Our travel arrangements throughout our trip in Japan went without a hitch; although daringly we decided to hire a rental car in two areas – Takayama in Honshu and Asahikawa, Hokkaido. It gave us flexibility and the English GPS system worked like a charm. We did a bit of exploring off the main tourist route, ventured off to a little of the back country. One unintentional destination though, which our ‘efficient’ GPS delivered us to was somewhat surprising; we had entered the code for the Sahoro Bear sanctuary, instead we were directed up a disused mountain road, with thick overgrown vegetation. As the road diminished in the encroaching vegetation we were committed until we could find a place to turn back. As we approached a wider section, our GPS system (a female voice, who we had christened Jane) announced in modulated and confident tone, that we had arrived at our destination. Just then I spotted (quite excitedly) an aggregation of butterflies, so stepped out of the cool car into a muggy, searing heat with camera in hand to document this interesting scene…..
The last time i’d spotted this phenomena of swarming butterflies was at the Addo Elephant Park in the Eastern Cape (SA); so alarm bells should have been ringing …
Take a closer look dear Readers –
Second part installment tomorrow: the brown bears of Hokkaido are related to the North American Grizzlies.
Nature on the Edge 
Unexpected trips can be the most interesting.
That’s for sure !!
These are absolutely adorable ! What a wonderful find you have captured.
Yes, happenstance…. and stroke of luck to find them 🙂 Thanks for your comments 🙂
Excellent! I’ve always been fascinated by puddling butterflies and usually do what you did – stop and shoot! I’ve seen most resident species doing this but the most spectacular show is the Tiger Swallowtail. This past June I discovered an aggregation of about 150 at a mud puddle near an unoccupied camp site in an area with extensive deciduous forest. I’ve incorporated this phenomenon into a couple of posts too.
Lovely to read your comments – swallowtails en-masse must make for an impressive sight. Akin to visiting the local ‘juice-bar’ to sip nutrients; discovered that scat is an inviting…
Alarm bells?? 🙂
… we were to discover that we weren’t alone 🙂 Next part of the story coming….
Happy accidents are the best!
🙂 what adventures are made of! Thanks for the comment Kamala.
Butterflies are wonderful. Great shots.
Thanks! A lucky encounter…
I imagine a wonderful experience-great captures.
It was a trip full of surprises … and next part of the butterfly story, spiked with a bit of adrenalin.
That’s a gorgeous scene!
Thanks Uday; second part of the story is coming up …. travel bugs in uploading and wi-fi woes.