Month: September 2018

Rootsandleisure_AnnaAbola17

This 21-Year-Old Illustrator and Storyteller Draws Inspiration from Jane Austen and K-Pop, and Creates Art You Will Want to Live In | Meet Anna Abola From Latvia 

Published by Vilina

“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work”- Colin Powell. For Anna Abola, 21-year-old digital illustrator and artist from Latvia – a small country in Northern Europe, her passion for art started at the tender age of 3 and she practiced hard to get every detail right. This love for art blossomed as she got older and at just 8 years old, she joined her first art school. Born with a disability, but with her ever so cheerful outlook on life, she uses art as a healing mechanism to voice out her ideas, thoughts and emotions. Anna and her art is a true inspiration for us, the world over. We chat with Anna to know more about her and her artistic journey. We had an intimate talk with artist Anna Abola from Latvia about her life as an illustrator, her passion for art, her main source of inspiration for her beautiful illustrations and more. Hello Anna. Tell us a bit about yourself. Hi! My name is Anna Abola and I am …

RootsandLeisure_Dzukou valley

Camp Under The Stars and Refresh Your Souls By Trekking to the Picturesque Dzükou Valley in Nagaland | Rohan Abraham of India Trail Talks About Their Upcoming “Dzükou Fest”

Published by Rachel Thong

We all know that city life can be stressful – and not only that, routine life anywhere can get depressing at times. We are also well aware that an escape to nature is what we need. But it’s easier said than done. For most of us, planning a getaway is not an easy task. For instance, a trip to the much talked about Dzükou valley in Nagaland may seem inaccessible to most of us. That’s when boutique travelers like “India Trail” provides a convenient solution. Known as the travel experts for the beautiful and mostly unexplored region of North East India, the guys at India Trail have been doing their bit to allow people from all over to experience the natural wonders of the region. Today we have co-founder of India Trail Rohan K Abraham to talk about their upcoming camping trip “Dzükou Fest” to enlighten us about the place, the camp and everything you need to know, to finally plan your trip to Dzükou Valley – the most beautiful trekking spots in the North East of India.  Rohan Abraham of India Trail chats …

rootsandleisure_merenla imsong

A Fun Chat With Stand-Up Comedian and Viral YouTube Star, Merenla Imsong On How She Uses Her Roots To Make Us LOL

Published by Vilina

Making someone laugh is no easy task. For anyone inclined to comedy, getting any kind of reaction to their jokes can be immensely satisfying. Our featured guest today is the young and super talented viral comedienne from Nagaland – Merenla Imsong – who has effortlessly tickled our funny bones with her honest and engaging content. She attained her social media star status in March last year when her home video titled ‘Presumptuous chinky assumes the North Indian way‘ went viral on YouTube – It’s currently sitting at over 200,000 views! Many of us who are working and living outside of our hometowns, regardless of where we come from, have undoubtedly faced similar presumptions as her famous alter-ego Pinky Singh. So, it’s no surprise that her many characters and “Vegg ya Non-Vegg” videos hit us at our funniest and most relatable spots. We sat down with the rising comedy star – Merenla Imsong – to find out what exactly tickles her funny bones, her comedy inspirations and how she conceptualized her first viral video and more. …

Rootsandleisure_recipe_french toast

#Recipe | Classic French Toast with a Decadent Twist: Banana, Chocolate, and Salted Caramel

Published by Themidmess

Raise your hand if you have fond memories of devouring a steaming stack of French Toast for breakfast. We at Team R&L definitely recall savoring it as a packed lunch or enjoying it as a delightful afternoon snack at home. Today, we have the pleasure of featuring Sabiha & Sameena, the talented sisters from The Mid Mess, as they share their unique take on this classic favorite. Get ready to discover their delightful twist that adds an extra touch of sweet indulgence to the beloved French Toast. Let’s dive in and uncover their secret recipe! French Toast is a popular breakfast dish all across the world but this version by The Mid Mess is an all-out indulgence. Try this recipe out and impress your friends with a special dessert, weekend brunch, or a yummy snack at any time of the day. Ingredients for the French Toast:  1 tbsp Sugar 50 ml milk 3 bananas, thinly sliced 6 slices bread 4 eggs 50 gm butter, coarsely chopped 2 tbsp Nutella or chocolate spread  1⁄2 tsp cinnamon …

Rootsandleisure_Mayur Gurung

“My Grandfather’s and My Own Feelings of Nostalgia and Longing for Our Homeland in Nepal Inspires My Work” – Meet Graphic Artist Mayur Gurung from Himachal Pradesh

Published by Vilina

They say, ‘Home is where the heart is’ and today we speak to 25-year-old graphic designer, Mayur Gurung who is rooted to that motto. He feels that living away from his home in Himachal Pradesh has left a void in him identifying his language and culture. He hopes his art can bridge the gap between his longing memories for his community, and his memories of his home country of Nepal that rests in his heart and mind. We sat down with young, talented and inspiring graphic designer, Mayur Gurung from Himachal Pradesh. He talks to R&L about why he is so passionate about his roots, his inspiration for his gorgeous artwork and much more. Mayur, so nice to speak with you! Tell us a little bit about yourself. I am Mayur Gurung. I’m 25 years old from Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. At present, I work in New Delhi as a graphic designer, both full-time as well as a freelancer. I also have other side projects where I feature elements from my Nepali culture. I am also very passionate …

rootsandleisure_arunachal-Tawang

#FACES | “Sangestar Tso Lake in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh is a Piece of Heaven on Earth” – Gom Chozom

Published by Vilina

  “This photo was taken in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. It was my first visit, and the experience was surreal. Literally felt like I was experiencing  Heaven on Earth; everything was so serene and the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful!  This particular location (in the photo) is called Sangestar Tso Lake and is also famously known as Maduri Lake. It is next to the India-China border and the Bumla pass. Walking amidst the stretch of flowers and lakes was the highlight of the visit. Being a nature lover, the sight of the clouds, flowers, and mountains brought so much peace, happiness, and calm. The valley here is full of wildflowers during this time of the year (Aug-Sept) So you will see plenty of small wildflowers blooming along the walkway and all over the trees. The fresh breath of air and the chirping of seasonal birds makes the place even more enjoyable.” ~ Gom Chozom 

Rootsandleisure_Singer Marmen

Singer-Songwriter Marmen Talks About Growing Up in a family of Musicians in Nagaland and Her Life as a Full-Time Musician in Hyderabad

Published by Ale Mero

  Marmen was 6 years old when she sang at her first gig. Fully backed and supported by her mother and family, this singer from Nagaland has grown up performing at Church, school and many other cultural functions. You may have heard her lovely voice from her debut song called “Shitty Luv”, written and recorded with fellow singer-songwriter Oren Mozhui.  We had a little chat with singer Marmen from Nagaland about her songwriting and music, which she says is continually influenced by her personal life and family. She talks to us about her passion for music, her love for her job and her plans for the near future. Hello Marmen. Tell us a bit about yourself. Hi, my name is Marmenla M Pongen. I’m also known as Amenla and Marmen. I was born on the 21st of April, 1991 in Kohima, Nagaland. I’m the youngest of 6 siblings and now, I live in Hyderabad and a full-time singer and performer. What got you started as a full-time musician and stage performer? With my mom as …

Owner And Creator of Indie Fashion Label “Alem Ozukum” On How She Seamlessly Incorporates Her Humble Life Motto Into Her Styles and Designs

Published by Meyaakum

“Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” – Luke 6:38 (Bible) Today, we’re happy to introduce a rising talent in the fashion scene – designer Alem Ozukum from Nagaland – who clearly knows a thing or two about fashion. She runs her self-named label ‘Alem Ozukum’ single-handedly under simple and humble mottos and  is the sole creator of every piece that she sells. Right from designing to execution, Alem is hands-on when it comes to the entire creative and business process We had a lovely chat with fashion designer Alem Ozukum from Kohima, Nagaland who gave us an insight into her creative process, her humble life mottos and her hopes and dreams for her brand. Hello Alem. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Hi my name is Alemzungla Ozukum, I am a fashion designer based in Kohima, Nagaland. I am the founder and …

rootsandleisure_Twins

Vloggers “Twins and The Other Girl” from Sikkim Gives Us a Glimpse into Their Lives in Gangtok

Published by Vilina

Youtube stars behind the channel ‘Twins and the other girl’ – Pinky, Tinku, and Prakrithi, take us on a tour of the beautiful state of Sikkim, known for its shimmering waterfalls, lush green forests, the mighty Kanchenjunga mountain range – and their leisurely cafe culture.  22-year-old twins Pinky and Tinku, and their friend Prakrithi use their YouTube channel and social media to share fun yet simple snippets of their life in Gangtok, Sikkim. They make sure to stay super stylish and on-trend while doing all of that! The trio takes us around their favorite cafes in Gangtok and also gives us a glimpse of their everyday lives – interview and video below. YouTube stars of “Twins&theothergirl” – twins Shreya Rai (Pinky) and Shraddha Rai (Tinku) and their friend Prakrithi from Gangtok give us a peek into their everyday life in Sikkim and also take us around their favorite cafes. Read on to know more about them, their passions, inspirations, and much more.     Hi girls! Tell us a little bit about yourselves. We are Shreya (Pinkey) and Shraddha (Tinku) …

Rootsandleisure_Akum Jamir9

“The Pictures I Capture Have Less Storytelling and More of an Artistic Representation of The Subject”- Photographer Akum Jamir

Published by Nara Longkumer

  “The picture that you took with your camera is the imagination you want to create with reality.” — Scott Lorenzo True that there can be enough inspiration in the natural world that surrounds us, and in the people we encounter in our daily lives. But what if we’d wish to create a differently coloured reality of our world? Today we have photographer who can show us how it’s done – to be able to create our own version of the world, where everything is high definition, and with every small detail illuminated. Meet the creative and spirited Akum Jamir from Nagaland. Let’s get to know him more. We chat with Akum Jamir – talented portrait and wedding Photographer from Nagaland, to know more about him, his work and creative influences. Akum Jamir – Portrait Photographer (Nagaland) Hello Akum. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Hi, my name is Akum Jamir. I’m a freelance photographer based out of Dimapur, Nagaland. I started this journey as a wedding photographer around 4 years ago, and till date, I have …