Being Asian, we have been taking classes from violin, gymnastics to even art lessons as we were bred to shine in everything we do (and we do mean everything). However, as an adult, we can pick and choose some alternative courses to broaden our horizons – instead of that tedious piano lesson your mom forced you to take when you were a teen (nope, we aren’t projecting).

It’s time to put everyone else’s needs aside for a moment and focus on hobbies that could either be intellectually stimulating or a form of “escape” for ourselves. If you are bored or in need of some delightful and stimulating activities to take part in, we’ve got a solution for that. We listed some unique classes, ranging from calligraphy, pottery to even terrarium preparation. It’s time to pick a new hobby, because who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

Stop wasting your time on pigging out at home or binge watching TV shows all day (although we have our moments to hang loose). It's time to go out and learn some new skills!

Inks and Letters: #KLigraphy Brush x Watercolour Calligraphy Workshop

Image: themalaymailonline.com
Have you ever wanted to try something brand new? This workshop explores the brilliant world of modern brush calligraphy by doing drills/practices, learning the basic letterforms, and having fun incorporating watercolour in our lettering. The 3-hour class will help you become comfortable with using brush pens and waterbrush pens for calligraphy. The class will help you gain control of the brushes in order to see nice controlled strokes, adding nice splashes of colours to your lettering pieces.

What the workshop fees include:
3 hours of instruction and hands-on calligraphy activities
Yummy snacks and goodies
1 x Waterbrush Pen
2 x Felt-tipped Brush Pen
1 x Watercolor Brush
1 Watercolor Set
5 x Watercolor Paper
Worksheets with Drills, Letterforms, and Alphabet Guides
Practice Sheets

Price: RM280
Date: October 8 (Saturday)
Time: 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Location: APW Bangsar (29, Jalan Riong, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Website: inksandletters.com

#KLigraphy: Basic Pointed Pen Calligraphy Workshop

Image: inksandletters.com
This workshop is designed for beginners who are interested in exploring the art of beautiful writing. From supplies, basic strokes, letters, words – they have got it covered. They will introduce you to calligraphy and get you acquainted with the basic supplies, guiding you into working on basic strokes then doing lowercase and uppercase letters. If you want to take up a new hobby, join them!

What the workshop fees include:
5 hours of instruction and hands-on calligraphy activities with @inksandletters and @inezcalligraphy
Yummy snacks and goodies
1 Oblique Pen Holder
1 Straight Pen Holder
2 Pointed Pen Nibs
1 jar of Black Ink
1 jar of Walnut Ink
Worksheets with Alphabet Guides
Calligraphy Practice Sheets

Price: RM320
Date: October 9 (Sunday)
Time: 1:30PM – 6:30PM
Location: The Alphabet Press (11, Jalan SS 26/8, Taman Mayang Jaya, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia)
Website: kligraphy.com

Silkscreen Printing Classes with Raksasa Print

Image: Raksasa Print
Their silkscreen classes are open to all levels of expertise, including those who are entirely new to silkscreen printing and those who are familiar but want to utilize the facilities available. The entire course is 6 hours long and will be divided into two 3-hour long classes. During the course, students will learn the entire process from start to finish: preparing and exposing the screen to registering and printing the image.
E-mail Julienne at [email protected] to book the dates for your class.

Price: RM300
Location: 4th Floor, Wilayah Persekutuan, 8, Jalan Panggong, City Centre, 50150 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Website: raksasaprint.com

Pottery Class with Clay Expression

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1990’s, Ghost and the dashing Patrick Swayze definitely helped us harbour a desire to learn the art of pottery-making. Lessons can be taken at this centre in Subang as their Explorer Ceramic Course is a fun class for beginners that teach the basic clay techniques both on and off the pottery wheel, geared towards those who have no prior knowledge or experience with pottery. You can move from intermediate and advanced classes if you wish – make your own decorations and gifts, even your own bowls and plates. Everyone will be able to experience the exhilaration of creating a ceramic item of art from clay through this Exploration Ceramic Class.

Location: Lot 757 No. 5 Block C, Jalan Subang 3 Petaling Jaya 47610
Website: clayexpression.com
Contact: +603 5888 9905

The Ohsum Mossum Mossionary Terrarium Wokshop

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Want to create a little world of your own in a glass container? You can build a terrarium, a mini ecosystem that’s low maintenance and also eye-catching in your living room – sure to impress your family and friends. This Ohsum Mossum Mossionary Terrarium Workshop is run from Bangsar for a group of 2-6 people. This workshop is inclusive of all materials and guidance to be able to take home one moss terrarium. They’re easy to upkeep, and with some guidance from underground music producer and terrarium pro Ronnie Khoo, your tiny plants can live for months, propagate, and spruce up your miserable work desk. Create your own little jungle or pastoral landscape!

Email: [email protected]
Social media: Instagram.com/ohsummossum
Facebook: facebook.com/ohsummossum
Check out Ohsum Mossum Terrariums on their Facebook page or Instagram for updates of his terrariums for sale or upcoming workshops.

Soap Making Class by Soap Artisan

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Love scents and keeping clean? You will enjoy making your own cold process soaps which are very gentle on sensitive skin. Come make your own soaps from scratch using natural ingredients like milk and oils from the professional soap maker. Soap Artisan’s workshops occur at various locations in the Klang Valley and are individually priced based on the type of course and materials used. Prices do range from RM84.90 to RM402.80. Their workshops for October are now open for registration.

Price: RM326.80 (inclusive of lunch and materials)
Date: October 8 (Saturday)
Time: 11:00am – 5:00pm
Location: Livello Uno Restaurant, 165 A, Jalan Aminuddin Baki, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 KL.
Website: soap-artisan.com

Swing Classes with KL Swing

Image: KL Swing
A fanciful way to meet new people while getting a great workout by releasing some feel-good endorphins while swinging the evening away. The KL Swing is dedicated to a love of swing dance, old school swing music and lindy hop. You can bring a friend to be your partner or a loved one, enjoy some mid-week dancing, no matter what age you are at in your life. Offering socials and classes for absolute beginners on Tuesdays at Sid’s Pub in Bangsar South.

Price: Entry to the social is free but do support the venue by buying drinks. (Taster Class – RM10)
Date: Every Tuesday (Beginner-friendly classes)
Time: 9:00pm
Location: Sid's Pub M-5A, The Village, Bangsar South, off Jalan Kerinchi Kuala Lumpur 59200
Website: klswing.com


Cooking Classes with LaZat

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The way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach. We have just the class for you if you love food and eating delicious local delicacies! Home-cooked food is something to be savoured, and with this class you have the opportunity to take home this experience and knowledge. Besides learning to prepare Malaysian home-cooked food, you will also get an interesting insight into the culture and social structure of Malaysia. At LaZat you will learn in a few hours all about Malaysian hospitality and you’ll not only get an opportunity to enjoy home-cooked dishes but you will learn how to prepare the dishes the way they have been done for generations. Spend half a day with them starting from a market tour at 8:30 am, followed by cooking. Classes will finish by 2.00pm including eating time. Guests will be allotted individual fully equipped cooking stations and you will cook your food with lots of assistance. And no washing up is required!

Price: RM290
Date: Monday – Saturday
Time: 8:30am – 2:00pm
Location: Malay House at Penchala Hills, Lot 3196, Jalan Seri Penchala, Kampong Sg. Penchala 60000 Kuala Lumpur
Website: malaysia-klcookingclass.com
Email: [email protected]
At LaZat, you will be introduced to some of the traditional favourites like Rendang, Nasi Lemak, Char Koay Teow, Dhall and lots of others too.

Batik Colouring and Waxing with myBatik

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Have a true Malaysian batik experience with a personalised tour of batik, textile and art galleries. It’s a cultural experience getting to meet amazing batik artists with demonstrations and interactive sessions. You will get to learn how to paint batik with a wide variety of arts and crafts activities. Experience how to apply colour on the cotton and mix primary colours while bringing back your artwork on the exact same day! All the tools, dyes and equipment are provided and it’s a wonderful bonding activity for family and friends.

Price: Classes range from RM1,908 to RM53
Location: Yayasan Seni, 333, Persiaran Ricthie off Jalan Ritchie, 55000 Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia.
Website: mybatik.com
Contact: +60123887343

Be a Mermaid with DolphinLee Aquatics

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Live out your childhood dream of being Ariel from The Little Mermaid, at this exclusive school. You’ll don a mermaid costume and master the requisite dolphin kick. The course is much more fun than just learning how to swim because you will be training with a monofin, the exercise will help tone your core muscles including abs, back and pelvis. Whether you are a beginner or looking to go pro, their dedicated team of instructors are passionate, friendly and capable in guiding you with the proper techniques. All their coaches are certified with Lifesaving Bronze Medallion or Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) coaching certification. This is the 1st & only Malaysian center to provide mermaids services & AIDA Freediving courses. Now you know how to make a splash while having a blast at the next pool party.

Price: Swimming lessons, RM80 for members, RM100 for non-members per month; Mermaid course, RM100 per month
Location: Klang Executive Club, Persiaran Bukit Raja 2, Bandar Baru Klang, 41150 Klang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Website: dolphinlee.com
Contact: +603-3344 1228
Email: [email protected]

Film Photography with The Print Room KL

Image: The Print Room
Film photography isn’t dead, and we aren’t all only on Instagram and taking selfies. The Print Room in Section 16, Petaling Jaya promotes awareness and appreciation for the virtual arts, particularly in classical fine arts photography, providing private classes as well as special talks and workshops by guest instructors. This course covers the basics of cameras comprehensively, and lessons will also cover on-location shoots. This is a non-stop one whole day course for those who are curious about film photography, processing and printing, or those who want to get back into film photography and the darkroom but need a refresher course.
All film, chemicals and paper are inclusive in class.

Price: RM800 – RM1400 for two
Time: 11:00am – 6:00pm
Location: The Print Room, 49 Lorong 16/9E, Petaling Jaya 46350
Website: theprintroomkl.com
Email: [email protected]
Contact: +601 2337 2903