What must I bring to Kazakhstan? Part II

What must I bring to Kazakhstan? Part II – Clothes and beauty products

This is maybe more specific the female expats out there, but even men find it hard to obtain proper suits and office attire that are not over priced!

This post carries on from the previous post that covered part I- things to bring with you when coming or moving to Almaty, Kazakhstan. In my previous post I mentioned the necessity of bringing your personal medication but on a lighter note we will look at other things that you might consider bringing.

Cloths of course are also packed in my suitcase... of course you need them : ) but here I am referring to more than what you need to travel with. I tend to buy most of my stuff at home and bring it over as it is just either too expensive and/or there is always a risk of paying the real price and getting a genuine fake. I suggest the best way to know if it is a authentic product is to check the company’s international website and if they have the Kazakhstan location with the exact address on their list... I am sure that it is then the real deal (see my previous post entitled guide to shopping in Almaty-clothes for more on this subject)

I do trust the few department stores that have recently opened in Kazakhstan, but they tend to much more expensive than back home. Additionally, local friends have commented that even these department stores sell a lower quality product here than they would in other countries and even they (my local friends) prefer to buy those items abroad or online... so only when I am desperate for a new item will I buy it here otherwise I will wait until I am either in the Middle East or back home.

Food is important to me ... there are these special biscuits and chocolates that I can only find at home, and they also make it into my suitcase. Yes, it might sound strange but it just makes living in a foreign environment so much easier, if I am not cut off from those few items that I crave... and its only a packet or two that gets savoured over a few months, so it is not as bad as it sounds : )

Other (female) expats might find that they can’t live without a certain cosmetics creams or hair products, but if you are happy to use Schwarzkopf, Pantene, Garnier, Lumene or P&G products, those are readily available in shops in Almaty. And every now and again one shop that I know of stocks a few Neutrogena products : )

What is expensive is the middle to higher-end beauty products like Clarins, Clinique, and Shiseido etc., but luckily they are available at special cosmetics stores in the city. But again I would suggest buying at a reputable store, which could also be tricky to distinguish from other shops that LOOK reputable (send me an email if you want my suggested stores for beauty products). Some salon hair care products are also available at some salons, but I have not been able to compare the prices (most probably as it is Kazakhstan it would be more expensive than back home)

Things that I haven’t seen is Dr Hauschka, MAC, Olay, Jergens, The Body Shop, Dermalogica and other high-end products that only seem to be available in the US : )

So in conclusion, those things that you can’t live without pack it if you have the space! Those items that you will happily switch to an alternative... don’t worry about as I am sure you will get something here.  

Please leave your commends below as I would love to hear from you

What must I bring to Kazakhstan? Part I- Medicine

What to bring to Almaty part I- Medicine

Knowing what to bring and what you can find in Almaty is very important and is a question asked by many newcomers and expats that are planning to move to Kazakhstan. What I might bring in my suitcase and what someone else will bring might be entirely different as each person as their own set of prioritise, but maybe this section will help you establish what you need to bring if you are planning on moving to Kazakhstan.

I have broken this post up in to more than one part, as this will become quite a lengthy topic and I am sure I will remember something else later and will want to add it with a follow-up post : )

The most important thing to pack in your suitcase when coming to any new country and especially a country like Kazakhstan is medication. I have failed to find some of our family’s medication here or a Russian (local) equivalent and just fill new prescriptions every few months when I am able to go home. It sound hugely impractical, but it works for me.

You could possible go and see a doctor in Almaty and see if they could provide you with a local substitute, just keep in mind that local (Kazakh) doctors might not be familiar with the medicine and going to a foreign (International) doctor is hugely expensive. But if you are one of the lucky few that has access to the foreign hospitals and doctors I am sure they will be able to help you.

The nice thing about Kazakhstan is that you don’t need a prescription (well, I have not been asked for one as yet). All you need is the name of the product and any pharmacy (if they stock it) will give it to you. 

I do struggle to find good antihistamine that works for me, but maybe that’s just me. Another thing is cold medicine, when I have a cold I need a strong tablet that will kill the pain, stop the runny nose and make me feel much better. Personally, I have not found such a product here and think that the cold-medicine available in Almaty only contains a bit of vitamin C and a bit of Paracetamol ... and I can not stand those hot drinks they are so nasty ... so this is also on my list of items to bring to Kazakhstan as a foreigner. 

I hope you have found this helpful and please leave some comments below, I would love to hear from you.