Since we live where we live, we try to get out to the beach as early as we can in the morning (which is usually around 9am on the sand) and stay until around 11am then head back to the cave. Or we go the other way and head to the beach after Sebastien's nap (usually around 3.3pm) and stay until it gets too cold or windy. Inevitably it seems that we end up there on weekends - when everyone else is too. Not usually a problem elsewhere, but as Xiamen is a destination for domestic tourism we have many mainland Chinese who haven't seen a beach...and then haven't seen a little foreign girl or boy, especially ones with blond hair and blue eyes...or who get around in a real actual swimsuit! Of course, there are always others - such as this dog who has had his ears and tail dyed. This is not the first time I've seen this here in China.
Currently we've been hitting "Calligraphy Beach" so named because of the stones with Chinese hanzi on them that are embedded in the sand near the road. This is mainly because it is a (relatively) easy half hour cycle from home and is close to where some of our friends live. Here's Alex checking out a street-seller's wares (after playing hopscotch on the stones in the background).
We usually take lots of sand toys to keep everyone amused. 
Polly Pocket is not amused - she didn't sign up for quicksand!
Inevitably on weekends the beach is crowded - with brides and grooms! The Chinese tradition is to have an entire day devoted to photos in various scenes, in many different outfits - particularly because there is no actual "ceremony" to getting married here. An entire industry has grown up around it and it's big business. It's not unusual to see at least five sets of brides and grooms having photos taken on the beach at any time of the weekend. This particular day saw only four a the same time. 
You'll recall that Alex has trouble keeping her clothes on - or wearing long sleeves/pants in winter - as she is such a warm person. She loves nothing more than stripping to her swimsuit so she can prance around in the water's edge. 
We're still trying to find a cleaner beach. It never fails to attract the attention of just about everyone wandering past - many cameras and phones come out to take her photo because everyone else is in long pants and a jumper/sweater usually. One problem with this is that people walk through or on the castles and bridges we're building so as to get close enough to be in a photo with her or Sebastien. Highly annoying as they don't seem to have any care or concern after they've knocked things down. Mummy's working on some not-so-polite sentences for next time.Alex has taken to building sandcastles and decorating them recently with her beach finds.
Sebastien, on the other hand, enjoys tunnels and bridges in the sand. It didn't take long until Alex was converted. 
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