As much as we would like to, it’s not possible to take mini-vacations every weekend. But there are some really fun things that you can do to ensure you are ready to tackle work with a newfound zeal that comes after a holiday. Here are The Week’s top five picks.
Re-read your favorite book
There might not be many beautiful parks in Kathmandu but there are lots of neat public places and spaces where you can sit in silence and just read. Any place around your home with grass, bushes, and trees will do. Often times, when we are stressed about work or studies and can’t afford to take a long holiday, it’s important to get at least a few hours of nature and peace in order to rejuvenate our body and mind. Nothing feels better than reading a book while being soothed by the cool breeze underneath the shade of a tree. Make sure you pack some fruits and snacks and a bottle of water. And, of course, take a few of your favorite books along. You never know what you might be in the mood for.
Things to do in Kathmandu
Make homemade ice cream and popsicles
Ice creams and popsicles are one of the main things that make the heat of the summer bearable. Instead of spending money on buying ice cream or popsicles, it’s better to invest in some basic ingredients and make them at home. This way, you can invite people over for an ice cream sandwich party and have a blast (all the while boasting about the fact that you made your own ice cream). Popsicles are even easier to make and offer a quick relief when you are feeling especially hot. You can make ice cream using milk, sugar, vanilla, ice cubes and plastic bags – a little Google search or browsing on YouTube should arm you with many easy homemade ice cream recipes.
Book a summer retreat
Working or studying can get a tad bit annoying in summer as the warm air and the heat will make you want to rest and sleep all day. But we must work and study – often without breaks. However, weekends are a time when you are free from work (we are assuming at both the office and home). And sometimes it pays to be bold enough to book a last-minute retreat somewhere near the valley and have a fun weekend instead of doing what it is that you regularly do on weekends. We recommend places like Chitlang, Dhulikel, Kulekhani, Chisapani, Namo Buddha or Lakuri Bhanjyang. These places offer a delightful escape from the chaos that is Kathmandu.
Go geocaching
Wikipedia defines geocaching as “an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers called geocaches at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world.” Sounds pretty cool, right? And guess what? Nepal has about six geocaches and two of them are here in Kathmandu Valley – one at Thamel and one near Boudhha. In order to find them, search “Nepal Caches” online. After you find the cache, make sure to jot down your name in the logbook in the cache and leave it just as it is in order for other people to be able to find it as well.
Go biking on a trail
Biking around the Kathmandu Valley is probably one of the most interesting things you can do when you have some free time. Events like Kora Kathmandu have popularized cycling and more and more people seem to be taking it up. If you are confident about your cycling skills, go ahead and sign up for a challenging event that’s all set to take place on July 20. However, if you want to take your time cycling and visiting places alone or with friends and family, we recommend routes such as Chobar to Champadevi, Balaju to Kakani and the Gundu region in Bhaktapur.
