Month: March 2019

rootsandleisure_chirmiAshimray

“Dark Days Will Be Many, But The Sea Will Calm Down and The Sun Will Shine Again”- A Chat with Chirmi Shimray from Manipur, author of “The Sea And I”

Some say that every secret of a writer’s soul is written large in their works. Some say it’s all fiction and a figment of their imagination. Today’s writer from Manipur has a little bit of both in her first ever book to be published “The Sea and I.” A teacher by profession, 26-year-old Chirmi Shimray is a new mom to her 3-month-old son and has always been passionate about writing. The themes of her writings usually revolves around Death, Survival and Freedom, and she says of her book “The Sea and I”, ” It’s mostly fictional except for a chapter called ‘Paradise’ which is based on my real life. I want my readers to dive into the book and just let the book take them over with its mesmerizing vulnerabilities, and also its coldness.”Let’s find out more about Chirmi and her book! A chat with Chirmi Shimray – a passionate writer, full-time teacher, new mom and a published author from Manipur. She talks about her debut book, “The Sea and I” the whole process that …

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“For Me Baking Is Not Just Cakes And Cream But It’s The Happiness And Smiles That Keeps Me Excited” – A Chat With Ehok Suchiang, Baker From Meghalaya

They say you have nothing to lose when you dare to be courageous in life. Ehok Suchiang has always dreamt of becoming a baker or chef since her childhood days. Today, she runs her own bakery in her hometown of Jowai in Meghalaya. Ehok is happier than ever as she says she is super happy about where she stands at the moment and also looks forward to opening a cafe in the near future. Let’s find out more about her and her venture. We had a chat with Ehok Suchiang, baker from Jowai, Meghalaya. She talks about her dream of becoming a chef or a baker since she was 11-years-old, turns into reality after she completed her college! Introduce a little about yourself. My name is Ehok Suchiang and I come from a small town called Jowai, a state in Meghalaya. I started my baking journey since December 2018. Tell us about your baking venture, what initially sparked your interest in baking? Being a chef or baker has always been a dream for me. I …

rootsandleisure_KekhriezalieKeretsu

“I Love Changing the Aesthetic of Mundane Everyday People and Things”- Language Student Kekhriezalie on Exploring Street Photography in Seoul

Kekhriezalie Keretsu went all the way to Seoul from Nagaland, to learn Korean language – a pursuit he is most passionate about. While living in the city as a student, the beautiful landscape and the people of Seoul inspired him to take up photography – which interestingly, also helps him get some extra pocket money to manage his expenses. As a personal style and preference, his photography mostly bends towards street and fashion photography – which compliments his curiosity for learning more about people, culture, fashion, current trends and more. The thing that stands out from most of his photographs is the way he captures the raw essence of people and their surroundings in their barest format. He says he finds beauty in capturing everyday moments that are random and occurs naturally around us. What interests him is the way he is able to capture the beauty of such random events and portray the same to an audience. “My focus tends to shift more towards people who are less distracted by objects. Especially the elderly …

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“I See My Art As A Rough Presentation Of Our Own Complex Mind With Its Limitless Theories” – A Chat With 22-Year-Old Doodler Lanunukshi Keitzar From Nagaland

Once again, we are happy to have with us a young artist that draws, zentangle, doodles as his hobby! Lanunukshi Keitzar is a student from Nagaland and he started his hobby two years ago after discovering cool artists across the world through social media! While Lanu goes through a phase of depression in his life, he uses his hobby as a therapy and in such a way he got inspired to continue what he loves to do. “I have been brought up in an environment where my interest and views have not been suppressed but we are given the freedom to use and share. I suppose that is one reason for the absence of boundaries in the perception of my art.” Let us find out more about Lanu and his work! We had a chat with Lanunukshi Keitzar, a young artist from Nagaland. He talks about his inspirations, how it got started and how his upbringing influenced his working style. Hello! Please introduce a little about yourself. My name is Lanunukshi Keitzar, 22 years of …

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“I’ve Been Staying In India For The Past 9 Years And It Feels Like My Second Home Now” – A Chat With Minseong Seok From South Korea To Talk About His “Daily Sushi” Restaurant

To travel to a new place and explore a new culture is indeed a fascinating thing to do. But what about actually settling partially and working in a totally new part of the world? Well, today we have a very interesting person who has done just that – and a little bit more – by introducing his own root culture in this new home of his. Meet Minseok Seok from Seoul, South-Korea who has been staying in India for the past nine years across Chennai and Bangalore – and have now opened his own restaurant called “Daily Sushi” in Bengaluru. Besides the delicious spread of authentic Asian food – from sushi, sushi rolls (gimbap), ramen, rice bowls to cold-pressed juice, what’s also interesting is the “Grab-and-Go” concept which aims to bring a casual and instant touch to your sushi dining, which he says is often perceived as too posh, or slow dining. “Customers can just step in and Grab the food and Go (GRAB-N-GO and Enjoy!). Many people think Sushi and most Japanese foods are expensive. …

“I Want The Onlooker to Sense Calm and Tranquillity – and Walk Away Feeling Refreshed”- A Chat With Artist Visedelie Seyie from Nagaland

The best part of chatting up with artists is the storytelling part. Another artist – another refreshing story – and this keeps us excited each day. 😊 Today’s story comes from a young artist from Nagaland – Visedelie Seyie, who tells us how his childhood was filled with drawing and painting activities – and lots of comics and cartoons. These childhood characters and fantasies inspired him enough to try his own hands at creating his own versions of happiness and fun that he felt while in the company of his favorite cartoon characters. When not watching cartoons, he was happily outdoors enjoying the tranquility of Mother Nature – another aspect of his childhood that influences his art. So let’s find out more about Visedelie! We had a chat with Visedelie Seyie from Kohima, Nagaland. He talks about how painting has been a part of him since young age, the theme behind his art and his future plans. Please introduce a little about yourself. Hello, I am Visedelie Seyie, a self-taught artist from Kohima, Nagaland. Currently, …

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“Being a Huge Fan of Harry Potter, I Started Making Magic Wands to Add to my Collection – and That’s How It All Began” – Potterhead Megha Thapa from Darjeeling Talks About Her Venture “Wands by Meghamax”

Raise your hand if you are a Potterhead! We have one right here with us, Megha Thapa from Kurseong in Darjeeling. Growing up, she was a big fan of Harry Potter, and she started collecting every series – which later extended to collecting merchandise. During this phase of trying to collect everything Harry Potter, she started making those magic wands. Turns out, she was pretty good at it, that her wands looked pretty much the same as the ones she saw in the movies – that she and her Potterhead friends began adding her wands to their Harry Potter collections. Today she runs a venture called “Wands by Meghamax” where she even makes personalised wands for her clients. Today we have Megha with us to share more more about her hobby, her venture and how the money she makes is helping her pursue her dream of becoming a professional photographer. . Let’s find out more about her! We had a chat with Megha Thapa from Kurseong, West Bengal. She talk to us about her venture, …

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“Getaway to the Snow-Covered Dhauladhar in Himachal Pradesh During My Stressful Medical Internship was Like Hitting the Jackpot for my Soul” – Dr. Deepshikha Chhettri

“It was one of the most beautiful day we have experienced together. The one on the left is Arshika – my best friend of ten years, and the one on the right is my sister Ruchika. It was around 3 PM in the evening, and this photo was taken during our trip to Dhauladhar trails in Himachal Pradesh enroute to Triund top. The evening had a very pleasant and warm vibe despite the chilly weather. The chill made us hungry so we stopped on our way to rest for some time and eat. This moment is all the more special because I was with my two favourite people. The entire trip was mind-blowing – with so much to discover – and with an abundance of nature’s beauty to soak in. Memories from the trip will be forever etched in my memory as one of the best treks of my life. Moreover, this was at a time when I was a medical intern in Delhi, and anything remotely green and quiet felt like heaven for me. …

rootsandleisure_alicebalconi

“My Job as an Illustrator and Fashion Drawing Lecturer Combines My Love for Clothes and Sketching Woman as an Artform” – A Chat With Alice Balconi, from Italy

Today we have a guest from Italy – Alice Balconi, a fashion illustrator and a fashion drawing lecturer at Istituto Marangoni – School of Fashion, Art & Design in Italy. Alice is passionate about sketching various forms of women and clothes – two areas that she is personally fascinated with, and believes that both are equally distinct art forms. Apart from her work as an illustrator, she is also known for her healthy way of life and her love for yoga and her adorable pet Napoleone. So let’s go and find out more about her workl and her life in Italy!  We had a quick chat with Alice Balconi, a fashion illustrator from Italy. She talks about her work, main sources of inspirations and her future plans! Hello Alice! Good to have you with us. Please tell us a little about yourself. Ciao! I’m Alice Balconi, born near Milano, Italy, where I’m currently living. I had artistic studies and achieved a degree in Fashion Design at Istituto Marangoni, Italy. I believe in healthy living, so …

rootsandleisure_recipe_roastedlambleg

Recipe Of “Roasted Lamb Leg” By Raman Okram From Manipur

Today’s dish – “Roasted lamb leg” is contributed by a passionate cook, Raman Okram from Manipur. For him, this is one of the easiest recipes that he has cooked so far. His suggestion is to go for a smaller size of the lamb leg because they’re more tender and it could easily fit to the tray of the oven too. Let’s find out the recipe and how it is prepared! “Roasted Lamb Leg” dish by Raman Okram from Manipur Ingredients : Lamb Leg (1 kg) Olive oil (2-3 tbsp) Salt and Pepper Garlic (2-3) Herbs such as rosemary and thyme (you can use any herbs that you like) 1 Lemon Baby potatoes (4-5) Preparation of the dish : Browning – because it helps to lock the juices inside the meat. Season the meat with olive oil, salt and pepper Make a lemon juice and olive oil in a bowl (1 lemon and 2-3 olive oil). You can add some origano in the mix (optional). Direction to cook the dish : Put the lamb (cut into …