Month: September 2018

Rootsandleisure_Anishi Pork

Recipe of “Naga Pork with Anishi” Cooked Traditionally in a Clay Pot

Today we have an authentic Ao Naga dish cooked over a fireplace in a Naga kitchen. It’s a pork dish cooked with Anishi (dried Colocasia leaves), Sichuan pepper “Michinga leaves” and napa. Made in traditional style in a clay pot, it is a flavorsome dish to be relished with a hot plate of rice and some chutney – a typical Naga meal. Read on to get the full recipe [Video included – at the bottom]. Ao Naga Dish | Pork with Anishi Ingredients 1 Kg Fresh pork (cut into 1″ pieces)  1 big Tomato 5-6 dried red chilies 3-4 Anishi cakes (Dried cakes made of Colocasia leaves) A handful of Sichuan Pepper Leaves “Michinga Leaves” Napa Clay Pot ( if you don’t have a clay pot, you can use a regular deep vessel and cook over gas) Ingredients (Clockwise from Left): Sichuan pepper leaves, Tomato, Dried Red Chillies, Napa, and Anishi cakes This Ao Naga Pork Dish is Prepared in a Clay Pot Directions to Prepare the Pork: Cut the pork into 1” chunks and dry fry in a deep …

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In Depth Chat With Koushin Yamada – A Talented Artist From Japan Who Dedicates His Life To Creating Mesmerising And Otherworldly Art

With a passion like none, Koushin Yamada from Japan has made a name for himself in the world of art. After dedicating his life to art, he has found peace in creating work that satisfies himself, no one and nothing else. He’s always searching for something different and shows us that different can be better instead of  ‘following the crowd.’ 日本のファインアーティスト山田耕臣は、たぐい稀なる情熱で、世界のアート界に名をなした芸術家である。彼は、生活をアートに捧げ、何よりも自分自身が満足出来し、自分の心を癒すことが出来る作品を創作し続けてきた。いつも、新しいものを探求し続ける山田耕臣。彼の作品は、大衆に迎合し、既存のものを追い求めるより、何か、新しいものを見つける方が面白いことを、見る人に思い起こさせてくれる。ルーツ・アンド・レジャーは、耕臣の作品、インスピレーション、生活に共感し、彼にインタビューした。  Roots and Leisure talks with the hyper-creative Japanese artist Koushin Yamada from Tokyo. Read on to know about his life, his art and his source of inspiration for his wacky pieces! [Japanese text and translation by Koushin Yamada and Sachiko Imamura D’Souza.] Konichiwa Koushin San! Tell us a bit about yourself, your work and your background. こんにちわ、耕臣さん。まず、耕臣さんご自身について、どの様な創作活動をされてきたか、また、生い立ちについて、簡単に教えて下さい。 Konichiwa! My name is Koushin Yamada. I am 33 years old and was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. Growing up, my family always struggled both financially and physically. My father, who was a clay model artist and art dealer, left my family when I was still a teenager. I didn’t particularly have many close friends and …

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Ziro Festival Of Music Special | Meet Augustine Shimray of Featherheads – A Multi Talented Musician and Artist Who Is Deeply Rooted and Proud of His Naga Culture

From music to modeling to designing artifacts, the multi-talented Augustine Shimray is one creative talent you’ve got to know! Brought up in Dimapur, Nagaland, Augustine is very proud of his North-Eastern roots and incorporates his culture into everything he does. For the moment, he is excited to perform at this year’s edition of Ziro Festival of Music with his band, Featherheads.  “Today everything that I do, the way I look, whatever I represent… like my tattoos incorporate modern designs with my ancestors’ headhunter tattoos, the earlobe piercings, the costumes that I wear, the songs that I sing…  I walk my roots everywhere I go.”  We are happy to feature the multi-talented Augustine Shimray from North East India, as he lets us into his creative mind space and tells us about his inspirations and how his curiosity to learn about his roots has helped shape his life and work. Hello Augustine! How are you? Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’ve been up to. I am Augustine Shimray, a free spirit born in the 80’s in …

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Ziro Festival of Music 2018 | Event Co-Founder Bobby Hano Gives Us a Glimpse into the Festival Preparation Mood from Ziro Arunachal

Ziro Festival of Music is knocking on your doors, and the most magical part here is that this door opens up into the magical land of the Apatani folks in Arunachal Pradesh. One of the major ethnic groups of the Eastern Himalayas, they are known for their unique traditions and their systematic agricultural practices and sustainable social forestry. Ziro valley has also been shortlisted for India’s tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to their unique culture and traditions, Ziro valley has been gaining fame in the recent years among the young folks as the “It” destination for one of the coolest music festivals in India. Beating all other music fests in the country, this one stands out for “unbeatable everything” from the picturesque venue of the valley to the coolest folks  – with artists and festival goers gathered from all over the world, the Food, the Fashion, and a radiant mood that stays with you long after the festival is over. This year the the ‘Ziro Festival of Music’ is happening on 27th …

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Head Over to Mikado Lounge, Shillong To Experience a Fun Night Out in The Hills of Meghalaya

Shillong is one of the places in North East India that has plenty to offer in terms of entertainment and nightlife throughout the year. So for all travelers planning to visit Shillong, make sure you explore the various cafes, restaurants, restobars to unwind your day after exploring the natural landscape in the area. Today in the spotlight, we have Mikado Lounge – a restobar located in Police Bazar Shillong. With an aim to change the restaurant and nightlife scene in Shillong, Mikado Lounge offers a lively ambiance – complete with food, drinks and live entertainment. We chat with Pooja from Mikado Lounge to get a glimpse into what they have to offer. We chat with Pooja from Mikado Lounge, Shillong to introduce us to the host of offerings for folks about town looking for some evening entertainment. Hello. Happy to have you with us today! Tell us a bit about the founders of Mikado Lounge. The journey of Hotel Pine Borough started way back in 1991 with its two wings namely, The Sunset Bar, and Mikado Restaurant. After …

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Amy Kim from Canada Talks About Her Trip To Pakistan and The Wonderful Places She Visited During Her Stay There

Traveling to a new place, meeting new people and learning about a new culture is one of the most thrilling things. Especially, when it’s full of little unexpected surprises like Amy Kim’s lovely visit to Pakistan. With the breathtaking views up in the north, green valleys, friendly and warm people, and so much more, she reminisces about her experience. She chats with R&L about her travel stories. Amy Kim from Canada (she is half Korean and half Taiwanese), who is currently working in Mumbai talks to R&L about her incredible visit to Pakistan, the unbelievable beauty of the landscape and the friendly hospitality of the locals. Hi Amy! Tell us a little about yourself and what you do. My name is Amy Kim and I’m a 26-year-old Canadian working in Mumbai. I’m heading the marketing department of a travel social enterprise based in Dharavi called Reality Tours and Travel. I love what I do mainly because I know 80% of all our profits go back to the community through our charity Reality Gives. My team is …

Rootsandleisure_Takar Nabam

Ziro Music Festival Special | A Chat With Takar Nabam, A Self Taught Musician From Itanagar Who Is All Set To Rock The ZFM Stage

For Takar Nabam, a musician from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, music has been his best friend since he’s spent his school years away from home. He picked up the guitar, taught himself some tasty chops and mastered the main techniques and skills on stage at his school events. He’s now moved back home to help his parents, spend some time reconnecting with his roots, and is currently preparing to grace the stage at Ziro Festival of Music this year! Ziro Festival is one of the most talked about outdoor music festivals in India! Started in 2012, this four-day festival is now in its 7th edition. With music and performances by bands and talented musicians from all over the country and abroad, this festival is one that has to be experienced at least once for any travel, music or festival junkie. You can check out our coverage of  Ziro Festival of Music 2017 and 2016 Today, we chat with musician, guitar player, singer-songwriter and performer, Takar Nabam as he prepares to perform with his band at Ziro Festival of …

rootsandleisure_recipe

Spicy Korean Hot Pot Cooked Naga Style With Leftover Rice and Smoked Pork

Hot pots are a super popular dish all over Asia. Meat, fish, vegetables, tofu and noodles or rice are generally put into a pot of hot and simmering broth and cooked right at the table. Our contributor Miss Aier from Nagaland has a soft spot for Korean and Japanese cuisines and this particular ‘Spicy Hot Pot’ dish, inspired by the same, is great for a homecooked lunch for yourself, or with friends or a family dinner party. Whether you’re experiencing the hot summer heat or living up in the hills in the cold and rainy monsoons, this hot and spicy dish is perfect for you! Read on to browse through this recipe by Aier and fill your tummy with this comforting and steaming bowl of smoked pork, rice balls and veggies. Cooking time: 30 minutes; Serves: 2 Ingredients: 3 large pieces of smoked pork 2 pieces of dried anchovies A small bowl of cooked rice 2 half boiled eggs 1 red and green chill each (or to taste) 1 medium sized tomato 1 teaspoon of …

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NorthEast India Fashion | Street Style Trend Report From The Local Fashionistas of Arunachal, Manipur and Tripura

Street style culture has been trending for a while now, with individual style taking precedence over everything else. In the North East of India, street style is more than just a fashion statement – it’s a showcase of individuality and the region’s diverse cultures, mixed tastefully with global influences. Today, we catch up with some of the trendsetters from three states of North East India – Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Tripura – to give us the lowdown on their personal style and what’s trending on their local fashion scene. Arunachal Pradesh Jomter Karlo | Fashion Student at NIFT Mumbai A fashion student from NIFT Mumbai, Jomter Karlois originally from Arunachal Pradesh. She loves to keep it edgy, funky, and unexpected by styling her outfits with accessories in unconventional ways. “I am not much of a ‘dress’ person. I like to mix & match my outfit to create different looks each time and my wardrobe consists mostly of crop-tops, shorts, pants and skirts. I am just old school like that. I’ve grown up being inspired by …

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#Faces | “I Wanted to Capture The Moment When This Mom (Who Runs a Homestay) Finally Gets Time to Piggyback Her Baby” – Abi Lama, North Sikkim

“I work for a travel company, so this was taken during one of our work visits to a homestay at Gnathang Valley which is at an altitude of 14,000 ft. The woman in the photo runs this warm homestay with her husband, who is posted in North Sikkim. In the picture is her baby Hissey, who is as adorable and caring as her mum. She had just finished serving us breakfast and I managed to take this picture of her and her baby. This picture, to me, really captures her warmth as well as her strength as a woman and as a mother. Because her husband works as a police officer in Sikkim, she runs this homestay by herself for the better part of the year. Gnathang Valley is such a remote place… life up here isn’t as easy as it looks, so just her unabashed zeal and commitment is truly inspiring.” ~ Abigial Lama “I felt like capturing those little moments, like when she gets time to piggyback her baby” – @AbigialLama