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Saturday, January 30, 2010

// 9:21 PM

Hey ya'll

Just got back from the laminator's and while I am quite upset because the new guy destroyed all my hand-drawn CNY cards in the machine by leaving them in there for too long, I can say happily that the butterfly wings turned out magnificently :) Here they are.

Bernie and I actually got the idea when we were visiting the Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park (who doesn't breed their butterflies but instead catches them from the wild) where - as it were - there were dead butterflies all over the place. We felt quite sad looking at all those dead butterflies because really they were still beautiful and pretty and now that they're dead all that's gonna happen is that they're gonna get washed away by the mud (turns out butterfly wing are made of similar stuff to human hair / bones so they don't rot away with the butterfly's body). So anyway we had the idea that if we collected the wings and then laminated them, we could possibly make jewellery and all sorts of crafts out of them and they will always remain beautiful. For some reason, however, we can never bring ourselves to collect the wings if the butterfly's body is still attached.

Anyway you can start anticipating us to start a mini side-business selling affordable and beautiful butterfly jewellery with nature inspired themes all using the natural beauty of real butterfly wings.

But in the meantime I shall camwhore with them first XD

So keep your eyes peeled for our nature jewellery line, great gifts for every occasion XD !!!!

PEACE OUT

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I got 100 percent on the ABC Striptease Quiz!

// 5:25 PM

What animal has its ears on its wings?

SO maybe you knew that grasshoppers have ears on their tummy, but do you know what animal species has ears on their wings? Perhaps you'd never guess this in a million years but the answer is

....... wait for it

....... wait for it

........ wait for it

butterflies!!!

This latest discovery made regarding butterfly anatomy was done on the blue morpho species (picture )that is found in the biologically diverse rainforests of Central and South America.

Morpho butterfly

In the new study, Kathleen Lucas of the University of Bristol in England and her colleagues were interested in the odd-looking hearing membrane that sits at the base of the blue morpho's wing. The tympanal membrane, as it is called, is oval-shaped with a dome at its center that kind of resembles the yolk at the center of a fried egg, Lucas said. Sound waves from, say, crackling leaves or a singing bird hit the membrane and get converted into nerve impulses by nearby sensory organs. Studies have shown that the butterfly's hearing range is anywhere between 1000 to 5000 Hz (a human's hearing range being somewhere between 20 to 20,000 Hz) but unlike human ears, a butterfly's ears is extremely sensitive to differences and changes in pitch. Which I think is rather amazing!!! After all, you only need to watch some people sing in American Idol to know that humans are not one of the species blessed with this ability.

closeup of the ear on a butterfly wing

Scientist believe that the butterfly would need such expert ears as it is perhaps essential to the survival of the insect, specifically in figuring out how and whne birds are going to attack. Lower pitch sounds would indicate the flapping of bird wings which would signal the butterfly to turn tail and run, however higher pitch sounds, like that of bird song would indicate to the butterfly that the bird has probably not spotted it yet thus eliciting the butterfly to remain at rest or stay extremely still, a posture which keeps most butterflies expertly hidden.

Amazing little fact isn't it? But why on the wings you may ask? Well, in my personal opinion, the wings ARE the largest and most prominent part of the butterfly and so I suppose it is only natural that they would be more likely to pick up sound waves than any other part of its body. And when survival is at stake, you just gotta use all you got.

Anyway many thanks to Michael for showing me this interesting piece of information.

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// 12:26 PM

My honour does not need to be defended by violence

Honour is within a person. It cannot be taken away by others unless you let them. I'd never needed their apologies, I'd never needed to fight back, because my honour is within me as it always have been, and it does not need to be defended by violence. If you know what you believe in, and you know what you stand for, there's no need to justify yourself against what others may think or say. So when people laughed and jeered, when they name-called and bullied, I became the bigger man and I turned the other cheek because I knew that I was following in my dreams, I knew I was being who I wanted to be, I knew I was different and I was proud of it. There's no need to retaliate on those who may see things differently, even when they try to put you down, because what is important is that you are proud of who you are, and you are proud of what you have accomplished, and its important to never loose sight of your own goals and dreams. I believe in my goals and dreams and I never had to step on those of others to get on my way. And that, makes me honourable.

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Friday, January 29, 2010

// 9:42 PM

Hey ya'll

Went to watch Tooth Fairy today which was just an o-kay movie I guess. I actually won tickets from that nuffnang Tooth Fairy thingie with my tooth fairy drawing and post but I guess it just wasn't meant to be cuz I was in Penang at the time of the screening. How like me to win something and not be aorund to claim the prize...typical. Anyway today was awesome in its own way cuz I finally got to meet up with someone I've really been wanting to speak/see and to be honest have been quite emo for a long time cuz of it. Anyway...

Just had a butterfly incident in the house. It was time to bring out Mr. Elastic (insect catcher net)

Will release him tomorrow in the daytime

3 comments

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

// 12:29 PM

The Very GINORMOUS Caterpillar

Just found this guy lounging around in my garden this morning. Oleander hawk moth I think and he must be close to cocooning time if he's already turned himself this colour. And boy oh boy was he huge!!! Almost as long as my finger when he stretches himself out!!! He's gonna be one robust moth that's for sure. :)

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

// 9:24 PM

What can I say? I miss you. Its like an itch inside my body that I cannot scratch, like a very tiny thorn has found its way inside my feet and the skin has already grown so thick over it that there's no way of getting it out. Being with you is like something I can't control, like trying not to fall down a slope of smooth clear glass when you're already halfway there, and maybe that's what's been on my mind. All I know is, now that you're here, I can't imagine what it would be like if you'd go. I guess what I'm saying is, I'm hoping...praying...what I'm saying is, if you want to, I want you to stay.

Anyway, can't go visit Penang Butterfly Farm without getting any ideas for new butterfly fairies so here's the latest one. I was thinking that even butterfly fairies need entertainment from time to time - although they are mostly buzy with things like helping plants grow and other works of Nature - so here is Kallima, the best dancer in all of the Butterfly Fairy Eutopia. It is said that her dance is so beautiful that flowers would bloom in her presence. Note, she is also my first dark-skinned butterfly fairy, being an Indian-leaf butterfly and all that ...

PEACE OUT

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// 4:09 AM

Penang Butterfly Farm

Hey ya'll

Its been awhile (no wifi from Ryn's summer home) but I'm back!!! And with sunburn too!!! XD. Number one, I would like to thank Nuffnang for letting me win those free tickets to watch Tooth Fairy starring Dwayne Johnson...unfortunately, due to the trip I was unable to attend. Number two, a shoutout to Michael of butterfly-insect.com and their blog.

Anyway moving on, during my visit in Penang, I (naturally) visited their butterfly farm. My comments, well I must say I am quite impressed with the entire operation. But let me show you instead of tell you

This is me with one of the birdwing butterflies Troides (Helena?) . They are my favourite, not only because of their immense size and striking colours, but also for their tendency to sit quite content upon my person. Aren't we majorly colour compatible?

But of course there were other species in the farm. Swallowtails were also abundant, such as this pair of Common Mormons Papilio Polytes which, along with numerous others of their kind seem to like hanging out near the leaf-insect and phasmids display.

This cool guy is a leaf insect Phyllidae can you spot him? Leaf insects like him are some of the best leaf-mimics in the entire animal kingdom! His species were once thought to be the animated leaves of a tree that would run away when touched or blown by the wind. It was once thought that like real leaves, they lived on nothing but sunlight and air!!!!

But I thought the best part of the entire farm was how tame the butterflies were, and how willing they were to simply alight on my hands and cooperate to have their pictures taken...

Even when they are at it!!! This is a pair of Malayan Lacewings Cethosia Biblis

This little butterfly, apparently, hitched a ride on my head for most of the duration we were at the park. I felt a ticklish and itching sensation in my hair and was about to reach up and scratch it when Bernie's sharp eye spotted him and stopped me just in time. Watch out there little guy...that could've been nasty!

But I guess we were overall amazed at how well kept the farm was. Throughout our entire stay there, we not once saw a single dead butterfly on the ground, something which is -unfortunately- common in the KL Butterfly Park.

I guess what made me most satisfied with the entire trip was the knowledge that these beautiful butterflies, insects though they may be, were getting the royal treatment here at the Penang Butterfly Farm. Don't they just look so happy in these pics? This group of Cethosia bilis seem to be having a very heated feeding frenzy.

Although perhaps this little lady should have gone for a flower that was real instead.

To me, Penang Butterfly Farm makes a difference mostly because of their breeding programme. While writing up my article on Malaysia's National Butterfly 2 years ago, I stumbled upon this little piece of knowledge and since then have wanted to visit the farm. The Chrysalis box is perhaps the most exciting exhibit in the entire farm (short of the insect show which i missed!!! Bummer T.T ) because you actually get to observe the process of the emerging butterfly which - while no longer foreign to me - is no doubt a breathtaking moment for those who have yet to see such a sight.

This Cethosia biblis emerging from her chrysalis gives the term "beauty sleep" a whole new meaning.

Although...some species like these tree nymph (Idea Leuconoe) chrysalises also sleep in style.

And although they wake up with a rather demure pattern of white with black spots, I would say that these nymphalid butterflies have one of the most graceful and beautiful flight patterns in all the insect kingdom

My rating of the place, a possible 9 out of 10. But perhaps my love for butterflies and insects are making me biased although, I'd say RM10 per entrance is a low price to pay to help with Penang Butterfly Farm's efforts in education and conservation of part of our natural heritage.

So what did I get from this visit?

1. Got to see lots of butterflies

2. Farm was clean and beautifully landscaped
3. Other insect and animal exhibits were interesting

4. Managed to get even more ideas and inispirations for my Butterfly Fairies series

I would seriously recommend anyone who is going up to Penang to check this place out :)

PEACE OUT

2 comments

Monday, January 18, 2010

// 11:54 PM

Sometimes I can blown away by the little things that happen, how when someone says something so simple and yet with such feeling that it blows me away. Its times like these when I realise, that there's no need for fancy words, no need for sonnets or limerricks. Sometimes all it takes is a simple verse. Like what you said to me that day. Because you waited, and it was worth every minute.

Anyway, do check out the latest addition to the Butterfly Fairy family. Atalanta, captain of the Butterfly Fairies and head of security of the Butterfly Fairy society. Skilled in all forms of combat and possessing a rare immunity to Iron (cancels out the magic in most fairies), he is dedicated to his service and will unquestioningly lay his life down in the name of his Queen.

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Sunday, January 17, 2010

// 3:28 PM

Tweety is going through a moult!!!! I suppose this is natural and normal where he just looses his old feathers to make way for new ones but my was it alarming when the longest and most beautiful of all his tail feathers simply fell out this morning!!! I thought my poor baby was going bald!!!!! Anyway I've checked some sources online and this seems to be quite natural I suppose, although I shall have to feed him with a high protein diet from now on to help him have enough energy to grow back all of those feathers, which I guess is good news for him because he's gonna be getting a lot more yummy food - honey nuts and a bit of every fruit I eat - from now on. Anyway the feather was quite pretty so I decided to keep it. I like how its green at the base and then blue near the tip.

Anyway Since I've been giving all my other butterfly fairies names and occupations, I thought it was only fair for me to come back to this one.

This is Ornithoptera, the Shaman of the Butterfly Fairies. Above all things, he is the head of Fairy Lore and matters regarding fairy magics. Among his responsibilities are renewing the spells and wards that protect the Butterfly Fairy society from prying eyes.

PEACE OUT

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// 3:05 PM

Packing for a holiday is sometimes simple, but it can be rather complicated as well, especially when you're moving into a six room bungalow that is not yet furnished. I suppose sleeping bags will be necessary, and pillows...if I'm going to get any sleep at all. I suppose I have something to be thankful for that I'll be one of those going with the Honda Stream instead!!! Imagine lugging a sleeping bag, pillow and five days worth of clothes on an aeroplane!!! But meh, I'm still too lazy to start doing anything much so maybe I'll take the luggages out of the storeroom tomorrow. Or maybe not even then. Anyway the good thing about procrastinating my packing is that I've so far managed to complete two new Butterfly Fairy characters;

Anyways this is Albescens, the prince of the Butterfly Fairies, second in line to the throne after Queen Menelaus. He also leads the fairy guard.

But what would any fairy society be without its trusty and hardy hunter. This is Sangaris, the head hunter of the Butterfly Fairies. Her duty, along with the other hunters is to ensure that there is enough meat for their society to last during the winter months. In times of trouble though, the hunters do not hesitate to use their bows and arrows against their enemies, elfshots which will bore their way through their enemies bodies until it finds their heart.

PEACE OUT

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// 1:31 AM

Hey ya'lll

Its confirmed!!! I'm going to Penang on Thursday afternoon!!! WHeehee, unfortunately due to some conflict in interest, half the group will be driving there (including myself) and the other half will be flying there. On the bright side we get to save money since we're staying in Caryn's six-room bungalow.

Anyway check it out. This is Queen Menelaus, the second of my Butterfly Fairy character list. A firm but fair ruler who well-versed in magic, she will go to any measures to ensure the safety and survival of her people.

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Saturday, January 16, 2010

// 11:56 AM

Hey guys

Am a little buzy at the moment planning the Penang trip to come up with a proper post of my latest piece just yet so I made a little video of myself singing The Call by Regina Spektor, enjoy. :)

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Thursday, January 14, 2010

// 3:51 PM

HONG KONG DISNEYLAND!!!!

Hey ya'll

Do you know, since I was a child I always had this amazing dream!!! I always wanted to go to Disneyland, I mean if you think about it, Disneyland is a pretty amazing place for any child; a land where all their favourite TV characters are real!!! A place where, for a moment magic and mystery seem as possibly as ABCs and Mathematics!!!! And you know, I guess for most of us its just another theme park, but I guess for all this while I have still managed to retain that wonder Iused to have when I dreamed about going to Disneyland some day because although personally I'm not a fan of theme parks, my trip to Hong Kong Disneyland really brought me back to a time when monsters lived under my bed, a time when I used to threaten my sister with made-believe goblins, when I'd say "You had better behave, or Impety will fly in the window and pluck your eyes out!!" and she would believe me.

But most of all, it made me believe, it gave me hope because, after 15 years of waiting, my dreams finally did come true.

We went to Macau and Hong Kong sometime last year, in November - December. This is us in front of Hong Kong Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle. I remember shouting and jumping with joy. It was nothing big for my sister because she'd already went to Tokyo Disneyland but for me, it was magical.

The thing I remembered most and found most ammusing about the whole experience, was how once I stepped into the gates of Sleeping Beauty's castle, I became a prince!!! That's right, it seemed everywhere I went, princesses were coming up to me to play with my clothes!!! Sleeping Beauty took my scarf away and wouldn't give it back !!! :(

On the other hand, some of the princesses were more polite. Belle kept insisting that I pick my "special princess" from among them. I politely declined by saying I already had a special person. Hahahah sorry princesses, this prince is taken!

But what is a Disney Moment without a little adventure? We took the river cruise to go see where Tarzan lived in his treehouse. This is me with our captain, Ardie, who tried her best to explain everything to us in English. Good job for conducting a tour in a language that's not your first!!!!!

The cruise was fun, but Qing, that's her in the picture, was quite nervous because those elephants kept spraying water towards the boat - even when Ardie assured her it would be alright!

So the river cruise was fun! We encountered man-eating spiders, a snake-temple and cannibals along the way, but we finally made it to Tarzan's tree-house! Its an interactive tree-house so that meant we could do some exploring.

Ran into a little leapord trouble along the way, but I sure showed him!!! Rawwwr!!!!

But at 2pm we had to make our way back to civillization to catch the Disney's Snow parade featuring some of Disney's greatest stars!!! Well...not her, she's just one of the dancers from the show.

But of course not all the dancers were ladies, Disney provided some manly toy-soldier dancers with their Toy Story float to impress the ladies as well :)

And last, but not least, the procession of the Disney Stars!!! This is Ariel on her Under-The-Sea float!!!

If I had to choose, she would be my special princess. Sorry Prince Eric ;P

Snow White also made an appearance, along with Cinderella, Aurora and Belle. They sang to the sparrows and other birds that seemed to flock around their float.

When the parade was over, we decided to explore around the main-street of Disneyland. Qing was very taken with this signboard!!! I think she plans to set up shop here as well. Good luck!

We had our food in the grand ballroom, decorated with statues of the dancing Disney couples

Since I was a prince today and my sis a princess, we thought of giving it a go as well. Brother sister ballroom team yeah! XD

Outside we were greeted by Merlin!!!! He seemed to be looking for a boy to pull the sword out from the stone. Too bad it wasn't me eh? XD

We also managed to meet with some of the elves from the parade!!! They gave us cookies which were quite tasty to eat.

The rest of the day was spent watching the shows. The Golden Mickeys and Simba's Lion King show were especially memorable. Winnie the Pooh came to greet us shortly afterwards and then wouldn't leave us alone. I think he's found himself a new hunny in my sis XD

As we were about to leave for the day, both Pluto and Goofy came to wave us goodbye. I never understood how they could both be dogs when one can talk and the other can't. But this wasn't the end, we did not manage to do everything so we decided to come back for a second time the following day for the ride and the night-time fireworks. After all, we were staying at the Disneyland Resort, just a few minutes down the road and had free 2-day passes.

And so ended my Disneyland dreams, a magical day I shall never forget!

PEACE OUT

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