Weekly Photo Challenge: Delicate

We have learned on Friday (and many times before that) and reminded very often that life is delicate and fragile.  We must take measures to take care of those around us.  We strive to conserve the flora and fauna around us by setting reserves, national parks and conservatories.

In 2011, I went to Niagara Falls with my boyfriend and there you can find the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory (I attached the link, just click on it and it’ll bring you to the website for those interested).  It was the most beautiful experience.  You have 2000+ butterflies fluttering all around you.  It is their man-made habitat to conserve them from the dangers that exist outside.  They are in all sorts of colours. You can spend hours standing and watching and taking pictures of them feeding, taking off, landing, etc.  However, even in a conservatory, we had to be careful to not move too quick and hurt them.  Even with all these measures, there were some that still had little injuries on their wings…So prove that, life is definitely delicate, especially with these little beautiful butterflies…

This butterfly did land on me.  I had the opportunity of having 3 land on me during my entire stay and I was so nervous to hurt them. So I stood around until they fluttered off or when I moved, I did it even more slowly.

Life is delicate, isn’t it?

Montreal Lantern Festival 2012

The festivals are still going on in Montreal. I actually didn’t go to the big ones at all this summer, but I have a few festivals I will be trying to head out to in October.  Hopefully I’ll get the chance!

On Friday night, I went out after work with one of my good friends to do photo shooting of the Lantern Festival at Montreal Botanical Gardens.  I went a few years back but it was so crowded I didn’t even finish seeing everything and left.  This year, we went through not only the Lantern Festival in the Chinese Gardens but also went to see the Evening Tour Route in the Japanese Pavillion.  Due to the huge amounts of photos, I will have to split this into two posts as well. So for this one, the main focus of the event: LANTERNS!

Lanterns are a part of the tradition in celebration of the Midautumn/Moon Festival.  I used to have a little lantern and we’d walk around with it. It was a time for blessings for the whole family.

Lantern Festival

The lanterns were shaped in various historic characters/people, mystical creatures, and animals.  We had soldiers, the Yellow Emperor (the first emperor of China), Pandas (with baby ones), Cranes, tiger, and various types of common peasants such as farmers, etc. There were the mystical creatures like dragons and phoenix.  Lots of normal lanterns lit all the paths around the Chinese garden where it would lead to higher grounds.  It was very beautiful.  Just the reflection of the lanterns in the water were mesmerizing.  Just look at it!

 

Colourful, right? Its just so beautiful!