Tasting 4K RAW Video

4K video has been a hot topic this year. People may argue that they are still using full HD (1920×1080) monitors and TV. However, video processing is a bit more complicated than most of the people know.  In brief, if your camera records video at 4K, you get excellent full HD.

Before the consumer 4K camera such as Sony AX100 and Panasonic GH4 arrive, I decided to use my Nikon 1 V2 to create a short 4K video clip.  V2 itself does not record video in 4K format.  Instead, it can shoot 40 consecutive RAW photos  at 15, 30, or 60 fps.  The photos are converted into video through Sony Vegas editing software.  Although there are many limitations, the video quality turn out to be very good.

A Weekend in Nankunshan (Mar 2014)

Nankunshan (南昆山) is a national forest park situated in Huizhou (惠州) of Guangdong Province (廣東省).  It has been developed as a tourist spot for local people, particularly people from Guangzhou.  While it is not too far away from Hong Kong, it is a nice place to find some different butterflies.

Graphium (Pathysa) agetes 斜紋綠鳳蝶
Graphium (Pathysa) agetes 斜紋綠鳳蝶
Lethe verma 玉帶黛眼蝶
Lethe verma 玉帶黛眼蝶
Zinaspa youngi 楊氏陶灰蝶
Zinaspa youngi 楊氏陶灰蝶
Abisara fylla 黃帶褐蜆蝶
Abisara fylla 黃帶褐蜆蝶
Arhopala paramuta 小嬈灰蝶
Arhopala paramuta 小嬈灰蝶
Orthomiella rantaizana 巒太鋸灰蝶
Orthomiella rantaizana 巒太鋸灰蝶

 

Chiang Mai Encored (Mar 2014)

As a chunk of my Asiamile mileage was about to expire in January 2014, I decided to consume it with a trip.  While the Chiang Mai ticket was just good to consume the expiring mileage, I decided to spend just a weekend in Chiang Mai.  I had roughly three days to revisit the known spot.

Driving in Thailand

Thailand is adopting left-hand traffic.  I had no problem at all because Hong Kong is also adopting left-hand traffic.  I specifically picked Nissan Almera.  It is not only one of the most affordable model in the fleet, but also similar to my own Nissan Note in terms of chassis and CVT transmission system.  Also, Nissan Almera was the only car in the class so I would be less likely to be surprised by a lower end car within the same class (in my Sabah trip, I did received a Proton Saga instead of Ford Focus).  Still, when I actually drove the car, it did not feel the same.  The performance, and more importantly the reaction of the car were not up to the level of my Made-in-Japan car.

Nissan Almera
Nissan Almera

Doi Suthep Pui National Park (Mae Rim DIstrict)

I arrived Chiang Mai at 10 am.  After I picked up the car, it was already 11 am and I did not want to spend too long driving to the destination.  Thus, I went to Doi Suthep Pui next to Chiang Mai town.

Delias descombesi
Delias descombesi

 Doi Inthanon National Park

I did not go to the peak and visited those spots in the lower valleys.  Unfortunately, early March seemed not the best season for butterfly.  At least, it was far better in late March 2013.

Abisara neophron 長尾褐蜆蝶
Abisara neophron 長尾褐蜆蝶
Iton watsonii
Iton watsonii
Suada swerga
Suada swerga

Chiang Dao Cave Area

Chiang Dao Cave area remained one of the best spot in this trip.  Compare to March 2013 trip, there were fewer butterflies, but it was bar better than the December 2013 trip.  I could still find swamp of butterflies pudding in the place but the scale was not up to the level I saw last year.  It was fair because the weather would be getting hotter and hotter in the month.

Atrophaneura zaleuca 窄曙鳳蝶
Atrophaneura zaleuca 窄曙鳳蝶
Niphanda asialis 點黑灰蝶
Niphanda asialis 點黑灰蝶
Catapaecilma subochrea
Catapaecilma subochrea
Lamproptera meges 綠帶燕鳳蝶
Lamproptera meges 綠帶燕鳳蝶
Butterflies pudding
Butterflies pudding

 

 

Butterflying in Southern Thailand (Feb 2014)

Despite the development for tourism, Phuket was surprisingly rich of butterflies and the place did not disappoint us in the 2011 trip.  However, according to the book “Butterflies of Thailand”, Ranong, as a province relatively close to Phuket, was one of the most resourceful region for butterflies.  It was the primary reason why we visited this place.

Phuket

We took the night flight from Hong Kong to Phuket.  When we arrived, it was already 2 am.  Therefore, we decided to visit the two confirmed spots in Phuket.

  • Kathu Waterfall
  • Ton Sai Waterfall
Butterfly watching at Kathu Waterfall
Butterfly watching at Kathu Waterfall
Arhopala alaconia
Arhopala alaconia
Zela excellens
Zela excellens
Zela elioti
Zela elioti

Sithon nedymond

Sithon nedymond

Phang Nga

During our 2011 trip, we had some bad luck with the weather.  This time, though the weather was cool and dry, many butterflies showed up under the sunny weather.

  • Raman Waterfall Forest Park
  • Sa Nang Manora Waterfall
  • Sri Phang Nga National Park
Sa Nang Manora Waterfall
Sa Nang Manora Waterfall
Atrophaneura (Losaria) neptunus 紅斑錘尾鳳蝶
Atrophaneura (Losaria) neptunus 紅斑錘尾鳳蝶
Polyura delphis
Polyura delphis 
Neomyrina nivea
Neomyrina nivea

Ranong

This area is one of our primary target.  Early February seems not the right season.  The sunshine helped a little bit so butterflies are scarce.

  • Klong Na Kha Wildlife Conservation Area
Klong Na Kha Wildlife Conservation Area
Klong Na Kha Wildlife Conservation Area
Araotes lapithis
Araotes lapithis
Cyaniriodes libna
Cyaniriodes libna

Surat Thani

Recommended by butterfly watcher Antonio Giudici, we stayed at Khao Sok National Park.  Early February seems not the right season here.  It was quite cool, and too cool for butterflies.  While the weather was good, the sunshine helped to warm up the butterflies.  We were able to spot some butterflies we did not see in previous Phuket/Phang-nga trip.

  • Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok National Park
Saletara panda
Saletara panda
Oriens paragola 黃斑偶侶弄蝶
Oriens paragola 黃斑偶侶弄蝶

 

Chiang Mai Revisited (X’mas 2013)

During Easter holidays, we visited Chiang Mai province situated in the northern part of Thailand.  We saw swamp of butterflies puddling on a muddy area.  We were well impressed so we decided to revisit the spots during the cool season.  We wanted to see if we would see different species in a different season.

Right before the trip, Chiang Mai was influenced by a strong cold front.  It was reported that the temperature dropped to 1°C and that made us worried.  We worried more when we get off the plane because it was certainly too cold for butterflying.

Chiang Dao Cave Area

While it took about two hours from Chiang Mai to Chiang Dao, we left Chiang Mai early in the morning.  In the morning, it remained quite cold, and certainly too cold for butterflying.  Fortunately, under the sunshine, it was getting warmer and we did spot a few butterflies.  Definitely, we did not see swamp of butterflies.  Considering the cold weather, it was not too bad.

National Park Check Point Near Chiang Dao Cave

National Park Check Point Near Chiang Dao Cave

Libythea myrrha 棒紋喙蝶

Libythea myrrha 棒紋喙蝶

Doi Inthanon National Park

The peak of Doi Inthanon marked the highest point of Thailand.  While the weather remained cold, we did not go to the peak and stayed in the lower valleys.

Maeya Waterfall, Doi Inthanon National Park

Maeya Waterfall, Doi Inthanon National Park
Sumalia daraxa 肅蛺蝶
Sumalia daraxa 肅蛺蝶

Doi Suthep Pui National Park (Mae Rim DIstrict)

Doi Suthep Pui was a national park situated next to Chiang Mai town. While it was a large national park, there were many entrances heading different isolated parts.  Worry not the cost for the entrance ticket, the ticket is applicable throughout the whole Doi Suthep Pui National Park.  With one single ticket, you may enter other parts of the park within the day.

Mae Sa Waterfall, Doi Suthep Pui National Park

Mae Sa Waterfall, Doi Suthep Pui National Park

Thaduka multicaudata 塔灰蝶

Thaduka multicaudata 塔灰蝶

Chiang Dao Cave Area Revisited

In the morning, half of the team left and returned to their home towns.  The remaining half of the team revisited Chiang Dao Cave area.  This time, the weather was much warmer and there were slightly more butterflies gathering in the field.

Small group of butterfly pudding at the open space
Small group of butterfly pudding at the open space