Author: Kumti

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A Summer Getaway in the Hills — Sungratsu Village, Mokokchung, Nagaland

Hello folks! We found an interesting getaway for folks looking for some rustic adventure – in some faraway village in the mountains! Today we are at Sungratsu village in Mokokchung district, Nagaland. Nestled in the hills of Mokokchung, this place is known for its beautiful landscapes, warm people, and traditional handicrafts.  Blue sky and the distant mountains of Sungratsu Village Nagaland. Sungratsu village is located in the Asetkong Range of Mokokchung* district, Nagaland. It is famous for making anishi/moyasu (dried yam leaf cakes) — a stable spice used in Ao Naga cuisines {*Mokochung is the home district of the Ao Naga tribe}. It is about 20 to 30-minute drive from Mokokchung town. Make sure you don’t doze off on the way as the ride to the village offers some breathtaking views adorned by scenic landscapes and lovely seasonal flowers. Flowers in full bloom in Sungratsu Village, Nagaland More flowers from Sungratsu, Nagaland Red beans fresh from Sungratsu’s farms What makes the place even more special are the warm and welcoming locals. Once you take the …

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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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#FACES | Onen Nenty From Nagaland Embarks On a Solo Bike Tour Across the State

“I’m Onen Nenty, a solo biker from Nagaland. I’m currently on my way to Peren from Khonoma and Dzuleka area. It’s a part of my mission to cover 11 districts of Nagaland on my bike. Due to the monsoon season, the roads are muddy and quite difficult to ride on. In majority of the areas, construction is going on as well. Sometimes the unmetalled road stretch for about 2-3 hours. But I’ve made my decision! Come rain or shine, I’m going to ride to reach my goal.” ~ Onen Nenty from Nagaland Onen Nenty is one of the few female bikers in Nagaland

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A Chat With Akho, the Owner of Lerina’s Cafe – An All-New Cafe in Dimapur

  We, at Roots and Leisure, love finding cozy cafes for our readers. Sometimes it’s the food that catches our attention, sometimes the ambiance. Today, we have a cafe that’s got both – a cosy aesthetic and some amazing food!  We headed out to the newly launched cafe and met with its owner, Akho Lerina. The 27-year-old man had always dreamt of starting his own business and a restaurant, which became a reality with Lerina’s cafe. Welcoming everyone with a smile into his cafe, Akho is as charming and humble as his cafe! Head to the link in bio to know what he had to say about his cafe. Lerina’s Cafe was Akho’s lifelong dream! Hello Akho, please introduce yourself to our readers! Hello, thank you so much for having me here. My name is Akho and I’m 27 years old. I belong to the Mao Naga community in Dimapur, Nagaland. I own a cafe called Lerina’s Cafe, which launched recently on the 8th of July, 2019. I had always wanted to be a self-made …

Sweet Rush, A Cafe In Dimapur, Nagaland – The Perfect Place To Unwind And Have A Hearty Meal

The streets of Duncan Basti in Dimapur are sprawling with a variety of food joints – each of them bringing something new to the table. While exploring the place, we stumbled upon a quirky and cosy cafe, Sweet Rush, which instantly took our hearts away! The best time to head out to Duncan Basti is in the evenings when the streets are incredibly lively. There are two main streets that connect to Duncan, both of which are filled with a variety of intriguing restaurants, street food joints and comfy cafes. We were greeted with a wonderful weather, which is slowly getting cooler and all the more refreshing. Sweet Rush is located right opposite Fun Bowling. We got to try some delectable dishes and ice creams — they even sell homemade cookies! We truly recommend this eat-out to savour a good plate of shingju, relish a bowl of hot soup chow or simply sip on a cup of coffee. The options are endless. The cherry on the top is that all of this is quite reasonably priced, …

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A Chat With The Founders Of ‘NKsquare” – An IT Service Provider Company Based In Kohima, Nagaland

Today, we have three young energetic, extremely dedicated, grounded gentlemen with us who followed their passion and now are the founders of one of the leading IT companies in Nagaland, ‘NKsquare’. A place heaved with energy, dedication, enthusiasm and with faces brimming with smiles that make you feel welcomed!  When many thought it was a far-fetched dream to start a private firm and make a living out of it, these three young lads took a chance and set out on their own path. NKsquare has set the bar high in providing IT services in various fields. The firm provides services such as IT Infrastructure Solution, Designs & Development of Web Application, Management system , Mobile Apps, Digital Signature and Consultancy. We had a chat with the founders of NKsquare, an IT service provider company based in Kohima, Nagaland to know better about their work and some more. Tell us a bit about your team and how it all started? Hello, we are Neiphizo Kesiezie , Kepezelhou Semou and Kevilelie Pienyü. We are all from different …

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Meet The Hardworking Lataliu Gonmei, Owner Of “Fry N Dry” Restaurant In Dimapur, Nagaland

“Hard work is another name for not stopping from trying, trying again and again till the goal is achieved.” – Anonymous  Rightly so, today we have a hustler who is an inspiration for all. Meet Lataliu Gonmei from Nagaland — owner of Fry n Dry restaurant —  who worked her way up with passion and hard work, who didn’t let any hardships come her way. She is a force to reckon with and we are honored to have her share her story with us. Her restaurant is definitely a must visit. Not only for the scrumptious food but it is easy on the pockets. R&L team Kumti sat down with Lataliu Gonmei, the owner of Fry n Dry, to have a chat about her restaurant venture and how it all began! Hi, would you like to tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Lataliu Gonmei and besides running my full time restaurant, I am also a Sunday School Director in Rongmei Baptist Church at Burma Camp in Dimapur. I did my schooling from Govt. …

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Meet Bambi Kevichüsa From Nagaland, The Renowned Fashion Designer Behind ‘Bambi K Bridal’

We are thrilled to introduce you to Bambi Kevichüsa, a fashion designer from Nagaland who has captured our admiration with her impressive bridal couture label, “Bambi K Bridal”, and popular concept store, “Windfall.” Bambi’s success in the fashion industry can be attributed to her unwavering dedication and relentless work ethic. She firmly believes that hard work is irreplaceable, which is evident in her ability to juggle multiple stores and her plans to launch another one. As Bambi puts it, “There is no substitute for hard work,” and this has been the driving force behind her success. She credits her Naga roots for instilling in her the values of staying humble, working with integrity and fairness, and doing her job quietly. “These are some of the things that I try to live by,” she says. Bambi’s story is an inspiration to many aspiring designers and entrepreneurs who share her passion and dedication to their craft. In this interview, R&L chats with Bambi Kevichüsa to learn more about her work, her creative process, and how her Naga …

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In Conversation With Meyinungsang Longkumer, A Singer-Songwriter From Nagaland

The music scene in Nagaland has totally gone up a notch to deliver a tough competition to the rest of the world. Talk about raw talents, trained professionals, creative as well as hardworking musicians – we’ve got it all. Today, we have one such talented musician, Meyinungsang Longkumer from Nagaland, who is as great a singer as he is a song-writer. Read on to know more! In depth chat with Meyinungsang Longkumer to talk about his journey with music, his new song release, future plans and more! Hello there, please give us a little introduction about you. Hello, I am Meyinungsang Longkumer, I prefer to go by Meyu, which is also my stage name. But don’t be mistaken I love my real name; it means ‘Thousand Praises’. I am from Mokokchung, Nagaland and I currently live in New Delhi. Tell us what got you into music? Like most musicians from Nagaland, my first tryst with any kind of music was in the church. I think it is a good platform to start for any budding …

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FACES | “My Name is Sendu Lepcha and I am Flying Back Home Like a Bird” – By Ekzella Bista

I’m a 24 year-old German-Indian, residing in Sikkim. Currently, I work for the government but I’m very passionate about taking photographs of things that happen around me. Most of the pictures I take are not about me but about the people around me. I love to chat with people after I take their photographs, and listen to their stories. This inspires me in many ways. Here’s a photograph of a young boy who I came across one fine day. As I was talking to him, he said, “My name is Sendu Lepcha and I am flying back home after my school like a bird. I’m 9-years-old and my mom has a shop where she sells momo. My mama said I lost my dad when I was 6-years-old. My dad lost his life when he was working with the woods in the village. When I grow up, I want to become a footballer like Messi”. ~ Ekzella Bista A young boy happily running home after school to his mother | Photographed by Ekzella Bista