When we were children, beach sandcastles was about digging a big mound of sand and tapering it into a mountain like shape with a stick on top. Eventually, we wanted to add a few design elements – a proper castle with a moat and shell decorations. But that was that. Whether you are a child or an adult, making sandcastles is a super fun activity. It’s time you upgrade your skills and not just play with a pile of sand. Our Andaman Beach tips are going to help you make a showstopper sandcastle that will simply rock your day on the beach! Here’s how you can do it:
Step 1: What you need
The list really is quite short – You need sand and water. The rest is optional. You could also make use of a few buckets (one without a bottom), carving tools, a misty spray, conical and rectangular molds and decorative items.
Step 2: Prep the sand
Wet sand is the glue that will hold your castle together. The best place to find ‘good’ sand is below the tide line. Find the right location for your castle which is at a safe distance from the shoreline. Start digging a hole until you hit the water. This way you will have your water supply ready without having to run back and forth. But if you have minions who can help, keep them running back and forth with buckets.
Squeeze the wet sand in your hands. If the ball holds while you roll it, your sand is ready. Use this sand to create a densely packed six inch tall base over which your castle will be built. Keep poking holes in the base as you go to add water and ensure the sand remains moist.
Step 3: Start building your castle
Start stacking up the moist sand as high as your castle to be. One of the base rules of building a sandcastle is to move from top to bottom so that you don’t accidentally break it or make it fall.
Step 4: Carve out the big details
Fill your bottomless bucket half way with sand. Moisten it with water and fill the sand again. Once you see the mix has stabilized, slowly lift it up to give the tower effect. Similarly use the cone to give the tower its cap. Add details like windows and doors using a carving tool or even a butter knife. Make a wall connecting the towers by smoothing out the sand between them, flattening it and giving brick-like details with a knife. Make sure you use the misty spray to keep the sand moist.
Step 5: Add the ‘pro’ touch
Use a slanting mound of sand from the top of the tower until the bottom of your base to carve out the stairs. You will need to first build a ‘ramp’ and then add the stair detailing to it. Add other details like doorways and final decorative touches with shells and flags. Build a moat only if you are confident that the water won’t erode your castle away.
It takes quite a bit of work in the sun and a good couple of hours to build a sand castle but it is one of those subtle pleasures in life that doesn’t cost a cent. Done with family and friends, it is actually priceless. This is a must do during your visit to Andaman Islands!
Images courtesy: Redbookmag, wallcoo.net, photo.you.com.tv, wallpapercraze.com, 123rf.com pixabay.com, nanacompany.typepad.com, blog.sandinyoureye.co.uk
