Waking up at the crack of dawn in the heart of the desert was a surreal moment. Tracks from the various night creatures printed fresh in the sand made me wonder what antics the Bedouins must face when they sleep in their simple tents at night.

Movement in the camp base was apparent when calls of good morning sprang from hut to hut, and the nights experiences were shared.  Most of us slept deeply and some woke at 4 am to watch the sun rise above the golden dunes. Happy to say I was not one amongst those brave enough to bare the day with little sleep.

Farewelling our new Bedouin friends, our convoy drove onto our next destination. A family home, a camp in the heart of the desert. We were greeted with smiles and warm hearts, dates and Oman coffee. Treated to some henna hand tattooing and got to purchase some of the amazing handmade wares the Bedouins are famous for. The lovely children were excited to meet us, and we relaxed in their open tent for a good chill out.

Lunch was prepared by another local family in a city style home. We ate delicious chicken and rice and chatted with the women and children, who were so gentle and humble.

After lunch we set off to the turtle beach to be guided to watch green turtles dig their nests to lay their little turtle eggs. Fortunately there were two mums preparing giant holes, in which were able to gather around in awe to witness a rare occasion.

Further down the beach some babies were making their maiden voyage to the ocean. I really felt so fortunate to be in this part of the world to see a ritual that we may never understand, and one that has been going on for thousands of years. Our planet has some truly incredible animals and it is so wonderful now that we humans are learning to respect our creatures and assist in the preservation of them.

Another fun day in Oman, packed full of surprises and delicious hospitality.

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