Hong Kong - a Culinary Adventure

This is a lovely snap shot of Hong Kong and there is clearly a lot to explore - but not sure whether a Culinary Adventure with a 5 year old would be a good idea - South Korea was enough thank you.

Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel

view from our window

We had to be at Immigration early in the morning so there really was no other choice and it was interesting to read that you paid for a 24 hour stay...

I wonder how many other hotels can do this?

Check in was wonderful - swift, efficient, paid for and the information shared. A professional organisation.

Then there was the room - a simple room which did nothing more. In retrospect I do feel that there was going to be renovations for the room in the next year BUT it was clean, towels, toilet and beds...

We even ordered room service - which was swiftly delivered. The food was good but where was the table and chairs - our mistake - always think what you are going to eat and where you are going to eat it.

The water was hot and there was a selection of rubbish on the television - but only one TV channel for children?

We slept well - but why was the Internet not free?

IT, QR codes and Hong Kong

I recognised almost immediately that there was a plethora of people with their smart devices I should not have been surprised by the number of adverts scattered about with a QR code on it.

Even the coffee shop Pacific World which not only had a QR code but you could pay with it as well.

I believe that this is the way that companies must embrace or suddenly they will be left behind and they will wonder why?

So how many Apps did we use?

Well I have to admit that we found it easier to take a photograph of the online map - from the App - because the cost was too much using 3G - thankfully my telephone was not able to use this facility.

But I would say the best App was - Discover Hong Kong...

But I did like the App with the MRT map on it...

Both written by the Hong Kong Tourist Board.

I did try a lot of Apps though...

A lot of fun...

Plastic bag levy

I would have to say that I was not against the idea of a plastic bag levy from a supermarket.

I know that I am sometimes guilty of excessive plastic bags and I do tell sellers that I do not need to have a plastic bag.

Would there be less waste?

Would Thailand be able to adopt this idea for their shops?

Cafe de Coral 大家樂

This was a restaurant that we chose to go in because it seemed like a good idea.

There was clearly a way of selecting a number of dishes - similar to how we order our food in a local Japanese restaurant in Phuket - Zen.

Chuen is wonderful with this because I no longer choose and Chuen knows what I like and I got something ordered. My set dinner was not good and it was a little cold.

Chuen's set was fabulous. We also received a hotpot and a burner which heated up the mixture. This certainly was powerful - a shame Chuen looked a little closer because the lettuce had dirt spread on it...

People use of Technology

As I was getting more and more frustrated with trying to get a free Wi-Fi service I kept noticing that there were a great many people who were using their Internet devices and they were using them everywhere.

I do think that if a company needs to capture the Chinese market then the Internet / QR codes / Apps etc will be the key.

Here is a typical example - 4 of the 5 people on the subway were using their devices.

Pacific Coffe in Hong Kong

I am the first to admit that I do drink far too much coffee - but I have to say that Pacific Coffee was the best place that I found for a Cafe Latte in Hong Kong - this one was at 'The Peak'.

The cakes were great as well.

Got an Octopus card but not this one....

Ritual turtle release

There was a small shop with a plethora of things for sale - Jemma was fascinated with these turtles which are released into open for good fortune - see more below. This was on the side of Hollywood Road - near Butterfly Hollywood.

This is not my test - it is from http://www.squidoo.com/turtle_gifts

The Turtle is an ancient symbol that represents creation, endurance, strength, stability, longevity, fertility, and innocence. The Turtle also provides protection,good fortune , and brings happiness and good omens. 

One of the four Chinese sacred animals (among the dragon, the phoenix, and the unicorn), the ever adapting turtle is a creature of both land and sea and can thrive in any environment.

In Asian myth the turtle represents order and was thought to have created the entire universe from it's body parts. The heavens were formed from the shell, the earth was created from it's body and it's undershell was the underworld. 

But there are complaints regarding the use of the turtles in Chinese Medicine...

Wi-Fi in Hong Kong

As indicated on a previous blog about Free Wi-Fi I was looking forward to using the Internet throughout my holiday in Hong Kong.

Well this never happened - PCCW just would not let me log on...

It was then a hot and miss experiment...

I was happy that Butterfly Hollywood had free Wi-Fi in the rooms.

Leicester City and King Power

I understand so little about football but I would love someone to explain to me why King Power (an enormous Thai company - linked to the Duty Free shopping) would want to sponsor Leicester City - a football team in the United Kingdom?

Segway

There are not many places that I see these toys (Segways) still - but in Hong Kong they did have a number of them - where else have you seen them?

Washing and air quality

There were a number of signs about people hanging their washing out of the windows - this was our view from our hotel - Butterfly Hollywood.

I would imagine that the act of hanging your washing out of the windows 'cheapens' the area?

But if they are publicly monitoring the air quality doesn't this mean that you would not want to hang your clean clothes in the dirty air?

I don't know - do you ?

The trams throughout the city

We took the tram up to the top of The Peak - but this is what I remember from visiting with my father about 25 years ago - an idea which still works.

Next time...

A sign in the bus

I thought this was a good sign - never seen one with these figures.

Maintain your cough manners

Yes one of the most revolting things that I experience whilst working in the Hospitality Industry - Chinese people clearing their throats loudly and then expelling it.

The Chinese Government produce these and I am not sure why this sometimes gets a sarcastic comment - I don't care if it works?

Dried something

We could not communicate with the staff in the shop but 

I would really like to know what this stuff is?

Paisanos Pizzas

We were recommended to visit Paisanos by the staff at the Butterfly Hollywood because we needed pizza.

Well it filled a hole but that was it - the pizza was a little limp and tasteless BUT enormous!

Disneyland Hong Kong

This was a wonderful experience for us all - starting from the special Mickey Mouse train to take us.

Jemma needed to go on the roller-coasters straight away and we did.

Then we visited the Princess castle, Slinky, Merry Go Round, Mickey 3D movie.

The bright blue candy floss

It was a great day out for us all.....

Piadina Italian Restaurant

pic from Dim Sum Diaries

This was opposite our Butterfly on Hollywood and extremely convenient - a tiny little restaurant - a very nice little restaurant.

Lovely fresh salads and sparkling wine...

The Avenue of Stars

This was a place to visit - well so the guides kept telling us...

The buildings and their lighting over the river was fabulous but there seemed to be little else - we did not stay very long...

Tin Hua Temple

I am a little bit absorbed by visiting the Chinese Temples in Phuket so I was quite happy to investigate the Tin Hua Temple at the end of the Repulse Beach - certainly worth visiting.

The main attraction is the two enormous Chinese figures (Kun Yam statues) at the front  - but there is so much more.

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