All posts tagged: Shillong

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“I Pen My Experiences of Joy and Pain, Victory and Defeat, for Inspiration in My Lowest Moments” – Chat with 16-Year-Old Divinia from Shillong

Introducing Divinia Mercy Tynsong from Meghalaya, our latest muse. At just sixteen years old, this ‘young student with an old soul‘ captured our attention with her pure and evocative poems. Her words have the power to connect us with our own innocence while simultaneously opening our minds to timeless wisdom. We had to find out more about this young writer, and more so to understand where she is getting these inspirations from. Divinia’s journey as a poet is just beginning, and yet her poems have already left a lasting impact. Her message is clear: treasure even the smallest victories, as they can serve as a wellspring of inspiration during challenging times. As she beautifully expressed, “In everything I experience, whether it’s obstacles or happiness, challenges or joy, failures or accomplishments, I make a habit of jotting them down. These words later inspire me when I am at my lowest.“ Chat with 16-year-old Divinia from Shillong, whose wisdom surpasses her years, which is evident in her poems that are a refreshing blend of young innocence and …

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Samuel Duia – Adventurer and Founder of ‘Duia Trailblazers’ Talks about Their Exciting Canyon Discovery in Meghalaya!

Interview by Deno Dolie Exploring the mystical Northeast of India is on the top of the bucket list for many, and with the region becoming increasingly accessible, a growing number of local and foreign tourists have been visiting the region in recent years. That said, I personally believe that the real joy of traveling to the Northeast lies in exploring the local gems – in the unknowns. This is where I would like to introduce Samuel Duia from Shillong, a passionate traveler, and founder of ‘Duia Trailblazers‘ – a Govt. recognized tour operator based in Meghalaya whose unique offerings include expert local tours, village stays, local food & culture exploration –  and more. Most notably, Samuel and a team from Bangalore Adventure School (BASCOOL) recently discovered an unexplored canyon in Syntung village – now named (by Samuel’s ‘first descend’ team!) as ‘Upper Shonghang Canyon.’  I chat with Samuel about his venture, responsible tourism, canyoning, and of course, their recent canyon discovery – in detail! Samuel Duia – Founder of ‘Duia Trailblazers‘ Meghalaya posing in front of …

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“Music is my Coping Mechanism” — Soul Singer Claudia Lyngdoh from Shillong, Meghalaya

Claudia Lyngdoh is a music star waiting to be found! We discovered this budding female soul singer on Instagram and spent a good amount of time simply admiring her voice and the immense potential she has. She is a singer/songwriter who is juggling college life while moonlighting the career of her dreams — music. Currently living in Shillong, she’s gearing up to play at NH7 Weekender for the 2nd time!  Claudia sat down with R&L, on her very first interview ever, to share about life and an exclusive preview from her upcoming EP.  Hi Claudia, please introduce yourself to the R&L community! Hey there, I’m Claudia Lyngdoh, which is my stage name too. I’m 20 years ‘young’, born and brought up in Shillong. I’m currently pursuing my Bachelor’s at St. Mary’s College, Shillong and making music on the side. I feel I’m a soulful person with a similar soulful taste in music! Claudia at 93.5 Big Fm Radio You sing beautifully! Tell us how you got started. Aw, thank you. Funny story! I started my …

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Unwind With Nature in the Hills of Sohra, Meghalaya

Summer is almost ending and most of the monsoon rain has ceased. This means that the perfect season for travel has begun and our readers are certainly giving us vacation feels with their social media posts! The great weather makes for the perfect time to get away from the hustle and bustle for a trip!  Khliehshnong Village located on the way to Nohkalikai Falls, Meghalaya. One of our readers, Angule Mero from Nagaland, recently went on a small trip to Sohra, a small town in Meghalaya, only a few kilometres away from Shillong. Also known as Cherrapunji, this is one of the wettest places on earth. It is truly a paradise with its scenic natural landscapes, clean and pristine surroundings, and warm people. From adventurous activities to quiet spots to relax, this place has got everything. The place is dotted with waterfalls and offers opportunities for trekking, zip-lining, and exploring caves. It has also got some beautiful resorts and homestays that will make your time there even better. Pack and hit the road!  Happy adventures!

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“I Always Knew That I’d Work in The Fashion Industry”— Stylist Rishan Shabong from Shillong, Meghalaya

Many of us have different childhood fantasies and dreams that slowly fade as we grow older. We pick up more practical dreams along the way. However, for Rishan Shabong—a stylist and fashion enthusiast from Shillong—working in the fashion industry has always been the dream. And now, he is setting new standards for men’s style and breaking traditional barriers!  Join us as we discuss how he is making waves in the fashion industry as a stylist, dabbling in various other areas of fashion including design, modelling and is also an influencer. Hello Rishan, lovely to have you here. Tell us about yourself! Hey there! My name is Rishan Skhem Shabong, I’m 25-years-old and I am currently based in Bengaluru. I was born and raised in a beautiful town called Shillong! Since I was a young boy, I have always been the black sheep in the family. I guess my affinity to the creative arts distinguished me from the rest. I have always been an avid follower of fashion and always wanted to be in the fashion …

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“I Dream to Travel The Whole of Northeast India” — Apen Tanujang From Mokokchung, Nagaland

“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” – Jennifer Lee Apen Tanujang might be one of the few people who’ve explored almost every part of Nagaland. An adventure and nature lover at heart, Apen belongs to Mokokchung in Nagaland. After a trip he took in 2015, he was inspired to travel and explore his homeland and all of Northeast. So far, he has covered Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim, Mizoram and Manipur, and dreams to travel to more places here.   Born and brought up Nagaland, he was always curious and adventurous about exploring every part of his homeland. This led him to explore most of Nagaland and Northeast. His Instagram feed is a visual treat that is sure to inspire you to grab your backpacks and go on an expedition. Read on to find out more about him!  Hey Apen, it’s a pleasure to have you here. Please introduce yourself to our readers! Hello, my name is Apen Tanujang, and I’m from Mokokchung Nagaland. I like to think of myself as a …

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“My Poetry is a Protest” — Vancouver Shullai from Shillong, On His First Book ‘How To Love A Broken Man’

At 23, Vancouver Shullai has published his book of poetry, won a national prize for his poetry and is already breaking out of the mold of traditional poetry-writing. Based in Shillong, he recently completed his masters in English from Bengaluru.  Talking to Vancouver Shullai is like taking a walk through his mind. Our conversation with him left us inspired, and wanting to indulge in his poetry. He says, ‘I really think that’s how art works, any form of art, be it music or paintings or films – the liberty to interpret that we as artists give our readers and spectators is in abundance’. Join us for a conversation with the winner of the 2017 Wingword Poetry Prize, on the publication of his first book of poetry, “How To Love A Broken Man”. Vancouver Shullai calls himself an artist, on a journey of constant change and improvement. To start off, we’d like to congratulate you for the release of your book! Please share a bit about yourself with our readers.  Thank you! I’m Vancouver Shullai, 23 …

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“Making Handmade Crafts Can Be Very Therapeutic” – Founders of ‘Dream Craft’, Stephanie and Embhah From Shillong Chats with R&L

Isn’t it wonderful to be surrounded by crafty people who make their surrounding world a little more intriguing with magnificent handiworks? And how lucky are we have so many people joining this passion filled hobby! In earlier days, making handmade crafts used to be an activity to engage in during their free time.But with time, it has become even more valued as these hobbies help you relax and destress, while also creating many unique opportunities to earn a living! Today, we have Embhahlang N Mawlong, creative head of “Dream Craft” and his wife Stephanie P Basaiawmoit, who is an assistant professor by profession while also helping her husband whenever she is free!  “Dream Craft” is a design and craft business which specializes in all sorts of paper crafts such as – invitations (wedding, birthdays, other events), notebooks, custom made boxes, cake toppers, wedding service books, return favour boxes and packages, décor props, etc. Each products are made with utmost love and care. Let’s find out more! We had a chat with Stephanie P Basaiawmoit and …

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A Chat With Pastor of SOULS Cafe in Shillong – Your Special Place To Fill Your Body and Soul

  Just as our body needs food to stay physically active and healthy, our soul too can do with some spiritual food. Our reader and contributor Arep – a student in Shillong, recently visited “SOULS Cafe” in Shillong, and loved her experience there; so here she is, sharing her conversation with the owner of the cafe to guide us through the offerings of the cafe and more. SOULS cafe is known for its welcoming atmosphere, and also offers free counselling for those in need. So if you are looking for good comfort food, lovely ambiance and a place to relax, bond and refresh, SOULS cafe may be a good place to check out. Here’s a chat with Pastor Ever to know more about the cafe, and why it’s loved by many in Shillong. R&L contributor Arep chats with Pastor Ever, who is one of the co-founders of “SOULS Cafe” in Shillong, Meghalaya. They talk about how the cafe aims to be the light for lost souls and bring them some comfort and healing- along with some yummy …

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#FACES | Nenia Arche from Manipur Recalls Her Memorable Stay in Haven’s Cove Resort in Syntu Ksiar in Jowai, Meghalaya

“This photo was taken last year in June during a trip to Jowai – which is located about 60 km from Shillong in Meghalaya. We stayed in a lovely resort called ‘Haven’s Cove’ in Syntu Ksiar, which is about 5 km away from the main Jowai town; we took a car to get there, and then had to walk around 20 mins to reach the resort. During that time of the year (June), the weather was so pleasant making our trip even more worthwhile. For the outing that day, we packed some home-cooked lunch (prepared by one of my friend’s mom) which we enjoyed besides the peaceful river.While we were there, we had a wonderful time exploring the scenic surroundings by taking long walks through the narrows paths in the open paddy fields; one of the highlights was walking over the footbridges, which were beautifully made!” “The most memorable part of the trip happened on our way back. While we were walking, it started raining heavily. We had just 2 umbrellas, which was not enough for all …