Well, the LiS Beachliness score has caused some controversy. Some reader(s) want a measure of beach access ease, while others (ok, it was the same one), demands the inclusion of Pasir Ris Beach, Singapore. The comments are duly noted.
So, welcome to East Coast Park, which has Singapore's longest beach, at ~7.5km. Like most of our coastline, it is made from reclaimed land. Also, Luka wants you to know that it's highly accessible by public transport, and less crowded during the weekdays. So, how's the sandliness?
Well, there's sand, but this is more of a picnic in the grass kind of beach. And the sand has boaty floaty bits and lumps. So unfortunately, sandliness: 0
Boatiness, on the other hand, remains very high; this is a port island. While it's higher than Sentosa, the boatiness is very pretty. So again, half points for excess boatiness.
Boatiness is surprisingly hard to photograph: these ships look a lot bigger in real life.
East Coast is a practical beach of walking, sports, and eating. not as much about pristine beauty. Also, note that it was a cloudy day vs. Sentosa's sunny one.
So, kinda pretty? While we have palm trees, big trees, and the occasional coconut, prettiness is only half points.
The readership suggested that the Laura in Singapore measure of desertedness should consider how interesting people watching is. This is a valid point, but I'm unable to provide an objective, relative measure of humanity while skirting bias. For example, what to think of the beach monk?
So, enjoy seeing people camping a East Coast (mainly on weekends), but we still have no points for desertedness.
Or, avoid the campers and go to the non-camping spots, where the signs make jokes.
The next measure is wildlife. We saw a fairly unworthy turtle. Wildlife: 0.
Let's talk activities! East coast has gottem: restaurants, cafes, local food, playgrounds, cricket, softball, volleyball, camping, cycling, rental watersports, fishing, rental rollerblades and family cycle thingies, and lotsastuff! After all, it's a 185 hectare park (Source Wiki - yet unconfirmed, given construction and erosion). So full points.
Cable-pulled wakeboarding lake? It's got beginner and crashy-hurt levels.
Fishing, and also fishing jokes (guy fishing behind no fishing sign).
The final measure is availability of cocktails: 1. While cocktails are not widespread, they are certainly available. And the food availability is so broad that I have to give full cocktail points. So in conclusion:
Sandiness: 0
Boatiness: 0.5 (excess boatiness)
Prettiness: 0.5
Destertedness: 0
Wildlife: 0
Availability of activities: 1
Availability of cocktails: 1
Total: 3/7
To make it official, we sent the above picture and note to our Member of Parliament.
To make it official, we sent the above picture and note to our Member of Parliament.
We were certainly not the only ones!
