Walk into your favourite bookstore, pick up something by your favourite author and enjoy a good read.

GO SOLO This Independence Day, discover the freedom within; turn off your phone, set out by yourself, hike, drive, browse through books or go on an art trail IF YOU AREN'T IN ON THIS, YOU AREN'T IN ON IT AT ALL
Along weekend usually means errands to run or social events to attend. This weekend, break out of that mould and treat yourself to a day of you doing something you love to do but never find the time for. To make sure you and you are not disturbed, turn off your cellphone, leave your to-do list behind, maybe your watch too. Here are our recommendations for your day of freedom: Walk into your favourite bookstore, pick up something by your favourite author and enjoy a good read.
For nature enthusiasts, set off on your favourite trail, or take your car out for a long, leisurely spin, outside city limits of course.
For art lovers, perhaps a trail through your favourite gallery or museum, heritage precinct or handicraft store. ART TRAIL WHAT: Lofty Assimilation. Artist Tulika Ladsariya displays paintings that draw on her childhood memories.
WHERE: Jamaat Art Gallery, National House, Tulloch Road, Apollo Bunder WHEN: August 13 and 14, 10 am to 5 pm Call: 228200718.
ENTRY IS FREE WHAT: Lush and Transcendent by Sohan Qadri. On display are dyeson-paper coloured in the vivid hues of India's religions -ochres, ceruleans, crimsons and saffrons.
WHERE: Tao Art Gallery, 65, Dr A B Road, Worli WHEN: August 13 and 14, 11 am to 6 pm CALL: 24918585 or 8686.
ENTRY IS FREE WHAT: Exhibits at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghralaya (CSMVS) from the Harappa civilisation to the Mughal era, including samples of various arts and craft forms.
WHERE: CSMVS, 159/61 Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort WHEN: August 13 and 14.
10.15 am to 6 pm CALL: 22844484, 22844519 ENTRY: R30 for adults, R15 for students, R5 for children below 12 WHAT: Fieldnotes: Tomorrow Was Here Yesterday, an ongoing installation project by artist Jitish Kallat at the Bhau Daji Lad museum. While you're here, you can browse through ancient artifacts and admire the award-winning restoration of the heritage structure.
WHERE: Bhau Daji Lad Museum, 91-A, Rani Baug, Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan & Zoo, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg, Byculla (East) WHEN: Daily, 10.15 am to 6 pm WHEN: Aug 13 and 14, 10 am to 5 pm CALL: 23731234, 65560394 ENTRY: R10 NATURE WALKS If you're afraid to head out into the wilds on your own, or don't really have a favourite trail, join one of these groups for a solo adventure WHAT: Tree Walk from Horniman Circle to the University of Mumbai garden, organised by Bombay Natural History Society.
WHERE: The group will meet at the main gate of Horniman Circle Garden, on Mumbai Samachar Marg at 8 am WHEN: August 14, till 10.30 am COST: R50 for BNHS members, R100 for non-members WHAT: A walk along a forest path that runs beside a gurgling stream and leads to a beautiful valley. Join Bombay Natural History Society members on an I-Day trek into the Rabale forest in Navi Mumbai, which is scenic, lush and has a range of birds and insects to spot.
WHERE: Rabale forest, Navi Mumbai WHEN: August 15 CALL: 9594953425 or 9594929107 to register COST: R60 PER PERSON WHAT: Head to Manpada for a scenic little trail that wends up a hillock on the Thane-Ghodbunder Road. BNHS members will help you identify butterflies and wildflowers, and the top of the hillock offers a breathtaking view of Thane city and creek.
WHERE: Manpada, Thane WHEN: August 14 CALL: 9594953425, 9594929107, 9323738622 to register COST: R60 PER PERSON WHAT: Take this trek if you don't mind getting dirty. Organised by trekking group, Jumpstart, it follows a trail through scenic villages before climbing a narrow path to a flight of old stone steps leading to the Gambhirnath caves. To enter the caves you have to crawl for several minutes through a narrow tunnel! WHERE: Karjat. The group assembles at Countryside Office, Opp Shiv Sena Bhavan, Shivaji Park, Dadar (West) WHEN: August 14, 6 am CALL: 9869201443 or 24442944 to register COST: R1,250 LONG DRIVES WHAT: Palm Beach Road. This nowiconic, pothole-free 10-km stretch has scenic mangroves on one side and dramatic high-rises on the other. Stop for a break at Seawoods lake. Or head to the Kharghar hilltops, where a broad road lined with trees leads to a plateau overlooking Navi Mumbai.
WHERE: Navi Mumbai WHAT: Ghodbunder Road. This 15-km stretch lined with lush greenery makes for a soothing ride. Stopovers include Ovla, a plateau that offers a scenic view of the Thane creek.
WHERE: Thane WHAT: Marine Drive and Malabar Hill. If you want a freewheeling, pothole-free ride, head to where the VVIPs live. It's also a scenic drive, with plenty of good foodstops along the way.
WHERE: South Mumbai BOOK-BROWSING WHAT: Granth, a two-storey book haven with over 50,000 books and a secluded seating area.
WHERE: 30/A, HM House, Juhu Tara Road, Santacruz (West) CALL: 26609327, 26609337 WHAT: Landmark at Infiniti and Palladium. Both outlets have cosy seating areas where you to can curl up and immerse yourself in a book, with cafés right next door in case you get grubby.
WHERE: Palladium Mall, Phoenix Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel; Call 64575323 and Infiniti Mall, New Link Road, Oshiwara, Andheri (West); Call 64564380 TIMINGS: 11 am to 10 pm WHAT: Oxford Bookstore. With over 50,000 titles and an in-house 70seater coffee shop, Cha Bar, you'll have food for mind and soul.
WHERE: Ground floor, Apeejay House, Churchgate; Call 9892579601 and Shop B-3, Shreeji-Darshan, Plot No 48 & 49, Sector 40, Seawoods (West), Navi Mumbai; Call 66364477