Ugh! BUGS!!

This fragile one landed on my brothers head before settling for the green bush. The enormous size of it made me wonder if it was at all a butterfly and not a moth. I had read that moths are also colourful and of large wingspans. But nopes...I am told that it is indeed a butterfly...the non-feathery antenna are a sure give-away...

I have nothing strong against them but don't exactly like them either! Your colours cannot lure me sweety...you remain a BUG! : p

Blister Beetle/Tiger Beetle...this one is as annoying as anything. It has a special love for black colour and hibuscus leaves/flowers. About Hibiscus: well the plant just cannot survive if this one decides to dwell on it...and do many other things on it : )). The bug would simply eat every thing of the plant..leaves, bud, flowers and if it eats, it must... : )

About its attraction for black, I will tell you in a moment.

It is one of the most unwanted of all creatures...poor thing. Never seen any bird peck at it nor any chamaleon roll out its tongue for it...so I assume its toxic for their tongues or tummy or simply tasteless.

Ok, before you pour out your sympathy for the guy, I should let you know what about it vexes me...
Imagine yourselves ready to leave for a party...you have taken pains and pins to set your hair. Muwah...you are looking great! Suddenly...zip-zap-zzzzzzzzzzzzooooooooooooooooom and there comes that insect like a guided missle into your hairdo. Remember, black attracts it! So, what do you do? Well, what you do is not up to you...you are compelled to do a crazy waltz as if you were on a hotplate. You throw your limbs in all possible directions to get it out and out it gets but only after it has had your adrenaline touch that limit!

The regularity with which such episodes have happened with me makes me doubt the bugs intentions actually...I am half convinced that they were not coincidences. The bug is not witless and the breed has something against me for sure! Was I Paul Herman in my past life?

**The credit for these wonderful snaps goes to Kunal, my brother.

A Treasure in the Midst of Concrete

Quest for peace and curiosity took me to Maharaja Agrasen ki Baoli (a stepwell) in CP, Delhi. It is on Hailey Road at a place where none can imagine it to exist. And it's wonderful. Sadly, I did not have my digital with me that day so had to make do with my cousin's mobile camera. Still, the place looks awesome (see pics).

As the legend goes, friendly ghosts and fairies dwell in Baoli's. Remember the Sheikhchilli stories where the silly chap while taking a breather under the shade of some tree by the side of a well encounters fairies and bargains with them for some goodies. In 'Paheli' the movie, the ghost at the baoli falls for the village lass...such stories are common folklore. Unfortunately, my adventure has no such tale to offer, not that I did not look for the ghost! All that I managed to find was a bat colony and it was eerie!

: )

Enjoy the pics. Please don't mind the bad quality.

A very old tree, just at the entrance of the baoli

Full view of the five levels of the baoli...you may also notice the steps that lead to the water level.

Closer view of the levels and eaves that take you inside the structure where in the hope of encountering a ghost, I met his messengers...bats; and a whole colony of it!


The other side from the same level as the previous photo.


Baoli mihraabs from one of the levels. Cousin in pic.


Baoli from different vantage points...

Lowest level of the five storey baoli. The well could do with some maintenance that was grossly lacking. The water was smelly, perhaps because of monsoons and no upkeep.

From below the scene above...is it not awesome!

Yours truly weaving her way up the narrow stairs...

The other end of the Baoli.
Some seal on the other side of the baoli...
Gang under the old tree waiting for the fairies to drop. They were photo shy it seems! : )