The southern seaside resort town of Pattaya in Thailand held a "marathon" kissing contest on the 14th to commemorate this year's Valentine's Day. A total of seven couples kissed for more than 36 hours.

Witnesses said that during the kissing contest, participants could drink water, coffee and juice through straws. Even "bathroom breaks" every three hours must be done hugging each other and under the supervision of a referee. In addition, men and women participating in this kissing contest must present a marriage certificate or a "relationship recognition letter" issued by their parents.

The organizers of the kissing competition said that the couple who ends the kiss will win a diamond ring worth 50,000 baht (US$1,606) and a bonus of 100,000 baht (US$3,213). According to the rules, a kissing couple's lips must not separate for a moment. The most stringent thing is that contestants are not allowed to sit down or sleep during the kissing process. Many people fainted and quit the competition.

The organizers of this "kissing contest" said they set a new record for the longest kissing time in humans. The previous longest kiss was 32 hours, 7 minutes and 14 seconds, set by a German couple in 2009. The 2011 "Marathon" kissing contest started at 6 a.m. local time in Thailand on the 13th, with a total of 14 Thai couples participating.

In addition to the kissing contest, another protagonist of Valentine’s Day, the rose, is also deeply loved by Thai people. On February 14, large roses are sold for 150 baht each (approximately US$5), and rose bouquets are sold for between 600 and 1,000 baht (approximately US$20 to US$33). There are also some older Thais who like to choose bonsai flowers instead of roses as gifts to their loved ones.