SpencerVolume4No1Flipbook2023

MOTORING 151 Spencer Magazine w Volume 4, Issue 1 w 2023

SPENCER LIFESTYLE Mizoram and the Lost Tribes of Israel By Subhasish Chakraborty In Mizoram, Western way of life is very evident and the quintessential Mizo youths’ love of Mizoram – Land of Blue Rolling Hills and the hidden music is legendary. The state is home to some of pearl of India’s Northeast is a landlocked state, but once India’s best known Rock Bands. Music by Naza- you reach it, paradise awaits! However, this beautiful reth, Mettallica, Guns & Roses, Scorpions etc. state is also the least visited of all the states in the Indian Union, largely due to poor connectivity and the lackadaisi- has a huge fan following that rais- cal treatment by the travel media. es the bands to levels reserved Having spent my formative years in a Christian Missionary school in the remote North Eastern for demigods. riverside town of Tezpur in Assam, I grew up in the company of tribals – Manipuris, Kukis, Legend has it that the mis- Nagas and the quintessential Mizos. Let me sionaries - Rev J H Lorrain and tell you, the influence of Christianity is very ev- Rev F W Savidge first set foot in ident in this region and Mizoram in particular, Mizoram on January 11th, 1894. Their with more than 98% of the Mizos being Christian. influence ultimately led to the conver- sion of the entire population of Mizoram the Spencer Publishing Company, Inc. 152 to Christianity. Even today, Mizos observe January 11th as “Missionary Day” with local churches holding services and galas to cele- brate that part of their history. www.spencer-magazine.com

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SPENCER LIFESTYLE Aizwal – the picturesque capital city of Mizoram used to be my favourite haunt, especially during Christmas and New Year’s Eve. A time for taking in the Rock Shows, staying in Mizo homestays, gorging on Mizo cuisine consisting of Koat Pitha (fried fritters), Misa Mach Poora, Paanch Phoron Tork- ari, and a host of other delicacies unique to the area. The city is replete with churches, big and small that cater to the reli- gious sentiments of the Christians. Every evening Aizwal is bursting with spiritual performances that incorporate hymns and prayers throughout the buildings of worship. The bazaars are bustling with activity – Bara Bazaar, Ritz market, Burma Lane, Thakthing Bazaar, New Market and Solomon Cave are chockablock with electronic items and gizmos that complement the native handcrafted items made of bamboo and cane. The ambience of Chanmari, the trendiest neighbor- hood of Aizwal is replete with hip restaurants serving lip smacking Oriental delicacies. Dining at Beijing Blue with its eclectic mix of Korean, Chinese and Japanese foods offers an exciting menu for gastronomical feasting. However, the real Mizoram lies in Village Mizoramwherelifehas remained more innocent than the cities that are stamped with a Dickensian impres- sion! The village of Falkawan (18 Kms. South of Aizwal city), Durtlang hills and Reiek Tlang are breathtaking and provide visitors with an amazing cultural immersion into the Mizo way of life. the Spencer Publishing Company, Inc. 154 www.spencer-magazine.com

MIZORAM: TRAVEL Mizoram comes alive in a rioting of colors during the time of festivals. Visitors would do well to visit this speck of paradise in that period – Chap Char Kut, Mim Kut and Pawl Kut. Mizo festivals are harvest-oriented, and their folk dances have remained unscathed by the influx of modernity. “The meteoric Northeast India has always rise of Mizoram been a sensitive region and from the ashes of the socio-political land- jungle warfare & scape experienced para- terrorism to the digm changes after II World forefront of War. It may be recalled that development is the state was torn apart the stuff of by the two decades long legends.” armed rebellion of the Mizo National Front from 1961; a rebellion that ended peacefully with the signing of the Mizo Peace Accord in 1986. The meteoric rise of Mizoram from the ashes of jungle warfare & ter- rorism to the forefront of development is the stuff of legends and today, Mizoram is considered to The sight of beautifully attired Mizo tribals living in bamboo be one of the most peaceful states huts is striking, and are usually strategically located near in India’s Northeast. bodies of water. The innovative yet ancient indigenous system The metamorphosis undergone by used for piping water to supply the village is constructed of modern Mizoram from the days of hollow bamboo pipes and can give contemporary engineers head-hunters has been a transition food for thought. from a nomadic past to the com- Mizo women are believed to be among the most beautiful in forts of the contemporary world. India’s North East and first time visitors are awestruck by The shift from the indigenous prac- their feminine grace – the sight of Mizo damsels carrying tice of “Jhum Cultivation” to today’s intricately woven baskets on their backs for instance, is permanent high-yield cultivation straight out of a fairytale kingdom! methods can astound today’s dis- cerning traveler to Mizoram. That the state has also achieved a lit- eracy rate of 91.33%, despite being landlocked, is a marvel. 155 Spencer Magazine w Volume 4, Issue 1 w 2023

SPENCER LIFESTYLE The former Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu en- dorsed the Jewish ancestry of Mizoram’s Bnei Menashe tribe. The Mizo people’s belief system built on the existence of To paraphrase a statement he made in that acknowledgement: Khazangpa – the one God who lives in a celestial region of the universe, reprimands all wickedness and blesses all those There is among us a living bridge; the wonderful Bnei Menashe, who subscribe to goodness- is fascinating. No wonder that whose members have made and continue to make Aliyah from “Spirit Appeasement” and “Ancestor Worship” are trademark India to Israel. With their love for Israel and their great humility, features of the society. and through impressive efforts, they are integrating well into Is- raeli society, while also maintaining a living bridge between our Mizo people’s obsession with Israel and all things Israe- two peoples. li is legendary. How desperately they wish for the rest of the world to understand their existence. Very similar to that of the To make the process of transition from India to Israel hassle plight of the Israelis– both are surrounded by hostile Mus- free and ease their integration within the Israeli society, the lim countries (Bangladesh and Myanmar for Mizoram, and Government of Israel has provided the Bnei Menashe tribes the Arab countries in with rights to residency in the northern part of Israel’s Car- the case of Israel.) For miel region. What is more, since the Bnei Menashe tribes are each, the spectre of renowned for their power of endurance, they are also being terrorism looms large recruited in Israel’s defence forces. “Legend has it – Israel from the Jihadi that Israel’s Lost Muslim organizations, and Mizoram from the North East guerrilla outfits. Tribes were Legend has it that Is- rael’s Lost Tribes were banished from banished from ancient ancient Israel by Israel by the Assyri- ans in the 8th century B.C. The momentum for identification of the the Assyrians in Israel’s Lost Tribes be- the 8th century gan in the 1970s when Rabbi Avichail who was travelling all over the world in search of B.C.” them stumbled upon Mizoram’s tribes. In finding a lot of similar- ities in their rituals and traditions, he designated them with the Bnei Menashe tag, literally meaning Son of Manasseh or one amongst Israel’s Lost Tribes. Already 20,000 people belonging to the Bnei Menashe tribe of Mizoram who were recognized by Israel’s Chief Rabbi back in 2005 as being one of the Lost Tribes have migrated to Israel. And in 2021, a 218-member group belonging to Mizoram’s Bnei Menashe tribe were transported to the Promised Land by chartered flight, after undergoing a purification ritual and adhering to the Covid protocols. the Spencer Publishing Company, Inc. 156 www.spencer-magazine.com

Today, Mizoram is at the crossroads of culture. Mizo society MIZORAM: TRAVEL is in flux and yet the resilience they are showing to safeguard peace, stability and harmonious co-existence is exemplary. gists for some time, and it’s a fact that with the region being We live in an era where proliferation of terror outfits across blessed with more than 250 tribes, it is a top contender for the globe is the biggest concern of human civilization, with being rated as the world’s Anthropology Hotspot. Thus, in the India and Israel enduring the worst of the impact. coming days, if anthropology is the index of judging the Lost In the US led military campaign Global War on Terror, India Tribes of Israel, it would follow that the North East of India and Israel are natural allies, and with Israel giving official rec- which has many other tribes- the Nagas for instance, who ognition to little known Mizoram and its Bnei Menashe tribe, claim to be descendants of Danites, may also be considered as geo-political experts worldwide are waiting with bated breath one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. to see how the story unfolds at the global level. The stage is set for the world to witness a dramatic socio-po- The Northeast of India has been on the radar of anthropolo- litical awakening with India’s North East being at the epicentre! From a purely tourism point of view, indeed, there is no de- Traveler’s Fact File: nying that Mizoram exemplifies that Tourism is too vast an industry to be swallowed by terrorism! Getting There: By air: the nearest airport of Mizoram is at Lengpui, an hour’s For further information on Mizoram, contact: drive from Aizwal, the capital city. It is connected by Alliance Director Air (a subsidiary of Indian Airlines) to Kolkata. Hired cabs are Tourism Department readily available at Lengpui airport. MINECO, Aizawl - 796001 By Rail: the nearest station is at Silchar, (North Cachar Hills), Ph - 0389-2333475 Assam. From Silchar, a 6 hours drive brings you to Aizwal. Email - [email protected] By road, the National Highway 40 (Guwahati to Shillong), and Permits: Inner Line Permits have to be obtained by both the from Shillong on the National Highway 44 to Silchar and from domestic as well as foreign tourists, which are obtainable Silchar to Aizwal on the National Highway 54. from the address mentioned above. Accommodation: Mizoram Tourism’s Berawtlang Tourist Complex is much pre- ferred by visitors. Hotel Chief Zarkawt, Ritz and Hotel Royale also offer decent hospitality. 157 Spencer Magazine w Volume 4, Issue 1 w 2023

SPENCER LIFESTYLE for first-class yachting travel experiences... Ask: Captain Joey! By Captain Joey Benoliel Welcome to my series for Spencer Magazine. I'll be sharing my travel experiences and answering your questions on planes and yachting. How long have you been boating/yachting? What are the differences between owning and renting? I have had a fascination with boating all my life and always This is a great question and is one that I get asked the most. dreamed of being by the water. My father started us off rela- The differences are quite significant. Generally, if you will be tively young with a 20’ bowrider that we used exclusively for using your boat/Yacht on a regular basis, every week or at least waterskiing. He would always allow us to get behind the wheel two times per month during the year then, owning can be more even as a young boy at 11 years old. That’s when my interest economical compared to renting. Costs associated with own- was really born. Later in life, I purchased a little cottage on ingcan add up fast and renting becomes a far less expensive Lake Simcoe and that’s when the desire to get into yachts and proposition if you only plan to use the boat a few times per set my sites for larger bodies of water began. year. What got you into sailing? What are the costs associated with owning? As a young man, I attended summer camp and that’s when I Costs to own a boat or yacht are directly associated with the was first exposed to sailing. I found it incredibly exciting to size of your boat. Costs for ownership will include: Slip costs have the wind move the boat at a good speed without the need that are usually based on the footage of your boat. Insurance, for an engine or any other propulsion method. Later in life after will also relate to the size and also where you will be using I moved to the lake, I found sailing more exciting and inter- the boat. Keeping your boat on a lake will be less expensive active. This version of being on the water required me to be hands-on and involved in being at the helm, adjusting the sales, along with the speed, was a huge adrenaline rush for me. I was in love with sailing and wanted more. the Spencer Publishing Company, Inc. 158 www.spencer-magazine.com

ASK CAPTAIN JOEY: TRAVEL than in the ocean. Other costs include general maintenance. Because boats are on the water they are exposed to the weather elements and in many cases salt water, these factors cause systems onboard to fail faster than usual. Keeping your boat well maintained will keep expensive last-minute repairs at bay. Lastly is the cost of fuel. Fuel burn on boats and yachts is far higher than you will see in cars or trucks. Many of my co-boaters easily spend several hundred dollars of fuel per week when cruising. Again, the bigger the boat you own, the higher the fuel burn. Sailboats are far less expensive with regards to fuel burn. Is yachting safe? Yes, Yachting is very safe. As with any activity on the water, there are certain risks. These can be mitigated through safe seaman- ship, knowledge of your vessel and the use of safety measures like PFD’s rafts, flares etc. Being a good swimmer is not a must. Good judgment will keep you safe.ton function to correct spatial disorientation. Is a certified captain required or can I be my own captain? You can definately be your own captain. This really depends on your mission and in many cases the size of the yacht that you own. Smaller yachts are easier to maneuver and need fewer skills and crew. Are you the type of person that likes to be fully responsible, and enjoy the duty of captaining your own vessel, or would you simply prefer to hire a professional captain and crew that virtually takes all the responsibility, allowing you to be more relaxed and enjoy the odd cocktail with your guest while underway. 159 Spencer Magazine w Volume 4, Issue 1 w 2023

SPENCER LIFESTYLE Do you use your yacht for travel or just daily outings? We recently sold our boat to make way for a larger yacht that will be in Fort Lauderdale Florida. We defiantly do both. We love inviting guests out for a Sunday sail around the intercoastal for the day. We pack lunch snacks and of course drinks, then sail into the sunset. We also use the boat for mini-vacations to the islands of the Bahamas and other Caribbean Islands. We generally will go to a nice Marina and dock there for as short as three days or as long as two weeks. We live on board all the while. How many people can a yacht reasonably carry? That depends on the size. By definition, a yacht is a minimum of 33 feet. This usually allows for a cabin at the bow (front) and one very small one in the stern (back). A good size yacht will generally be 44 feet with 3 cabins and can accommodate 7 to 8 people, although that would be tight for any long length of time. A 50-foot yacht will have 3 to 4 cabins and can be very comfortable for 8 people for longer periods of time. In your opinion what are the differences between Sailing and Motor Yachting? The biggest difference between Motoring and Sailing is the feeling of heeling or “tipping” to one side. This is a byproduct of sailing. Some people simply don’t like this feeling. Sailing also requires more work from the captain and crew. Motor yachting is far more relaxed as there is no heeling and, in most cases, becomes quite simple to learn. People who love sailing love it for the thrill of having a several-ton vessel move with only the power of the wind. Sailboats are the only mode of transport where you can circle the globe without fuel. Motor yachting is far more relaxed, although becomes expensive because of the fuel burn. the Spencer Publishing Company, Inc. 160 www.spencer-magazine.com

Is it practical to live on a yacht permanently? ASK CAPTAIN JOEY: TRAVEL Absolutely, there is a growing number of individuals The trip was a total of 21 days on the water and was during that are retiring and selling it all, buying a yacht and the beginning of the Covid pandemic. The trip for me started living their dream. The modern yacht comes with on the island of Lanzarote on the Canaries islands. This is all the luxuries of a five-star condo in the biggest where I boarded the ship. We then sailed south to the islands city. The difference here is that this condo can go of Cape Verde Africa for repairs and provisioning. We were not from city to city with relative ease. The costs can be far more reasonable if you’re ok to stay just outside allowed to get off the boat as the island had a marina on a mooring as opposed to being in a strict Covid measures, so we stayed on the marina for a long period of time. A few years ago, anchor for 2 nights there. We then set sail I stayed a few weeks on anchor just outside Great due West for our crossing that lasted for 15 Exuma, Bahamas. The bay we were in was very days. The scariest part of the trip for me protected and we generally had the best weather. was when we were just outside the Cape Our boat had a dinghy that we used to motor to Verde islands and our main sail ripped and the mainland (a seven-minute ride) where we got cough in our motor. This was a serious would go to restaurants and shows and do general issue as we now had no engine to come to provisioning. Our boat also had a water maker that the marina and all we had was our small converted salt water into water that could be used for showers jib sail and it was pitch dark at night in a cooking etc. marina that was littered with old wrecks. Other than that, I got used to the constant What made you decide to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a sailing rolling of 3 to 4-meter waves and learned to live within a very tight space with six other yacht? people. The best part was sitting under the stars at night for hours. A friend and sailing mentor of mine had purchased a yacht in Joey Benoliel France where many of these fantastic boats are made. He was Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of looking for the right crew to help him bring the boat across to Voyaji Charters the US. I couldn’t refuse, this would be my chance to explore Commercial Pilot & Maritime Captain this lifestyle and take my skills to the next level. The trip was full of adventure some fear and some extreme joy. My shift Tatiana Kunitskaya was from 12 am to 4 am. This is when things would either go Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer of terribly wrong or things were great. I loved it and would do it Voyaji Charters all again tomorrow. Maritime Captain How long did it take and what were some of the best and www.voyaji.com 1-888-869-2581 worst moments? Spencer Magazine w Volume 4, Issue 1 w 2023 161

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