Thanks for the info. Im going on a trip to HK next month, so I recon
one of the things I´ll bring home are Li-on batteries.
You will return by boat? by sea? because they are not allowed via plane
yes, hes gonna swim back
knowing nautic hes gonna smuggle them.... i wont say where
LMFAO
I´ll smuggle them in my flashlights. They will never find them there. 
i received a order of 16340s today
A lot of airlines still allow lithium-ion batteries, generally one installed plus one or two extras. If not, nobody would be able to bring their laptop computers anywhere because what are laptop batteries other than packs of 18650s?
good point..my camera uses a lithium battery pack also and so do a lot of cell phones..etc etc..
18650 in fact all Li-ion deteriorate over time .. If cheap 18650's dry up , its either surface mail ...
Or find some AAA or AA powered lights .. Push come to shove , id wait 3 months for a new supply of 18650's to arrive via boat .
!8650's are available locally , but @ $35 a cell , yeah , one battery $35 , they can eat my shorts .
It's quite a coincidence that I ordered 3 AAA lights and 2 AA lights last week :) Still looking for some good 2xAA light with neutral tint and good low modes. Fenix TK20 or LD25. Then I'll be safe. :)
I ordered several 18650's from a seller on ebay at the begining of January, they never came :(
On the plus side though I contacted the seller and they instantly refunded me the full amount and an appology that they didn't have any more in stock to send.
Just tape them to your torso and legs and hope for the best......and try to look normal. 
Oh, another "Midnight Express" (the movie) scenario :o
That's it - just strap 'em up right next to the smack - the lithium ion cells will be the least of their worries! 
I often buy hi-max off ebay. Last time they sent them from Germany (or it does seem that way) which is quite strange! Will keep doing so.
Budgeteer,
Do you have a particular seller that you'd recommend? Have you tested the batteries?
Yes and yes, the batteries have a bit longer runtime that XTAR 2400mAh which are true 2400mAh batteries. Compared to the only genuine Trustifre flame 2400mAh i had, these are considerably better and also by visual inspection made better. Protection circuit worked fine on the one i tested but did not botheryet on others.
I had no issues with the seller and i got them reasonably quick with extremely well done packaging. I got them always in a box with alot of padding material. Top notch packaging.
Be sure to make an offer! I buy 4-6 pieces at a time. The more you buy the less you pay per battery. I would never bother to get trustfires saving a dollar or so compared to these.
I can highly reccomend those without any aftertoughts.
I made the few transactions outside ebay. So they probably reduced the cost considering they have not to pay ebay comission fee of 10% that way.
Hope it helps. Communication is somehow engrish but still good enough to understand.
Batteries shipped usually in 1 or max 2days. I always got them in under 2 weeks from departure. As fast as 8 days in one occasion.
Actually, I don't get them.
Even LiPo-s seem perfectly safe when not being charged... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7A0HH_QyPE ;)
Budgeteer,
Thank you for the detailed response. I just ordered 20 from Manafont so if those don't get shipped, I'll re-order from this guy. In the future, I'll just make the purchase from him. Waiting several months for a product is new to me since anything I've ever ordered is typically on our doorstep in less than 1 week here in the U.S.
Thats pretty decent shipping time!
How come you ordered 20?
Hmm, maybe they gave you my tracking number? I ordered two of them via the bay.