There is a lot more I would like to write about India, but I'd like to keep relevant with the dates and not fall ridiculously behind myself. St. Valentine's Day has just passed once more and here in China without the usual commercialism and ostentatious gestures commonly seen in Western society.
My husband and I are not hugely bothered by Valentine's and have never really gone out of our way to celebrate the occasion with copious amounts of red items or the usual collection of flowery words that neither of us would deign to utter under normal circumstances. More often than not over the last few years we have not even seen each other due to opposite work schedules, but this year was different.
Unable to procure a Valentine's card, not sure what gift would be appropriate and whether we actually want to find a restaurant with a romantic meal for two left us with a bit of a conundrum. Having just returned from India and back to work I was definitely disorganised. I actually apologised at the start of the week that I had nothing. We arrived at cupid's busiest day of the year and magically as I was getting ready for work a box of chocolates and a handmade card appeared on my pillow. Furthering my guilt for being completely unromantic I was served a breakfast of pancakes, fruit and yoghurt. I had some serious making up to do!
The end of the lunar new year celebrations took place on the 14 February with a large lantern festival at Moon Harbour and yet more fireworks. We have been around Moon Harbour on Friday night, a Saturday night and a few other nights and it really is exceptionally quiet despite the number of restaurants, bars and lakeside venue. We decided that we'd check out the lantern festival in the vain hope that it would be less tacky than the one at Suzhou Amusement Land. I also thought I would have the chance to take my husband for a few cocktails and redeem myself.
Despite heading straight out on my return from work Moon Harbour and the entire surrounding area was chaos. People were lining up (as much as Chinese people line up) outside of restaurants in the cold waiting for tables and I am convinced I have never seen this many people in Suzhou, ever. I had also heard several colleagues bemoan the fact that they had been unable to procure a table for dinner that evening and were quite concerned about being in the proverbial dog house. In general it wasn't that they couldn't get tables due to other couples out for a romantic meal for two it was due to the locals celebrating the year of the horse.
As it turned from dusk to dark we headed to the lantern festival area with the throng of locals all celebrating the New Year. Some of the lanterns were enormous and yet not a single one was lit. We cut our losses and decided to head to our favourite bar on the water in order for me to redeem myself and buy my husband a few cocktails only to discover the doors shut and the lights off.
Despite not being a fan Valentine's day I was somewhat embarrassed that I had nothing to offer my husband. So, I went to a fancy supermarket and purchased ingredients for a nice Japanese ramen and some Saké. Does Valentine's in China exist? Not particularly. I believe I only counted 3 bouquets in the crowds. If you dislike Valentine's day then China is a great location to avoid it.
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