Despite the tourism boom, Melaka remains quaint. If you were to visit the Princess Hang Li Poh well where some tourists like to toss in their coins for good luck, you probably won’t notice that there ISN’T a signboard here that urges you to pull our your wallet and shake out all the coins in there so that the well will bless you with prosperity and luck. You can’t say that about many other tourist towns with famous wells. ;)

Similarly, if you think Valentine’s Day is over-commercialized, you should try celebrating it in Melaka. It’s true that every restaurant will be having a Valentine’s Day set dinner promotion but at some places, the cook (we don’t have chefs here) has planned the menu with great pride. The price isn’t overly excessive either. Valentine’s Day can remain a celebration of having discovered love.

I took my tourists into the century old Hotel Puri building today and while we were inside, we sneak peeked at the set up here for Valentine’s Day dinner.

Isn’t that pretty? Balloons and tealight candles are the most affordable mood enhancers. A Valentine’s Day Dinner in this ambient will set you back just RM78++ per person. If you like, you can even indulge in a pre-dinner 1 1/2 hour Balinese Spa Massage for RM75 per person. As a special treat, couples get 25% off that.

Later, we went for a stroll up the breezy St Paul’s Hill. The weather was perfect and right across from us, we spotted another excellent venue for a Valentine’s Day dinner.

Dinner at the rooftop of Hotel Aldy overlooking St Paul’s Hill.

When we got back to the foot of the hill, we saw that even the trishaw riders are waiting for sparks to fly tonight.

They have painstakingly decked their trishaws with artificial flowers in the shape of hearts. :)

Nic took us to our favourite Japanese restaurant in town in a building that specially caters to Japanese Singaporeans. As we were lifted to the third floor, I noticed a Japanese grocery store, a Japanese karaoke parlor and a lot of other Japanese retail shops and restaurants.

This is where we were. I discovered that pulling my hair back pulls my eyes upwards which helps me look younger.

Nic was absolutely delighted to have thought of this place. Just the anticipation of good food arriving soon got us so excited.

I couldn’t resist snapping a photo of the menu to compare prices with other eateries for remembrance.

The lover’s chicken is a complete surprise. I thought it was fried chicken wings in some Japanese sauce but when I bit into it, my mouth was bursting with all sorts of indescribable flavor. The chicken wings are de-boned and stuffed with a cocktail similar to a dumpling.

The salmon sashimi is is richly creamy and soft all around but chunky in the middle.

This garlic fried rice tops Nic’s must-have list. On its own, it is so fragrant. After sprinkling chili oil over it lightly, I almost thought I had died and reached heaven.

What’s Valentine’s Day without aphrodisiac? Crumbly fried oysters.

This heart-warming soup tastes like chawan mushi that had already melted in your mouth. I like it so much, I lifted the bowl and it was bottoms up all the way.

An interesting twist to the usual grilled cuttlefish. No comments.

We finished dinner after nine and saw that there was still a queue outside. Thank God for phone reservations.

The service here is splendid too. The aunties who served were casual, friendly and most importantly, genuinely interested in helping us plan a wonderful meal.

I smiled adoringly, grabbed the flowers excitedly. I sniffed it, oohed and aahed at it, did the whole dance routine.

But he pulled it from my hands and handed it to her! I was livid.

Oh but she loved it! She acted just like the evil Mara in Mara’s Playground, silently snatching away another’s sense of self-worth.

I couldn’t take anymore of her smugness so I grabbed her waist and pried her from the flowers that ought to be mine.

She refused to let go without a fight! She tried to wriggle her way out, but I was stronger than her. She is just a poverty-strickened soul addicted to the delicious fragrance of winning at every game.

Huff! Who needs flowers on Valentine’s Day anyway.

Shy white roses hiding in dark corners

Jubilant white lilies

The youthful ambitious girl screaming, “Hello world! Have you met me yet?”

Placed at the center to receive the most attention

Purple tulips

Hey, is the doggy’s tail meant to be part of the bouquet?

I think men have very good reasons to fear Valentine’s Day. A few weeks ago, I read that in a huge national survey, it was discovered men were prone to make the big Valentine’s Day mistake of not celebrating just because when his other half says “it’s just a commercial event”, he thought she meant what she said.

Thanks to the roses and the love note, I will love you forever.

I imagine a lot of arguments and break ups must have occurred on the day of romance itself. A whole movie can be written just based on the bloopers men makes on Valentine’s Day.

Singles have very good reasons to fear Valentine’s Day too. I’m not sure if singles might dread the day more than they dread family gatherings on CNY or Hari Raya when you get shot with the “So when are you going to settle down?” question. Singles should wear ear plugs on such events.

I have very good reasons to fear Valentine’s Day. What if my expectation is too high? What if there is no celebration at all? What if the celebration turns out to be a dismal foreboding event? How much should I give to reciprocate what I receive on Valentine’s Day?

I like what Fergie said while being interviewed on the red carpet of the 2008 Grammy Awards, that she is just glad to be able to be with him on Valentine’s Day. She appreciates such a simple thing as his presence because with all her touring and all his touring, it is a miracle that they can meet at all.

I get what she means. It means my Valentine’s Day have already started. I’m back in Singapore again and I am so glad to be here.

Hello Singaporeans, see you at the Slingers later! *grin*