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...