Start zorbing & kayaking at the Eco Tourism Park in New Town. Have a splash!

Land Zorbing: Ever wondered what it would feel like to be in one of those hamster exercise balls? I found out last Sunday at the Eco Tourism Park in New Town. The zorbing sphere has two open ends. And to help you in, you will have a man take a running dive headfirst into it from one end and pull you in — hands first — from the other. Once in, you’re strapped and trapped in the giant hamster ball not knowing what happens next.

With the first push that sets you rolling, a cry of exclamation is natural. It feels like nothing you’ve ever felt before. With each push you become less scared of breaking your neck (the plastic cushioning prevents shock and the harness keeps you in place) and start enjoying the feeling. Though hard to completely let go, it is something worth doing. As you roll on, it’s like a bouncy castle times a hundred. It forces you to give up trying to control your movements. You are the ball and the ball is you. When stepping out, you’re bound to feel a little disoriented. Just remember to not dive headfirst as I did. Because face+ground = hurt. Despite what I felt, I had not turned into a rubber ball. And once out, you’ll long to go back in! Certainly an experience I’m not likely to forget.

Children’s Park: This is a recent addition. Filled with fountains and little channels of water, it feels like something out of a fairy tale. There are tree houses for adults to stand in and watch the children play. There are swings, slides as well as a Mother Dairy kiosk stacked with snacks of all kinds. The entry fee is Rs 10.

It was the first time for this group of students, who sat on the grass laughing and taking pictures. “We had always seen this place from outside but this is the first time we are coming in. It’s the perfect place to just sit and chat, with low-cost entry fees. Some of us live close by, so we will come back but even the others living far away want to keep coming here,” they chorused.

What: The four-month-old Eco Tourism Park with 480 acres of maintained lawns and a 100-acre waterbody. Beat the heat with kayaking, (paddle) boating, kite flying and land/water zorbing

Where: Major Arterial Road in Action Area-II of New Town

Open: 11am to 8pm on Sunday and holidays; 2pm to 8pm weekdays (closed on Monday)

Best time to visit: Just before the sun sets over the lake.

Pocket pinch: Entry fee of Rs 10; activities are priced Rs 150

Playmates: Just so you feel you’re not alone, these figurines — some running, others seated on a bench with a laptop — keep you company!

Kayaking: Slip on a life vest and ride against the tide. If you’re scared of going alone, there are professionals to share a kayak with you. Otherwise the bravehearts can go ahead, with helpers in a separate kayak following close behind.

six fun things to do this summer

Summer vacays are here, but is mall lounging all that Calcutta has to offer to bored youngsters? t2 does the different and has a ball!

Calcutta Walks: Think you’ve seen it all? Think again. Calcutta Walks is an innovative venture by a group of young entrepreneurs to take you on guided walking tours in and around the city. With Birdwatchers’ Walk, Photographers’ Walk, and Food Lovers’ Walk as some of the options to pick from, it’s educational for locals as well as tourists. Starting as early as 7am, most of these walks are wrapped up before it gets too hot. Don’t want to walk? Take a cycling or motorbike tour.

Contact: Calcutta Walks: 03340052573. Or call the boss Iftekhar Ahsan at 9830184030

Price: Each walk is priced at about Rs 1,500 per person and most have a six-people limit. For more, check out www.calcuttawalks.com' www.calcuttawalks.com

KICKASS! Karate will teach you discipline, keep you fit and on your toes! Ballygunge Karate Institute offers classes for boys and girls, and a dedicated Sensei ensures that all perform well. So whether it’s to give those troublesome bullies something to cry about or your older brother a black eye, try martial arts this summer. Okay, not really! Martial art is mostly for self-preservation, defence rather than offence being the key factor. But it’s nonetheless a fun option to try. And you might even turn out a pro. Watch out Jaden Smith!

Contact: 03366342127 or 03322873146

Price: Rs 300 per month with two classes a week

Play chess: Chess is primarily an indoor game played in a quiet atmosphere that enhances the concentration. Difficult at the best of times, try playing for keeps under the Gariahat flyover in the midst of the heavy traffic and blaring horns. Go head-to-head with the grandmasters who show up from all over the city to challenge one another. Try holding your own out there because the kind-looking elderly men will not hesitate to go for the kill.

Location: Under the

Gariahat flyover

Time: After dusk

MasterChef: For wannabe cooks out there, Bibi Sarkar of Bibi Of Taaja’s in Dhakuria is offering cookery tips. The classes are diverse — some based on cuisine, some on raw materials. So whether it’s whipping up some yummy Italian or mastering pesky prawns, this is the way to go for budding masterchefs. Feel free to call Bibi for details.

Contact: 9830335641

Price: Rs 600 per head

SURF & TIMEPASS: For lazy couch potatoes, the Internet has more to offer than just Facebook. Play the super-snarky trivia game, You Don’t Know Jack. Or chat with Cleverbot at www.cleverbot.com. Cleverbot is a computer programme that actively learns and responds to all those who it has spoken to. It makes for some eerily real-seeming conversation with a very opinionated person. Finally, for those with poems hidden away in their diaries — submit them to Teen Ink at www.teenink.com.

Learn a language: Gorky Sadan offers a one-month crash course in German. A fluid course with no structure constraints designed specifically to cater to businessmen or students, it comprises 12 classes of an hour’s duration each. They would prefer if you come thrice a week. And though there are no promises of mastering the language, it is enough to get a hang of the words and letters. There is an option to extend your learning and sign up for more advanced courses.

Contact: 9831039328

(ask for Ms Madhabi Bhattacharya)

Price: Rs 5,500

Text: Manjushree Chancasana

What is your favourite summer activity? Tell t2@abp.in