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Published on February 14, 2008

Many girls may be disappointed today if they don't take delivery of long-stemmed red roses from Holland. But don't worry; replacing them are roses from Kunming. Traders say Dutch roses now cost between Bt500 and Bt700 apiece, while Kunming roses are only Bt50 to Bt100. Still, there are rumours that gardeners in Kunming use a lot of chemicals. As a precaution, don't sniff your roses if you really don't know where they come from.

It was reported that at Pak Klong Market, where wholesale trades take place, white and red roses remain best-sellers. It was also reported that the campaign to give loved ones jasmine instead has not been as successful, because jasmine is the flower we use for garlands to offer to monks and Buddha images.

At Bangkok district offices, many couples have been encouraged to register their marriage to receive gifts.

It is astonishing to see that Valentine's Day in Thailand is closely linked to sex. Local surveys have focused on the question of whether teen couples plan to have sex on this day, while international surveys focused on spending on gift items and the percentage of couples who plan to tie the knot.

It was reported that condoms are selling like hot cakes in Nakhon Ratchasima.

In Phichit, the provincial health office is distributing free condoms to students who are at the age of puberty. But the students may need to be careful in using the condoms on Valentine's Day, because police nationwide are beefing up measures to prevent teens from taking advantage of the festival to gather at inappropriate entertainment venues, cheap hotels and the like. (Some may remember that a few years ago, an interior minister led a police squad to raid hotels. It's unclear whether newly appointed Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung will do the same.)

Education officials are raiding rented houses in Khon Kaen to scare off teens planning a sexual rendezvous.

Buri Ram introduced a sex-education programme for students, realising that unsafe sex can lead to widespread HIV and Aids. (This is especially dangerous, given that it remains unclear whether patients in Thailand will enjoy cheaper drugs, what with the compulsory-licensing issue mired in controversy.)

Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap will decline to comment on the "CL" issue today. He prefers to talk more about "C Love", as he wants 65 million people to show their love for each other on this day.

Will his love be extended to HIV/Aids patients who are awaiting the life-and-death decision on CL?

achara_d@nationgroup.com

The Nation