Author: Pooja Ghose

RootsandLeisure_TheCraftBread

Happiness and Health in a Loaf of Bread | Meet the Couple Behind Craft Bread, Bangkok

Published by Pooja Ghose

  Haven’t we all heard the saying: big cities harbour bigger dreams? So then, what made this couple set up a beautiful bakery in a tiny village about 30 kms away from Thailand’s biggest business hub, Bangkok? We’ll let Angsumarin Lauruengtana ( age 35 ) and Nikorn Sripongwarakul ( age 35 ), founders of The Craft Bread, speak for themselves. Tell us how it all began : how you met, and how you guys started Craft Bread. Angsumarin : We met at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand, where we both majored in Film and Photography. After we graduated, Nikorn worked in the film industry  as director of photography, and I joined the airline industry as a flight attendant. We were friends for many years before we became lovers, and we finally got married in 2010. My husband Nikorn, later joined me to build ‘Craft Bread’ together. It all started when we began making bread with our own hands. We enjoyed the learning process and got better at it, loaf by loaf. Like all handcrafted products, we think that making good …

RootsandLeisure_Faces

Faces | We are Performing as an All-Girls Band For our Freshers Day

Published by Pooja Ghose

  “I am part of a music band in our school (Mezhür Higher Secondary School, Kohima). It’s an all-girls band. Today we are practicing for Freshers day, and we are planning to perform ‘Shine’ by Mr. Big. Excited that we are practicing after so long – since we actually get to play only during school functions. “ (What is that guy doing in an all-girls band? He is also wearing the same yellow badge -is that a band thing?) “Oh, he plays for another band, but they are also practicing in the same hall. So he dropped by. We made those yellow badges for fun – while making some cut-outs for the hall decorations :D” ~Asino

Achunbo Zeliang from Nagaland | 22-year-old Fashion Designer shares his Dream of Becoming a Global Success.

Published by Pooja Ghose

The more talents we continue to feature, the more we are convinced that Indian fashion talent space is vibrant, and yet very understated. Interestingly, most formidable talents in the industry start out young and aren’t afraid of reaching for the sky. Just like 22-year-old Achunbo Zeliang who started out as an independent fashion designer right after design school ; he has already hosted more than 15 fashion shows since then – in India, and abroad. Currently he is based out of New Delhi.   What has inspired you to become a fashion designer? I had always been very keen on fashion since my childhood days. Despite all that, I never thought I would become a fashion designer for real. But the idea came to me when I began sketching pieces for my family. That’s when I knew what I was meant to do. Being the first and only fashion designer from my community (Zeliang), I constantly try to stay be better than yesterday. Same time, I also try to encourage more and more people to join …

RootsandLeisure_ChanChalee

Lady Behind ChanChalee’s Embroidered Crafts | Natchalee Kongcharoen from Thailand

Published by Pooja Ghose

Our foray into discovering Thai entrepreneurs never ceases to amaze us. From innovative cafe owners to passionate bakers, and even baristas making a big difference in their local communities, we have just scratched the surface. Every new story tells us something more about the Thai brand of resilience and patience. Today, we bring a new face into the mix. Meet designer Natchalee Kongcharoen, who is the founder and designer of ChanChalee. What is ChanChalee all about? ChanChalee was founded in 2016 as a clothing store.  At present, I am a graphic designer by profession. My work on ChanChalee works as a secondary source of income. But it’s my primary source of inspiration in life. I am also inspired by natural fiber fabrics. Most of my design ideas come from just touching the natural fabric and thinking about the kind of embroidery that will look the prettiest on it. It also feels good to adopt a clothing material that has been manufactured in an environmentally conscious way. “I am also inspired by natural fiber fabrics. Most …

RootsandLeisure_CallanGreen

Architecture Student and Full Time Traveller | Callan Green from Australia, Shares His Travel Story.

Published by Pooja Ghose

  “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller” – Ibn Battuta. And a story teller we find in this young Australian traveler who embodies every millennial’s dream to travel the world.  Meet Callan Green from Melbourne –  studying at Deakin University and currently living in Ahmedabad, and travelling across India. Callan is an architecture student at Deakin University and a full-time traveler. Years of traveling have also nurtured in him a passion for photography. Interacting with communities as a volunteer across the world has taught him various facets of global education. He attributes his deeper understanding of architecture and sustainable living also to his extensive travels.We spoke with Green to understand what drives travelers like him to keep the travel bug alive. “I am a student at Deakin University. I work as a barista at a small café in Melbourne, Australia. Slowly, my studies and travel became so intertwined with each other that over the past four years, I’ve spent nearly three of them overseas. I started this chapter of my life by …

Of Kindness, People and Food | Meet the Founders of Barefoot Cafe in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Published by Pooja Ghose

We have been stumbling upon quite a lot of pretty little cafes and coffee houses in and around Thailand. We especially love the small cafes and  coffee shops, as they have the most interesting offerings and stories. So today, we are having a chat with the founders of ‘Barefoot Cafe’  – a quaint little cafe in Chiang Mai. Meet Sathita and Tasasin, owners of the Barefoot Cafe in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Before we talk about your cafe, enlighten us a bit about yourselves. Sathita : I’m 27, originally from Bangkok, but moved to Chiang Mai when I was pretty young. I graduated from Chiang Mai university majoring in Literature. I have been selling homemade (baked) stuffs ever since I was in high school. After graduation, I began working as an assistant for a Japanese artist for a year before opening this restaurant. I was also an exchange student in Germany for a year. I then attended a self-reliance course at PUNPUN organic farm and that’s where I learned about nurturing the deep connection between humans and nature. I like traveling …

RootsandLeisure_ArtistLiChing

Chat with Li Ching – Artist & Illustrator from Singapore Who Ignited her Artistic Flame Later in Life at 42, Proving It’s Never Too Late to Follow Your Passion

Published by Pooja Ghose

It can be challenging to manage a hobby alongside our regular job. Lost in our hectic 9-5 lives, we often find ourselves struggling to make time for personal passions. Yet, there are those among us who skillfully create a new realm through their hobbies, offering respite from the urgency that surrounds us.  One such inspiring individual is Artist & Illustrator Li Ching from Singapore. We were absolutely mesmerized by her art so we approached her for an interview. As we started delving into her background, we were even more inspired by her story about how her life meandered into the dream life she had always wanted at 42!  Having graduated from the National University of Singapore, she spent a good amount of her career as an HR professional. Then she moved to Thailand to teach Geology and Chemistry to International students. It was during this period that Li Ching acquired a newfound love for teaching – and reconnected with the art world, eventually giving her the much-needed opportunity to dive fully into the world of …

RootsandLeisure_TilPithaAssam

Recipe | Sesame and Rice Cake (Til Pitha) from Assam

Published by Pooja Ghose

Rice Cake, also known as Til Pitha locally, is a household favorite in Assam. The combination of a soft, chewy outer shell and the sweet, sticky sesame filling makes it a perfect treat. They are traditionally made during Bihu, the chief festival of Assam, which celebrates the harvesting season. However, you can make pithas any time of the year with just three simple ingredients and indulge in these delicious cookies. Rice cookies filled with sesame and jaggery, locally known as ‘Til Pitha’ in Assam. Note: Preparation for cooking is quite simple. The key to perfecting the recipe is the technique and more importantly, ensuring the right temperature of the pan. Once you perfect these two key points, the delicious pithas will turn out perfect. Ingredients: 2 Kgs of Sticky Rice (Bora rice, Japanese sweet rice, or any glutinous rice available in your local area) 1/2 Kg Black sesame seeds (Til) 1 Kg Jaggery (Gur) Directions to cook A) Making the Rice Outer Layer Wash and soak the rice for an hour. Strain rice and spread …

RootsandLeisure_Bakeforyou

An Interview with Baker and Owner at Bakeforyou, Nagaland | Abigail Sitlhou

Published by Pooja Ghose

Have you ever gone on the adventure of going off book while following a baking recipe, and immediately regretting it? You know the results are almost always disastrous. Because the chemistry of baking doesn’t lend itself as naturally to experimentation as cooking does. So, when the professional bakers out there pick out one beautifully risen cake after another from an oven, know that those hands have seen many failures. Here’s a story of one such magic maker. Meet Abigail Sitlhou, 25, Owner & Baker of Bakeforyou – a home-based bakery in Kohima, Nagaland. Tell us a bit about yourself. I am a witty & fun loving person, who can laugh at the silliest of stuff when I’m around my kind of people. My hobbies are crafting and gardening. I am now a full-time baker and very satisfied with the profession I have chosen for myself. I am lucky that I have very supportive parents. When did you first start baking? I had always been fascinated with the art of cooking & baking . In the …

RootsandLeisure_Faces

Faces | This is How We Spend Our Evenings at Sokhriezie Park, Kohima

Published by Pooja Ghose

“We usually come to Sokhriezie Park after school or during holidays. It’s one of our favorite place to hang out in Kohima! The main reason we’re here is to climb on the monkey bar and check out the ‘cactus corner’. We take lots of pictures for our Instagram, and everyone loves it! Oh, and there’s a cafe too. They make the best spring rolls ever! It’s our go-to spot for chilling and chatting with friends😊” Deno and her friend hanging out at the monkey bar at Sokhriezie Park in BOC Kohima Deno and her friend are busy with their favorite activity – taking pictures at the ‘Cactus Corner’ and sharing them on Instagram.