I probably first tried hiking when I learned to walk, but I started doing it in an organised way when I was in first grade, and it has been an integral part of my whole childhood. Almost every weekend we went either on an adventure hike, a 20-50 km performance hike, orienteering- or cross country race, or a city cognition competition. These programs always meant great community, lots of fun and pleasantly tired legs. As an adult, I drifted away from organised hiking and it became more of a casual hobby, but to this day, that amazing hiking camp I joined as a little kid is a regular programme for me every summer.

In 2009 a new adventure began. Every August since then, with a small enthusiastic group of friends and family we pack up our tents and hide from the civilisation in a sufficiently high mountain in Romania (or Slovenia). All we take with us is a rucksack, a tent and a week's worth of provisions, plus our eagerness, but we always come back completely reborn and fully packed with wonderful memories.

Without too much ado:

It is simply one of the best things in life! Discovering unknown places, beautiful landscapes, mesmerizing cultures and interesting new people. It's a treasure beyond words, so I never miss a chance to go and explore our wonderful world.

I've loved dancing for as long as I can remember, but apart from some basic primary school courses, I only really found the genre as an adult. I first learned to belly dance around 2005, but dance really exploded into my life when I started LA style salsa in 2013. Then I was not only introduced to a new twirl, but also to Budapest's vibrant and lively dance community, which captivated me. Since then, I've learned Cuban salsa, Bachata, Boogie-Woogie, Rocky and Modern dance, all amazing experiences.

In 2018 I found a new love: Acrobatic dance. In the past few years I have been a member of the enthusiastic amateur show dance group "Flying Panther''. We create choreographs with acrobatic and lifting technique elements under the guidance of our astonishingly creative and professional teacher. Acrobatic dance is always an exciting challenge, that requires technical knowledge, strength, perseverance and a lot of trust between the partners.

"When you are proud of your bruises, there is either something wrong with you or you are a pole dancer."

Me and this frenetic sport started getting to know each other in 2017 and we found harmony very soon. It is an incredible way to develop many qualities in one package: Strength, resilience, determination, tenacity, endurance, femininity, confidence, etc. It is a constant challenge,but also a lot of fun and laughter. All in the company of real, flesh and blood men and women of all shapes, sizes and personalities. This sport has a lot of physics (force, friction, traction, momentum, spin) but as you can see in the picture, it also has maths, such as the four basic operations: + - * /

When I started studying physics at a uni while still teaching math at another, I suddenly found myself with very little free time. For a while I barely had the opportunity to do sports, so it was a real life-saver idea to change my public transport pass for a bike. I was constantly commuting between my home and two other universities, cycling was an easier, freer, more enjoyable way to travel and I never missed a day of exercise. I haven't switched back to public transport since.

Running was actually a great favourite of my childhood, especially orienteering or cross country running. But after that it was out of my life for a very long time. The pandemic brought many changes to our lives, including for me the rediscovery of the greatness of running.

Neither climbing nor skiing is a regular and everyday sport in my life, but both are recurring and very adored pastimes that I like to return to whenever I get the chance. The occasional ski trips are, of course, the most anticipated winter events, while the other 3 seasons provide scope for shorter or longer outdoor rock climbing camps. The most amusing one is the week-long summer camp on the coast of Croatia, where you can practice not only traditional rock climbing but also deep water soloing.

I learned to play Table Soccer in 2001. Once you get beyond the pub, fun-only level of the game, it is an incredibly exciting, adrenaline-fuelled, skill and strategy team game. It requires a completely unconventional movement culture to master, as well as a coordinated strategy with your partner. Once you get the hang of it, you're beyond saving, it is simply too much fun. Although I've rarely had the opportunity to play over the past decade, my heart leaps every time I see a table and finally get to stand there and play.

When a friend or family member needs help with some creative project (paint on a nursery wall, design a ring pillow for a wedding, craft, paint, engrave or fold a gift for someone, create a special cake, paint henna on a pregnant belly, etc.) I'm definitely the one they call. If I can bring into being something new, I'm always happy to say yes, and I like to try new creative techniques all the time.

My main favourite is painting on any surface. I have some abstract and surrealistic style paintings, but other than canvas I have painted on wood, wall, metal, stone, glass, textiles and of course the most fun: people. In addition to the occasional one-night face and body paintings, I have been an avid henna painter for a long time. I even worked on the Spanish coast for a month in the summer of 2011, but I am also very proud to have been the one to do the traditional bridal henna at an Indian-Hungarian wedding.

Reading a book, or even watching a theatrical play or a film, is the perfect momentary escape for me from everyday life. I can immerse myself in countless places, times and stories, and experience never-seen adventures and emotions. Plus I can spend nights talking about these topics with my friends later. What more would I need?

I think for a hearing person music is like air: sometimes we don't even notice it, but it's in fact an essential element. That's why I'm glad I went to music school as a kid, learned to play the flute and used to sing in choirs. Nowadays, I only have the chance to listen to music, but I like to take every opportunity, whether it's a classical or a modern music concert.

We don't usually label it as a hobby, but for me it's natural to state that my favourite activity is when I can spend quality time with my

FAMILY & FRIENDS

either live or virtually. I'm the kind of person who never gets bored because I'm interested in a thousand different things, I'm curious about everything and I want to know everything.

Yet of all my hobbies

THIS IS THE BEST!