Restaurants

I think that the UK would do well to follow in South Korea's footsteps regrding restaurant service. For a start, there is generally a little button on your table which calls a waiter over. Secondly, as soon as they bring your food, they also bring the bill in a little wallet that they place face down on the table. This means you can check it as you go and, furthermore, lets you leave when you please without having to catch someone's attention and ask for the bill (UK waiters all seem to disappear at this point). There is no fuss: you simply get up and pay at the till on the way out. Perfect - it is quick clean and obvious. What's more, tipping is frowned upon.

I approve of tipping when waiters are not paid well (in South Africa, they are often not paid at all), and it does offer a chance to express displeasure/appreciation. However, assuming the waiters are paid well enough, it is refreshing to be in a country where words of appreciation are sufficient.