$$$ Valentines Day$$$

Love, Money and Valentines Day.

Once upon a time, not too long ago, we use to refer to Valentines Day as Saint Valentines Day after the patron Saint of lust….sorry I mean Love* (in reality apparently some martyred Roman Priest during the reign of Claudius the second.) Of course centuries later none of that matters as long as randy devils get a pathetic excuse to palpitate for a supposed love one. Not to mention the effects of commercialism. Let’s face it, sex sells and no matter how romantic one intends to be love isn’t going to come cheap. Here in Hong Kong, despite the chilly weather, five star Hotels and posh restaurants, pulled out all stops to heat up the action and their coffers with “romantic getaways” and dinners. A leading Hotel, had a stunning one off package valued at USD 10,000 for the night, in the Presidential Suite, including a helicopter tour of the harbor, a diamond ring and Rolls Royce transfer. Another leading Restaurant touted the usual aphrodisiacs of Champagne and Oysters along with Caviar and Vodka. Sounds to me the only thing you are likely to get up for that night is a very upset stomach!

So why oh why do we bother with Valentines Day at all? Do single women pine for an unexpected romantic liaison? Do single men out there have a chance anyway?

I once knew one married couple, wherein the female stated, “who needs some card and gift, after ten years of marriage you should know by then if you are happy in love without all that nonsense.” Sounds to me like the romance has well and truly gone out the window on that marriage. Ok now here I will start to sound like a real hypocrite, however, in my defence I am a romantic at heart. So even after my very own fifteen years of marriage, I still give my wife a card and flowers on the V day itself. Even if I am not in the country at the time, if I was really that romantic, wouldn’t I make an effort to actually be there on the day?

Back to the sordid subject of money, how much does or should love cost, oh how I love thee let me count the cash….sorry I mean ways. Oprah once said, in life you can be surrounded by a whole bunch of people but the ones you want are not the ones that will only stick around while you have a Limo, but those that will also be with you when you have to catch a bus. Right I can really see that happening in Hong Kong, I don’t even know how to catch a bus here let alone anyone that actually does. So love may well be a pretty lonely place in Hong Kong after all.

So as Valentines Day passes us once again, I write this while listening to Sarah Vaughn signing “Sweet Affection.” Oh yes how sweet it is…enjoy$.

Gluttony and Lust (my favorite sins)

What do gluttony and lust have to do with Danish Pastries and Thai Women?

Well if my recent trip to Bangkok is anything to go by then they have lots in common. For example both have an effect on your hip in some way. The effects of Danish pastries add to the hip while most Thai women are adept in reducing your hip…pocket that is. Of course this is all done (allegedly) in the most tasteful way. So while a Danish is soft fluffy and melts in your mouth, Thai women are mouth watering in their own right. After all what's one little tart going to do? Needless to say both go down very well; and the incongruous effect of a night out on the town in Bangkok complete with delectable bevy of beauties often on offer in buffet like fashion is then further complemented by the range of Danish Pastries on the breakfast buffet the next morning. Interestingly enough the indulgence of which can be justified by the physical activity earlier so who said we had to count calories?

At my age I am lucky to be able to count at all given the fact ageing eyesight is out of focus without the aid of reading glasses. Noticeably this vastly improves early evening as a result of copious amounts of alcohol and even makes the down and dirty side of Bangkok seemingly sparkle with clarity. Then like a child lost in a candy store one become lost in the maze of lane ways and neon lights at ground level and shimmering shimmies at well….eye level.

So is love for sale the ultimate bargain? Is pleasure available for a price or will compensated dating just take over all together? Doesn't dating always involving some type of compensation for either side or am I being banal? At the end of the day like the delectable Danish Pastries if looks good eat it, if it’s on offer take it and if it looks too good to be true then is usually is. In the meantime is love being bought or merely rented? Is it better to have loved and lost than never loved before ,even if it is just for 2 hours short time or over night long time? OK so many questions, and like so many women and so little time I can’t even begin to choose. It is for the individual to choose what is right for them at the end of the day and it is not for us to judge the actions of others or others our own if just for one moment in time, we count our sins as a blessing to enjoy a little bliss just once in a while even if it is for one night only!

Anthony Arrigo is an ageing sexpat living and working in Asia and enjoys fine food, wine and women but not always in that order