interesting beach experiences

in one day i went to stop by and visit my local beach (only about a 10 minute drive form my house) with samson and his parents... take a few pictures, put our feet in the water, and play boggle in the palm tree shade. it was very relaxing, pleasant, and did i mention relaxing??

later i came home and was blog stalking when i came across a friend's site who also wrote about their beach experience recently... but their experience was totally different!! china beaches (lakes) and american ones are 不一样 ("bu yiyang"= not the same!) i can't imagine having this kind of beach experience but i'm sure it could be fun, sociable, and a true cultural experience!

(from their blog) And did you notice . . .
-Hardly anyone is wearing a swimming suit? Small children swim nude or in their undergarments and parents wade out in their casual summer clothes. Older men tend to wear Speedos and swim at a different part of the lake.
-The tents pitched everywhere? People want to be outdoors in the summer, but they don't want the sun on their skin. Sun screen is not a household item in China, but summer gloves, parasols, and long-sleeve shirts are worn all through the summer. The tents are relief and protection from the sun for a country of people who are dark-complected but wish they were pasty white.
-The water quality? Well, it's not too clear in the photos, but you can take my word for it, this is "dirty, polluted, be careful not to get any in your mouth" water.