldiers, at four points, > > we reached in a forest village kamja in Lohit District and were relieved > after > > crossing some mud puddling spots on the road. > > > > It was cloudy by noon and suddenly we passed a small river crossing > > and stopped the vehicle, sighting a congregation of butterflies on the > road. > > As I stepped outside the vehicle, a loud gunshot was heard very close to us > > I am wondering now what was my thought then,which I do not remember > > but what I have seen is something which I wont forget in my whole life > > A puddling of unseen butterflies > > which consisted of 9 species of swallow tails and some 20 plus other > species of butterflies > > and as I was busy shooting I saw a man walking towards me on the road, > > My wife and driver were > > sitting inside the vehicle. I felt uneasy but went on shooting > > as he reached me I looked at him, a stubborn middle aged man wielding a gun > and > > a long knife hanging from his hip belt > > he passed me and I saw a couple of dead fowls/birds on his back! > > Relieved we left the site heading the butterfly heaven Namdapha > > I had tasted butterflies of NE then, > > God knows how many times I shall visit NE again!!!! > > The featured swallowtails are > > Common Peacock *Papilio polyctor* > > Veined Jay *Graphium chironides* > > Great Jay *Graphium eurypylus* > > Fourbar Swordtail *Graphium agetes* > > Fivebar Swordtail* Graphium antiphates* > > Tawny Mime *Chilasa agestor* > > Lesser Mime *Chilasa epycides* > > Red Helen *Papilio helenus* > > Yellow Helen *Papilio nephelus* > > > > > > WISHING ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR > and HAPPY BUTTERFLYING > > > > Balakrishnan Valappil > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Enjoy -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
