Help me find & order best cable to connect MacBook Pro 10.7.5 to Zenith HDTV? Time sensitive!

Question

I am having trouble not having the right cable when connecting my MacBook Pro 10.7.5 OS X to my Zenith 50" flatscreen HDTV- the laptop was purchased in July, and HDTV is one year old.  I moved to Central America (Belize) in August, so am lacking in tech support or purchasing options here, and I only know just enough to be dangerous--I am a relatively new Mac user.  I just found out I have a friend coming to visit in 10 days who can bring something if I can get it to her! It would take me days to research and decide what I might need, and then it might still not be right.  I thought you guys might help me find something quickly. 
The cables I brought have allowed video but not sound, and I would like to order whatever I may need online and have delivered to her to bring with her when she comes, making us somewhat short on time. Bear with me while I try to describe what I have.  On the Mac, I have a couple different ports that I am unsure what they are called (along with the usual 2 USB ports). One has the lighting strike symbol next to it, the other looks like a little cheerleader with her arms & pom poms in the air, and the third is the flat one that I used to be able to use to connect my (now gone) iPhone. The MacBook does not have an HDMI port.  On the Zenith HDTV, I have the usual AV in-ports, and HDMI ports, and a port that looks like an HDMI port only more square.
Just a side note, my husband also has a 6 month old Ipad and we do have the little pigtail to use to hook it up to the TV which works great for the iPad, but I would prefer to use my MacBook so we can watch the movies we put on an external hard drive before moving. I am unsure exactly what cord I need, only that what I brought with me to Belize is not what I need, and apparently can't be found here-no one carries Mac stuff even in the capital city of Belmopan.
(I also have a cranky older 13" mid-2009 model MacBook pro 10.6.8 OS X I have quit using cuz it's quirkly-- that doesn't produce sound through the tv either--but doesn't have the same ports as the new Mac --if there is something we can use to hook it up, that would be great too-I would order both, then I could leave that as a dedicated movie/internet tv box) 
Any help, descriptions or pictures or links to what I might be able to order to make either one work and have delivered quickly so she could bring would be GREATLY APPRECIATED. You guys Rock!

Answer 1

You need two things: a mini-Displayport to HDMI adaptor, and a regular HDMI cable.
The mini-Displayport connector on the Macbook is the one you've described with the lightning bolt. That port on your Macbook is actually called Thunderbolt, but for this purpose it's acting as a mini-Displayport connector.
When you buy the Displayport adaptor, make sure you get one that supports audio. Not all do.
I'm sorry I don't know the best options available to you in Belize, but hopefully that information will help you approach a local electronics supplier.
Matt