Urumqi — 13 June

People travel to see more places. These days, I travel to rest. My itinerary is simple. One activity in the morning, rest in the afternoon, and a slow evening. A sunset, a horse ride, or simply a good view. At night, I stay in. No viral attractions. No "must-see" checklists. No pressure to see everything.

I just want to sleep well, eat good food, spend time with my family, and be close to nature. That's enough. Travel becomes meaningful when it is slow, quiet, and not a collection of destinations. I've revised this itinerary six times to make sure it isn't packed with tourist attractions.

This will be our first full family road trip—almost 4,000 kilometers, excluding the flights. Alhamdulillah, all my children are here to begin this journey. It will take us through both Northern and Southern Xinjiang, with a few days of rest after two weeks on the road. Hopefully, everything goes well.