All posts tagged: Conversations

“Watching my Neighbourhood Change Through a Sad Yet Memorable Photo” Smyrna Samten from Sikkim

Published by Vilina

“I grew up in this neighborhood “Daragaon” in Sikkim. Out here, it can get really hot during summers – and especially grueling, when you have to climb the many stairs along the way in this area. So I often used to take shade under the trees on the sides while climbing up the long stairs. Even when tired, the beautiful staircase with the greenery used to be really soothing and beautiful to look at. Especially a sight to admire when it rains, as the stairs are swept clean and the trees shine with health from the raindrops. I have actually taken tons of pictures of this beautiful walkway over the years (old photo at the bottom). So it was a really sad day when I took this particular picture below. I was walking home through the same walkway and I found trees chopped and the trunks laid aside like dead bodies so I clicked it. The man in the picture was loading them into his truck. Amidst my sadness, and as I walked up the steps, it …

This Sister Duo from Assam are Taking Food Aesthetics to Another Level Through Their Food Blog “The Mid Mess”

Published by Vilina

Two sisters , Sabiha and Samee Taskin from Assam works 9-to-5 job but their passion for food and photography led to the birth of food blogging journey “The Mid Mess ” . From experimenting new recipes to creating an aesthetic plate of food that will make you think twice before you take a bite , these sisters will make sure you have your cravings fixed with the right amount of nutrition. We talk with the brains behind “The Mid Mess” on how they started their journey , dreams and their love for food. Tell us a little about yourselves . We are Sabiha and Samee hailing from Assam and currently living in Bangalore who loves to eat, cook , nerd out about anything nutrition related.We also love travelling and has a passion for photography. We also work as freelance photographers so ,we take up many food photography projects across India, where we click photos of either their new launches or good looking delicious photos for their websites. Tell us about your venture <The Mid Mess>. How did you …

Meet Gilbert Lotha Owner Of “Café Serrano” Nagaland ,Who Dares To Do More Than Just Dream Away

Published by Ovung Jungio

On one of his trips to Wokha, Nagaland , our R&L member Jungio made a visit to one of the earliest café around the vicinity -Café Serrano . He describes the cafe as an excellent backdrop for a Hollywood-esque dining setting with the orange tint of the dusk dancing off the porcelain plates and the stainless cutleries. R & L contributor sat down with Gilbert Lotha, chef and proprietor of the cafe talking about his journey , challenges , kitchen misadventures and more. What led you to become a chef and how was the journey? While doing my Advance Course in Continental Cuisine from Indus Institute of Culinary Arts & Hotel Management, Bangalore I was surprised to witness the level of insane dedication and undiluted passion for the culinary arts shown by the visiting foreign staffs which both challenged and nudged me into emulating the same level of professionalism and love for the culinary art. The journey from a student of the art to a business owner has been a long winding road for me personally- from …

Faces | Life of a College Student in Nagaland by Chovoni Lophro

Published by Roots & Leisure

“This photo was taken as part of a promotional campaign for my college, Model Christian College. Although I don’t remember the name of the professional photographer, we took over 30 shots to get this one perfect shot! 😂” “Hello, I’m Chovoni Lophro, a 19-year-old 3rd-semester student at Model Christian College in Nagaland, majoring in Political Science, which has always been my favorite subject. I’ve been a part of the same institution throughout my education, starting from Model Higher Secondary School, where I studied from grade A until my 12th. After that, I joined Model Christian College, which is also part of the same institution. As a college student, my days are quite busy with a set routine. I have classes every day from 9:40 am to 3:20 pm, which doesn’t leave me much time to help my mom in the mornings. In the evenings, I usually keep myself busy with my studies. However, during my free time, I enjoy doing what I love, such as reading, gaming (my favorite is Mobile Legends), dancing, singing, and …

Another Musical Talent from Northeast India You Need to Follow – Meet Vocal Artist Thunglamo Ngullie from Nagaland

Published by Tiarenla

Music and Musicians, you will find aplenty in Northeast India; it’s a huge part of their lives, and most of the artists are genuinely talented and passionate – which is the reason why we just can’t stop writing (or talking!) about them! Trust us, we have merely scratched the surface of what is a goldmine of creative talents in this part of the world. Today, we introduce you guys to Thunglamo Ngullie, a 27 year old dynamic and versatile solo artist from Nagaland. A hardcore music lover, trained musician, Naga Idol Runner Up and now a Vocal Trainer. Here’s a chat with the talented young man to talk about his musical journey in this remote part of the country, and how he got to perform in several parts of the world – including China and South Korea! Hi Thungla, tell us about yourself and your musical journey so far. I’m originally from Wokha district, and now I am based in Dimapur. I graduated from Unity College Dimapur; I’m now a full time musician, and also work as …

A Chat with the Owners of Forage Cafe in Manipur – Your Destination for Local Food and Mediterranean Cuisine

Published by Kumti

“We chose these cuisines out of our own preference as well as with the consideration that we can make healthful hearty food using fresh ingredients and traditional techniques avoiding artificial flavors and condiments.” The hunt for delectable cuisines never stops; even better when it doesn’t compromise with our health. True to its name, Forage, here’s this lovely couple, Korou Khundrakpam and Kundo Yumnam, from Imphal that after much quest and research, came up with this aesthetically pleasant restaurant that not only serves different kinds of food with a local twist, but also teaches the benefits of healthy and sustainable living through the items and things used in their restaurant. Hi, would you like to tell us a bit about yourselves? We are a couple, Korou Khundrakpam and Kundo Yumnam, from Imphal. We were professionally trained in Fine Arts and we saw our creative pursuits lead us from Delhi to Imphal and from paintings to food! Tell us a bit about the restaurant and when was it launched? After trading our arts practice in Delhi for …

Faces | ‘Memories of My Childhood Home in Nagaland’ by Elika Awomi

Published by Elika Awomi

“This is a bird’s-eye view of the house I grew up in Kohima, Nagaland. Just looking at this picture brings back a flood of beautiful childhood memories, like stealing unripe fruits (especially peaches and plums), enjoying tree swings, playing outside with friends in the backyard over our mini kitchen, garden camping, Christmas and New Year’s Eve bonfires, making doll houses, and basking in the winter sun. I also fondly remember rainy days when we would gather in the front porch and play Five Stones or Carom. On Sundays after church or Sunday school, the outside area would be packed with us kids playing Seven Stones, Hide and Seek, and more. Reliving these moments always makes me feel like a happy kid again! 😊” ~ Elika Awomi, Food lover and Jewelry maker

An Honest Chat With The Founders of Sorshia & Co. Cafe From Kohima, Nagaland

Published by Asmita Das

A cafe filled with love for culture, food and design, the founders Arinaro and Wungchipem are here to talk about their cafe Sorshia & Co. Located in the beautiful and silent hills of Kohima, Nagaland, this cafe has a very distinct “Kohima feels” and their taste of design can be seen in the interiors of the cafe. We are also excited about the prospect of the cafe culture picking up in Kohima as it exists in Dimapur – which is the current hub of cafes and lounges in Nagaland. Here’s a brief chat with the owners – Arinaro and Wungchipem to tell us the story behind Sorshia & Co. and what to expect from the cafe. Please introduce yourself and your latest venture together 🙂 Wungchipem : Sorshia & Co. is co-owned by the two of us, and we both live in Kohima. Ari and I come from very different backgrounds in terms of our education, influences, interests and our line of work but our love for food, designs and cafés motivated us to start this project …

An Interaction with Basuri Choksi, the Interior Designer-turned-Artist from Ahmedabad

Published by Kumti

Today, we have Basuri Choksi – an Interior Designer-turned-Artist who shares her journey with the Roots and Leisure from Ahmedabad on how she breathes life on any canvas that is given to her. Here’s a quick conversation with the lady behind the artworks who is not afraid to play with different types of shades delivering notable effects. Hello, Basuri! Would you like to tell a bit about yourself, where you’re from and what you’ve been up to? I’m an Interior Designer-turned-Artist. Since childhood, I have always been inclined towards art but only figured my true calling for it in 2012 while I was practicing interiors. Within a year, I was sure I don’t want to do anything but paint! Since then, I have been painting and learning new techniques on my own. Introduce us to your work. What got you started? I work with acrylics on canvas, wood and other surfaces. I also do murals. The freedom of expression that a blank canvas gives to an artist, got me started. It also has been a …

Faces | Students in Nagaland Busy Studying for Their Mid Term Exams

Published by Roots & Leisure

“My name is Ayudangla, and right now I am busy studying for my mid term exams; we have our Science paper tomorrow. I am a 10th standard student at Christian High School Dimapur. Our exams started from 9th March onwards, and will end only on 21st March. So my daily routine right now is study, go write my exams, come back home, change my clothes, get some rest – and back to my books with tea and snacks. I can’t wait for my exams to get over and meet my friends for a street food outing in the evening. Planning to go out on 21st itself right after the exam ends.”