A morning in Mumbai

Begin a city walk before the busiest part of the day. Choose one neighbourhood rather than trying to cross the whole city before lunch. A slow route makes room for small observations: a shop opening its shutters, a tea stall arranging cups, or the changing colour of a shaded street.

Keep the plan flexible. Weather, traffic and a closed doorway can all change a route, and a good notebook leaves space for that. Carry drinking water, check opening hours locally and avoid treating a residential street as a stage for photographs. A short walk with attention often leaves a stronger memory than a crowded checklist.

Notebook exercise

Take ten minutes to record one detail from your own day. Include the date and setting, then leave the page open for a later observation. Keep any private information out of a version you share.