Describe a place in the countryside that you have enjoyed visiting

One of my favourite places in the countryside is my uncle's farm, about a hundred kilometres outside Shymkent in southern Kazakhstan. I have been visiting it since I was a small child, and I usually go in early summer with my cousins.

The farm sits in a wide, open valley, with low green hills on one side and a river on the other. My uncle grows apples, apricots and tomatoes, and he also keeps cows, sheep and a few horses. During the visit, we get up early, help feed the animals, collect eggs and eat a big breakfast outside. In the afternoon, my cousins and I usually ride horses, swim in the river or lie in the shade of the trees and talk. Last year, we also helped to pick apricots, which was harder than it sounds, but the fruit tasted incredible.

I enjoy the countryside there for many reasons. The most obvious one is the fresh air and the sense of space. After spending months in a crowded city with traffic and noise, it is a huge relief to see the horizon in every direction. It also helps me disconnect from my phone, because the signal is weak, and there is always something more interesting to do. Another reason is the food, which is organic and cooked with great care by my aunt. But above all, I love the feeling of being with my family without any rush. Those few weeks recharge me for the entire year.