Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Onions are pickled,
I wish you were too.
Yep, as the above ditty penned for 'Er Indoors proves, Jakartass is a romantic. For one day in the year.
For the other three hundred and sixty four days, we get along just fine. Then along comes February 14th and, with a wham bang, we get all romantic and splash out with our credit cards.
Newspapers produce 'special reports' showing that love is blind and bad for the environment.
Though jobs in the rose farms are keenly sought after, environmentalists fear the impact of extracting water from Lake Naivasha in Kenya as well as the risks of pollution from pesticides.
"Hmm. These roses smell lovely, darling."
"Don't they, dear. They're Naivasha Effluvium."
Here in Jakarta, there are special events and promotions that are designed to inflame desires and profits.
For example, Kanny's Florist in Bintaro sells rose-shaped soaps arranged in a bouquet and, my favourite this, teddy bears that can sing love songs to woo the object of one's affection. Barry Manilow songs, no doubt.
However, I think I've found the perfect evening, or however long it takes, to consort with one's loved one.
The Shangri-La Hotel is advertising its Valentine's Day Celebration to be centered at the Margaux Fine Dining Restaurant. According to the blurb I have here, the French Restaurant is the most romantic place in town to celebrate the special day. For Valentine's Day, the restaurant will offer a special set menu called 'InterCourse'.
The menu features Capers as well as Passion Fruit, so it may be that the Shangri-La hopes to boost its room occupancy rate with post-prandial partnerships.
