Month: August 2018

Rootsandleisure_Nagaland Coffee

Founders of ‘Nagaland Coffee’ Share Updates on Their Coffee Shop Launch in Dimapur

  Who knew Nagaland would be such a hotbed for high-quality coffee? With the neighboring places having captivated the world with their Assam and Darjeeling teas, maybe it’s about time Nagaland finds a place in the heart of coffee lovers in the country and beyond.  Today we chat with the two founders of  “Nagaland Coffee” – a day before the official launch of their first coffee shop in Dimapur, which promises to enchant coffee lovers in the state with their top-class coffee. They have also managed to excite many with the prospect of creating a sustainable coffee ecosystem – comprising of cultivation, roasting, processing, brewery and more. We chat with coffee expert and co-founder Dr.Pieter Vermeulen to know more about their story, their line of products and services, launch day and their future plans.  Meet the Founders ‘Nagaland Coffee Private Limited’ is a business venture started by two friends -Vivito Yeptho from Nagaland, and Dr. Pieter Vermeulen from Cape Town, South Africa. Dr. Pieter is a coffee expert, with a passion for, and knowledge of cultivation, …

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#Recipe | Naga Style Crab with Garlic Chives

Today our contributor Inali from Nagaland shares a secret recipe from her kitchen. It’s a crab dish cooked Naga style with an Asian twist using fish sauce and oyster sauce. With an interesting blend of Asian flavors along with local garlic chives, this recipe is a must try for all seafood – and crab lovers! Read on to know how to cook crab in Inali’s local Naga style. Ingredients (clockwise from left): Green chilies, ginger, garlic, Sichuan pepper, dark soya sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, red chili sauce, corn flour, tomatoes and garlic chives (bottom) Ingredients : Fresh local crabs – 14 to 16 (depends on your serving) Big red tomatoes – 3 Green chilies – 6 to 8 Fresh ginger and garlic paste 1 tablespoon of fish sauce 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce 1 tablespoon of red chili sauce 1 tablespoon of dark soya sauce 1 tablespoon of cornflour Szechuan pepper – 8 to 10 pieces Green herb of your choice (used Asian chives here) Salt Directions to cook: Clean the crabs thoroughly. Add the crabs, sliced tomatoes …

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#Faces | This Portrait of an Old Man Captured By Tenzing Will Transport You Into A World Of Fantasy And Fairy Tales

“We had a day off and a friend of mine suggested we go birding in a forest a few kilometers out of Guwahati. So we grabbed our cameras, some supplies to eat and headed out. My friend is an avid bird-watcher and frequently visits these forests. It was my first visit there so I didn’t know what to expect. We reached the edge of the forest and reached a temple that we needed to pass before actually entering the forest. As we approached the temple gates we were greeted by this old man. He wasn’t a man of many words nor was he a ‘ray of sunshine’. He had one job to do… Perhaps the most important job there. It was to make sure that no one enters the temple grounds with their footwear on. My friend explained to me that even though we weren’t there to worship and were simply passing by, the rules applied to us all the same. His eyes looked our way as I took a quick shot of him. When …

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Model Carol Humtsoe Charms Vintage Lovers with Her Curated Clothing and Collectibles Sold Through Her Brand ‘Carol’s Shop and Tea Room’

For those who had missed our introduction to Carol Humtsoe  back in 2016 (when we had just launched our site), meet fashion model Carol from Nagaland – the first Naga model to have been signed by Elite Model Management. We got back in touch with her to know more about her treasure trove of lovely vintage clothing and collectibles – that she sells under her brand ‘Carol’s Shop & Tea Room.’ We were especially intriqued by her ultra cool and rustic setting of the shop – complete with bamboo walls and wooden furnitures. Let’s find out more about her fashion venture, and what she’s been upto lately. Model Carol Humtsoe from Nagaland chats with Roots & Leisure about her love for fashion, travel, vintage & collectibles, and how she brings all these in one space through her vintage store ‘Carol’s Shop & Tea Room.’  Hi Carol, tell us what you’ve been upto lately. I am currently based in Nagaland, but I am still constantly moving. I am a traveler who models, and now I also own a vintage …

“We Want to Preserve Our Folk Songs and Native Language ‘Kok Borok’ Through Our Music” – Meet Folk-Fusion Band KOLOMA from Tripura

With the growing genre of music these days, folk music may be fading into oblivion. So today, we are pleased to feature KOLOMA – a 5 member band from Tripura that has been formed with the goal to preserve their traditional folk music. They write songs in their local tribal language ‘Kokborok’ and hope to preserve and pass on their culture to future generations. As a band, Ronel, Kiyok, Shimul, Rumio, and Bhaskar write songs about love, inspiration, life and struggles, in “Kok Borok” – the native language of the indigenous people in Tripura. Read on to know everything about KOLOMA – the band, their story and what they aim to achieve through their music. Please introduce yourselves, and tell us how you guys came together to form KOLOMA. Also, what does “KOLOMA” mean? “KOLOMA” is a word derived from a former script in the tribal Kokborok language. We are a 5 member Folk-Fusion band based in Tripura. Our compositions are mostly about contemporary life and romance. Rumio Debbarma is the lead vocalist, composer, lyricist and plays the folk instruments …

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This 18-Year-Old Photographer Has a Unique Talent of Capturing People in Their Most Beautiful Element | Meet Richard Pao From Manipur

They say, ‘we take photographs as a return ticket to a moment gone otherwise’ but it is more than that for this young and talented aspiring photographer from Manipur, who hopes to click portraits of people to remind them how beautiful they are in their most natural and candid self. 18-year-old Richard Pao said this was his first time sharing his story with a stranger and that he felt privileged for the opportunity. We think that this marks the beginning of an era and a start to a successful career as a photographer. Read on to know more about him, about his passion for photography, what sparked his interest in this profession and more. We would love to know more about you – Where are you from and what are you up to? Hello, I’m Richard Pao from Imphal. I’m 18 years of age and just completed 12th grade. I love coffee and traveling. I am currently taking a year off to focus on photography and writing. I hope to take up cinematography professionally along with photography. How …

Rootsandleisure_Moko Koza_sarkar

This 23-Year-Old Student is using Rap Music to Talk About Society Issues, and to Promote His Culture | Meet Moko Koza from Nagaland

There’s no denying about the power of Music – it can heal, it can connect people around the world, and it has the potential to bring about change. Today we have a young rapper from Nagaland who has been in the music scene for over a decade but only recently caught our attention through his very catchy and powerful Nagamese* rap (*local dialect in Nagaland) called “Puisa” – meaning Money. He apostatizes the money-mad posse in his verses – which are shrewdly propped up by a sampled vocal hook from Aloe Blacc’s “I Need A Dollar”, a fitting motif for this game-changing Nagamese tune. Meet 23-year old Moko Koza from Nagaland, an anthropology student and a talented rapper, who is using music as a medium to highlight issues in the society, and to promote his culture by using local dialects in his music, and through international collabs – with his most recent being “Internationally Known” – a single released in collaboration with rappers from Detroit and Sarkar Musik. We chat with Moko Koza – a student of Kohima Science …

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Joseph’s Travel Pics Show Us Why We All Need A Little Bit Of Bhutan In Our Lives!

They say not all who wander are lost and traveling definitely gives you the freedom to discover things you would not be able to experience otherwise. Bhutan known for its breathtaking landscapes, beautiful monasteries and historical dzongs (fortresses) is a heaven for anyone seeking for a country that is VISA free for us! Joseph Solomon is a 23-year-old, currently staying in New Delhi. Read on as he takes us through his trip to the land of Thunder Dragons and coined as the happiest country in the world – Bhutan. He also shares his top 5 recommendations for anyone traveling to Bhutan. Joseph in Takin National Park Thimpu, Bhutan “The Indian U-15 Women’s were playing in the SAFF Championship in Bhutan and I was fortunate enough to travel with them to Thimphu and Paro.” “I stayed in Thimphu for 14 days and my mission was to do something – anything new – every day. There was no plan, I just asked people about local treks and hikes and googled my way around those during my trip.” …

#Faces | Shwayi’s Beautiful Visit To Paro Taktsang ‘Tiger’s Nest’ Monastery, Bhutan

  “I was in Bhutan for a vacation with my Bhutanese friends from college. I’m from Mizoram and currently studying at Sharda University. Since we all take the same course (Bachelors Degree in Dental Science) we visited Bhutan as an ‘after exams’ trip.  This picture was taken at Taktsang, Bhutan. Taktsang means  “Tiger’s Nest.” I loved vacationing with my friends – to see the place they’re from and to see their hometown through their eyes. The whole experience turned out to be a giant memorable trip but Taktsang Monastery stood out. It was beautiful to see the devotion with which so many people walk through such a steep mountain to pay their respect. The tiger’s nest cave was scary and different from anything I had ever done before. The climb was hard for me but it was such a treat to finally look upon a temple constructed on such a precarious cliff. I liked almost all the food I ate there, although I had tasted many prior to the visit courtesy my friends who sometimes cook in our …

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This 21-Year-Old Student from Nagaland Makes Precious Feel-Good Handmade Cards | Meet Viketuno of “Yours Craftfully”

Making a career out of what you love doing is exactly what Viketuno, a young artist from Kohima, Nagaland has done with ‘Yours Craftfully’. With her brand of cute handmade crafts, we can see the passion she puts into every piece she creates. More importantly, her cards remind us of our school days where we used to pour our hearts and hours into making handmade cards for every occassion. From bookmarks to cards, every one of her creations has her signature doodle on them, which gives it a cute and customised personal touch. Today, we feature Viketuno of ‘Yours Craftfully’ as she talks about what sparked her interest and what influences her. We chat with Viketuno, a 21-year-old student from Nagaland, who also runs her arts and crafts venture called “Yours Craftfully” She talks about her passion for art, Doodling, and handmade crafts. Hello Vike, please introduce yourself. Hi, My name is Viketuno Sanyü. I am 21 years old from Kohima and am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s Degree in English language. I make handmade cards and other craft items and showcase/sell …