Ahhh … Valentine’s Day is coming. Mouthwatering chocolate, beautiful red roses, candlelit dinners, expensive wine, T-shirts for two, greeting cards … people are getting ready to make a memorable impression on their loved ones. Luxurious restaurants and hotels in countries across Southeast Asia will be booked solid as usual ahead of Feb14.
Say it with flowers: Prices of rose bouquets generally rise by 100% to 250% on Valentine’s Day.
Across the region, events linked to the romantic occasion will run the gamut from the simple to the extravagant and offbeat, though there are some parts of Asean where the Valentine’s Day spirit has not caught on for religious or cultural reasons.
We all know that Saint Valentine was European, but little else is probably known about him in this, one of the least Christian parts of the world except for the Philippines. But just as many Buddhists enjoy Christmas traditions, few are averse to getting romantic and sentimental once a year and having a special day with their sweethearts.
In Thailand, where spirits are flagging because of political tension that has no end in sight, Valentine’s Day is expected to offer a very welcome reprieve. In Trang province, the annual underwater wedding on Valentine’s Day has become an annual tradition that attracts couples from around the world. The resulting exposure from pictures and videos appearing in media across the world is always welcomed by the tourism industry.
Some couples want to increase their excitement to the next level by choosing to exchange their vows while hanging off the sides of cliffs or skydiving. Adventurous weddings have become a growth industry for some local resorts, notably in Prachin Buri province.
In Pattaya, apart from the famous walking street packed its nightlife activities, Valentine’s Day is famous for the Marathon Kissing Contest held to find the couple that can lock lips the longest.
A customer checks out angel wings at a stall selling Valentine’s Day gifts on Silom Road in Bangkok.
According to the rules, the lovebirds’ lips cannot part at any time. They are allowed to drink things like water, coffee, milk or juice — but only through straws while continuing to kiss. They also have to continue embracing during bathroom breaks that are possible every three hours — accompanied by contest monitors.
For couples looking for something a little less strenuous and more relaxing, the resort city this year is staging a Marathon Hugging contest, hoping to find a new couple that can break the previous world record for snuggling made by an English couple (25 hours, 22 minutes and 36 seconds, in case you were wondering).
In Singapore, the local tradition at the time of the love festival involves unmarried women gathering on the banks of the Singapore River where they make wishes to find their soulmates. At night, they will toss Mandarin oranges into the water in hopes that someone good will walk into their lives.
In the Philippines, with its predominantly Roman Catholic population, the Valentine celebration is never quiet. Valentine’s Day is to be spent with wives and husbands, but the days before and after are reserved for lovers, which usually means red-hot business for the Philippines’ motel industry.
The day is also chosen for mass weddings, which sometimes are preferred for basic economic and social reasons, such as the cost of the venue, officiating, decorations and some celebrations that can be shared among multiple families. Politicians and celebrities are always keen to be sponsors of such events.
For you and me, Valentine’s Day may be a time for chilling and romance, but for flower growers and chocolate sellers the day is the busiest of the year. The prices of these products will jump in response to the increasing demand from romantics.
According to Prince’s Flower Shop, one of the popular online florist sites in Singapore, the price of a flower bouquet skyrockets by at least 100% and up to 250% from normal levels on Valentine’s Day. The company’s most expensive bouquet is S$399.99 normally, but the price on Feb 14 reaches almost S$1,000. A more affordable selection normally priced at S$68.99 will rise to S$124 on the day of love.
Hotel rooms are also in demand as some couples seek a special holiday getaway. According to www.mrandmrssmith.com, the hotel booking website especially for couples, some rooms in four- and five-star hotels in Asean remain available from Feb 14-16, but the package prices go up in response to the demand.
The Pavilions Phuket in Thailand is offering two nights for S$1,165 during the special festival. Bulgari Resort Bali is quoting S$2,555 for a two-night package, and Sri Panwa in Phuket is asking S$1,907.
Among the most expensive hotel rooms in Asean are at Song Saa Private Island in the Koh Rong Islands off Cambodia with an average rate of S$4,124 for two nights. Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives is quoting S$2,334 before tax for two nights, and Viceroy Maldives S$2,567 excluding tax.
But the crown for the most expensive package goes to Datai in Langkawi, Malaysia, which is looking for couples willing to splash out S$6,000 for two nights for a romantic weekend.
However, not everybody is looking forward to the arrival of Valentine’s Day, notably in Malaysia and Indonesia where the majority of the population is Muslim. In recent years there have been campaigns to stop Muslims celebrating Valentine’s Day — labelling it a “trap” that could potentially encourage immoral behaviour such as teen sex parties and premarital sex.
In Indonesia over the past few years, Islamic clerics and community leaders have become increasingly outspoken against the celebration of Valentine’s Day among young people. They say the spirit of the event and its overt displays of affection are in conflict with the tenets and behavioural norms of the religion. Muslim authorities in Malaysia also counsel their adherents to avoid any activities that conflict with the religion.
Despite the calls, many of the top malls, hotels and restaurants in these countries are still offering love-themed banquets and special events during the week of romance. In Indonesia, men will do what their peers all over the world do, order flower bouquets for their loved ones, while also making sure they do not go against religious tradition.