To many more years: Lee and Chan enjoying a romantic dinner at a local restaurant in George Town, Penang. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star.
GEORGE TOWN: More couples are now celebrating Valentine’s Day early due to work commitments or to avoid paying a bomb on the actual day.
With the annual celebration for romance falling on a working day, many opted to celebrate earlier.
Lee Wei Sian, 45, and his wife Chan Yew Ling, 46, were seen having a cosy dinner at a restaurant in the heritage enclave on the eve of Valentine’s Day as Lee had a business trip on the 14th.
“We usually do something to celebrate the day but since I have a business trip, we decided to go out a day earlier,” said the manager.
“We noticed that this restaurant had a Valentine’s Day dinner menu for the 13th and decided to come here,” he said.
Lee and Chan, who have been married for 18 years, said they find it amusing that when they go out to celebrate they would most likely be the oldest couple at a restaurant.
“It is always nice to dress up and go out once in a while.
“Sometimes, we bring the kids and sometimes, it’s just the two of us,” Chan said adding that this time their three children stayed home.
“I promised them we’d take them for ice cream another day.”
“Our anniversary is this month, so we are celebrating that as well.”
Hanson Li, the general manager of a restaurant on Penang Hill, said there were couples celebrating Valentine’s Day on the hilltop last weekend and even on Monday.
“I believe because this year Valentine’s Day is on a weekday, the celebration has been spread out.
“Over the weekend, we had couples celebrating early,” he said.
Li said when Valentine’s Day fell on a weekend, fewer people would celebrate it earlier, while this year he saw a lot of “early love birds”.
“Another reason could be because on Valentine’s Day, the dinner packages are usually pricier.
“Some couples might not want to splurge and prefer to just have a simple dinner,” he said.
