… Mr A. W. Davies, Political Officer, of the North Lushai Hills, gave them ( Lorraine and Savidge) permission to go to Aizawl. They were overjoyed… following the same route as Williams Williams. Laura Evans averred that, in addition to their little tent and the rest of their luggage, they took with them a small domestic cat. They arrived in Sairang on the 11th January, 1894.

-page 26, History of the Church in Mizoram (Harvest in the Hills), J, Meirion LLoyd

 most people around the world are good. Most people are not murderers or terrorists. The media portrays the world as a scary places because it sells. In reality the vast majority of the world’s population go about living without committing crimes or wishing ill to anyone

Unknown house just outside South Vanlaiphai

Nowadays, we Bondurants abide by the law. People ain’t trying to cut our throats,stab us, shoot us no more. Them days are long gone.

Lawless (2012) (Sap zu zuar chanchin)

Young dude at Tuidangtlang.

STOP! Baby on the road. Tuidangtlang, Lawngtlai district.

tuidang

Saphaw, Castle of Beino

A Zakhai man jumps off a boat near Longmasu village.

Bamboo hut, Longmasu

The magical morning mist at Palak Dil.

On the boat with Vabei, Palak Lake

Palak Dil, boat

Lunch time.

Very tall tree on the plains of Phura

Members of Mizoram UPC, Phura singing to the beat of the drums.

Phura Bridge

Phura, the flat land of Mara district.

Under the coconut tree, Phura village in South Mizoram.

The south face of Phawngpui as seen from Bualpui (NG)

Three wheeled tawlailir (toy cart), Bualpui (NG)

The young man of Bualpui (NG)

The South end of Phawngpui National Park.

Kids at the playground in Sangau.

Boys at Sangau

Women washing clothes at Tuipui River

On the other side, Chin Hills of Myanmar.

I don’t remember what this is called.

Mau Pum (Bamboo Raft), Tuipui.

Tuipui river forms a natural boundary between India and Burma.

Saisih Chhuah, upcoming border trade center off Pangkhua village.

Thlazuang kham, Phawngpui

Farpak, Phawngpui

Granny! at Darzo

Children of the poor at Darzo village.

Tuipui D aka Darzo Kai

Already safety conscious. Boy on a bike at Thenzawl.

Little girls at Thenzawl.

World Bank Road, Hmuifang

Hmuifang

Sialsuk

Thenzawl Vety Farm

A young Mizo girl at a wedding.

A modern Mizo woman aims her digicam at Baptist Higher Secondary School, Serkawn.

NH 54, Lawngtlai

Missionary Bungalow, Serkawr

A kid with giant winnowing tray- thlangra at Tuipang L (Lal Veng)

The morning view from Saiha, Dec 2012.

Oldies sun bathing at Kolasib.

A gang of gentlemen at Kolasib.

A Mizo kid with too many toys.

A modern Mizo man- The Photographer

A modern Mizo man- Church goer, suit wearer, fat and chubby, football lover, smartphone owner and active on Facebook.

The only source of water since leaving Tongkolong comes after Bymari and it doesn’t even look palatable. I was dutifully warned at Tongkolong.

About half way into Longmasu, I was greeted by this gate made of bamboos. The gate is to prevent cattle from Bymari from straying into Longmasu area.

The last village sighted but no sign of the mighty Chhimtuipui river.

Welcome to Lomasu, it’s original name in Mara. Lomasu means lungthu- three stones used to support a pot over the fire.

In fact there are three such big rocks which resemble lungthu on the bank of the river just outside the village. One of the rocks had fallen though. The locals told me the naming of the village after the three stones was influenced by Pu Laldenga (founder of MNF) who said whoever used three stones as lungthu to cook is a Mizo during the insurgency days.

The village playground which gets flooded in rainy season, infested by frogs and snakes which also becomes food for some of the villagers.

The village is inhabited by Mara, Bru and two tribes I have never known before- Matu and Zakhai.

Most houses in the village are bamboo huts.

I was lucky to be hosted in one of the best houses in the village, the house of Pu C. Lyhmo, a school teacher who was away.

The inside is even more impressive. Simple but very neat and tidy.

Needless to say there is no electricity, no phone and no healthcare. The only healthcare available is in the form of a Drug Distribution Center.

For emergencies there is a WLL phone at the house of the village head. I paid 5 rupees to call my relatives in Saiha to update them of my where about.

After a good night rest I woke to a misty morning.

After zing chaw (breakfast) I was on my way by boat to Saphaw, the caste of Beino.

I could see men on rooftop seized their work to look at me.

The streets were mostly empty.

Kids came running but stopped at a distance, afraid to approach me.

Perhaps the only church in the village.

I knocked on this house for water. I got more than I asked- a cup of tea.

The sun is the primary source energy at Phura and villages beyond.

Nice courtyard but very dirty.

The lonely road to Bymari.

On the way to Bymari from Tongkolong, I met a man with a head load of bamboos, a group of villagers on foot traveling to Tongkolong and patches of slashed forest for cultivation. Not a single automobile.

It was just me and nature for the most part.

From Palak lake I trekked for 2 and half hours to reach Tongkolong. As I walk into the middle of the village, I ran into Pu Jimmy, Forest Range Officer (FRO) who made me an offer I could not refuse- a cup of tea and drinking water.

Tokalo, it’s rightful name in Mara.

With Pu Jimmy

The road to Tongkolong at it’s widest and most level stretch

Lets see

UPCI, Tuipang L

St. Mary Church, Bualpui (NG)

UPCI, Sangau

BCM, Peniel, Sangau

And one church that cares enough to have a proper bell.

IKK, Bualpui (NG)