Butterflies of Lata Lembik (1)

It has bee awhile since I last visited Lata lembik (like almost 2 years) due to the neglect of the place but I was pleasantly surprised by its "makeover" by a private resort doing their activities there. The good thing that came out of it, the place is much cleaner, safer and well maintained. The bad thing is that they now demand entrance fee into a public area (I think it is wrong to charge people to enter public domain - a recreational forest DO NOT belong to any private resort even if they have decided to open their operations there. The worst part is, they are now starting to dredge certain parts of the river to make it "suitable' for their activities and damaging the natural eco system can be a concern, regardless of its economic impact to the local communities. Besides, the recreational forest sits on an Orang Asli land (Semai tribe) and beside the Semai girl receptionist that I noticed the 3 times I was there, no other Orang Asli were employed - meaning to say that the developpement never actually benefited the locals (the facilities are operated by a resort from a nearby area in Cheroh, Raub). I hope the relevant local authorities are aware of the situation and the operators have the necessary permits before anything "grave" happens and blames start flying (the operators propose flying fox, white water rafting and absailing). 

Well, worries aside, I was actually there to try my new camera on my favourite subject: butterflies. This site is actually one of the remaining sites where the Common Birdwing is common (no longer a common butterfly in the wild, maybe one day we will have to rename the Common Birdwing to the Uncommon Birdwing)  and I have yet to capture a good shot of it... Here are the results nevertherless...

The Grass Demon, a tiny skipper butterfly.

A very nervous subject, the Royal Assyrian, Terinos terpander. This butterfly has a restless movement and seldom stay put for more than a few seconds.

Euripus nyctelius euploeoides

The Commander, Moduza procris milonia

View of the "updated" albeit commercialized Lata Lembik...hope it won't be another disaster like Lata Jarum- used, abused and later abandonned to die a natural death (so déjà vu in Malaysia) .

A tiny danaid butterfly - Euploe eunice

Athyama spp.

A resting Chocolate Albatross, Appias lyncida vasava

Tent for rent at RM 50 a day...

The Common Mormon, Papilio polytes romulus

A Banded Peacock, Papilio palinurus palinurus

Winged Denizens of Bukit Telaga (3)

The last week of March was the school break and so, I went on a daily photoshoot session around Raub, principally at Bukit Telaga because of its proximity...(more pics to come in later updates).

Cirrochroa emalea emalea

The Indian Leaf, Kallima limborgii amplirufa has an incredibly adapted cryptic underside. This is not a common butterfly but I have noticed it flying around the undergrowth along the stream in Bukit Telaga, once even saw it engaged in an aerial combat with another butterfly encroaching into its territory along the banks of the stream. As luck would have it, I stumbled upon it along the trail and it took flight, first it wanted to land on me for some salt lick as I was sweating and almost wet on my shirt but I moved and didn't want it to do that because that would have ruined my chance for a good shot. It then decided to land not too far nor too high up the trunk of a tree. As I flashed it, it got stunned and stayed immobile for a few moments, enough for me to get a few nice shots before it took flight and disappeared again into the cryptic undergrowth.

 As the wings opened once it was relaxed, the beautiful blue sheen against the vivid orange gave it away...this must be arguably the most beautiful butterfly that inhabits the undergrowth of the Malayan jungle.

 A Common Nawab came to the sand bank for a drink...

A dry season form of the Common Evening Brown, Melanitis leda leda. This butterfly display highly variable forms (the underside markings) that adapts to the season and environment it lives in.

 The delicate Burmese Lancer, Neptis spp. on a dry bamboo leaf.

 The Great Mormon, Papilio memnon agenor is a large and powerful flyer and it is an unmistakable insect. It can be seen frequently flying around villages, especially at the forest's edge as well as sometimes observed on a sand bank in the afternoon.

Hallmark of Bukit Telaga - the Malayan Owl, Neorina lowii. This is the largest Satyrid butterfly in Malaysia and is decidedly a forest insect.

Dinner chez moi - encore

Last Thursday, on the 28 March, my chef friends came for dinner with a request - something hors norme...Well, I have not been at it for awhile so my enthousiasme got the better of me - with a proposition of a 5-course tasting menu, the first course itself comprising of 5 mini dégustation dishes in itself (making it 9 dishes au total!) The happy thing is that everything was gulped down with five bottles of wines...

the setting...

Atlantic wild-caught scallops, pan fried and served on a bed of watercress puree.

Vol au vent aux escargots de Bourgogne - French snails with herb butter on puff pastry with a dab of soft cheese

Freshly made spaghetti with truffle bits and garlic confit.

Medium rare pan-seared Australian Wagyu striploin with a rémoulade of celery root in mustard sauce

Mousse of foie gras d'oie (goose liver) sandwiched between Parmiggiano reggiano chips and a drizzle of apricot sauce

Second course:

Coq au riesling on a bed of trompette de la mort mushrooms, cooking jus reduction. The chicken was braised in Riesling using the traditional coq au vin recipe. Then, the mushrooms are cooked in the chicken broth and the jus reduced and thickened, garnished with micro herbs of coriander.

Preparation for the charlotte of Savoy cabbage...

3rd Course:

Choucroute 3 Garnitures. This traditional Alsatian bistro offering was updated with a serving of Charlotte of Savoy cabbage instead of the steamed potatoes. The choucroute (or saurkraut) is actually fermented cabbage and is an acquired taste (explaining why it was not served in a huge portion, just a dab under the pork). The 3 types of pork served: braised pork belly in Riesling, blanched Bockwurst and smoked pork belly, accompagnied by a home made mayonnaise of intense Moutarde de Lion.

Recipe for preparing the choucroute (serves 4 if this is the first time tasting for your guest):

1 can of saurkraut, washed and drained well

1 large white onion, sliced finely

2 cloves of garlic

1/2 cup of smoked bacon bits

1 cup of Riesling

pinch of salt and pepper

In a casserole, fry the bacon bits to extract the oil. Soften the onion with this fatty mix. Add the garlic and mix well.  Leave for a minute or two. Add in the saurkraut and Riesling. Cook with lid covered for a few minutes until the mixture starts to let out its aroma. Season with salt and pepper.

Salad of baby roquette, butterhead and raddichio with goat cheese and a drizzle of garlic confit-honey lemon vinaigrette.

The delight of everyone: Chocolate mousse on a bed of crème anglaise (made with Bourbon vanilla), fresh berries, strawberry coulis and a macaroon.