The Evening Recollections Part II

Here’s the next series to my previous post- Evening Recollections Part II.

I dropped off last time leaving you with the fireflies but let us now look forward to a new episode. My first visit to meet my grandma in Ukhrul! I was then in first standard. My aunt, mom’s elder sister came home to the city to visit us. She is the most and the sweetest gentle soul I've ever met. It was easy that I would get along well with her at the first instance! She insisted that I visit my mom’s ancestral home town with her. And that I did!  My first trip away from mom and dad and a very memorable one indeed! And it was during Christmas, my favorite time of the year!

Ukhrul is a little town in the state of Manipur, India. Located in the northeast India, close to the border with Myanmar, it is a region filled with vibrant culture of the local people, the Tangkhul-Nagas and the lush greeneries. I’m not an expert of the area and the people but I’m proud to claim my tangkhul origins through my mom. I have previously blogged a little travelogue on Ukhrul and continue doing so, I hope you would find it an interesting read and somehow be encouraged to visit the place someday.

Ukhrul is famed for its beauty and rich culture and especially because of its one of a kind flower found only at a particular hill in the Ukhrul, The Shiroi Lily. This is in my to-go-places list. Well back to my topic, my first time away from home was an adventure for me. Everywhere and everything I saw was new and beautiful. It was the first time I had seen hills! My Aunt’s old house was a one storied wooden cottage which had a certain homely feel to it as soon as you look at it. It was around mid 90s when back here, young teenagers go crazy about bands like Boyzone, Nsync, Backstreet Boys, and others as far as I can remember, while young adults still sport some hippie style floral shirts and long hair!

One fond memory of Ukhrul I always cherished was the sound! During Christmas as you walk along the roads and the vistas among the trees you will always hear a radio or stereo playing good ol’ music- it may be the old indie film music from Kishore Kumar or Country music such as the classic ‘Country Road’ by John Denver, to The Smokies, The Carpenters, ABBA, BeeGees, etc and sometime even Classic Gospel songs. As for me I was particularly fond of carols and I still am. Silent Night, Mary’s Boy Child, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town were the music which greeted me that winter. It was indeed a great welcome.

When I reached my Aunt’s place it was quite late, quite late it the evening. I met my cousins for the first time- Achei (which mean senior, sister/brother) Zing, Achei Khai, Chonchon, Toddler Shang and my uncle. It was not that they weren’t part of our lives before but this instance was my first recollection of their existence. I was a bit reserved during my younger years so I have to say that it was an awkward meeting with the other members of the family. But I did bond well later with them.

Tangkhuls are deadly meat eaters!!! If you have to ask what is the staple food of Tangkhul-Nagas I would say MEAT!!! First night with my aunt dinner was the venison which my uncle personally shot at in the day’s hunt! But by the end of the trip I myself became a meat crazy person! I have no regrets, whatsoever!! Lol!

Meeting my granny for the first time was like a trip to a mysterious land. Back in the 1990s there were much developments in the place. I din't see much automobiles plying on the roads of Ukhrul except for buses or army trucks and jeeps. My cousin, Chonchon and someone I couldn't distinctly remember took me on 'tour' to my granny's home. It may have seemed normal for them but to me it seemed like walking into a deep wood. Everything was enchanting and amazing. I still remember the turns as I grew up and walked along those same paths every time I visit the place.

My granny is somewhere in her 90s. The accurate date of her birth is not known as she herself have no idea about it. Here's a pic of my sweet granny which I have taken last winter:

She hugged me when I first saw her. At that phase of my life I knew neither my mom's nor my dad's dialect. I could converse only in English or hindi. I do remember how I held her wrinkled hands surprised how different it was from my mom or myself... It always made me sad.
My granny has a detestably obsessive hobby (I prefer to use the word 'habit' instead, anyway), gardening!
The first time I met as my memory serves, I remember her with a shovel in her hands and till now in her late 90s whenever I visit her she would be in her garden if her health is willing or if it is not raining.

Everyone talks about their granny's delicious food, I will too, however instead of delectable sweet and savory meals, being partially a naga, I would rather prefer to praise and applaud my granny's finger licking Kasathei (chutney/chilli paste). Then there are varieties of fruit juices and squashes that are prepared by my granny all stocked in bottles which she would bring out especially reserved for special guests. My granny had a hard life when she was young someday perhaps I would be able to write about her, but right now I hope she will always continue sharing her smile with us.
My trip did not last long but I did get to find a trace a myself even now through this journey down the memory lane of how things came to be. 

Ukhrul, A place to visit

.... I was writing my next blog when I came to realize that I have so much to describe about a particular place but sadly there seem insufficient data or even blogs on this place. And I bet the readers would find it a bore to read wikipedia's description about the place. This place which I've been referring to a lot of times in almost all my blogs, is Ukhrul, a little town in Manipur, a little state in Northeast India. :) Well if you need more help with that then here's a link to Google maps for further directions- Ukhrul Google Map

 To start out let me explain why I am so interested in this place. It is the first place that brought me close to nature and secondly it is breathtaking! Do I then need to explain further? I have lived here for a period of only one year but I still can't stop myself from coming back every time I get the chance, which would be meeting up my granny :)

Here lets get started. Imagine you are new here and you wanna reach Ukhrul, well then you can either take a bus from Imphal, the capital of the state, Manipur or even all the way from Kohima, Nagaland. As you find yourself riding from one hill to another with a number of turns and halts, you may as well appreciate the scenes in front of you. Once you reach Ukhrul, your first scene would be of houses one at a time emerging amid the greenery. When your reach Hunphung, the area would appear crowded. Then you will start noticing people dropping off one at a time. In no time you would have reached the main town of Ukhrul District, Ukhrul!

Now, lemme show you all, Ukhrul from my eyes...
In spring, around March to early May, in the remote areas of Ukhrul passerby or joggers would most definitely be greeted by cherry blossoms blooming besides the roads. Nothing beats the fresh morning air of Ukhrul. That is my particular favorite! The local people wake up early, before the dawn of day and as I take my usual morning walk down from my aunt's home, I start to notice girls with their water basket or sopkai.

Water availability and transport is the main problem of every household in Ukhrul. Most of them would either have to travel great lengths to the closest water reservoir or ponds to fetch water but in the main town, people have tube wells and facilities of water tankers. Problems aside, seeing a woman in the complete tangkhul attire with a sopkai is a rare treat. However if you're fortunate enough you might just as well get to spot the elderly walking in traditional attire with it or maybe join in one of the festivities of the people where girls and boys alike dress up to dance to the beat of the drums.

Famed for its Shiroi Lily which grows only in the hills of the Shiroi village, Ukhrul is also popular as any culturally rich regions with varied folktales and beliefs. I mentioned this particularly because my students would ask me about these stories, mostly circling the Shiroi lily. Sadly I would not be able to describe them here (which means you have to wait for my next blog on folktales). Personally I would suggest you to come here and listen the tales from the mouth of an experienced storyteller, which probably would be someone's grandmother :).

The tangkhuls are probably the most generous people I have ever met, especially when it comes to food!!! In my one year stay there, both me and my sister gained weight which I am able to lose only after 10 years!!! lol! Well they will invite you home for dinner if you ever find a friend among tangkhuls and they will stuff you with anything they find. Sadly if you love red meat, YOU'RE DOOMED!!! The tangkhuls, I must added, love meat so much that we could literally say that meat is their staple food! Raja Mirchi/ UMorok/ Kasathei is the personal favorite of tangkhul too. Umorok is the world's hottest chilly variant! Imagine a chef taking a little nib landed straight to the hospital, when my uncle could happily munch off FIVE of them in a meal! That is certainly a legend. No wonder they are known for their bravery.

During my one year stay there, I could not have the opportunity to visit tourist spots like Khangkhui Caves or even Shiroi Hills, but I'm not disappointed. Ukhrul have much more sites and scenes to offer. If you have ever walk close to Savio School, close to Junction do wait and watch the sunset and the fields below the peak, a little walk across the road. It will perhaps be the best evenings you ever had. Another place you should visit is a hospital!!! Surprised? Yes, it is not a mistake! Leishiphung Hospital is founded by a tangkhul couple who are right now living in the US. They constructed the only major hospital in Ukhrul with a mindset of helping the people. Here, the chief attraction is the marigold filled artificial hill which offer a magnificent sight to the different hills of Ukhrul. My previous visit to Ukhrul led me there.

Of all that I stated, the ultimate Kim's experience in Ukhrul would be the pleasant morning walk in spring, breathing in the chilly air in a lonely road, almost as there will already be Jawans/soldiers taking their routine jog or women fetching water or even men walking to their fields, hours away from home.
Here I leave you with the pink fresh cherry blossoms with the marigold hill and a romantic evening to look out for, with your loved one watching the sunset and the hills of the beautiful Ukhrul!
Hope You Enjoy The Pictures Below:

Khararphung

Khararphung

Cherry Blossoms on my way toward Leishiphung Hospital

Cherry Trees

Just a distant shadow

Leishiphung's Marigold hill

Junction

Luiyainao Tang

Luiyainao Tang

Vibrant colors of Ukhrul

View from the marigold hill, Leishiphung

Hills from the top of Leishiphung

The Edge at Junction

:) ciao!

Art and the Amateur

whoa!!! I'm back after a short break from the virtual world! But I couldn't help myself, can you???

Well, today I would like to show off some off my other skills, perhaps that is the most appropriate word for it. I call myself a self made artist,and people, I know how that sound!!! Sis calls me a narcissist for that! Well You be a judge for that. 

Anyhow, seriously, I'm not much of an artist and well I'm still learning... Lemme show you some of my works and the backgrounds on why I worked on them. Here it goes-

This picture is a recent sketch. Like I said I'm just an amateur. Well, this sketch is my first try with pencils. Hence, its obvious it was just a practice sketch but I'm glad it wasn't bad for a first timer :). I had been observing art works from different sites and people who can create amazing realistic sketches out of color pencils and ball pens... So I thought why don't I give it a try... What do you say??? Hopefully I'll excel this soon and proceed to ball pens...

This one is a sketch of my parents... Well every artist would have once in their life drawn their parents but not reveal to the mass... no explanation whatsoever for this :) <3

This next sketch is of my handsome cousin brother. He had asked me to sketch me a portrait of himself.... Sadly it was rather a rough sketch as it was the first sketch I did after a long gap. 

Rinchui

The next one is my personal favorite currently. I haven't done any works on kids or baby so it was hard. especially the twinkle in their eyes... I was glad I outdid my expectations with this.The child in the picture is my uncle's son, Rinchui. Sketching him was the most joyful, through it I sensed a certain peace and a bit of innocence back in me :)

Here's another one of my favorite! The expression of the old couple in the picture is self explaining... I came across this image in a photograph which my lil sis used in her assignment on old age. Since then, I couldn't help myself to give it a try!

My next sketch is a picture of a mutual friend, my best friend's friend, Angamba. He asked me to draw his sketch. When I asked him which picture should I sketch he gave me the liberty to choose. Hence this. I chose this as it made him really cool, laid back and maybe a lil crazy :) I chose wise.

Well that is for today!!! I hope you liked it!