Beach day!

Today we visited Sentosa's Palawan beach for the first time with Madison.

Actually I don't really know why we haven't been earlier.. it's a really nice beach with family friendly facilities and best of all, its really quite clean and nice!

It was quite a spur of the moment decision. We'd been to the Botanical Gardens in the early morning after Madison woke and had breakfast at Casa Verde. The Botanic Gardens was surprisingly busy for such an early hour, but we managed to get a carpark and did a quickie around the gardens, visiting the lake, eco gardens and then to the cafe for brekkie. Madison as usual was wanting to walk by the time we got to the cafe, so we let her cruise around for a little while. Breakfast was French toast with drinks. Of course, as usual, she refused to take any expressed milk!

After her morning nap, we packed everyone up and made our way to Sentosa. Traffic was smooth and there were heaps of carparks at the beach carpark. We were relatively early at around 1030am, so the sun was not too hot yet. We managed to get a shady spot under a tree where we put out our beach towel and mat. I went and bought Madison a pail and shovel set, but she was only interested in shovelling with the spoon I'd also brought from home! What a waste of $$$!

Anyway.. she had fun in the sand, which was great as previously she had refused to have anything to do with sand, the first 2 times we put her down on sand! Once at the Botanic garden's Jacob Balast grounds and the second at the East Coast Park. Then out of the blue today, she suddenly stood by herself unaided for a good 2-3 seconds while we were just sitting there on the beach! All of us were caught off guard!

Madison still seems rather afraid of the seawater, with the waves sloshing around over the sand. She protested when put for a longer period standing at the edge of the water at the beach.

Palawan beach has a water bath area for kids that has a few water jets that periodically shoot out water. The water temperature seemed freezing to me, but Madison insisted on going into the pool and splashing around! Her diaper got soaking wet of course and she was still playing in the water!

Close to lunch time the sun became increasingly hot so it was time for a quick shower and change. After that, we wandered over to Koufu ( the beach in Singapore has a FOOD COURT! ) and picked up several items that we all could eat. Not all the stalls were open but we were fortunate that the roast meats one was, so we could get minced pork congee, roast chicken and duck, some vegetable as well as a claypot chicken rice. I think lunch tasted great to Madison and we had no trouble feeding her for a change! We ended the meal with some ice desserts, and Madison got to sample some too.

After lunch we decided to walk across the rope bridge to check out the southern most tip of the island. I think Madison was tired at that stage so was getting excruciatingly fussy and wanting to walk all over the place. We lasted a good half hour after lunch, by which time she was starting to cry and protest over everything. That signalled the end of the beach trip for her...

It's been great with the new Honda stream that we've just got, heaps more space for ALL of Madison's things, and more comfortable for us all when we go out. The expensive jogger gets used more now just because its so much easier to take in and out. Shopping is less stressful as there is more boot space to put the groceries.

Sentosa is also undergoing much change, most of all with the upcoming Integrated Resorts due anytime soon. Entry is now via electronic payment using the car IU.

I think we should be visiting the Palawan beach more often now! Next trip she will be dressed in her swim gear!