Have just returned from an awesome week in the Sinai. It was full of everything you can imagine from lazing by the beach to clambering up sand dunes, and chattering to Bedouin.

Climbed Mt Sinai at sun set, therefore missing the hordes on thier dawn rush to the summit and actually having the entire mountain to our selves. As you can imagine it was the solitude that really made the spirituality of the mountain come alive. It was a contender for the most stunning sun set i've seen and the tranquility wraps itself around you like a massive duvet. Or may be that was just my jacket. Either way it was just aswell because it was absolutely goose pimpelingly cold.

Was thrilled to have the opportunity to spend some time with the Bedouin as generally the chance to do this is limited. Women are unfortunately not allowed to run the trips which go out trekking with the Bedouin because it is considered a male only realm and an absurdity that women should be in any decision making authority. This means that my position would generaly be over ruled on principle and therefore not the most condusive environment for leading expeditions.

Although their attitude towards women seems unbearably represive to those of us not born unto it, I can not but feel a sense of respect for the honour and family loyalty from which it derives.

The nomadic lifestyle has instilled within their culture a solidarity of family bonds forming a protective enclave around their women even if it is within an overtly modest society.

There is undeniably some values which they have managed to retain which seem all but lost within our generation in the west and will perhaps be lost further within the next.

I sincerely hope that somewhere, with all our amazing technology, we will have the sense to salvage the knowledge that can not be stored within the banks of a computer system.