Boundless

No.52: Lengzem vrs Pathian hla

2009-07-04T14:15:00.000+08:00

Tuntum pawh a trhing ring leh mai teh ang.Hei hi 7th August, 2006 khan misual.com ah ka post tawh a, a ngai ngaiin ka blog ah hian ka han post nawn leh e. Summer holiday kan nei bawk a, thla khat leh a chanve vel zet hnuah ka update leh theih chauh hmel. Zin hawn ah blog anlo block tawh loh ka beisei.

LENGZEM VRS PATHIAN HLA
Tunlai kan mizo zaithiam lar tak tak lengzem hla sa thin ten Pathian hla an han sa ta tliar tliar a, chutah lengzem hla an sak theih tawh loh thu sawiin an han tuihnih zel bawk a. Pianthar avanga lengzem hla ka sa thei tohlo antih avanga dem ngawt chi anni lova, chutiang bawkin piangthar tawh pawhin lengzem hla lo sa ta pawh nise dem chi anni chuang lo.

Tin, hun reiah lengzem hla bawk anlo sa leh anih pawhin keichu ka hrethiam reng mai. Pathian leh anmahni mimal inkar thu ani miau a. Mitinin Pathian kan rinna level a inang miau lova chutiang bawkin kan mizia, ngaihdan leh thlir dan a inang thei miau lo alawm.

Mizo culture-in a ken tel chu a huhova thil tih hi ani. Chumai bakah mite tih anga ti ve tur a intihluihna tel thin hian min ti luhlul zual mai mai niin ka hre ve thin. Mahse rinna hi ‘personal relationship’ ania, midang an tel ve lo. Pathian leh mimal inkar ani. Ka tan ’sual’ a ka ngaih miau chuan lengzem hla sak loh theih chu a tha lutuk tlat. Rinna a thanlenna zel ani. Amaherawhchu, mimal tan sual anih avang ngawt in midang tan sual ani ve kher lo thei tih hi pawm thiam tha ve mai maiin ka hria.

Kei pawh ka pianthar tirh chuan lengzem hla ka ngaihthlakin ka inthiamlo tlat zel mai a, ka rinna thanlen na a min daltu ani tih ka hriat avangin ka ngaithla lo mai ani. Heng hi mi min hriatpui theih chi anilo, keiman ka thinlung chhungrilah ka hre kiau a, ‘decision’ pawh keima siam ngei tur ani a siam pawh ka siam reng ani.

Kum tam tak alo liam ve ta a, tunah chuan lengzem hla ka ngaithlak pawh hian inthiamlohna leh sual riau a hriatna ka nei hran tawh lo. Avang chu lengzem hla ka ngaihthlak hian ka rinna a khawih buai phak tawh lo ani ti ila a sual lovang. A chang phei chuan a hla thu khan Pathian lam hawi riau a a atan liau liau ni a ngaihthlak chang ka nei bawk.

Amaherawhchu, keiin a sual lova ka ngaih avangin midang zawng zawng pawhin a sual lova ngai ve ngawt turah chuan ka dah lo. Thenkhat tan sual ani anga, thenkhat dang tan sual anilo mai. Kan rinna thanlenna kawnga kan mamawh ang zelin mimal tin hnenah a sual/suallo turin Pathianin min hriattir ah ka ngai.

Thian pakhatin a sawi kala hriat ve reng chu, carrom (board) pen hi sual ah ka ngai a ti ve tlat. Avang chu han pen khan penluh mai tum lovin midang sa tihchhiat tel pah kha kan tum ani si a, midangte tan a rilru thalo put na ani ati ve tlat. Khatih lai khan ka tan carrom pen hi sual a ka ngaih ve kher loh avangin ka inkhel thova, pen lo turin min phutin min tilui lem lova, a inkhel lo ve mai ani.

Khami hunlai kha a kalsan ve tawh nge sual ah ala ngai chhunzawm zel phei chu ka hre zui tawh lo. Heng te bakah hian thil dang dang ani thei ang. Kan rinna min ti thuanawp thei tu hrechiang ber tu chu keimahni bawk kan ni.

Mahse thil dang awm thei leh chu, kan thinlunga chhia leh tha hriatna haider luih hi a ani (hei hi kan zawm zawk tlangpui). Pathianin tuna kan thiante nen kan in be bawrh bawrh ang hian ‘aw’ in ka tana tha leh thalo chiang deuhin minlo hriattir lo. Mahse eng thil pawh nise chhia leh tha hriatna hmanga mimalin inthiamlohna riau kan neih pawh a kan haider a kan tih luih tlat thin hian ani kan nunin nghawng a neih thin ni.

Vawihnih..vawi thum kan haider a kan tihluih hnu ah phei chuan a awlsam zual chho zel a. Vawi engemawzat haider luih hnuah phei chuan inthiamlohna leh sual a ngaihna a bo thak thei.

Chuvangin, piangthar in lengzem hla sak hi a pawilo ani ti an awm pawhin pawmlo tawk an awm anga, a pawi ani ti an awm pawhin pawmlo tawk chu kan awm tho tho dawn. Tichuan midangin an tih ve leh ve lohah buai tam lo ila, Pathianin mimal tinte a kan zawm tur min hriattir zawm phawt mai hi a pawimawh ber chu ani. Pathianin ‘duhthlan theihna’ min pek pawimawh tak hi hmang thiamin dik taka hman tlan tum ila ava tha dawn em.

Engnge I ngaih ve dan le?

No.51: ** *Lanu

2009-07-01T09:50:00.000+08:00

Blog leh youtube te helamah an block avangin update a har hle. Proxy ka hmang a, edit hleihtheih pawh a ni lo. Chuvangin edit vak ngailo kum 8 lai kal ta ami ka haichhuah ka han post mai mai ang e. A thumal thenkhat phei chu a ziak a fiah tawh lova, ka chhuchhuak dik lo maithei bawk. Ka ziah anilo tih minlo hriatpui dawn nia.

***LANU
A iang zo awm maw lanu zawng zingah;
Rose par iang a rimtui leng vel hi,
Aw tuar a har,i bahsam, i bawrkhang (chawrkhang?);
Vala'n mawi a ti a thlir vawng vawng
I rem lawm ni ka sawm che nuthaia'n.

Mahriak awm khawhar chang ni hian;
Ai ang a cham kan sul i hnu zawng te,
Rairah riang chan a na ka ti,
Engan ka lo tawn che tha Rengpui!
Nuih zai rel a har ngei kei ka tan,
I chuai dawn lo a riang val thinlaian.

Damna dawi a ni zaleng zawng tan;
A dawn ngai em val rual zingah lungdumtu,
Mahse khuanun a ruat lo nge kei ka tan,
Par ang a vul dawn e leng dang tawnah
Uai a chul a a chuai mai tur;
I pam hmai lua ka ti valmawia'n,
I rem lo maw ka ti hraileng chunan.

*Jaitley - iang a sakhmel dar ang tui luan,
En chim loh luite kiang ainawnpar;
Nau ang nui a i seih hian chhuihthangvala'n,
I tawn ah duh thu ai ang a sam thin:
"Siamtu ruat ni teh reng se ka tan", tiin.

Hraileng chun atan khuanu
Ruat reng em lo ni ka tan hian,
Urmila - a iang ti dawn ila;
A iang leh si lo zawlkhawpui lanu maw,
I chawi e ka ti i lenna tlangpui pawh;
I rem mai lawmni run lum nuthaia'n.

No.50: Ka Nu, ka lawm e

2009-05-06T22:50:00.014+08:00

Picture source

Tun chawlhni lo awm tur 10th May 2009 a 'Mother's day' (Nu ni) denchhen pahin ka post 50 na hi, ka nu min hmangaihna leh ka tan a hlutna te ziahchhuah nan ka dedicate ani.

Nikhua ka hriat theih tirh te atangin sikul kal tura kan unau a kan chhuah dawn tep a , ka nu in nitin kan lu chunga kut nghata min tawngtai ziah thin kha ka hrereng thin. Zingah kan unauvin kan han thova, hmai kan inphihfai a, thingpui in zawh a zirlai kan bih lailawk laiin ka nu'n zing chaw kan eitur leh 'tiffin' kan paitur buatsaihin rawng alo bawl thin a. Chutah, chumi ni a kan zir tur lekhabu kan ipeah kan han thlak kual a, uniform kan han ha leh te te a, tichuan chaw kan ei thin.

Sikul kal tura kan inpeih fel vek hnuah, room a khumah min thut dun tir ren rawn a, kan lu chunga kut nghatin Pathian hnenah min hlan ta thin ani. Kan tet te atanga hetianga min tawngtai ziah thin anih avangin kan len deuh hnu chuan ngaiah kan neih mai a. Khua reiah chuan kan insiam zawh a kan inpeihfel vek hnu ah, kan unau chuan khumah kan thu awt a, ka nu chu tawngtai tur in kan ko mai thin. Ka nu a damsam lohva, a hmanloh chang erawh chuan ka pa in tawngtaina a hmang thin thung.

Ka u thiante leh ka thiante hian min lo sawm ve ve thin a. Chhuah hmain kan tawngtai ziah thin ani tih hriain anni pawh chuan kan sitting room ah minlo nghak ve mai thin a, a chang chuan anlo tel ve lawp lawp thin bawk a. Tlai deuh chang khan a hrehawm thin, rilru kha a hmanhmawh zek zek duh khawp mai. Mahse, ka nu min kaihhruai danah tlai leh hma khan awmzia a awm vaklova, tawngtaina chu kan thulh phah ngai meuh lo. High School ka rah ve tak kum atang chiahin min chhunzawm pui talo chauh ani.

Tun hnuah hian, a inpekna leh taima taka kha leh chen tawngtaia min hlan leh min kaihhruai thin avang chiah khan tun dinhmun hi thleng chho thei niin ka inhria. Fa han neiin han ti ve tur ni ila, ka tlin ka ringlo takzet. Ka nu mah nise, a tih tang tangna nun kha ka ngaisangin, entawn tlak tak nu kalo nei hi vannei ka inti hle.

Ka theihnghilh tawh loh tur dang leh pakhat chu, inkhawm a ngaih pawimawhzia kha a hmutu mai nilovin, a taka min zawm pui tu ani bawk. Naupang te kan nih atangin, kan unauvin zanah leh ruah sur hnuaiah pawh inkhawm turin biakinah kohhran inkhawm awm apiang deuhthawah min hruai ziah thin kha ani. Rinna lam a min kaihhruai alo tum ruh zia mawlh kha a hlu ka ti. Naupan lai chuan a hlutna hrethiam lovin ning thin hle mah ila, tun hnuah hian kawng dik min kawhhmuhtu anih zia hrechhuakin, ka nu min hmangaih zual tirtu alo ni ta. Ka nunkawng min kaihruaitu ani a, ka damchhungin ka theihngilh ngai tawh dawnlo ani.

Ka nu, entawn tur min hnutchhiah avang leh nun kawng dik mi kawhhmuh avangin ka lawm e!

No.49: Thang leh thar tan

2009-04-28T17:33:00.001+08:00

Ka hlabu hlui

Tun kumtir ka haw chu, lekhabu leh thil hlui dang dangte a kum a kum tel ka khawih tawhloh ho ka haichhuak e ka tia. Lekhabu ho ka enna ah chuan tunhma a Pathian hla (mizo/sap/vai/nepali) hlabu hlui, kut ngeia ka ziah te ka hai chhuak nawlh mai a. Ka ngainat thin em emte leh biakin a lo sak ve thin leh female voice anga kanlo sak thin hlate anni hlawm a, lung a leng duh khawp mai.

Zai ngaina mi tak ka ni a, miten hla tha tak tak an han phuah hi chuan thiam ve dawn riauva inhriat hunlai hi a awm ve a. Chutiang hunlai vela hla ka phuah ve te chu chhuanawmlo zeta ka hlabu phek hnung lam chang pha tawka kalo dah ve ran mai ka hmuchhuak thar leh a. A ril em em hranlo, mahse haichhuah leh takah chuan ka hlut thar ta riu mai a. Avangchu, hla hi ka pian ahnu lamah ~~pahnih~~ pathum chiah 'keima phuah' tih tur ka nei ve ani. Ka hla phuah pakhat zawk phei chu biakina vawikhat ka sak bak ka tiri chhuak leh ngai tawhlo. Lekha a ziah chu tih riral mai a awl si a tiin ka blog ah hian zah pawh dawn lovin leh dahthatna nipah fawmin ka han post rawih e.

Hla tamtak karah chuan, 18th May 1995 a hla ka phuah hmasa zawk, Shillong YMA Madanriting Branch in "Nungchate humhalh" tih thupui hmanga hla inphuahsiak an huaihawt tuma ka thehluh ve ngei hi ani a. A grammar, thumal hman dan emaw a sentence structure a dik em tih lam pawh ka ngaihtuah lemlo. Kala hriat zawng chu, mizo dictionary nen inchhawp a harsa taka ka phuahchhuah ve liau liau ani, tih hi. A thluk erawhchu ka hlabu ah hian a solfa ka ziah telloh avangin ka hre mai tawh lo. Hemi tum hian pakhatna ka hauh nghe nghe - chupawh thehluttu dang an tlem vang mai mai ania :) A Aw B hi formal taka zir kala nei lova, school leh college ah lah Mizo subject kan neih ngailoh avangin heng mizo tawnga ka kutchhuak ve ngei te hi, mite angin a mizo in emaw a sap tawngin emaw thu leh hlaah sang velo mah ila, ka hlut thar takzet ani.

THANG LEH THAR TAN
1. Chung khuanu leng ruatsa khawvel lungdumtu;
Hringmi zaleng zawngte thinlai hnemtu,
Siahthing leh mau, nungcha leng hlimna,
Hringmi zalengte chawlhna siahthing hlim.

An vullai thliak lovin khuarei atan,
Hram thiam va tinrengte dam reng turin;
Thang leh thar ten thinlai rukah vei ve in,
Venghim zel ang, siamtu kutchhuak.

2. Hril thiam ila tukloh ram fan chang hianin,
Kan tan an hlutnate chawisang thiamin;
Keini lungmawl hnam chem hmang zawng ten,
Siahthing leh mau, ramsa leh sirvate.

3. Dawnthiam leng ten tukloh ram vulloh hlauvin,
Leng zawngte min au ve vul reng turin;
Sik leh sa siamtu tukloh ram zawng,
An vullai thliak lovin thang leh thar tan.

Mizo ziak leh chhiar chu ABC thiam chuan in zirtir vak pawh ngai lovin mahniin ka thiam chho ve mai a. Mizo hawrawp inzirtir te chu nu leh pa te mawhphurhna tiin kan ngai maithei a, mahse ziak leh chhiar thiam zut zut ta chu A Aw B zirtir hran ngai lovah minlo dah pawh alo ni maithei. Kei lahin zawhna chang kalo hrelo ve bawk nen. A mak hle mai. Mizo hawrawp chungchang hi kalo ngaihtuah ngai meuh lova, tun tuma hetia blog a ka ziah mawlh mawlh lai hian formal taka zir ka nei hauh lova, a inziak pawh kala hmu hauhlo tih ka hrechhuak zawk mai. Thil tamtak hi 'granted' a lo lak hi a awl riau anih hi mawle. Khawnge, A Aw B chu ka inzir chawp angin, tah hian ka han ziakchhuak dawn chhin ange. Dik emaw chu? :)
A Aw B Ch D E F Ng H I K L M N O P R S T U V Z = 22

No.48: Ngaihzawng

2009-04-20T12:00:00.005+08:00

Khawvela kan awm chhungin thil chi hrang hrang kan kal tlang a. Chung zinga nun tinuam pawl tak chu 'ngaihzawng' neih hi ani awm e. Ngaihzawng neih a, kan hmangaih a, min hmangaih let ve tluka nuam hi a awm dawn amoni te ka ti hial. Engmah harsatna awm lova, induh leh induh han awmdun phei chu nuam tak ani. Mahse a hrehawm chang pawh a awm thin ve thin tho mai. Inhmangaih tawn si, khaw hmun khata awm siloh hian hrehawm tak ani.

Khaw hranah pawh awm ila kan duhberte ngaihtuah chuan rilru ah an han cham veng veng a, awm hi a nuam em em a. Phone, sms, chat leh e-mail an hnen atanga han hmuh phei hi chuan rilru a hlim hliah hliah thin. Nghakhlel takin an aw hriat chakin leh message min thawn leh hun nghakin kan han awm a. Chutah alo thleng ngei a, lawmin kan zuang tawr tawr thin lo chauh ani. Amaherawhchu, kar hla na na na chu, a taka hmuh mai tur awm silo, email leh phone atang ringawt chuan thil hote ah pawh inhriatthiamlohna (misunderstandings) neih lah hi a awlsam em em a. In hriatchian tam hma phei chuan hahthlak chang a tam thin. Chuvang chuan inbiakpawh (communication) tam tluk a awm theilo.

Kar hla a ngaihzawng nei angah lo inchan ta theuh ila. Kan bialpa/bialnu khan min be pawp duh ta tlatlo mai se, rilru na leh rilru hah reng reng in kan awm phah ngei ang. Aw, min han be pawp hram se chuan ka rilru a dam mai tur. Thu pakhat tal pawh han tiri se ka tan chuan thu tamtak sawi ang ani dawn si a. Eng vanga min be pawp duh tlatlo nge? Min hmangaih tak tak lo nge ngaihzawng dang anei ta? tih leh ngaihtuahna dang dang neiin rilru hah teuhin kan awm ngei ang. Chanchin inhriat/inhrilh tam miau loh chuan, inhriat chian a theih lova, inhmangaihna pawh a nghetlo thei.

Ka rilrua a lo luh tak dan chu, Pathian nen a kan 'relationship’ pawh hi kar hla a ngaihzawng neih nen in an na riau a awm tih hi. Pathian nena relationship tha tak neih dawn chuan, inbiakpawh (communicate) tam a ngai khawp mai. Kan hmangaih kan tih a kan biakpawh that duh tlat loh chuan kan hmangaih thuk lo viau ani theia, chhawm nun kan tum loh chuan kan hlat tulh tulh anga, a tawpah phei chuan hmangaihna a dai thei dawn alo ni. Pathian chuan a mobile hum reng chung leh computer bulah kan online hun nghakhlel takin min chang reng thin. Kan phone, sms, chat, e-mail, lekhathawn hun nghakin (kan tihdan ang chu nise) a ‘hui’ pap pap anga, a vei tawn ve zak zak maithei ani.

Min hmangaih thu lekhathawn (love-letter) tihtakzetin Baibulah chipchiar takin min thawn tawh a. Min 'break-up' pui ve mai mai dawn lova, rinawm takin a tawp thlenga min hmangaih a intiam a. Nupui/pasal atan min duh ngawih ngawih a, inneihpui atan min sawm (propose) reng a. Kan hmangaih let ve hun, nupui/pasal a kan pawm theih hun nghakhlel takin minlo ngaichang reng. Inneih hnuah pawh nupa hlim tak kan nih tur leh min then (divorce) ve mai mai loh tur zia a ziak lang nghal bawk.

Hmangaihte chungchang a tam thei ang ber kan hre chak thin a, an duhzawng leh hlimna tur zawn/tihsak kan chak hliah hliah thina, chutiang tih chuan inpawh/inhmangaih lehzualna a siam thin. Chutiang bawkin, ka hmangaih tawh ti leh la hmangaih ve lova inhria te tan, Pathian duhzawng leh duhlohzawng hriat nan te leh hlim taka kan siam theih nan chuan biak (contact) tam hi a ngai khawp mai. Chuvang chuan, kan phone (tawngtai) mawlh mawlh hi a pawimawh em em a. Pathian chu englai mahin a ‘offline’ ve ngai lo tih kha hria ila, engtiklai pawhin; kawnga kan kallai, motor a kan chuan lai, class kan kal naah, kan hnathawhnaah te be deuh reng mai ila, kan hmangaihna chu a pung ngei ang. A tam lua a awm theilo. A hmangaihna kan rinhlelh chuan, a love-letter min thawn (Baibul) kha chhiar nawn leh ila, pawh that leh dan zawng ila. Ani lam atang chuan engtiklai mahin disconnection a nei ve ngai silova-‘no problemo’ ani ringawt. Keimahni leh kan duhthlannah ah a inghat lian em em thung. I contact mawlh mawlh teh ang u.

(Thiante u, rilrua awm ang pawhin ka ziak chhuak thiam veleh peklo ani e. Minlo chhiar mam sak mai dawn nia :P)

No.47: Hawn min ti hreh thintu te

2008-12-19T01:05:00.024+08:00

Christmas leh hawn chak tuipui hunlai ani leh ta. Keipawh hawn tumin ka inpuahchah ve mek a, amaherawhchu keini ang tan chuan hawn a chakawm rual rualin, a chakawm loh ve thei tlat. A chhan tlemte ka han sawi ve teh ang.

Ram danga awm lai hi chuan lungkham tur hi a tlem zawk amoni chu aw ka ti. Mahni rama han haw dawn meuh chuan, helama kan mamawh miahloh thil tamtak lei/hawn leh ngaihtuah a ngai leh dawn anih hi.

1. Thawmhnaw lam hi rilrua lang hmasa pawl chu ani thin. He lamah formal taka inchei a ngaihna a awm miau loh avangin, haw dawn hi chuan biakin leh thil tihkhawmna mitthlaah a han lang nghal a, thawmhnaw formal deuh ngaihven nghal ruai hi a tul tlat thin. Chutah, mahni chenna lamah eng ang 'ishtyle' nge tunlai an uar tih kanlo hre em em tawh si lova. Thing bik emaw over emaw nih kanlo hlau ve roh bok si, lu a hai duh deuh chu ani!

Ka hawn hnuhnun berin thawmhnaw ka lei haw lova, Aizawlah ka lei chawp mai ang ka ti a. Millenium ah ka han bazaar chu, China lam siam thawmhnaw hlir anlo zuar chu niin. A man lah chu an han chhiar to hlawm khawp mai a. China a a man hre kur si, lei tho ngai bawk siin, ip chawih chawih in ka lei ta anih kha. Kalo hawn talo chu a inchhirawm duh khawp mai. Tun tum chu mahniin hawn lel tawh teh ang.

Tunkar ka bazaar naah helama pheikhawk brand tha ve pawl (Daphne) an sale ka hmufuh hlauh maia. Sale loh lai chuan lei tinah pawh kan tin ngamloh kha ani a. Tichuan, vannei inti takin, chatuan daih turin pathum kan lei pawp mai. Bun ngai silovah chuan duhthawh ve tak chu ka ni :) Pakhat dang hi chu sale ka hmuhfuh hmain a to a to mangkheng in kalo lei hman pek a. Pawilo ti tawh mai ang. Hawn leh hun atan inhmakhua sa ni mai. 2006 kumtir pawh khan Shanghai ah pheikhawk rawngsang ka leia, inah ka hnutchhiah nghal daih a, hawn apiangin bun chhuak veleh mai :P
Pheikhawk sang sawi takah chuan, helamah chuan bun chu sawiloh, a neih pawh ka nei lo. Tunkum kumtir kalo haw pawh, in lam (Shillong) a haw hmasa lovin Aizawlah ka tlang diah si a, ka cousin pheikhawk ka bun hawh tehreng anih kha! A sang a sang mangkheng hi min hawhtir lehnghal a. Saron vengah ka inkhawm a. Inkhawm kal lam kha chu kala bun tluan thei hram a, haw lamah chuan ka ti thei ngang tawhlo. Thlenna in hnaih deuh hnuah ka phelh te te a, ka khai nawlh a, kelawngin ka haw ringawt tawh bawk. Tuntum kalo haw leh tur pawh eng tak ang leh ang imaw!!

Helama hak ngai reng reng loh, coat te pawh ka han lei ve a hei. Alo out-dated hman tawh leh China 'ishtyle' alom kan ti zeih ve tawh mai ang chu.

2. Mahni in/khaw lama haw ni thin mah ila a khawharthlak. Thian hluite hmun dang dangah anlo khawsa/hna thawkin anlo awm darh dial tawh a, a awm chhun te lah mahni buai buaiin anlo buai em em tawh mai si a, kawm tur nei lova hawi hil lawl a awl duh khawp mai.

3. Phur leh chak takin mahni inchhung ngeiah kan han thleng a. Mahse, mikhual ang mai a chet alo ngai tawh a. 'Mikhual ang' ka tih hian eng dang nilovin, ka thawmhnaw ho pawh ka zin bag ah ka vawm lut leh zel. Avang chu in dah darh deuh chuan, in chhuahsan leh dawnah zawn buai leh chiam a ngaih bakah theihnghilh a awl si a, chuvangin mahni inah pawh kil khatah ka inkhuar thin ani deuh ber mai. "He khawvel hi kan khualzinna ram ani", tih hi ka tan chuan a dik lehzualin ka hre thin.

4. Mahni vengah kan lang duh. Kum tela hmun danga awm daih hi chuan chanchin inhriat pawh alo har a, thenrual leh thiante nen ngei ngei pawh titi a rual tawhlo. Thil tawn, hmuh leh hriatte alo inang tawh lova, duhzawng te pawh alo inthlak vei nen, titi a rualrem tawh thinlo. Khawr tut a inhriatna a lian duh.

5. Han inkhawm ila, tunhma a kanlo hmuh than em em leh kohhran puipa te leh inti neitu kanlo tih ve em em thin te hmel hmuh tur awm talo thin hi chuan lung a tichhe thin. Vanramah kanla inhmu dawn ani tih chu hre mah ila, han haw ve changa hlim tak leh nel taka han biak bawrh bawrh tur an han awm takloh hi chuan rilru ah an cham veng veng thin.

No.46: Prayer

2008-11-05T19:50:00.007+08:00

'Heavenly Father,

We come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says,

'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Amen!'

A prayer by Billy Graham aired by Paul Harvey in his radio program, "The rest of the story". Also claimed to have originated from Joe Wright's prayer offered in the Kansas State House.

Irrespective of the controversies as to who first prayed this prayer, I personally find it to be greatly inspiring and motivating.

No.45: Tai Bai Mountain

2008-10-27T22:13:00.009+08:00

Tai Bai Shan
24th-26th October 2008

Several friends and I went to spend last weekend in Tai Bai Shan which is about 2 hours drive from Xi'an towards the west. It's my second visit to Tai Bai Shan. But the last time we went, it was snowing heavily and didn't go up to the mountain peaks.

We arrived in the evening and checked in at Qianbaizhong Grand Hotel at the foot of the mountains. The air was crisp and fresh and the weather was very pleasant throughout our stay. As October is an off season for tourists, I particularly enjoy the quiet and sparsely populated village.

The pictures above are noodles made of corn.

We took a mini bus to Tai Bai Shan and as we reached the entrance, I was surprised when we needed to show our passports. I've rarely encountered such requests before. It costs us several minutes before we could finally proceed. (I later came to know there is a military base up in the mountains). The bus made a stop at three different locations: at a waterfall, a Temple in a cave and at the Tai Bai National Forest Park.

Qingling range

The winding pattern in the picture is the road that leads up to the mountain top. From the mountain top, we can either hike for another 3 hours or take a cable car to reach one of the peaks. We chose the easy way up and went by cable cars that took us 16 minutes each to go up and down.There is a small mountain trial at the top that leads to another peak. We decided not to go any further as the trial was slippery with hardened snow and would require another 2 hours hiking to reach the other peak. The view was amazing and I find the trip totally refreshing.

No.44: Chindia Digest No.14

2008-10-21T16:47:00.007+08:00

Tunlai khawvel hi a chhe tawh mang e tirawh u. Chanchin han chhiar ila, ram leh ram, hnam leh hnam indo/inthah, lirnghing, tuilian etc leh khawvel economy tlachhe mekte han thlirin, keini ringtute tan chuan thilmak vak ani lo. Baibul ah alo hrilhlawk dim diam tawh si a. Chutih laiin, Isua hnungzuitute kan nih angin, Isua la hre ve lote 'hrilh leh zirtir' hna kan kova innghat hi tihtakmeuh a tan lak a tul ani. Hun hi a hluin a hmanhmawh si a, a ram tihzau nana kan tihtheih ang theuh va hma la thar turin ka han chah veleh phawt che u. Engpawh mai hi ngaia neih hi a awl riau ania.....chuvangin in hriat tawh hnu pawh nimahse ka han tiri leh ani e. Mahni in/chhungte/khua/ram kalsana penchhuk ve thei lote pawh, kan awmna zawn theuhah tihtheih kan neih kha inhre thar leh ila, tawngtaipuina a tan minlo lakpui bang lo turin ka han chah leh mawlh mawlh phawt mai ang che u.

Ringtute nunah din changte, kal chak chang te, tlan chang te a awm thin. Kan kal beuh beuh chauh emaw intih laiin Pathian hnathawh a thleng tup tup a, chutih rualin hmelmapa lahin tan alo khawh ve nasa bawk. Rin phak bakin Pathian an chet meuh chuan, rawngbawlna ah a um a um dawr dawr ngaih changte pawh a awm ve ta. Pathian thu hreduh leh a chanchin hrechiang duha min kawm duh hi an pung nasa hle. Helaia kan rawngbawl dan erawh chu in hriat tawh kha. Mi chuti zat ringtu ah an inpe/ bap-tis-ma an chang tih lam nilovin, a chanchin hriatir turin remchanna tinreng kan lei a, mi engemaw zah Isua chanchin hre duh rinloh lam atangin an rawn awm nawlh nawlh te hian, heng huna lo puih hi kan tihtheih tawk ani miau mai a. A chi tetakte kha kanlo tuh ve a, a tuipek leh thanlen lam erawh chu kan tih phak bak niin Thlarau Thianghlim kuta hlan ani leh mai.

Ka zirtir leh thian hluite, heta an zirna an zawh tak avanga hmun danga hnathawk leh zir zawm ta te, khawnge an awm tak tih pawh hriat loh te hnen atanga, an hnena a 'chi' kanlo tuh ve teng teng thi mai lova, Pathianin tui alo pek zawm zel chanchin han hriat te hi a nuam a. Tun hnua an thinlunga hai rual lohva lo thang zel ta chanchin han hriat hian, a ropui tih mai bak chu sawi ngaihna pawh ka hre lo. Ka zirtir lai mekte ah pawh Pathianin nasa takin hna a thawk mek zel ani.

"Ringtu ka ni thuai dawn":
Kum 3 kalta khan Dandy a ka zirlai niin ka kawmngeih hman hle a. Sorkar hriatpui kohhran a ka naute 8 ho ka inkhawmpui tuma tel ve kha ani nghe nghe. Ka thawhna University atanga graduate chhuak tawhin mahni 'business' a tan a. Shanghai a khawsa thei tak anni bawk a, a hna lamah pawh a hlawhtling angreng fu a. Phone hi chuan a khat tawkin kanin biak zawm zauh zauh thin a. Tunhnai mai khan Xi'an alo tlawh dawn leh min hmuh a duh thu min hrilh a. Xi'an alo thlen chuan minlo phone in chaw ei chhuahpui ah min sawm a, a zirpui thin leh a kawmngeih em em Rocky leh ka thian dang ka sawmte nen kan chhuakho ta a. Kan chhuah hma atang tawhin ka thinlungah hian Baibul ka pek tak te kha ala chhiar zawm ta em tih leh engang chiahin nge rinna lamah a dinhmun tih hriat ka chak hle a. Mahse midang ho nen kan nih nuaih avangin a hrana han zawhna hun a awm bawk silo.

Kan chhuak ta a, bus dinna atanga chaweina tur pana kan kalphei tham tham chu amah zawk chuan ti hian a rawn sawi phawng mai a. J, "Ringtu ka ni thuai dawn" a rawn ti phut mai a. Ka hriat chak tak leh ka titipui duh tak sawina hun a inhawng chu ani ta reng mai! A sawi zel naah chuan, khawvel hausakna/sumdawnna hlawhtling ve tak kar pawha a rilru a hahchawlh loh thu leh, Pathian thu a thinlung a a cham reng thu min hrilh a. Chu chuan Isua hnung zui duhna thinlung a neih phah ani. A classmate thin Rocky a, ka kawm ve hman nual tawh, pawh chuan rawn chhunzawm vatin duhtawkin Xiaozhai, Bazar na hmunpui, mipui kal nuaih nuaih karah chuan tui takin kan sawi phei ta bawrh bawrh a.

Kawm chhunzawm pawh ka chak hle. Mahse, a tuka haw leh nghal mai tur ani a, Pathian kuta nghah mai kha a him ber mai. Shanghai a ringtu dang awmte hmang pawhin aniang, engtik emaw niah chuan Pathian angchhung a thlen ve ngei hi ka ring tlat ani. Kan Pathian hian mite a ngah a, hna a thawh chuan engmahin a dalzo lo. Dandy leh Rocky te pawh hi inlo tawngtaipui thin kha anni a, Isua ke bul thleng rak an thlen theihna turin inlo tawngtaipui zawm zel dawn nia.

"Sakhaw zawm tur ka zirkual mek"
Ka thawhna University a Foreign Affairs Director (Waiban) hmasa ber Freeman, Chaina ka thlen hmasak bera ramdangmi zirtirtu te min enkawl tu hmasa ber kha ani a. Kan in kawmngeih hle a, duhsak pawh min duhsak thei viau a. Thlaruk ka awm hnu lekah lekha zirzawmin University hranah a insawn a, tichuan nikum lam atang khan Zhejiang Province (Shanghai bul lawk) ah hna a thawk tawh a. Ani nen pawh kanla in contact chhunzawm zeuh zeuh reng a. Amaherawhchu, ka u mipa a accident tawh avangin Zoram a kalo haw zawk leh, lirnghing leh olympic vuatvelah tunkum chu kanin contact mumal vak lova.

Nikhat chu a sms ka dawng nawlh pek a. A subject zirtir lai lekhabu a awm Buddhist sakhua thumal pahnih (ka hre ta mai lo tlat) lam dan leh a awmzia min rawn zawt a. Kristian kani tih a hria a, a hnenah pawh titipui na ka nei nual tawh thin a. Mahse India mi ka nih vangin Buddhist sakhua lam hre tak turah min ruat ni ngei tur ani. Tichuan, kalo en anga, minlo phone chhunzawm turin kanin remsiam a. Min rawn phone ta reng a. Min zawh bak, ama rinna lam te kan sawikai chhoh zelah chuan, tunlaiin sakhaw dang dang bu a chhiar kual thu leh, sakhaw engemaw ber zawm a tum thu min hrilh a. Kristianna pawh a zir mek bawk tiin, darkar khat chuang kanin bia ani.

Tunhma chuan a buai a intih avangin a ngaihtuah ngai lem lova, mahse tunhnu a sakhaw vawn neih a thatzia a hriatchhuah thu leh a duh thu min hrilh a. Kalo tawngtaipui tur thu in kanin thlah ta ani. Hei vang hian alawm, rawngbawla pen chhuak ve theilo te pawhin, mahni awmna apiang a rawngbawltu kan nih theih na chu. Amah hmangaih em emtu leh a nun pawh ui lova petu, Isua alo zawn hmuh ngei theih nan tawngtaipuina a mamawh takzet ani.

SMS hmangin:
SMS hrelo kan awm tawh lo ang. Ka nu takngial pawhin message thawn alo thiam ve tawh nge chu ka hrelova, thawnsa ho hmetchhuak kha chu a thiam tawh chiang mai a. Tunlai thil, thalai te kutzungtang exercise nan a hman tamna ber, rawngbawlnan pawh alo tangkai veleh zel mai.

Semester tin zirlai 280-320 bawr vel hi ka nei thin a. Ka zirlai te ho hian ka mobile number min dil ve ziah thin a. A hma chuan privacy awmlo khawpin minlo call/sms hlawm ang tih ka hlau thin a. Mahse ka pek tak hnuah sap tawng rawn hman a ngaih thin avangin minlo call/sms erawh chu an tam vak thin lo bawka, min dil chuan ka pe ta zel a. Tumkhat chu, tu ber tih hriatloh ka zirlai pakhat atangin sms ka dawng nawlh mai a. A thu rawn ziah chu "Khawnge Pathian hi a awm a, tuin nge Pathian hi siam tih ka hre duh ani?" tih ani bauh mai! Ka call duh lem lova. A chhan chu, sap tawng hmang hreh tak leh thiam vaklo alo nih palh hlauh chuan, kan topic sawi a tuilo zo vek ang tih ka hlau a. Tichuan, sms vek chuan kanin chhang ta char char a. Chuta tanga ka hriat thiam dan chuan, an dormitory/hostel ah Pathian thu anlo sawi hova, he zawhna chhanna hi anlo hre duh hlawm chu niin! Kan in contact zui ta lem lova, tunge anih pawh ka hre zui ta lemlo. Thlarau tuihalna an neih a, zawhna tamtak an neih theih nan kan tawngtaina ani fo bawk a, a bak chu Pathian kuta nghah leh tawp ani mai. Mahse, rilru a tihlim thove.

Vawikhat dang leh pawh, Kor 13:4-8 thu hi sap tawnga ziakin ka zirlai pakhat hian minlo thawn leh nawlh bawk a. Tunge anih leh ringtu anih leh nihloh ka hre lova. Sawi zawm pui ka duh avangin zawhna tihian ka thawn let a, "Khawi atanga lak chhawn nge i hria em? He thu hi i hre tawh ngai em?Engnge i ngaihdan?" tiin ka thawn let a. Minlo chhanna chu a nuihzatthlak zawk, "Baibul ami ani a, Kristian i ni sia i hrelo ami?" mi rawn tilet zek mai a. Ringtu kanih hriain minlo thawn ve chu lo niin. Khawi atangin nge lakchhuah na chang a hriat pawh ka hre lo. Mahse, hetiang han tawn te hian nun hi a tihlim em em ani.

"Pathian thu min zirpui thei em?"
Pathian hmanraw ngah zia hi chu aw, mihringte ngaihtuahna hian ava han hrephak lo tak em!
Tunah ka thawhna ah hian ramdangmi zirtirtu pahnih chiah kan awm tawh a. Kei leh James a, ani hi American ani. Kan sakhua a inan loh mai bakah, kan tum a inang baulo bawk a, kanin hnim hnai vak lemlo. Ani Baha-i sakhaw vuantu nghet tak anih mai bakah, he sakhaw rawngbawltu (M) ani a, nasa takin zirlaite zingah hma lak a chak em em a. Kartin vawi 2 tal, an baibul ani mai ang chu, zirpui na a nei thin. American ani bawk a, naupangte tan lah tawng zir nana remchang tak ani ve bawk nen.

A pathian lehkhabu zirpui naute zinga pathum hi zankhat chu dar 8:30 vel ah anlo leng ve mial a. Sakhaw lam te pawh sawi kaiin kan titi hluah nghe nghe a. Tuna ka zirtir lai te vek anni. Tichuan, hun a rial deuh a, an zinga pakhat Sandy-i chuan nikhat an class ka lak zawh hian min rawn panin, tihian mi rawn zawt a. "J, Baibul thu min zirtir thei ang em? Hei tunlai chu Baibul chhiar ka thinlungah a lang tlat mai a, James a Baibul ka dil a. Pakhat a thian ten an pek veleh chhawn alo nei hlauhva, chu chu min pe a ka chhiar mek. Genesis atangin ka chhiar rawih a, mahse hriatthiamloh ka ngah lutuk a, min zirpui theih chuan ka lawm ngawt ang", a rawn ti a. Hei tak hi ani Pathian hmanraw ngahzia ka tihna chhan chu. James a hnuaiah Bahai a zir thin a, James a bawk chuan Baibul a pek a ngai ta bawk si a. Mak thei ve tak chu ani.

A duh phawt chuan a tuka lo kala ka zirpui theih tur thu ka hrilh a. Tichuan hlim deuhin ka hawng a. Mahse, chumi ni vek chuan, e-mail hlimawmloh zet mai ka dawng ta tlat mai! Ka rilru an hnual rawih phawt a, mahse tunhma pawha kalo tawn thin thlarau indona nasa takah ka lut mek ani tih ka hre thuai a. Pathian in kawng a hawn apiangin, a inzawmzat deuhthaw hian India lam (chhungte/thiante/thenrual etc) atangin chanchin thalo, minti hnual tur hi ka tawng deuh ziah thin. Chu chu hria in, ekhai! hmelmapa min beihna anih hi. Intihhnual nan ka hmang dawn awkawnglo...ka rinah ka chiang a, Pathianin min awmpuiin he harsatna hi min kaltlangpui dawn ani tiin ka rilru tawngtai chungin ka insawhnghet ta a.

A tukah chuan (10th October) Sandy leh a hma a min tlawh duhtute sawmin Marian, Sunny leh Miya te nen kan panga chuan hun kan hmang ho ta a. Kan Australian thawhpui, an ram lam atanga DVD "Indescribable" tih an rawn thawn ka hawh, minute 45 awh kan enho phawt a. Khawvel pawn ropuizia, planet hrang hrang leh mawi tak tak te, leh vansangah kan hmuhloh leh hriatloh thil ala tamzia, siamtu awm lova a awm mai theih rinawmloh na te Pathian thu leh astronaut ten a an thlalak hmanga buatsaih ani a. Kan han enzo chu sawitur an ngah nasa mai!

In hriat theuh angin, Chainese ho chu 'athiest' an ni a, science hian an nunah hmun a awh zau hle a. Hetianga mithiam leh astronaut te ngei thlalak hmanga Pathian thu a sawi chuan a hneh hle ani. Pathian awm an rin miau loh avangin, anni tan chuan zawng thlah kan ni tih kha an pawm mai a, scientist ho sawi chu an pawm mai zel bawk. Kan sawiho zelna lamah duhthlanna (choice) te kan sawi chho a. Chungte zinga min zawhna thenkhat chu:

1. Pathianin duhthlanna nge a siam hmasak mihring?
2. Pathianin engkim a hriat chuan, ngatinge thil diklo kan thlan dawnin min stop loh?
3. Thil diklo kan thlan tur pawh a hrelawk vek awm sia, duhthlanna min pek engnge a sawtna?
4. Eng Pathian ber hi nge dik? Engtinnge ringtu ka nih theih ang?
Tihte a ni nuaih mai a. Tunhma chuan, theo.deuh kaihhnawih zawhna chhang turin ka insit thei em em a, chuvanga Pathian thu zir leh duhna pawh nei lian thin tak kha ka ni a. Mahse, mak deuh chu, hemi zan hian Pathian thlarau thianghlim kaihhruaina a takin ka chan ka hre thei. Pathianin ka aw leh ka min hman sak a, finna min pe ani tih ka hre thei ani. Keima irawm atanga chhuak atan chuan ka chhanna te kha ka thiamna leh hriatna in a tlin hlawl lo. Ropui tak ani, a huna Pathian rawn intumchawp dan hi.

Tichuan, an pali chuan engtinnge Pathian diktak an zawm/hriat theih ang, sakhua lah a tam si a an ti a. "Pathian hian thil chi hrang hrang hmangin amah zawngtute hnenah a inhriattir thei a. In thiante, chhungte, midang in la hriat ngai miahloh leh thilsiam atangte pawhin a inhrattir thei ani. Pathian diktak in hnena inlar/inhriattir turin tawngtai tawp phawt mai rawh u", tiin kanin thlah a. Inhmuhkhawm leh pawh an rawt nghal a, harsatna dang te a awmlo anih chuan kanin hmu khawm leh dawn ani. Pathian hnena minlo thlenpui dan tur chu a chiang thawkhat in ka hria. Mumang lam hial te pawh Pathianin a hman tangkai theih kha maw.

Baibulah : "Pathian thu hi a nung a, thil a ti thei a, khandaih hriam tawn eng ang ai pawhin a hriam a, nunna leh thlarau, ruhtuah leh thling phel hrang khawp hialin a chhun thei a,thinlunga ngaihtuah leh tumte hi a hre nghal thei a ni".(Heb 4:12) tih kan hmu a, ka naute leh ka contact ho zawng zawngte hi Pathian thu nungin an thinlung chhun tlang se tih hi kan tawngtaina ni se.

Ka mimal harsatna tawh pawh chu mak tak maiin chawlhni zan a thlen meuh chuan tihkianin a awm leh ta vek mai a. Fiahna ka tawk ni ah ka ngai. Mahse Pathian thutiam ah ka ding nghet a, ka harsatna ah focus lovin Pathian kutah zawk ka nghat diam a, anin a thutiam ah dingnghetin ka harsatna tawh pawh min kaltlangpuiin min sutkian pui ani tih ka chiang. A hming fakin awm rawh se!

(Hei hi ka newsletter ami ani a, fimkhur thu hlaah tlem azawng thlak danglam/siamrem ani. Tawngtaipuina tam zawk an dawn theihna tura ka blog a rawn post ka ni e.- J).

No.43: Xi'an - Tang Paradise

2008-10-10T20:00:00.007+08:00

Tang Paradise
2nd October 2008

No.42: Hmeipa? (Pics)

2008-09-20T00:44:00.000+08:00

Transsexual show in Bangkok

Seki, Father, Sandman et al kan 'khilai' hlek ang che u :)

No.41: Mid-Autumn Kut

2008-09-14T21:26:00.010+08:00

Mid-Autumn Festival

14th September 2008

Vawiin hi China kut pawimawh tak pakhat 'Zhong Qiu Jie' (Mid-Autumn Festival) ni ania, a hmei a pain an phu suau suau ani ber mai. He kut denchhen hian naktuk (Monday) hi chawlh a puan ani bawk.

Zanin thla a eng bial pap a, zirlai ho pawnah he kut lawmnan intihhlimna an nei a, thil chi hrang hrang (lam, zai etc) ti khawmin hun an hmang a, an ri dur dur bawk a. Zirlai naupang pathum leh ka American thawhpuipa anlo len thut avangin ka kal ve thei ta lem lo. He hun hi kut pawimawh tak anih avangin, chhungkua a an hman theihloh pawhin thianza hova chaw ei hona tal an nei ngei ngei thin.

Keipawh chhun lamah foreigners thian dangte nen inkhawmna hun kan neih zawhah, ka naute hovin zan chaw an rawn ei khawm dawn avangin ka haw hma a. Anmahniin duhtawkin an khaw chawhmeh 'sipicial' theuh siamin ka inah an rawn kal khawm a. Inchung lamah rawngbawl chhung chu ka awmsan daih a, anni inhnuai lamah duhtawka engthawlin rawng an bawl suau suau va, an te chel chul ngaihthlak te hi nuam tak ani. Hostel a awm annih hlawm avangin hetiang hun pawimawh, chhungte thlahlel tak si, awmkhawm thei silo ho keiin kalo hui khawm ve ani ber mai. Mahni in ang taka an rawn khawsa thei hi nuam an tiin lawmthu pawh min hrilh bang lo ve ani. Kei atan lah nuam ka ti ve em em bawk si....a nuam huaiz ani ber e :)

Kumtin hian kan Uni. in Mooncake 'sipicial' box khat leh thei, ramdang zirtirtute hi min pe ve ziah a. Tunkum phei chu a hun hma ni 5 velah min pe daih tawh a, holiday anih vang aniang e. Chuan Uni. hian zirlai naupang zawng zawng (30,000 bawr) ho mooncake pahnih theuh an pe ve ziah bawk. Naupang thenkhatin mooncake leh thei chi hrang hrang te min rawn hlan sap sap a, a bik takin, ka zirlai naupang ho kum hnih/khat kalta a zirchhuak ta, hmun hran hran a hna chelh tawh ten minla rawn hrechhuak ve a duhsakna sms/phone/e-mail a min rawn hlan sap sap phei chuan rilru hi a tihlim takzet! Kumdang anglo takin, vawiin an kut chu, awmze nei tak leh nuam ti taka ka hman ber tum ani awm e.

No.40: Native American Dance (Video)

2008-08-21T22:45:00.001+08:00

Youtube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6BCGdgscuE

The Red Indian (Native American)dance is performed by Dakota of the Lakota Tribe during my 2 weeks holiday in Xining, Qinghai Province (4th-17th August 2008).

The following pictures courtesy to Istrate

No.39: Three..two...one...

2008-08-15T13:06:00.011+08:00

14th August 2008

I'm visiting my Mizo friend and her hubby, the Istrates in Xining for two weeks and I'll return to Xi'an this weekend. This picture was taken on the night of the highly anticipated Olympic Opening Ceremony. We had dinner at my friend's with E, a Mizo who also came to Xining for her holidays, and an American friend. Over dessert of chocolate ice-cream banana split, we watched the artistic and colorful display of the opening ceremony and cheered for the participants of our respective countries broadcasted live on TV. It wouldn't be as much fun if I were to watch it alone back in Xi'an. I'm so glad I decided to come. And as it turns out, it's definitely a lot more interesting with friends. Jiayou Beijing Olympics!

No.38: Bangkok - Floating Market

2008-08-06T13:30:00.000+08:00

Floating Market

18th August 2006

No.37: Solar Eclipse (Video)

2008-08-02T10:19:00.005+08:00

Youtube link here

Solar Eclipse on 1st August 2008 (7:00 - 8:00 p.m)

I constantly read about the Solar Eclipse on the news and a pretty good opportunity of viewing it in Xi'an. I was determined not to miss the chance to see such a rare eclipse. But I wasn't sure if we would be able to see it clearly with the smog hovering above us almost all the year round. Anyways, at 6:45 p.m I grabbed my tripod and camera (not exactly built to get the best shot for this event) and rushed out. I was quite relieved to see that even through the haze, I could make out the eclipse. I wish the tall buildings weren't there as I couldn't capture the eclipse ending as seen in the video. I could hear loud cheers as the eclipse gradually darkened the sky into total darkness. I myself was pretty excited.

I thought of posting the video I took in my blog but realised that the videos turned out to be rather too big a file to upload it. I attempted using Windows Movie Maker. Taking on the challenge to edit videos for the first time, I cut, cropped and split the unwanted parts only to find out after an arduous and huge amount of time spent that there's a glitch with my movie maker and couldn't save it at all. Oh the precious time I lost...I'm travelling on sunday and I have plenty of better things to do :( I wasn't ready to give up though. So I turned to the ever helpful google. After browsing, downloading and installing/uninstalling several (free) video editing softwares, I finally managed to get one that works, though it comes with the software watermarked on the video for a free version. But the fact that I was able to see the solar eclipse and finally managing to edit my first video is quite satisfying :)

No.36: Kanchanaburi - PoW Cemetery

2008-07-28T16:20:00.003+08:00

Kanchanaburi War Memorial
15th August 2006

On the way to The Bridge of River Kwai (previous post), we stopped by at the Allied War Cemetery also located in Kanchanaburi, about 3 hours drive west from Bangkok. This is one of the two Cemeteries in Kanchanaburi Province.

About 7,000 PoW victims are buried there and the cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It was very moving to see the wartime photos, original PoW relics and artifacts and graphic life size displays of amputation surgery and ulcer patients undergoing treatments in the War Museum located next to the cemetary. The hardships they went through is unimaginable.

The victims buried in this cemetery are mostly of Australian, Dutch and British nationals. I had very little knowledge of the history of the Burma-Thailand railway construction other than from the movie I've seen several years back. I wasn't aware that Indians were involved in the construction of the railway. Naturally, I was quite surprised and touched to see a plaque at the main entrance to commemorate Indian war prisoners who lost their lives during the construction of the Death Railway.

The headstones bear the national emblem, rank, name, company/regiment, date of birth, age and epitaph of the fallen victims.

Rest In Peace

No.35: Bangkok - Bridge on the River Kwai

2008-07-22T11:00:00.005+08:00

15th August 2006

Trailing the 'Death Railway' tracts built by the Prisoners of War along the River Kwai.

No.34: Bangkok - Cultural Show

2008-07-17T13:10:00.009+08:00

18th August 2006

I went to Bangkok for 10 days during my summer holidays in 2006. As soon as I landed in the airport (old airport then), funny thing is, I felt as though I reached home. There were Mizo's everywhere, or so I thought, as we have very similar features :) Though a bit humid, the climate seems to be most agreeable with my skin which glowed with a tone I never realised possible. I toured several places and has since become my favourite place on planet-earth. I had the most amazing and exciting time of my life. I looove Bangkok! The pictures in this post were taken in a cultural show. Well...I'll stop ranting and just post pictures instead...here you go..

Just called 'Thai Bamboo Dance" I don't exactly know what it's called in Thai.

Note the looong nails. Will be great for a miewww....cat-fight :P

Too bad, my other pictures of the wedding were blurry as I sat about a few metres away and was a bit dark inside.

I remember having watched Muay Thai on TV several years back. The thought of watching it live (though on a show) never crossed my mind.

No.33: Tunkum

2008-05-23T22:27:00.002+08:00

Kumin chu thil chi hrang hrang ka tawng nasa hman hle mai. A tha lam aiin a chhe lam a tam zawk lehnghal a. Amaherawhchu Pathian hnathawh leh a thutiam a a rinawmzia min hmuh chiantir tu anni tih ka hmu chho zel. Tunkum Zoram ka hawn hmasak (Jan/Feb) in kum 6/7 dawn kalo hman tawhloh Mizo inneih leh thihna ka rawn tawng phawt a, China ka let leh hnuin sorkar in visa apply chungchangah rules anlo ti danglam a, harsatna liantham em2 chu nilo mahse rilru kap tunin ka han awm leh phawt a. (Min enkawltuten passport an thehluh tlai avangin 'working visa' ka hmuh hmain ni hnih ka overstay hman ani. Mahse overstay man approx.Rs 6000 vel pek ngai miah lova, ka thawhna Uni.ten min tihfel sak diam dan te kha thil mak tak ani.) Chutah ka u accident tawh avangin thlakhat chawlh lain Aizawl pan ahan ngai leh rum rum te. China ah kalo let leh hnu ni 5 lekah nasa tak lir ahan nghing lehnghal. Sawi tur a tam hle mai.

Ka thil tawn zawng zawng chu sawi ka tumlo.Ka u damlohna chungchanga Pathian kaihhruaina leh a thiltih mak takte hi upbo pui atan chuan ka phal hlawl lo ani ber e.

India lamah thlasik chawlh (Jan/Feb) ka hmang zo chauhva, thla 1 leh a chanve awrh hna ka thawk leh hman chauh tihin, Aizawlah ka u (unau neichhun) feet 10 vel ko atanga tlain a nunna hial hlauh mai thei dinhmuna a din thu 11th April khan minlo hrilh thut mai a. Tichuan (13th April-12th May) khan Aizawl lam ka pan leh ta rum rum a. He chhiat thila Pathian hnathawh ropui takte (kan chhungkaw tan chuan miracles) avangin lawmthu minlo sawipui mawlh mawlh nan ka han tarlang ange:

1. Ka u tlakna hi , Saron vengah ani a, Civil hospitalah dah ani. Ko chung atanga motor siamna hmun, thir chhia leh thil hriam takte awmna hmuna tla ani a, a sahuat (vital organs) pakhatmah a khawihlo hi thilmak a tling ani. A mitmu tak khawih chhe silovin, a dinglam mit ko chung atanga a khabe thleng thuk takin a thler thla hawk a. A taksa dang engmah a tina tello bawk. (Kan hriat danin, a tlakna ngaihah chiah hian midang lo tla ve tawhin, a nunna a chan ani.) A tlakna enin, a nunna chhanhima a awm hi a makin a ropui kan ti thlawt ani.

2. Khualkhua a na kan nih avangin, eng angin nge an kalpui thin tihkan hre chiah lova.Thisen a hlauh nasat em avang khan a nunna hial derthawng kha ani a. Mahse thisen unit 10 lai an pek kha, a sumin emaw, thisen veka chhungte atanga donate/replace leh tura min tilo kha kan tan chuan thil mak a tling.

3. Ka u accident zan in, zai ngai dang/accident tawk damlo dang awm miah lovin, (vun,ha,ruh) specialist thah doctor pathum rualin duhthusamin an khawih rawn thei kha ava lawmawm lehzel em!

4. Doctor ten an zai laiin a lungphu leh mar an hlauh hman a. Doctor te hial beisei bo hnuah Pathianin a chhanchhuak leh ani.

5. A accident zan hian, hmelhriat miahloh leh la hmuh ngai miahloh Pi Tluangi (Rev.Rualkhuma nupui - Pathian hla sa thin Isak Malsawmtluanga nu ani awm e) leh a thian thenkhatte tawngtai tura hmun dang pana kal, Aizawl civil hospital bul anlo thlenin a 'tul' ta tlat mai a. A chhan pawh hriat silohvin hospitalah kal ngai tlatin thlarauvin a hriattir a. Hreh chung chungin, hospital gate panin a 'tul' chhova. A chhan a hre bik silo. Hmun danga kal a tum pawhin a kal thei hlawl bawk silo. Chuta kan chhungte lo ding pakhat hnenah chuan,"Engnge min hrilh duh i neih?" a ti tawl mai a. Tichuan kan chhung chuan ka u accident chanchin alo hrilh a. Chutah, blood bank a a dawn tur thisen chunga tawngtai turin Pathianin a hriattir leh ta a. Ka u thisen dawn tur te, amah zai mektu Doctor te leh an hmanrua hman tur te chenin Pathian hnena hlanin tawngtaina an hmang ta ani. He thil mak tak hi chiang vak lovin kan hre thuak a, mahse kar hnih hnu velah amah Pi Tluangi ngei ka u tlawh tura lo kalin min rawn hrilh a, chiang zawkin kan hre ve chauh ani. Khualkhuaah hmelhriat ngai miahloh hmanga Pathian hnathawh mak tak zawng ani!

6. Ropui leh em em dang chu, tawngtaina khati zozai a dawng kha. Aizawl, Lunglei, Shillong, China leh Australia a kohhran tamtak ten an tawngtaipui kha chhanin a awm tih hi. Kohhran bik pawh awm lovin, kohhran hrang hrang (Bap, Presby, UPC, Salva-tion, etc) thahnem takten an tawngtaipui ani tih kan han hre lehzel kha a ropui thlawt ani. Aizawl veng hrang hrang ami, a hmaa min hre ngailo tute pawh anlo lenluh changa kan chanchin min zawh atangin, 'eeee...nangni inni maw? kan kohhranah kanlo tawngtaipui asin', anti thei deuh zel khan mizo leh ringtu nih a tinuamin, rilru hi a tihlim takzet. "Lalpa, keini chhung hi engnge maw kan nih a heti ema min hmangaih ni?" ka ti vawng vawng.

7. Khati khawpa nunna hial hlauhthawn awm khawpa na khan, kar hnih leh a chanve lek hnuah mahni insaseng thei vek khawpin a tha chhuak leh a, doctor te hial mak tih khawpin a tha chak kha a ropui tawp!

8. Khualkhua a harsatna tawk kan ni a, min lainattu chhungte leh thiantha rinphak baka thahnem nitin min tlawhtu kan hmu khan rilru a khawih hle mai. ICU ward a awm lai atang tawhin, pawnah hian hmun awhtu tamber ni khawpin min thutpui hmur zel mai a. ENT ward a a insawn hnuah lah, nitin inkan hun a thlen hi chuan damlo dang thutthleng hawh ngai khawp leh nurse te hialin, "chhuak then mai teh u" tih ngai khawp a min lainattu leh min tawiawmtu zawng zawng te Pathian malsawmna rah liau2 ani tih hriain, a let tamtakin malsawm mawlh rawh se tih hi ka tawngtaina ani.

Tunah chuan ka u pawh tawngtaina avang chauhin rin phak bakin dam lam a pan chho mek a. Operation tenau leh khawih ngai neuh neuh chu la awm mahse, a pawimawh ber, a nunna a him a kan lawm hle tawh ani. Mangang, bangbo, taksa leh thlarau nun chau taka kan awmlai te chenin kan Pathian hi a thutiamah a rinawmin a dingnghet ani tih hi a chiang em em a. Mi tam thei ang berin kan chunga a rinawmzia hi hre ve se tih hi ka duhthusam ani.

No.32: Shaanxi - Ankhang

2008-04-01T19:06:00.022+08:00

Ankhang

21st-23rd March, 2008

Two weeks back during Easter weekend, I find myself walking the streets of Ankhang with nine other foreign friends from Xi'an. Ankhang city lies to the south of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province. It's about 5 hours away from Xi'an by train. I have had a pretty rough time since I came back to China and wasn't all enthusiastic to join the trip. But it turns out to be a good time for the much needed rest. I spent one entire day in my hotel room resting while all my friends went out boating in one of the largest artificial lake Yinghu in Northwest China.
I enjoyed the walk in the small and quiet yet modern city. The local people were very friendly and hospitable and I love the not so busy streets and the simplicity of the living condition there.
Our Chinese contact P, a chemistry teacher in Ankhang University, arranged all the needful during our stay there.

Photo: With Ankhang University students.

Inset : An impromptu Latino dance lesson :)

On Holy Saturday night P arranged for us and some of his students to go to a temple. It wasn't very far from our hotel and stood on a hill and was beautifully lit up. Very conveniently, it was a full moon night and renders a special effect on the cloudless sky. The entire area and the reflections of the lights on the calm river that runs parallel to the temple was a pleasant feast for the eyes.

Every time I went home to India, I'm left camera-less! Friends or relatives...umm...I need not explain further. Anyways, the point is, I went to Ankhang without a camera. But many thanks to S and P for willingly letting me post their pictures of Ankhang.

No.31: Old Photos

2008-03-06T02:54:00.035+08:00

I had a restful and wonderful time for 6 weeks in Aizawl, Lunglei and Shillong respectively. I'm now back in Xi'an for the third week and started work in full swing 3 days after my arrival. I hardly had time to relax and reflect on my experiences, let alone in updating my blog! I'm gradually settling back to the normal life of getting up early, changing my meal time, adjusting to the time difference and back to a secluded life in my rather huge apartment. Even the knowledge of billions of people around me don't seem elevate my loneliness. I really miss home!

At home, I was able to do something I've been meaning to for quite a while now - recapturing old photos in my digicam! I remember stacking away piles and piles of it and I realized how it has become suddenly important over time and can as well be considered as family/personal 'treasures'. These photos can never be recaptured! There's also the chance of losing or accidentally destroying them and can never be recovered. And I don't recollect having saved any negative films for reprinting. So, I took it to task to retake the photos for future storage.

Our beloved family dog Simba, who died two years back while I was away. He gave us much joy and loving company for eleven years.He will ever be lovingly remembered!

No.30: Home Sweet Home

2008-01-07T23:31:00.001+08:00

Yep, I'm going home! I was meaning to stay here and save up for this year's summer holiday somewhere far away from Asia :) But due to various unforseen although managable circumstances, I made a somewhat 'spontaneous' decision 2 days back. (No tossing and turning this time Sandman hehee) I came up with a very favourable International flight deal, arranged for the domestic flight in India and within a day, everything for my journey back home is taken care of.

Now that everything is settled for, I'm very much looking forward to be among my dear and loved ones. Don't get me wrong, I always miss home. But given the chance and resource, I'd prefer to travel elsewhere with the knowledge that I'll get the chance to go home the following year anyway. In order to travel in a long and far away land, that's the like of sacrifice I have to make. With divine intervention, it's my hope that I'll still be able to travel to my desired country for my summer holidays. I'll keep my fingers crossed :P

I'm a bit uneasy as I'm taking a new route this time. I've always gone via Delhi but this time I'll be going via Kolkata on the 12th of January which is a bit unnerving as I'm not familiar with the city. I'll have to stay overnight and it's my hope and prayer that I'll get a good hotel near the airport, that my flight from Kolkata won't get delayed and that everything else will take place smoothly.

I'll be home 'sweet home' for six weeks. Until then..adios!

No.29: Christmassy Moments

2007-12-28T09:10:00.000+08:00

Surprisingly for the first time, the University I work in gave us a Christmas party on 21st December. That was the best time they could manage as the students were to have tests from 22nd-25th December. The 5 foreign teachers (1 Canadian, 2 Americans, 1 Philipino and myself) and some Chinese teachers were invited. I was very impressed with the effort they put in to make it Christmassy. They had specially decorated the room and set up a Christmas tree and lots of goodies to eat.

Two media persons from the University were there to cover the celebration for the website. I got a thermos as third prize from a lucky dip for the foreign teachers among the other presents they gave us. There was lots of singing. There I was, home-sick and missing Christmas back home, but the party really cheered me up.

A week before Christmas, I took lessons on festivals. And of course, with Christmas just around the corner, Christmas was the main theme. I organized card-exchange and some games for the occasion. I played some Christmas songs while the cards were being exchanged and the students had a lovely time...including myself :o)

On Christmas Eve, I invited three colleagues (2 Chinese and 1 Philipino) for dinner at an Indian restaurant. We now have two great Indian restaurants in the city where I live. Though they've never tasted Indian food before, I was very delighted to see them joyously gorging down the scrumptious Indian food. Though it's considered disgusting to eat with bare hands in China, I was surprised and impressed to see one of my Chinese friends attempting to eat with his bare hand. You rock, L! :p

Another thing I couldn't miss to mention is that I really felt blessed to receive many Christmas presents this year. It may as well be the year I received the most gifts ever. To top that, I bought a Christmas present for myself. Yep...it's a percolator. I had been circling around different super-markets debating if I should get one. After our dinner on Christmas Eve, we walked back for quite a distance window-shopping and enjoying the night until we finally reached a supermarket where they sell imported goods. As it's a special occasion, I decided to purchase the percolator as a Christmas gift to myself. An ideal purchase at an ideal time indeed! Now I can have real grounded coffee. I know...I'm such a weakling when it comes to chai and coffee. I just can't help it :)

Christmas day was spent with friends and home-cooked lunch and slurrrrp.....cheese cake and apple pie for dessert.

No.28: 'Warming up' for Christmas

2007-12-14T23:16:00.000+08:00

14th December 2007

It's almost hard to believe we're now spending the last month of this year! The end of the year is all about Christmas for me. Come November, I'd already start reminiscing of my childhood when we'd look forward for the holidays, Christmas shopping, carol, feast and wearing pretty new dress on Christmas day. All the fun and contentment I used to have is now just a beautiful memory. Even then, my spirit tend to soar with expectation around this time of year thinking perhaps this Christmas I can relive those good old days.

This evening, I invited some students for dinner and to decorate my Christmas tree and apartment. They were all enthusiastic as they have never done this before. They are familiar with Christmas trees and Santa Claus but to actually take part in decorating it and learning the true meaning of Christmas is something new and exciting for them. They did a pretty good job on the decoration too. Christmas in China is highly commercialized. In fact, the shopping malls and streets are beautifully decorated and one can hear Christmas songs in many stores for more than two weeks now.

Well, the truth is, when I said I invited them for dinner...I didn't cook. They did all the cooking :) Three of them (two male and one female) are very talented cook. Since they all live on campus, I wanted to create a home-like environment for them where they can make special food of their choice. The weekend home-cooked dinner has become more of a routine for quite a while now. So, it's not yet pre-Christmas dinner. That is yet to come in a few days time. Tonight is just a 'warm-up' dinner :)

Other weekends we mostly had rice but this time they volunteered to make dumplings (momo). Believe it or not, there's only one restaurant (in China) where I like the dumpling so far...only one! But the ones my students made were superb! The fillings were a mixture of pork, leek, eggs and Chinese masala. Besides dumplings, an addition of roasted chicken, stir-fried 'qing cai' and pork-ribs with squash soup made excellent dinner. Burp!