Beach Camping Hacks - The Sandflies' Unwanted Attention

"We love taking our kids to the beach, simply spending time watching them play together—a precious moment that mobile devices will never bring to you.

After returning from Hong Kong, we visited at least two beaches near Johor Mersing. The places were amazing, with blue water, clean sands, and pristine beaches. However, sandflies were around, an annoying factor that made me worry about the kids. If someone gets bitten by sandflies, the itchiness and the rashes with blisters can make daily life quite uncomfortable.

As a family of four, I, the innocent one, got bitten as I was hugging my son while he needed to take a nap. I have been bitten by sandflies before, and I still remember the painless night of suffering with itchiness. However, just like mosquitoes, you only feel the pain after they bite, so by the time you feel it, it's often too late to do anything. Tiny rashes appear after being bitten, turning red and starting to itch. Scratching them causes the blisters to burst, leading to further discomfort.

Here are some tips to avoid sandfly bites:

1. Avoid prolonged sitting on the beach: My daughter and husband spent all day in the water, and their constant movement on the beach didn't give sandflies a chance to hang on.

2. Cover up with clothing: Wearing long-sleeved swimsuits and pants is best to avoid sandflies if you need to sit for long periods. When my son was napping on the beach, he wore a long-sleeved swimsuit, initially to shield from the sunlight, which incidentally helped him avoid sandflies. I covered his legs with a towel, ensuring his safety.

3. Apply repellent: During our beach visit, the owner and her youngest daughter guided us and recommended a repellent they also applied. I applied it only to my kids, crediting this repellent for its effectiveness against sandflies. It's primarily a mosquito repellent but works for sandflies as well. I've already purchased it in case of future day trips to the beach, and I'll definitely use it for the whole family. Link to purchase from Shopee

Despite the sandfly experience, I still enjoyed outdoor activities and cherished quality time with my kids. If you enjoy this too, we're on the same wavelength."