Kathmandu:

The board exams are over and finally you are free of the study routine — for at least another two months. You had probably thought that you will watch a lot of TV, hang out with friends and generally do nothing, yet everything. But even this gets to be boring after a while. Why not do something with your friends that you all can enjoy together? Get enrolled in a cookery class, organise a camping trip, go hiking...

If you don’t have the foggiest idea as to how you are going to spend the coming months of leisure, read on for some pointers.

Sporty stuff

If you are into physical fitness and think nothing of sweating it out, then here are some places that are offering a number of deals. Get into your workout gear and get into shape for college!

The Aroma Sports Centre (5521516) has a number of offers to keep you busy. You can go swimming and if you need an instructor, they have a 14-day package of one hour daily. (Cost Rs 1,800).

Or perhaps lawn tennis is your style. The court fee is Rs 150 per hour. If you need lessons, then a coach is available who you can talk with and fix the fee for your sessions.

And yes something really exciting — skating. Go scrape your knee but feel like a ballerina once you master the roller blades. The centre is open from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.

At the Hardic Fitness Centre (5522068), the membership fee for swimming is Rs 2,500 per month, but if you want to go swimming just once in a while, then you can enjoy a day of fun in the pool for Rs 150. If you need an instructor, you can arrange for one at the centre.

Here’s something that has caught everyone’s fancy — aerobics and gym. Membership fee is Rs 2,500 per month. This includes use of treadmill, without which the fee is Rs1,800 per month.

Open from 6:00 am to 8:00pm; open on Saturdays from 6:00 am to 12 noon.

Sound of music

Not all of us want to sweat it out, and if you have a musical ear and/or a singing voice, why don’t you go for some music and dance lessons to hone your talent? You might even be embarking on a career choice.

Do Re Mi (4225555) conducts lessons on guitar, violin, keyboards, flute and vocals as well. The fee is Rs 700 per month for thrice a week of one hour lessons. If you want to opt for daily lessons, then the fee is Rs 1,400.

You can attend the classes individually or in groups. They usually take five or six students in one group.

They provide you with the required instruments, except for violin. You will need to have one of your own.

Another place to hone your music skills is the Sadhana Kala Kendra (4416566), which offers lessons on guitar, keyboards, vocals, and even dance.

The charge is Rs 500 per month for one-hour lessons thrice a week; daily lessons costs Rs 800 per month.

For keyboards, the fees is Rs 600 for alternate, and Rs 1,000 for daily classes.

They provide you with the required instruments.

Let’s Salsa

The Salsa Dance Academy (4420564) has started its workshop from April 26. This is an intensive workshop for beginners of five hours. Following the workshop, students can move on to another level with regular classes. The classes are being conducted by Binayek Shrestha and Katia Verreault at their studio, which is centrally located above the newly opened Roadhouse Café at BhatBhateni, a few steps away from BhatBhateni Supermarket.

Paint your world

Maybe you have two left feet or you croak when you try to sing. So music and dance is out for you. But there could be a hidden Picasso in you. Try to give him wings with the Recreation Group (016224872), which has been started by students who have graduated from Lalit Kala Campus. They are offering classes to those who wish to develop their artistic skills. They start from Basic Level courses or Quick Sketch, which has sketching of still life. The course is a month long of two hours daily and costs Rs 1,500.

After you finish the basic level, you can continue with the Intermediate and Advanced level courses. They also have sculpture and creative classes. A package course of three months is also offered at Rs 7,000.

If you are really serious about studying art, they also have free counselling sessions.

Master’s clay

Artworks and Newa Art Ceramics (9841257169, 9851101837) are conducting a month long Pottery Class from May 25 to June 24 at Newa Art Ceramics, Thimi. It will be conducted by Santosh Kumar, who has been teaching at the Delhi Blue Pottery Trust, New Delhi. Different methods like Slab, Pinching, Wheel and Coil will be taught. The cost is Rs 6,000.

Other than these

If you think you need to polish skills other than these, then the British Council (4410798) is conducting a special class for students who have just given their SLC exams. Some courses you can enroll in are —

Personality development: This course is designed to help you discover your personality type, and accordingly build your strengths and minimise your weaknesses. You will be taught how to actively participate in social and college events. It will also enable you to boost up your confidence to take part in group discussions, debates and interviews and develop you social networking skills. It is an 18-hour course, from 2.30-3.30 pm, the cost is Rs 6,500 and starts from May 9.

Public speaking: This course will help you develop your public speaking skills using various techniques so that you can confidently and dynamically impress your audience. It is an 18-hour course, from 9.30-10.30 am, at Rs 6,500 and starts from May 9.

Post-SLC study skills: This course is designed to help you conduct effective research, write good essays and reports, give impressive presentations and to manage your study time effectively. It is a 40-hour course, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm, the cost is Rs 10,500 and starts from May 9.

Placement and registration for these courses are on from May 3-7.

The New Era (4471342, 4471957), famed for grooming Miss Nepal participants, are conducting Life Skills Training from April 30 specially for students who have given SLC exams. The three-week course costs Rs 4,500.

Krist-al (4417952) is also conducting personality development class for students. The four-week will be conducted for one-and-half hours everyday. Only around 10 to 15 students will be taken in one class.

These are just a few pointers. The opportunities are many. Sky is the limit. Go seek your horizons.