Weird/Odd things you buy when travelling
Sep 13, 2014, 12:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriot Lifetime Gold
Posts: 9,538
Weird/Odd things you buy when travelling
I love going into grocery stores and pharmacies when travelling. There are a few things that I always look for and tend to buy:
What do you find/buy when you travel
- Weird toothpaste flavours. I found green tea toothpaste in Thailand - loved it!
- Things that strike my fancy as different. I love the menthol kleenex from Germany
- Different gum flavours
- Different ingredients for cooking
What do you find/buy when you travel
Sep 13, 2014, 11:05 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
I've used green tea toothpaste in China.
Crest has a "spearmint zest" flavor in the US that comes close, believe it or not.
I've also enjoyed aloe vera yogurt in Singapore and, alas, have not found a suitable domestic equivalent.
Crest has a "spearmint zest" flavor in the US that comes close, believe it or not.
I've also enjoyed aloe vera yogurt in Singapore and, alas, have not found a suitable domestic equivalent.
Sep 13, 2014, 11:31 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19,502
Some of the items I saw in an Indonesian grocery several months ago included Salmon Teriyaki and "Non Seaweed"? flavors of Lays Potato Chips, a bag of Happytos corn tortilla chips, and a canned drink labeled Pocari Sweat. I'm assuming that last was some sort of fluid replacement drink along the lines of Gatorade, but the name would certainly be off-putting to most Americans.
Sep 14, 2014, 4:44 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
Sunflower seeds when I am in Nevada. For some reason, the brand I like has coupons on them in the convenience stores, that are not available in Washington. Last trip to Vegas I did a convenience store run and came home with about 40 bags of them.
Sep 14, 2014, 7:34 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Not in DFW
Posts: 2,007
I don't consider my list weird or odd but I always look for them.
Tea & coffee (I love discovering flavors I can't get at home)
Scarves (again something not in the local stores)
Various unguents, potions and sundries
Cheese
Tea & coffee (I love discovering flavors I can't get at home)
Scarves (again something not in the local stores)
Various unguents, potions and sundries
Cheese
Sep 14, 2014, 8:31 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,798
Sep 14, 2014, 8:58 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,243
Condiments such as hot sauce, mustard and ketchup. I love the mustard in a tube I find in Europe and banana catsup in the Caribbean. Okay the banana catsup was gross but I liked showing off the bottle to people back home. Also coffee and tea if a place is known for it. And I spent 20 in the local currency on candy to take home.
The grocery store is the first stop on my itinerary in any city, domestic or foreign. I like to see what foods people prepare and eat at home in strange places.
The grocery store is the first stop on my itinerary in any city, domestic or foreign. I like to see what foods people prepare and eat at home in strange places.
Sep 14, 2014, 10:33 am
#10
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocari_Sweat
I used it quite a bit (along with Aquarius, the Coke version) when I was in Japan for grad school back in summer of 1996.
Even at the top of Mount Fuji, which you would think would be desolate, there were Coke machines (about $5 for a Coke product back then), as well as Pocari Sweat.
Sep 14, 2014, 12:53 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SNA
Programs: UA Million Mile Nobody, Marriott Platinum Elite, SPG Gold
Posts: 25,228
Whenever I go to a new city, especially international, I always try to leave a day or two to wander. Like my first time in London years ago, I just got on the tube heading away from the city, and got off at a random stop. I got to see the shops that people who live there actually shop in, the stuff they buy, and always see if I can find something weird.
It's how my nephew came to hate me after I sent him a small jar of Vegemite from Australia!
It's how my nephew came to hate me after I sent him a small jar of Vegemite from Australia!
Sep 14, 2014, 1:00 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LHR- ish
Programs: MUCCI, BA Blue
Posts: 4,295
Fridge magnets as a souvenier. But also interesting sweets, crisps and some other random stuff. Of late I am seriously addicted to apfel gespritz - apple juice mixed with fizzy water - I prefer Austrian versions to German. I also like yogurette chocolate bars.
Sep 14, 2014, 1:08 pm
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG, Enterprise, Avios, Nexus
Posts: 8,355
I don't buy anything too unusual unless I am in the UK where I always buy Twiglets.