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Get your hands on
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manalive



Joined: 02 Apr 2013
Posts: 12

PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 3:14 pm    Post subject: Get your hands on Reply with quote

What do you wish you could get your
hands on more easily?

Less expensive?

Can't find anywhere?

Example:
Are razors expensive in Saigon?
Almonds, other nuts?
Beans (black-eyed peas, pinto, kidney, etc.)

Might also grab a smart phone from the U.S.
before I head over.

What do others wish was more available or cheaper?
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sokunen



Joined: 03 Mar 2011
Posts: 22
Location: Alaska

PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 4:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Almonds, nuts, delicious raw nuts that aren't submerged in oil and coated in salt! Still have yet to find any. Though, I'm not in Saigon, so perhaps it's easier to find these things in the bigger cities. Haven't seen them much where I am.

But my big thing is peanut butter. Real peanut butter is my vice; the stuff that's just nuts and salt. None of this hydrogenated oil crap that you find at the mart, but real PB. I found the real stuff while on holiday in Cambodia, and brought them back with me, and I'm down to my last jar. Sad

Strangely, it's a pain to find decent lettuce. Every lettuce I've seen is limp and withered and sad and gross looking.

Razors aren't too bad. I got a five-pack of Schlick or Gillette (I don't even remember) for about 80,000d.
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TRH



Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Posts: 340
Location: Hawaii

PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 4:52 am    Post subject: GSM Reply with quote

It is critical that a smart phone have GSM format. That is with a removable chip. In the US this would be AT&T and I think maybe T-Mobile. Definitely not Verizon; it won't work here. You can buy an unlocked iPhone directly at an Apple store for less than it will cost here but the iTunes store is a pain unless you have a Vietnamese credit card. I would say go with Samsung but buy it outright. I don't think the new Samsung Galaxy IV is here yet. There may even be a black market opportunity there.
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Tigerstyleone



Joined: 26 Mar 2010
Posts: 181

PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 6:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm against solicitors in this forum.
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deadlift



Joined: 08 Jun 2010
Posts: 267

PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Who is soliciting anything?
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1st Sgt Welsh



Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 11:33 am    Post subject: Re: Get your hands on Reply with quote

manalive wrote:
What do you wish you could get your
hands on more easily?


In no particular order:

- Underpants to fit the huskily-built gentleman.
- A decent selection of shoes for UK size 11.
- Tuscany aftershave
- Assorted junk food from Oz Embarassed. Potato chips like Twisties, Samboys etc and, man, what I wouldn't give for a decent fish n' chips Sad.
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Tigerstyleone



Joined: 26 Mar 2010
Posts: 181

PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

deadlift wrote:
Who is soliciting anything?


You are correct. He's not soliciting anything.
He's conducting marketing research.

Manalive has many aliases
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I'm With Stupid



Joined: 03 Sep 2010
Posts: 432

PostPosted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 9:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Live music by anyone who actually writes their own material.
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manalive



Joined: 02 Apr 2013
Posts: 12

PostPosted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 10:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

sokunen wrote:
Almonds, nuts, delicious raw nuts that aren't submerged in oil and coated in salt! Still have yet to find any. Though, I'm not in Saigon, so perhaps it's easier to find these things in the bigger cities. Haven't seen them much where I am.

But my big thing is peanut butter. Real peanut butter is my vice; the stuff that's just nuts and salt. None of this hydrogenated oil crap that you find at the mart, but real PB. I found the real stuff while on holiday in Cambodia, and brought them back with me, and I'm down to my last jar. :(

Strangely, it's a pain to find decent lettuce. Every lettuce I've seen is limp and withered and sad and gross looking.

Razors aren't too bad. I got a five-pack of Schlick or Gillette (I don't even remember) for about 80,000d.


I would be looking to relocate to Saigon, so maybe it is different than where you are. I am a big fan of nuts. It would be a small inconvenience for me. I get much of my protein from nuts. Also like PB. Noted.

I ask about bean varieties because I am mostly veg and don't want to get too dependent on soy products. I enjoy a variety of beans. I have farmer friends in Thailand that say growing beans is not easy..this is why I ask.

I'm hoping to find fresh greens at the markets and will cross my fingers that they're not all as sad as you say.

Good news on razors..I currently spend $20 on a 5-pack. Uggh.
Honestly, I'd like to get into the habit of a straight edge routine/lifestyle.
Thanks again.
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manalive



Joined: 02 Apr 2013
Posts: 12

PostPosted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 11:08 am    Post subject: Re: GSM Reply with quote

TRH wrote:
It is critical that a smart phone have GSM format. That is with a removable chip. In the US this would be AT&T and I think maybe T-Mobile. Definitely not Verizon; it won't work here. You can buy an unlocked iPhone directly at an Apple store for less than it will cost here but the iTunes store is a pain unless you have a Vietnamese credit card. I would say go with Samsung but buy it outright. I don't think the new Samsung Galaxy IV is here yet. There may even be a black market opportunity there.


I made the mistake of bringing a Blackberry to SE Asia and on to Korea about 2 years ago. Rendered useless. Gave it to a friend moving back to the states.

I don't mind buying a knock off smart phone there if it will last me a couple of years. I really don't like spending too much money on technology. I would consider the Iphone though. Camera/phone/internet all in one are a bit appealing. I might miss the bigger screen, though.
If I could spend $100 or less on a decent smart phone in VT, then I guess I would probably go that route. Thanks again. I agree that having the GSM format is critical.
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manalive



Joined: 02 Apr 2013
Posts: 12

PostPosted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 11:11 am    Post subject: Re: Get your hands on Reply with quote

1st Sgt Welsh wrote:
manalive wrote:
What do you wish you could get your
hands on more easily?


In no particular order:

- Underpants to fit the huskily-built gentleman.
- A decent selection of shoes for UK size 11.
- Tuscany aftershave
- Assorted junk food from Oz :oops:. Potato chips like Twisties, Samboys etc and, man, what I wouldn't give for a decent fish n' chips :(.


Couldn't I get shoes (like clothing) made fairly cheaply?
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manalive



Joined: 02 Apr 2013
Posts: 12

PostPosted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tigerstyleone wrote:
deadlift wrote:
Who is soliciting anything?


You are correct. He's not soliciting anything.
He's conducting marketing research.


Manalive has many aliases


I suppose you could call this market research.
I just know that I spent too much money on things
in Korea that I could have easily avoided had I
packed my bags a little heavier.

I actually don't have many aliases, but judging from the posts
that others submit, one might be a little cynical because of it.
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1st Sgt Welsh



Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

PostPosted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 11:43 am    Post subject: Re: Get your hands on Reply with quote

manalive wrote:
1st Sgt Welsh wrote:
manalive wrote:
What do you wish you could get your
hands on more easily?


In no particular order:

- Underpants to fit the huskily-built gentleman.
- A decent selection of shoes for UK size 11.
- Tuscany aftershave
- Assorted junk food from Oz Embarassed. Potato chips like Twisties, Samboys etc and, man, what I wouldn't give for a decent fish n' chips Sad.


Couldn't I get shoes (like clothing) made fairly cheaply?


You can, but I'm really fussy when it comes to shoes [and, for some reason, sunglasses and wrist watches] Embarassed. I don't really care too much when buying trainers, but when it comes to leather shoes, I'm really particular. I've seen some people with shoes that have been custom made here and, to me, they looked pretty ordinary. Maybe there are some good cobblers in VN, but I don't know of any. However, if you are not too bothered about quality and you just want something passable and reasonably comfortable to wear to work then I can't see you having any problems Cool.
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Tigerstyleone



Joined: 26 Mar 2010
Posts: 181

PostPosted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

you can buy a variety of nuts and beans at City Mart.

They don't have all natural peanut butter. They only have national brands that add sugar to the mix.
Egg whites and fish are a good source of protein, and if you're slim you don't need that much protein anyway.

Razor blades have longer shelf life these days, but anything made from steel is expensive.

Never buy old technology or fake technology. It will cost you more in the long run when you have to repair or replace them, and they might not support new software.
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lenny321



Joined: 14 Sep 2012
Posts: 12

PostPosted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 3:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sticky balls for classroom games/activities are quite hard to find around here. I finally found some, but at home � could actually get cheaper and better ones.
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