Southeast Asia Celebrates St. Valentine's DayPrepared by Harold Stephens
Travel Correspondent for Thai Airways International
What comes to mind with the mention of St. Valentine’s Day? Most likely it’s one of the traditional symbols––hearts, doves, Cupid, love notes and Valentine cards. It’s our chance to show our affection to those we care something about often with greeting cards, flowers or boxes of candy. Although St. Valentine’s Day is often considered to be Christian and relates to a Christian-influenced culture, it has come to be recognized around the world as a non-secular celebration. And for those in love, I can think of no better place to celebrate Valentine’s Day than in Bangkok during the holiday. Major hotels have special offers in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Nearly every restaurant and entertainment venue in town has something planned for this day. Even spas have special offers.
It is fascinating how the spirit of Valentine's Day, or Saint Valentine's Day, caught on. Some historians say it began as a pagan holiday. In Ancient Rome, Lupercalia was observed February 13 through 15 and was an archaic rite connected to fertility, without romance. It was a local festival in Rome. Pope Gelasius I (492-496) abolished Lupercalia in an attempt to eradicate pagan celebrations. The Christian church decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to Christianize the Pagan Lupercalia ... as they have done with Solstice (Christmas) Halloween (All Saints Day), and Easter (the Roman goddess named Ēostre).
There’s another version. Old official texts state that St. Valentine is believed to be the true patron saint of lovers and a help of those unhappy in love. The saint in this case was a young Roman priest in the days of the Emperor Claudius. Finding it difficult to induce married men into the military, Claudius passed a law against marriage. Valentine performed marriages in secret, was caught and while awaiting trial he fell in love with his jailor's blind daughter. Through unwavering faith, the story says, Valentine restored the woman's sight. Then, before his execution, he slipped her a farewell note signed "from your Valentine"—the original Valentine's card. He was beheaded on February 14, 269 A.D
The new Christian holiday evolved, especially in England, into a time for exchanging love messages and tokens. The day became associated with romantic love from Geoffrey Chaucer during the Middle Ages when courtly love flourished. Valentine's Day is mentioned by Ophelia in Act IV of William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, published in 1602: To-morrow is Saint Valentine's Day, and I, a maid, at your window, to be your Valentine.
Another scribe, Samuel Pepys, commented in his diary on Valentine's Day, 1667, that his wife had had a fine ring made for him. Records show the first commercial valentines came out around 1800. Esther Howland of Massachusetts was making valentines of imported laces and fine papers around 1830, a business said to have made a large fortune for her.
The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.
Asian countries have long had their own versions of St. Valentine’s Day, from giri-choko in Japan, where chocolate is given to loved ones, to Pepero Day in Korea where young couples give each other Pepero cookies. But thanks to a concentrated marketing effort, Valentine's Day in the Western tradition is celebrated in most Asian countries today, with Thailand being no exception. It’s a day of romance and great bargains. Let’s look at a few of these.
The Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok tells its guests to rediscover the magic and splendor of romance this Valentine’s Day with romantic candlelit dinners, specially created for this day at all of their restaurants: Le Normandie, Lord Jim’s, Ciao Italian Restaurant, The China House, Riverside Terrace or on a starlit river cruise on the Maeyanang rice barge. Every couple can enjoy the hotel’s Valentine’s set dinner and will receive a delightful gift and a chance to win the ultimate romantic experience – one night in the famed Barbara.
The Banyan Tree tells its guests there are many ways to say “I love you” but some are just more delicious than others. The hotels lists it food fares at Vertigo, Ban Yun, Pieres and Apsara.
Then there are the Valentine’s Day Promotions.
February is Valentine's month at the delightful Crepes & Co. outlets. Guests are enticed to treat their loved ones to a sumptuous selection of Mediterranean delights. Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square has its share of attractive promos that include a sweet, romantic evening with a “Valentine’s Day Buffet Dinner” along with Valentine’s Cocktails. Chocolate gift boxes are part of the package.
For a Black-tie Valentine's Dinner that supports a worthy charity, one can attend the formal gala at the Four Seasons Bangkok. Les Nympheas, the charming French restaurant at Imperial Queen's Park is also having a romantic Valentine's Day dinner. It’s called the “Gondola of Love” which guarantees to make the night even more special and long remembered.
The Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa's riverside location makes it a perfect location for a Valentine's Day celebration. It’s also the place to stay in an exotic lushness of tropical gardens and a view of the river. For a romantic dinner with your loved one you receive a complimentary glass of champagne, handmade chocolates and a rose. Plus, you can enter their lucky draw for a chance to win a two-night stay at Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa. Here at Trader Vic’s you dine in true idyllic Pacific Rim elegance.
Le Danang Vietnamese restaurant and Don Giovanni Italian restaurant at the Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok have attractive set dinner promotions planned for Valentine's Day.
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit is having Valentine's Day activities at all of its outlets, including an irresistible Chocolate and Ice Cream Jazz Buffet at The Living Room.
Aside from hotels and restaurants, spas contribute to the holiday with their own special offers. Spa Cenvaree, Centara Hotels & Resorts is offering “Love Memory” called Festive Floral Experience, a special Valentine treatment from 1st February until 28th February 2009 at 12 luxurious Spa Cenvaree branches in selected hotels located in Bangkok, Krabi, Samui, Hua Hin, Phuket, Trang, Hat Yai and Chiang Mai.
Complemented by the legendary art of Thai healing, Centara has created a unique Spa experience using a mixture of fresh flower petals and floral oils to deliver to their guests a luxurious floral treat. The two hour ritual starts with a body scrub infused with a delightful flower fragrance, healthy doses of vitamin-rich plant extracts and a rich concoction of oatmeal, jasmine rice, vanilla cream and fresh milk. The mixture is formulated to refresh and soften the skin. Fresh flower petals are then added to the mixture to create an invigorating floral scent with an inviting aroma.
Mandarin Oriental is not to be outdone. For Valentine’s Day, The Oriental Spa and Ayurvedic Penthouse invites guests to say “I love you” with the “Endless Love” and “Samaagam” packages, especially designed for the most romantic occasion of the year. These include Body Toning Treatment, Swedish Massage, Express Facial, Rose and Milk Bath with Fresh Rose.
The Samaagam at Ayurvedic Penthouse is truly special lasting 2.5 hours. Get this: Indian Head Massage, Ayurvedic Marma (vital) Point Massage, a warm aromatic floral bath in a specially designed copper bathtub for couples to enjoy together. There’s more: Valentine Health Drink, Valentine Gift Set: A collection of Ayurvedic body lotion, show gel, shampoo and conditioner. Each product contains 5 kinds of essential oils that softens and hydrates the body. The Valentine’s Day packages are available only during Valentine week from 10th- 17th February 2009.
Next week, with Bangkok serving as a gateway to China, I will take readers on a brief tour of Thai Airways destinations in China.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERSQ. Dear Mr. Stephens. I would like to visit Myanmar and I heard that I could do it from Thailand at the Three Pagoda Pass and Mae Sot. Will I need a Burmese visa? Al Podell, NYC
A. Dear Al. You will not need a visa but the Burmese will only give you a day pass, and that is only to visit the border town. To visit Myanmar properly you must fly from Bangkok to Yangon (Rangoon) and for that you must have a visa. —HS
Harold Stephens
Bangkok
E-mail: ROH Weekly Travel (booking@inet.co.th)
Note: The article is the personal view of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the view of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited. | 
