A Love Less Ordinary

Valentine’s Day: two words guaranteed to strike fear into the heart of any singleton, while reducing the loved-up to very public acts of fawnication (sic). Second only to Christmas in terms of prolific card-giving, the festival’s exact origins remain a mystery. But legend has it the date was first enshrined in honour of several early Christians who had been brutally martyred by their Roman Catholic counterparts.

Romantic? Not so much. It wasn’t until the 14th century, when bawdy English poet Geoffrey Chaucer penned the line ‘For this was Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh to choose a mate’, that February 14 was given its whimsical makeover (chivalrous expressions of love were considered de rigeur in the High Middle Ages). Fast-forward five centuries and Saint Valentine’s Day has become a cultural – and commercial – phenomenon. As many as 1 billion Valentine’s cards are sent every year, according to the Greeting Card Association, roughly 85% of them bought by women. Tut.

Here’s how to spice up your Valentine’s Day:

GET IN THE RING:
Purge yourself of pent-up niggles by going toe-to-toe with your beloved. Billed as ‘partner-oriented martial arts training’, Human Rights Kickboxing is the perfect opportunity for some mutual venting. Instructor Richard Weir says couples will find it adds “a new dimension to their relationship”. “The element of mutual encouragement and assistance has a domestic carry-over. It will also help work up a strong appetite for all the oysters, chocolate and champagne.” The hour-long event costs $5 per person and is open to all on February 14. Be at Pontoon Club on Street 172 for a 6:30pm start.

LEG IT WITH YOUR LOVER:
Work up an early sweat by taking part in a 4km couples’ race at the Cambodian Country Club - the perfect way to get the juices flowing before the after-dark fun begins. It’s the event’s third year, and prizes await the first five couples to cross the finishing line. Entry costs $14 per runner, everyone gets a free t-shirt, and ladies will be presented with a rose on arrival. Awww. The Valentine’s Race is slated for February 11, with a 4:30pm start. To find out more, call 023 885 591 or e-mail info [at] cambodian-country-club [dot] com.

RE-ENACT THE SAINT VALENTINE’S DAY MASSACRE:
On the morning of February 14 1929, notorious mobster Al Capone and his cronies had seven rivals lined up against a garage wall in Chicago and gunned down in cold blood. The murder weapon used was none other than the Tommy Gun, a firm favourite of both Capone and Bonnie of Bonnie and Clyde fame, billed as ‘the gun that made the ‘20s roar’. For a modest $40, far less than a life sentence, you can hire a vintage Thompson and re-enact the most spectacular slaying in mob history at one of Cambodia’s ubiquitous shooting ranges. Just grab the nearest tuk-tuk driver and shoot him with double-barelled fingers. He’ll know exactly where you want to go.

SHOW A LITTLE PRIDE:
Explore the sexuality rainbow at an intimate screening of Proud to be Me, a behind-the-scenes documentary examining Cambodia LGBT Pride Week 2011. Communicating a message of tolerance and empowerment, this high-energy film was made by Rainbow Community Kampuchea (RoCK) to celebrate ‘all the colours of love’. Short film highlights from the Q-Film Festival Indonesia, Asia’s biggest ‘biggest queer film festival’, will also be shown. The event is due to be held at Meta House, on Sothearos Boulevard, from 7pm to 9pm on February 14.

BARE YOUR SOUL ON A BEACH:
If you must kow-tow to tradition, consider a Valentine’s dinner with a difference. The event gurus at 360 degrees are staging an exclusive meal on Mekong Beach that promises to thaw the most perma-frosted of hearts. Think mood lighting, floating balloons, and sharing the sand with only 19 other couples. The all-inclusive tickets cost $65 per head and can be bought at The 240 on Street 240. Only 40 are up for grabs, so move now. The boat leaves at 5:15pm on February 14, back at 8pm.

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This article was 1st published in The Advisor - All back issues are available as downloads here

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