Dede Sophie

It is a paradise for nature lovers, trekkers, birdwatchers and photographers. It is home to orchards of apple, orange and apricot and farms of kiwi. It is one of those places that is perfect for a rustic, quiet and blissful time in the lower reaches of the Eastern Himalayas. I am talking about the village of Dirang in Western Arunachal Pradesh that is surrounded by lush forests and gorgeous mountains of the Eastern Himalayas. Located at an altitude of 5,200 feet above MSL, Dirang is a picturesque valley between Bomdila and Tawang . It shares its traditions and heritage with Western Bhutan and it mainly comprises of the people from the Monpa tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. In addition to its spectacular natural beauty, it is known for its hot water springs, apple orchards and Yak research center. The top tourist attractions in Dirang include: 1) Dirang Dzong: A 19th century stone fort strategically located on the top of a hill and that is home to houses made of stone and wood 2) National Y...

Readers, please join me welcoming Susan Shapiro Barash , author of Toxic Friends: The Antidote for Women Stuck in Complicated Friendships who’ll be guest blogging here today! In Toxic Friends (St. Martin’s Press, 288 p, ISBN: 0312386397) , Barash explores the ten types of female friends and shows you why and how women get stuck with the worst kinds, the ways to get “unstuck, and how to recognize a true friend.” How Female Friendships Run Amok by Susan Shapiro Barash One of the more curious aspects of female friendship is how strained it can become once two close friends no longer share the same circumstances. I call this, ‘the mirroring friend’ syndrome. It happens frequently and in all sorts of situations. For instance, one friend is on her third child and her best childhood friend is still single. Or a friend gets a promotion and her best friend loses her job. In these instances the women who once had parallel lives no longer reflect one another. And this...