When Cupid Comes
Forget the clichéd chocolates and pricey dinners, here is how you can make this Valentine’s Day special.
THERE’S LIGHT IN THE SKY
Watching the sunrise
Watching daybreak together is the most romantic thing, and no poems, movies or books have said this enough. The best part? It doesn’t need a pre-planned, fancy trip or a vacation. Of course, you could choose to drive down to the nearest hill station or beach town to experience this moment if you please, but if you want to keep it simple, all it takes is the will to wake up early one morning, pack a picnic basket and head to one of the quieter beaches in the city.
We suggest the serene shores of East Coast Road, which are likely to be less crowded and offer you plenty of alone time. Make
it magical by booking a resort along the same stretch and head to a private beach early the next morning, huddle up in a blanket and watch the crimson skies give way to the fiery reds, blood orange and pinks until you are basking in the warmth of the golden sunrise.
Sunrises and sunsets are also spectacular Kodak moments and if one of you is an avid photographer, you may double up your picnic as a photo trip and click away breathtaking images of daybreak and everything beautiful that comes along the way. Make your drive more fun by dropping into one of the many little tiffin centres that open early and have a delectable South Indian breakfast, followed by the classic filter coffee. Now that is a great start to your day.
LOVE SHOTS Cocktail making
There are many things that make a couple fun, whacky and high on life. One of them is when they decide to celebrate their fabulous chemistry by whipping up their own unique cocktails and drinking them up in the comforts of their home. Besides giving you an excuse to reach that happy high with as many samplers as you please, cocktail-making is also about hours of messy, indulgent fun, which involves lots of bonding.
With summers approaching, the time is just right to experiment with fresh fruity flavours and blend them in a lip-smacking concoction. Amarnath, bartender at Illusions Pub, swears by this recipe for the season, “Strawberries and Valentine’s Day go hand-in-hand. No celebration of love is complete
without this exquisite fruit. A generous dose of Queen Mary is perfect for a lazy summer afternoon. It is also easy to make: just slice the strawberries, put them in a mixing glass along with fresh mint and sugar, and muddle the mixture smoothly. This done, fill the glass with vodka, crushed ice and shake well. Top it up with lemonade, and your Queen Mary is ready.”
Another fruit you can work with is muskmelon— refreshing and perfect for the summer. “Put six cubes of muskmelon in a mixing glass, add sugar as per your taste and muddle until it’s smooth. Now add some tequila, cranberry juice, crystal ice and shake well. Pour this into a glass, garnish with slapped coriander sprigs and you have a refreshing glass of Mexican Melon,” says Amarnath. So go on and get your hands dirty, and fall in love all over again.
TWO TO TANGO Dance Dance lessons lessons
Looking for a new spark in your relationship? Get your partner on the dance floor. They say a couple who dance together stay together; when you learn a new dance form together, not only does it help you connect but also brings you out of your shell. “And that remains true for any social dance form; be it salsa, cha cha, swing or jive. It is a brilliant way to physical and emotional learning, and re-bonding,” says Lourd Vijay, founder of Lourd Vijay Dance Studio.
Vijay’s observation is based on the fact that a new dance form pushes you to express yourself unhibitedly and hence works wonders on your chemistry. “When you are dance partners, there is always a basic communication taking place; there is eye contact, touch and team dynamics. A man leading a lady into her next movement has to completely gain her trust, after which she will freely fall and lean on his support. So, there’s so much more going on than just physical movement,” he says.
Dance classes are also great ice-breakers for those who in a relationship. With a little warming up, a well-choreographed dance together can up your comfort level and communication. Over the last few years, Chennai has opened its doors to some amazing dance forms like freestyle, salsa, bachata, merengue, zouk and waltz. Today, dance schools like the John Britto Dance Academy are also bringing in international trainers to teach new dance forms while those like Vijay’s offer exclusive training for couples for their first dance—a ritual that Vijay says, is fast gaining popularity in Hindu weddings as well. On February 14, Vijay’s Dance Studio is
THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO RELIEVE THE STRESS OF THE WEEK THAN HITTING YOUR NEAREST SPA AND GETTING PAMPERED TOGETHER
joining hands with the Tamara Luxury Resort in Coorg to offer couples a lovely retreat with some amazing couple dance classes.
CONTACT Lourd Vijay’s Dance Studio, 1st Floor, Salzburg square, Harrington road, Chetpet TEL 08122072572 CONTACT John Britto’s Dance Academy, F2, 132A, Sterling Towers, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam TEL 28251166 CONTACT The Hot Shoe Dance Company, No. 10, Shyam’s Garden, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam TEL 25554765
CRAFTS FROM THE HEART DIY gifts
Hallmark can stack up the prettiest of greeting cards, but your loved one will love you a little more if you make them something with oodles of love and a fair share of creativity. If you’re a fan of intangibles that money can’t buy, you’ll love this idea. Sit with a box of paints, paper and gum, and create anything that will sweep him/her off the feet. “If you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day at home, something as simple as filling the ceiling with heart shaped helium balloons, can make the occasion special,” says Gayathiri Manavalan, managing partner, Confetti Party Planners and Gifts. You could even replace your usual sticky notes with heart shaped ones on which you can leave surprise messages and poems for each other. Options are aplenty; from his/her favourite movies, bands, colours or better, your best moments shared, these could include collages of your craziest camping trips, birthday parties, get-togethers or just about anything you deem special. There’s no better way to immortalise these memories than put them in a gift. “These days, there are so many things at our disposal. You could even design a coffee mug themed around a liking you both share and you will cherish it for the time to come. Or get his/her caricature done. This can be quirky and nice,” says Manavalan. “If you want to do something on a grand scale but in the cosy setting of your home, you could even consider painting a wall for your partner in a beautiful theme and colours. Go on and explore, you’ll be surprised at how much you can do.”
SOUL THERAPY Couples’ spa
If you are still puzzled over a gift for your partner this V-Day, why not indulge in some good old soul and body therapy? There is no better way to relieve the stress of the week than hitting your nearest spa and getting pampered together. The best spas and wellness centres in the city have realised the need for this indulgence among couples and are offering some of their most premium massages using luxury ingredients and aromatherapy just for you.
At Aura Spa, The Park, you can get a choco-fruit body scrub, followed by a gentle and relaxing aromatherapy massage with handpicked aroma oils. The session is completed with a refreshing strawberry drink, which is served while you enjoy a revitalising chromo therapy whirlpool filled with milk and rose petals. If you are an Ayurveda fan, Isha Life’s Shambhavi Spa in Mylapore uses warm medicated oils and herbal powders to address certain imbalances and offers well-known treatments like Abhyanga, which increases tissue strength, improves blood circulation and beautifies the skin. We also recommend the rejuvenating massages at Park Hyatt’s Antahpura spa, where highly medicinal natural spices are used to subtly work on your mind and body in the form of curative fragrances. So, if you are an aromatherapy buff, this is the place to be.
THIS VALENTINE’S DAY, GIVE EATING AT FINE DINING RESTAURANTS A PASS AND PREPARE A SUMPTUOUS MEAL WITH YOUR LOVED ONE AT HOME
Besides these, you could also choose from a wide range of other couple therapies that are on offer at popular centres like Oryza Spa and Influence. End the session with a fragrant, romantic soak and a glass of wine.
CONTACT Antahpura Spa, The Park Hyatt, 39 Velachery Road TEL 71771234 CONTACT Aura Spa, The Park, 601, Anna Salai TEL 42676000 CONTACT Shambhavi Spa, Isha Life, Old No 50, New No 117, Luz Church Road, Mylapore TEL 43535555
MEAL TICKET Cooking together
One of the best fixes for a love-struck heart is cooking together. This Valentine’s Day, give eating out a pass and prepare a sumptuous, mouthwatering meal at home. You could stick to simple, quick snacks or go all out and prepare an elaborate three course meal.Cooking a big meal together can spark off some fantastic chemistry. Countless legends have held certain foods as those of love and among these fine aphrodisiacs are asparagus, herbs like rosemary and basil, fine dark chocolate and of course, lots of wine. If you’re both great cooks, trust your significant other to have a few tricks up their sleeve; watch, cook and learn and bond over all that sumptuous food. Dharmen Makawana, Executive Chef, The Leela Palace, Chennai, lists out three exquisite recipes you can try at home using these amazing ingredients. Bon Appétit!