Final Aizawl days
Thursday back in Aizawl seemed a good opportunity to take a scooter ride. Two-wheel taxis are very common here which makes sense given the general congestion and is certainly helped by no pillion helmet requirements. It was good fun, and very good value compared with, say, a fairground ride!
We used a restaurant very close to discover it was very much a youngsters place. Graffiti decorating didn't mean poor food, though, and it was thoroughly traditional in menu.
Friday promised to be a busy day. We had a few farewells to make in the morning and some shopping, but the first shock was weather, cool, and alternating rain and fog. Breakfast was still taken on the roof, but under cover and wearing a second layer. I ate at least four eggs last night so instead of my usual breakfast egg roll (omelette filled with onion and mild chilli sauce rolled inside a paratha) I opted for chicken roll. This wasn't quite equivalent as the chilli sauce was not mild! I managed about half before the pain prevented finishing.
Shopping in the Millennium Centre was fine whatever the weather - a mall with many independent shops and stalls, before returning to the Chocolate Room café for coffee and cheesecake.
Our afternoon was attending a book launch - autobiography of a much-loved pastor who can, by all accounts, turn his hand to all sorts of things from writing to mechanics, music to teaching. Ninety minutes of speeches almost entirely in Mizo should have been the most boring afternoon imaginable; but it was absolutely delightful. Mizo is a very expressive language and we were easily caught up in the general gist and the affection and respect shone through all. As "esteemed visitors" we were introduced and were presented with a signed copy.
We tried to pay our hotel bill this evening but there's no charge. I can only think this is in appreciation of the work we did years ago with the special school here on our first trip,but that was quarter of a century ago.
Final Aizawl supper with Hliri and Lalchungnunga was lovely but also a little sad to think it'll be a long time before we meet again.
Slightly lighter note - a story we heard today: Years ago some Mizo Christian men decided to take the concept of "looking at a woman and having wicked thoughts being as bad as adultery" seriously and insisted that, in church, women should sit around the edge looking at the wall (rather than, of course, men staring at the wall). That didn't last - Mizo women have no tradition of subservience!
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