Long Time No See

September thla, 1997 ah, United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio ah sianginn kai ding in ka rak phan. Sianginn zarh khat hnih kan van kai. Mirang kan professor pa cu mi no ngai asi. Ca a thiam. Mi mithmai panh le mi capo huam ngai asi. Cu pa nih cun, voikhat cu kan i tong i, "Hai, long time no see" tiah a ka ti i, heh tiah a ni.

Cu lio ah, English ka thiam setsai rih lo. America ah mithar ngai ka si fawn. "Cu bantuk Mirang holh cu dah? Cu tin holh phung maw asi hnga? Capo dah a saih hnga?" ti ka ruat. Hawikawm ka van ngei deuhdeuh. Hawi tha deuh tete nih cun, kan i ton caan paoh ah, "Long time no see" an ka ti lengmang than. Kei zong nih, "Long time no see" ka hei ti ve hna. Kan i ton paoh ah, aa theihngal deuh paoh cu, kan kut kan zo i, "Hi, long time no see" kan i ti tawn. Hi bia kan chim paoh kan ni lengmang fawn. "Funny holh asi ko hih" ka hei ti.

Asinain mi tam tuk nih an hman ka theih lengmang. Cucaah ka ruat than. Hi bia hi zeitindah aa thawk hnga? Mirang holh tling cu asi fawn lo? Mi tam tuk nih le an hman fawn ka ti. Ka khuaruah a har. Mi tam tuk nih an hman tikah Mirang holh asi ve ko lai hih tiah ka ruat than.

College kan kai lio ah, kan saya pa nih, "Mirang holh cu a rum tuk. Nifatin tein in holh thar aa chap lengmang. Holh phunphun an serchap lengmang. Abik in "slang words" a tam tuk tiah a rak timi kha a hman ko hih tiah a hei ka ruahter than. "Long time no see" zong hi "slang words" an hmanmi asi ko lai hih ka hei ti. "Slang" timi cu "tialmi holh si lo in, zatlang lam cung i, hman nuam sawhsawh, bia chia holh chia le sinak deuh hmanmi" khi a si. Kawl nih, "ban saka" an ti. Hi bantuk holh cu cathiam setsai lomi le holh thiam setsai lo mi hna nih hmanmi bia in aa thawkmi ans i tawn.

"Long time no see" timi zong zeitindah aa thawk hnga ti khi hlathlai awk a phu ngaimi a si. Aa thawknak cu theih a fawi ding cu asi lo. Asinain mi tampi he bia kan i ruah. Ca tampi ka rel. Cauk he online he. Fiang setsai in aa thawknak hngalh khawh a si lo.

Ka tonmi pakhat cu Korea ka hawi le pawl hi ca cu an thiam ngai nain, Mirang holh a rak thiamlomi an tam tuk. Mirang holh an holh tikah, atu "long time no see" ti bantuk khin, catlang tling lo ngai in, bia an chim lengmang. Grammer a hman kho bak lo. Ka hawi pa Korea pa pakhat cu Mirang holh in bia kan i ruah tikah, a cafang bak in a holh.

Cu pa cu mitha taktak asi. Voikhat cu computer a hlunmi a ka thenh. A thilri a tlam a tling lo i dawr ah cawk ding asi. Cu dawr cu "Compusa" asilole "BestBuy" ah cawk ding khi aduh. Cu a ka pek ni cu caan a um lo. A ka chimhmi hi cu hitin a si. "Thaizing ah na sin ah ka ra lai. Library ah rak ra ve.Kei zong Library ah ka ra ve lai. Cun dawr ah kan kal lai. Cun computer thilri kan cawk lai" ti khi Mirang holh in a ka chimh. A ka chimhmi vialte cu Mirang catlang ning cun holh tling cu an si ruam lo nain, a fian cu ka fiang dih ko. Cu a chimmi vialte cu ka hei ruat than i, atu "long time no see" ti bantuk bak khi a si.

Cu a ka chimhmi cu hitin asi:-

"Hai Vung, tomorrow, I come library; you come library. And we meet. Then go BestBuy. OK. And buy computer. OK. You see."

Thaizing ahcun a ra i, library ah kan i tong. Cun BestBuyb le compusa dawr ah computer thilri cu tlamtling tein kan cawk.

"Long time no see" timi zong hi, cu ka hawipa bantuk in Mirang holh a thiamlomi nih an rak thawkmi asi hrimhrim lai timi cu ruah khawh a si. Asinain in cu a thawktu Miphun hi zei miphun dah an si hnga?

Ruah lengmang tik le tuak lengmang tikah, kan mah Asian mi si dawh an si. Cu hmanh ahcun an biafang hman ning le sining zoh tikah, Tuluk miphun nih thawkmi si dawh a si. Zeicatiah hlan lio chan deuh kum zabu 18 nak ah hin, America ah tlanglawng lam an vun pemh thluahmah. Hlawhfat ah Tuluk miphun tampi an rak lut. Nupi fate zong ngei lo in a thimi an rak tam ti asi. Holh le ca an rak thiam bak lo. Mirang holh in a meaning in an rak holh ti a si.

Cucaah Tuluk holh in, "Caan saupi kan hmu ti lo" timi khi Mirang biafang in an chim thiam ti lo. Cucaah "Tuluk holh chung biafang umtuning tein an rak chim" tawn ti a si. Cucaah "Kan hmuh lonak asau ko cang" timi kha Mirang holh in an chim tikah, "Long time no see" tiah an rak chimnak asi tiah an ti.

Acheu nih Native American pawl nih Mirang holh holh mi pawl an ton tik hna ah, "Good morning! Long time no see you.." tiah an rak hman tawn ti a si.  Hi holh hi ahmasat bik ah an rak tialnak cu, 1901 ah, W.F. Drannan tialmi "Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains" timi cauk ah, Native American pawl nih Mirang pawl an rak ton hna tikah hitin an rak chim tawn tiah a tial.

Acheu nih cun, "Long time no see" hi Spanish nih an thawkmi asi tiah an ti. Zei si hmanh ah, Tuluk nih maw an thawk? Native American nih dah? Asiloah Spanish nih dah ti cu theihfian khawh a si lo.

Azei si hmanh ah, Long time no see nih a chim duhmi cu, "I haven't seen you for a long time" ti khi a rak si. Cathiam lo le holh thiam lo nih cun, kha vialte tling te chim ding cu a fawi ti lo caah, a tawinak in, "Long time no see" tiah an rak tinak asi ko.

Holh hman si hmanh hlah sehlaw, hi holh hi USA ah a lar ngaimi holh ah a tla. Hawikawmhnak a tha ngaimi asi. Hawikawm tha hna hmuh ton tikah bia sunglawi ah a tla. Long time no see tiah ati ngam cangmi cu, automatic in thinlung aa thei ngai ciami an si tinak a si. Cucaah, Long time no see nan i ti rawhrawh hnu cu, nih lo khawh asi ti lo. Merh lo khawh asi ti lo. I huat khawh asi ti lo.



Cucaah, aa theithiammi hna lawng nih, "Long time no see" timi bia cu hman ngam asi. Long time no see timi cu duhdawtnak le hawikawm tha hna hmuh ton tik hmanmi bia asi. "Long time no see" na ti khawh ahcun, cakei he hmanh nan i kup lai i, hawikawm tha ah nan cang kho ko lai.

Kuak Nih a Chuahpimi Chiatnak

Biahmaithi

Mirang nih tobacco an timi ah hin, "khuahsi in siammi thil paohpaoh" (Sadah, nukuak, pakuak, tikor le zeidang khuahsi in sermi thil dihlak) an i tel. Atu i kan tial duhbikmi cu, cakuak (cigarette) kong a si.  Cakuak cu a phunphun a um i zeibantuk an si zong ah cakuak an ah an i tel dih. Zeidang thil hi cu tonghtham tikah, mah ca lawng deuh ah chiatnak aum. Kuak cu mah ca lawng si lo in, midang ca tiang in chiatnak a chuak. Cucaah minung ngandamnak le taksa thurhnomhnak caah a biapi bik mi thil asi caah, cakuak kong hi Laimi careltu caah ka van tarnak asi. Hi capar ah hin, USA ram chung huap lawng deuh in tialmi a si.

Khuahsi (Tobacco) Cinnak Ramkulh

USA ah khuahsi hi ramkulh 16 ah an cin. Tambik cinnak ramkulh hna cu Kentucky le North Carolina an si. Cu ramkulh 2 ah khuahsi 71% an cin. 2007 ah vawleicung ah khuahsi tambik cingmi hna cu Tuluk, Brazil, India le USA an si. Hi ram 4 nih vawleicung khuahsi cheu 3 cheu 1 an cin.  2007 ah USA ah khuahsi cingmi company 10,000 an um.

Kuak Zuartu Company

Atanglei kuak company hna nih cakuak an chuahmi le zuarmi ning kan van langhter.

1. Cigarette Company: 2011 ah cigarette 293 billion USA ah an zuar. Hi chungah 85% cu company lian bik 3 (Phillip Morris USA, Reynolds American Inc., Lorillard) nih an zuarmi a si.  Phillip Morris USA cu Marlboro chuahtu an si.

2. Smokeless Tobacco Company: Cun Khu ngeilomi khuasi company an um i, cu hna nih cun, 2011 ah sadah hmawmmi pound 124.6 million an zuar. Cu lak i, 90% cu company lian bik 3 (U.S Smokeless Tobacco company, American Snuff le Swedish Match) an si.

3. Cigar Company (se-paw-leih) Company: Hi company nih 2011 ah Se-paw-leih 13.3 billion an zuar. Company lian bik 4 (Swisher International, Altadis USA le Prime Time International le Cheyenne International, LLC) nih tambik an zuar.

Khuahsi Tax (Tobacco Tax)

*1998 ah cozah nih khuahsi in an hmuh tax dihlak (sales tax le kuak zutu dihmi $484.6 billion.

*2012 i cigarette company nih cuainak le tax kip an liammi $43.3 billion a si.

Cozah nih tax an kaiter zong ah, an miak tuk caah an tuah thiamthiam rih ko. Cakuak zumi na si ahcun, cakuak company rumtertu le bawmtu ka si ti theih fian a hau.

American Cancer Society (ACS) Tuaknak

ACS nih, USA le vawleicung kuak zuknak kongkau tampi an hlathlai hnu ah, kuak zuknak nih zeitluk in dah, pumpak, chungkhar le cozah caah sunghbaunak a chuahpi timi kha ca tampi an tial. ACS tuaknak ah, nihin ni ah, USA ah minung 5 ah 1 cu kuak an zu ti a si. An ram minung zat i, zatuak in chim ahcun 19.0% (43.8 million) an si. Hi chungah pa 21.6% an si; nu 16.5% an si. Kuak nih a  chuahpimi chiatnak hna cu:-

1. Zawtnak: Cigarette (kuak) ah, dah (chemical) phun 4,800 aa tel. Cu lakah, phun (69) hi cancer a chuahtertu dah (chemical) an si. Thin cancer (lung cancer) in a thimi 90% cu kuak nih a chuahpimi cancer an si. Kuak zumi 10 ah 1 cu thin cancer an ngei ti a si. COPD (Emphysema le chronic bronchitis) timi cuap phinso lei in a thimi 80-90% cu kuak zuk ruang ah a si. Kuak nih cancer phunphun, lung zawtnak, thin le cuap damlonak, hani hmatnak, mit muihnak, nau thla tling lo chuahnak, nau tlamtling lo in chuahnak, khuhhring le hnakhaw chung hmatnak hna a chuahter.

                 Thin cancer a hmami. 

2. Thihnak: USA lawng ah, kuak zuk ruangah, minung 400,000 lengmang kum chiar in an thi. AIDS, zuu din, motor khawndennak, rit-ai sii tonghthamnak, mithah lainawnnak le mah le mah thahnak in a thimi vialte nak in, cakuak ruang ah a thimi an tam deuh.  

Kuak zuk ruangah cancer in a zawmi

                                      

3. Secondhand Kuakzumi Ruangah: Kuak khu nih a zulomi ca zongah chiatnak a chuahpi. USA ah cakuak an zu lo nain, kuak zumi pawngah caan sau an um ruangah, kum chiar in minung 50,000 lengmang an thi ti a si. Lairam minung in tuak ahcun, Laitlang pumpuluk khi cakuak zumi hna khuvai ruangah, kum 10 ah kan zate in kan thi vek lai tinak asi. Kuak zuk cu, mah le mah thahnak lawng siloin pawngkam minung zong thah khawh chih asi ve. Tih anung tuk.

Kuak zulomi (L) le a zumi (R) thin hmanthlak

4. Vawlei Pumpi Mithi: Kuak zuk ruangah, vawleicung pumpi ah kum chiar in 5,000,000 lengmang an thi. WHO (UN) tuaknak ah, 2030 ahcun kum chiar in, minung 8,000,000 hi kuak zuknak he aa pehtlaimi damlonak in an thi lai ti a si. Kuak na zuk ahcun, hi cazin chungah na tel kho ve timi ruah a herh.

5. Nunnak A Tawiter: Kuak nih nunnak a tawiter deuh. Kuak zumi cu kum tling lo in a thimi an tam tuk. A buaktlak in tuak tikah, kuak nih minung nunnak hi, kum 13-14 kar a tawiter deuh khawh. Kawlram minung nun kum hi 67 a si. Kuak tamtuk zuk ahcun, k. 54 tluk lawng nun khawh asi tinak asi.

Kuak nih a chuahtermi kaa cancer 

6.  Tangka Sunghbaunak: Kuak ruangah, chungkhar, cozah le sizung caah sunghbaunak tam tuk lehpek a chuak. 2004 in nihin tiang, USA ah, kuakzumi thlawpnak kum chiar in $96 billion an dih. Riankhai le thilri sunghbaunak tuak tikah, $97 billion a dih. Azapite kum chiar in $193 billions sunghbaunak an chuahter. Abuaktlak in tuak tikah, kum fatin in upa kuak zumi pakhat nih $4,260 sunghbaunak an chuahpi. Kuak zuak ruangah, nulepa nih thihtakmi ngaktah kum fatin in 300,000 kuakap an um peng ti asi. Kuak zumi na si ahcun, cozah zatlak phurhtu, midang nunnak tawitertu le mah chungkhar hrawktu ka si ti theih ahau.

7. Cozah Tangka Dihmi: USA lawngah cakuak zumi ruangah cozah tangka dihmi hitin an tuak.

*Federal le State cozah Medicaid                  $30.9 billion

*Federal le State cozah medicare                   $27.4 billion

*Adang Fed/State cozah dihmi                       $ 9.6 billiion

*Midang khuak ruangah azawmi ca ah            $4.98 billion

* Kuak ruangah nulepa nih thihtakmi ngaktah cawmnak (SSI)    2.6 billion

*Kuak ruangah pumpak/commercial innlo rawkmi                     3.0 billion

*Thilri chuahnak lei ah sunghmi                                                  97 billion

* Cakuak pack 1 nih ngandamnak/thilri lei ah $10.47 sunghnak a chuahpi.

Chinchiah: Hi sunghbaunak vialte tuak tikah, tax petu pawl nih US cozah le Ramkulh cozah ah tax hi, $70.7 billion lengmang pek asi. Chungkhar pakhat ah kum chiar in $616 tax pek asi.

8. Kuak Sertu Pawl Dihmi: Kuak sertu company hna nih kuak zumi an tamnak ding khua an ruat. An thilri zuar khawhnak ding caah le cozah lei ah upadi ning in a lam an ngeih peng nak lai heh tiah tangka thazaang hmang in rian an tuan ve.

*Kuak company hna nih kuak advertise caah le ram hruaitu tonnak caah 8.8 billion           (2011) ah an dih. Nikhat ah 24 million a dih tinak asi.

*US Rampi cozah riantuantu tonnak caah kum fatin $1.5 milliion an dih

*Ramkulh hruaitu congress tonnak ah  $16.6 million (2010) an dih.

*1998 ah hruaitu tonnak ca'h $125 million an dih (Pre. Clinton chan tobacco com             taza cuai lio asi)

9. USA ah Tobacco Hman Ningcang

* High School kailio kan hnu thla tiang a zumi             8.1% (3.4 million)                                                                                                      (pa=19.9%;nu=16.1%)

*High School kailio atu lio a zu cuahmahmi                 12.8% (2.2% cu nu an si)

*K. 18 tang a voikhatnak kuak zuk aa hrawtmi              3,000+ (nifatin)

*K. 18 tang nifatin kuak zu a karhmi                              7,000/nikhat

*K.4-17 kuak zumi pawng um ruangah damlomi            39.6%

*Rian hmunah kuak zuknak dang tein a chiami               75.1%

*Kum tlinglomi nih kuak cawknak kum fatin a dihmi     800 million

*Kuak ruangah kum chiar mizaw thar aa chapmi             8.6 million

*Kuak ruangah ngakcia kum tling lo athi dingmi             6,000,000

                

Kuak zumi ngakchia cu kum tling a nunglomi an tam deuh

Biafunnak

Hi tluk in pumpak,chungkhar, cozah le sizung caah rawhralnak, sunghbaunak, nganfahnak le chiatnak a chuahtertu kuak hi mi vialte nih hrial a herh. Abik in zumtu tha le Krihfa tha a simi hna nih, kuak cu Pathian biakinn (pumsa) hrawktu asi ti kha hngal in, sum le hrial hrimhrim le kuak ral doh a herh. 

Columbus Inn Sang Bik 10

Columbus khua inn sang (skyscrapers) hna hi US ah inn sangbik ah pakhat hmanh an i tel lo nain, Columbus ah pe 500 nak sang inn sangmi (5) a um caah, USA ram chungah pe 500 sang inn sangmi tambik a umnak khua (19) ah ah ah aa tel i, Midwest States 12 chungah (4) nak ah aa tel. Ohio ah pe 500 nak sang inn sang tambik a ummi khua a si.

Nihin ni dirhmun in zoh tikah, Columbus ah pe 180 nak in a sang deuhmi inn sang 30 a um. Pe 400 nak sangmi inn sang 10 a um. A sang bikmi inn (10) hna cu atanglei bantuk in an si.

1. Rhodes State Office Tower
Asan: 629
Dawt: 41
Lim Kum: 1973
Tangka Dihmi: $66 million



2. LaVaque Tower
Asan: 555 ft
Dawt: 47
Lim Kum: 1927
Tangka Dihmi: $8 million



3. William Green Building
Asan: 530
Dawt:33
Lim Kum: 1993
Tangka Dihmi: Theih asi lo

 

4. Huntington Center
Asan: 512 ft
Dawt: 37
Lim Kum: 1984
Sinak: Huntington Bank Headquarter



5. Vern Riffe State Office Tower
Asan: 503 ft
Dawt: 32
Lim Kum: 1988

 

6. One Nationwide Plaza
Asan: 485 ft
Dawt: 40
Lim Kum: 1976
Sinak: Nationwide Insurance Company Headquarter.



7. Franklin County Court House
Asan: 464
Dawt: 27
Lim Kum: 1991





8. American Electric Power Building
Asan: 456 ft
Dawt: 31
Lim Kum: 1983
Sinak: AEP Headquarter. US Corporation lian bik 35 chung aa telmi.


9. Borden Building
Asan: 438
Dawt: 34
Lim Kum: 1973

PNC (L) le Borden Building

10. Three Nationwide Plaza
Asan: 408
Dawt: 27
Lim Kum: 1989





Atanglei hi hi acunglei inn sangmi 10 an umnak Columbus Skyline a si.


  Columbus Downtown (Chun)


                   Columbus Downtown (Zan)


            Columbus Zanlei Nitlakka

Ohio Inn Sang Bik 10

Ohio hi inn sangmi tampi a umnak hmunhma pakhat asi ve. Cleveland, Cincinnati le Columbus ah inn sang tambik a umnak hmun asi. Columbus khua ah pe 500 nak sangmi inn (5) a um caah, Midwest States 12 chung ah, pe 500 nak sang inn tambik um ah (4) nak asi (Chicago, Minneapolis le Detroit changtu a si).

2012 cazin ning in zoh tikah, Ohio ah inn sang (high rise building) timi tambik umnak khua hna cu Cleveland (124), Cincinnati (121) le Columbus (80) an si. Atanglei in hna hi Ohio inn sangbik 10 an si. A sang bik in ka van thawk lai.

1. Key Tower
Umnak: Cleveland
Asan: 947 ft (U.S inn san ah 20th nak asi)
Lim Kum: 1991
Dawt: 63
Hlan Khawhmi Dawt : 57
A dihmi: $400 million
Inn Ca Kumfatin dihmi: $10 million
Nifatin Riantuanmi: 4,200
Akhan Hlanhmi: 95% mi nih an ihlan
Area Square Feet: 1,500,000
Khua Hmuh Khawhmi: Meng 30 hlatnak tiang a lang kho
Sinak: Cleveland khua le Ohio ramkulh inn sangbik




2. Terminal Tower
Umnak: Cleveland
Asan: 771 ft
Lim Kum: 1930
Dawt: 52
A dihmi: $179 million



3. Great American Tower at Queen City Square
Umnak: Cincinnati
Asan: 660 ft
Dawt: 41
Lim Kum: 2010
Adihmi: $322 million
Cincinnati inn sangbik




4. 200 Public Square
Umnak: Cleveland
Asan: 658 ft
Dawt: 45
Lim Kum: 1985
A dihmi: $200 million

 

5. Rhodes State Office Tower
Umnak: Columbus
Asan: 629
Dawt: 41
Lim Kum: 1973
Tangka dihmi: $66 million
Sinak: Columbus inn sangbik



6. Carew Tower
Umnak: Cincinnati
Asan: 574 ft
Dawt: 49
Lim Kum: 1931
Dihmi: $33 million
Sinak: An sakka ah Cincinnati inn sang bik



7. LeVeque Tower
Umnak: Columbus
Asan: 556 ft
Dawt: 47
Lim Kum: 1927
Dihmi: $8 million
Sinak: An sakka ah Columbus inn sang bik



8. William Green
Umnak: Columbus
Asan: 530 ft
Dawt: 33
Lim Kum: 1990
Dihmi:




9. Erieview Tower
Umnak: Cleveland
Asan: 529 ft
Dawt: 40
Lim Kum: 1964
Dihmi: 24 million


10. Huntington Bank Center
Umnak: Columbus
Asan: 512 ft
Dawt: 37
Lim Kum: 1984
Dihmi:
Sinak: Huntington Bank Headquarter


Atanglei hna hi Columbus Ramkulh khua lianbik hna i downtown skyline



Cincinnati Skyline


Cleveland Skyline

Hakha Tuanbia

Ciriang Tlang

Location

               Ciriang Tlang (Mt. Ciriang) is one of the most famous and beautiful mountains in Thantlang Township, Chin State, Myanmar. It is near the border of India and Myanmar. There is Hriangkhan village in the east, Tikir in the south, Sialam in the southwest and Thau in the north. All these four villages share their territories in one part of the Ciriang Tlang range. There is a very flat area, the so-called "Lung-awn rawn" (meaning the sound of the stone), in the bottom of the mountain in Thau territory. That Lung-awn rawn is a pretty good site for hydroelectric power.

Ciriang Tlang with Lung-awn Rawn

Topography of Ciriang Tlang

               The top of the mountain is quite long and it looks like a plateau. There is a very large forest, the so-called Ciriangtu. Ciriang Tlang is the sources of some big streams like Hriawh Va in Thau territory, Phiawh Va in Tikir territory and some tributaries of Thangse Va stream in Hriangkhan territory. The source of Saisih Va also starts in the west side of Ciriang Tlang.

               The Ciriang Tlang range, extending about 15 miles east-west between Thau and Tikir Villages. The highest point is in the east side of the mountain in Hriangkhan territory. There was a small village in the bottom of the highest point before the British era but was deserted because of a very cold climate.
              From the highest point the mountain lies east-west like a plateau for around 4-5 miles. And the range goes down slowly and becomes Innral and Nukaitlang between Saisih and Hri-awh Rivers within Thau Territory. And then the range goes up again and appears as Buntlang near the confluence of Tipi River and Tio River. The range goes down and ending in a ridge at the confluence of Tio and Hriawh Rivers. In Tio River there is a very large valley called Lotha-rawn (meaning Good-land valley).

               In the south side, the range goes down rapidly and form small mountain changes and ridges along the way. The highest point is Salen Tlang between Vomkua and Salen Villages. The range slowly disperses in the south and appears as small mountains and ending in d in La-aw River and Bawinu (Tipi) River. Ciriang Tlang is one part of many ranges in the Chin States that connects to Himalayas ranges further north.

               There are several water falls in Ciriang Tlang especially in Thau territory. There are seven of them. Khuaiva Falls is the largest which is in the borderline of Hriangkhan and Thau territory. All water falls dried up in summer time except Khuaiva. Khuaiva is the source of Hriawh Va, which is the largest River in Thau territory (Read about Rivers in Thau territory at Semnaklairam.blogspot.com).

               The Northside of Ciriang Tlang is very steep. From Lung-awn Rawn, the mountain went up in around 85 degrees straight to the top. There are several white soft sandstones in this side. Some of them are 300 feet (est) high horizontally. Some stones are very big. No one knows the age of the rocks in Ciriang Tlang. The soft sandstones in Tikir territory are so high and beautiful. They are magnificent. The views are spectacular. This Ciriang Tlang is a perfect location to take a movie like "The Lord of the Rings." Ciriang Tlang is actually one of the natural wonders in the Chin State.

               One of the most marvelous things of Ciriang Tlang is its long and large plateau on the top of the mountain range. There are many kinds of wildlife on its top; many high soft sand-stones in the sides of the mountain so on and so forth. There are many valuable honey combs on the high sandstones. Some honey combs are in a very high rock and it is very risky getting them.  

                                                         

Part of Ciriang Tlang Range

The Weather

               Ciriang Tlang has two extreme weather conditions since it is a long range. In monsoon season, the cloud always covers some parts of the mountain. The rain fall is very high. It may have one of the highest rain falls in the Chin State. It has a place the so-call "Rua-fiang" (It original name might be "Ruah-fiang," which literally means "the Ridge of Rain). Ruafiang has a lot of rainfalls in the monsoon season because it is in the corner where Ciriang Tlang and Faiceu Tlang meet like a cross road.

               In Nukaitlang area the weather is extremely hot in the summer because its low elevation. Nukaitlang lies between the Saisih River and Hri-awh River. In Buntlang the weather is more tolerable than in Nukaitlang. Bungtlang is in the middle of Tipi, Tio, Hri-awh and Saisih Rivers and it is pretty hot and dried in summer. It is cold in winter because of the fogs from four rivers. The rainfalls is very heavy during the monsoon season. Ciriang Tlang mountain range ends in a small valley in Tio River in Indian border in the west, and La-aw River and Tipi (Bawinu) River in the south after forming several small mountains, valleys and streams. Tio and Tipi are some of the hottest places in the Chin State. The summer temperature reached around 100-110 degrees (F).  

Thau Village. The far mountain range is Faiceu Tlang

              Throughout the range, people practice sifting agriculture, growing variety of rices, corn, bean, vegetables and millet.

Animism and Ciriang Tlang

               Ciriang Tlang was a sacred mountain for the local Thau villagers before Christianity. They sacrificed cow, sia or pig to the natural spirits of that mountain each year. It was one of the most sacred and powerful mountains in Thantlang township. Thau people used to pray to the spirits in that mountain when they encountered calamities in the village that "Oh Ciriang Mountain, please protect us from 954

               The local people believed that there are many thousands of khuachia (nat in Burmese) in Ciriang Tlang mountain. This spirits dwell in the rock, forest, wetlands and in any other places there. The people frequently heard the voices khuachia at night many times. These spirits do everything like human being. My aunt used to sacrifice animals to appease the spirits in this mountain. My father, a non-Christian, told me that he heard the voices of khuachia so many times when he was alone at night in the weekend while many people went home for rest on Sunday. Many people told me a story how they encountered these spirits at night in this mountain. There are many scary stories like that.

Khuachia's society seems to form like a human society in naming and calling and playing each other. There are several instances of interaction between khuachia and human being in this mountain in the past. A boy, Al Bik, was lost while he was about 12 years old near the foot of this mountain and people believed that he was taken away by the spirits in this mountain.

Flora and Fauna

               Ciriang Tlang is covered by deciduous forest but is always green all years round like a tropical region. Chin Rural Development Program (CRDP) declared it as a wildlife sanctuary.  Both rhododendron arboretum (red) and rhododendron moulmeinense (white) grow around the peak of the mountain. Bamboos' family plants such as pharh, ruangal and tekte also are very plentiful. Wild banana are around the area. Popular trees such as mual, hnahsau, mum, hriang, chengcher are also in the area. Chengcher tree, which flowers bloom in the winter, grow in many places. It was so beautiful when it blooms around the Christmas time. Many vines grow throughout the mountain range. Popular wild fruits such as thurthling, kethei, sarzuk and thanthei, dingkawk, hriphi, thithet and dingzun grow in this mountain.

               Many reptiles like snake and rat, insect and some kinds of butterfly can be found. Hundreds of unnamed plants and species can be found in this area. More researches need to be done that how many kinds of plants and species are in this area. There are many indigenous medical plants such as thingkawp, tawlrel, thingsi and thingthupi etc. Some people believe that there could be many indigenous medical plants more to be found in this forest. Lungthi (lit., stone-blood) are also found in the high rocks near the peak.

Deer, sakhi, sathar, saza, bear and wild boar are around the mountain. A very large fung male lived in this mountain 5 years ago and it was shot and killed by the hunter from Sialam village. No one knows whether that male fung animal was the last of that kind in this mountain. Carnivorous animal such as tigers, leopards and other small cats live in various places. Foxes also live around the mountain.

Many popular birds such as vapual (horn bill), vanvuk, vanga, varit, artau, vavu, vaking, valah, vangal, chimbu, two kinds of hoopoe, three kinds of falcon and many other birds also inhabit in the area. There are four kinds of monkey (zawng, dawr, huho, ngau) in this mountain. Lungpangkhuai (rocky-bee) are also found. The singing birds such as tlerlung, tuklo, fiakfairok, koktut and satututut sing sweetly in the summer time. 

Thau Village. The background is Ciriang Tlang

The Height of Ciriang Tlang

               No one knows the height of Ciriang Tlang exactly since the official record is not available. Its height is less than that of Thau Tlang and Phawngpui Tlang but the range is longer than those two mountains. The highest point might be around 7,000 above sea level. Survey needs to be done.

How to get there

               Ciriang Tlang is about 60 miles west of Hakha, capital of the Chin State. Cars and motor cycles are available in Thantlang for rent. The mountain can be reached through Saisihchuak Road via Hakha to Thantlang, then to Thlualam, Hriangkhan and Thau. There are some lodgings in Ruafiang Kuar (Ruafiang pass). The cost for a motor cycle is about Ks. 35,000 ($40) one way from Thantlang to Thau. The road is small and dangerous. It is tough to drive cars and motor cycles. If you plan to visit Ciriang Tlang you will need to carry extra gasoline for reserve. There is no shop to buy gasoline on the way. 

Where to Stay

               It is best to stay in Ruafiang, which is between Faiceu Tlang and Ciriang Tlang in the valley. From there you can see Thau, Bungtlang and Hriangkhan villages and some Indian villages in India. Ruafiang is a very quiet place. It is one of the best places to stay if you travel on Saisihchuak Road. In fact, Ruafiang Pass is a gateway between India and Myanmar on the famous historic Saisihchuak Road.

Best time to visit

               The best time to visit Ciriang Tlang mountain is from February to May. The forest is very dense and only strong hunters could go inside the forest. Many people get loss there. Make sure to remember your path to return back to the camp.  The mountain is mostly wet and dark during monsoon season. Fogs and cloud covers the mountain top mostly in monsoon because of its high altitude and position. It is pretty scary when thick and black cloud passes the mountain top during monsoon season. There are a lot of land leech (cangvat) in the mountain areas during monsoon. November to December is also very cold but is a good time to visit this mountain.

Activities

               It is a perfect place for hiking, rock climbing, rock propelling and sight-seeing the birds, flowers, forests and surrounding areas.  Ciriang Tlang is, in fact, one of the most unexplored places in the Chin State. It is one of the best places in the Chin State to visit for adventurers. No westerners visit the mountain top since the time of the British colony. Research needs to be done about the plants, the species, rocks and the honey combs. 

One day this Ciriang Tlang would be one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Myanmar especially for eco-tourists because of its beauty, charm, good climates and many of its plants and species. Someday it would be a perfect safe haven for the wildlife too.  

Thau Village. The Background is Ciriang Tlang

Streams and Rivers in Thau Village

Thau village, situated near the Indo-burma border, is a large village. It is in Thantlang township. There are two wards of Thau village namely New Village and Old Village. Old village is in the upper north of New village. Thau village is situated in the slope of Bopi Hill which is part of ridge of Thau Tlang.

From Thau Tlang, the ridges go down slowly to four directions. From Thau Tlang one mountain ridge, Faiceu Tlang, runs to the eastward, Leichia Bo and Satharkua Tlang runs to the westward, Hmanleknakbo Hill and then Ainaknu Haunak Hill and Bopi Hill run to the Southward. One ridge Runs to northwest as Innral Tlang near Ruakhua village and then it becomes Saikah Ridge.  Thau village is situated on a small flat hill south of Bopi Hill. Bopi Hill is very beautiful. It is a prayer mountain for Thau villagers. It is one of the most charming mountains in this region.


                        Hriawh Va River

Streams and Rivers around Thau area run southward into Hriawhva River, which is in 3 miles south of Thau village that runs from the east to west. It is the largest river in Thau region and is one of the largest tributaries of Tio River. Hriawh Va river form some large valleys throughout Thau territory and people grow rice int the those farm lands.

                Rice farm land in the Hriawh Va valley


The largest streams in Thau territory are Sertawk in the east which runs from the north to south and is the largest trabutary of Hriawhva river.  Phuhlukva also runs from north to south in west of Thau village. Vachia, east of the village, and Lungkhawnva, west of the village, also are big streams which also run from north to south in east. Sertawkva, Vachia, Lungkhawn and Phuhlukva run parralel from north to south into Hriawhva River. Khawnghlun and Khawnglai va streams start their sources in south of Thautu forest and are the source of Phuhlukva. Water in Phuhluk va is cold and dense. Phuhluk va is the best place to build hydroelectric power. 

Streams from Ciriang Tlang run northward from the top of Ciriang Tlang ridge. Khuaiva the largest stream runs in the border of Thau and Hriangkhan village which is the main source of Hriawhva River. Khuaiva water falls is relatively big and tall in this region.

Hriawhva flows into Tio River which is the largest trabutary of Tipi or Kaladan River which runs into the Bay of Bangal. Therefore Hriawhva is pretty small river but many kinds of fish live there. The following fish live in Hriawhva and it's tributaries:

1. Ngarul
2. Ngavang
3. Ngaleng
4. Rulcal
5. Ngahler
6. Ngaramh
7. Fungtial
8. Lengphar
9. Ngasumsang
10. Chambak
11. Cantial
12. Ngapum (there are 3-5 kinds of ngapum)
13. Lole
14. Chawntonh
15. Berbek
16. Saiphungpulungral
17. Ngakhing (only in the lower part of the river)
18. Hmurchia
19. Ngavokpi
20. Dangte (two kinds of frog)
21. Ngaikuang (3-4 kinds of shrimp)
22. Cangai (3-5 kinds of crabs)

Bungtlang, Ruabuk and Thau villagers share and use Hriawh Va and its fish the most. People killed fish by nets, poisoning, bomb, dynamo, fishing trap, traditional way of fishing (such as ngahringdawi, parathlei, ngakahbawh, bawmdonh etc.) and almost all the fish are gone in the past 20 years. The river is almost empty without fish. Therefore TABC and CRDP are trying to educate the local people how to take care their rivers and streams and the fish in it. They issued rules and regulations throughout the township. They forbid killing the fish by any kinds of poisons, bombing, dynamo and forbid catching fish during they have egg. As a result the fish population grow again and there are a lot of fish in the streams and rivers in Thau area.

Todays, the famous road Saisihchuaklam runs through the valley of Hriawh Va. Chin State government is building iron bridge on the river right now. When they finish the bridge this car road will be a popular border trade road between India and Myanmar.


                Hriawh Va New Iron Brige



         Construction Equipment of Hriawh Va Bridge

Emmanuel Chin Baptist Church, Columbus, Ohio