iPhone usage has definitely come a long way since it was first introduced, but it can continue to grow with the techniques that have been designed for unlocking phones and allowing them to go to any country.

For those that are only going to be visiting Thailand for a little while, unlocking the iPhone 4 may not be the best idea, but for those that live there, will be staying there for months or years, or simply want the freedom that unlocking an iPhone can provide, there are quite a few benefits.

Roaming Free

Most individuals in the United States will unlock their iPhone 4 simply to have more access to apps that do not come directly from iTunes. Though this is useful, it is not the main reason that most individuals will use an unlocker for their iPhone 4.

Some iPhones, especially those sold in other countries, may come already unlocked. iPhones sold in the United States, however, are far more expensive if they are unlocked. Many pay up to $300 more for an unlocked iPhone 4 than for those that are tied to a service.

To avoid paying hundreds of extra dollars for an unlocked phone, many buy regular phones and have them unlocked. By doing this, they have gained the benefits of unlocked phones without having to unlock their wallets.

Unlocking the iPhone may seem unnecessary because services have international phones available to those that are visiting other countries. These may be useful and more economical if a planned stay is only for a few weeks, but can add up quickly.

Though the services that are provided in the United States are compatible in Thailand, using them without unlocking the iPhone 4 can add up to extremely expensive phone bills, especially after months of service.

Rather than fainting with fright at the sight of an international phone bill, it is better to use an unlocking system that will allow a phone to roam free.

Unlocking the Benefits of the iPhone 4

In addition to letting you roam as you please, unlocking the iPhone 4 can be either a local or international service rendered. There are a few places that provide Thai SIM cards that can be inserted and used in an unlocked iPhone 4.

Once this has been done, access is granted to Wi-Fi spots, directions, calling, texting, and the regular functions of a locked iPhone 4.
While considering whether to unlock an iPhone 4, it is important to note that service providers will not replace a broken or stolen phone unless the individual pays for a new one. However, unlocking a phone itself is safe and can open up all kinds of possibilities.

Through the benefits provided by these services, those that wish to take advantage of the sights, sounds, and experiences of Thailand can do so without confining themselves to temporary phones, extraordinary bills, or unnecessary hassles.

The Songkran Festival means “entering the new” and is also known as the water festival. This festival lasts from April 13 to April 15. For three days (and in some places, it an last twice that long) people line the streets armed with hoses, water guns, and hoses with one goal in mind – to absolutely soak everyone around them. They also pay respects to Buddha by pouring water over his statue. They also make offerings to Buddhist monks.

The people at this festival consider this a time of cleansing. The water they pour over each other is a symbolic way or washing away all of their sins from the previous year. They also believe that by pouring water over Buddha’s statue and by making offerings to the Buddhist monks, they will receive good luck and blessings during the next year.

Some people make New Year’s resolutions during this time as well. These are mostly goals to refrain from bad behavior or to pick up some good habits.

The water used to splash on people use to be “blessed” water that was used to wash over Buddhas for the cleansing ritual. This holiday has evolved into splashing strangers with water and water fights.

In a country where April is the hottest month, I can’t think of any better way to celebrate the New Year than a big bucket of cold water dumped over my head.

But what does the 2012 summer Olympics have to do with Thailand? I don’t know about you, but when I think about the Olympics, I don’t really think about Thailand. Maybe I just don’t follow the right sports though, because these athletes have brought home medals before.

Just recently, Sports Authority of Thailand Governor Kanokphand Chulakasem made an announcement that Thailand has their eyes on two different gold medals this coming summer. He said “We should get at least two medals… We are pinning out hopes in taekwondo, boxing, and weight lifting.”

Four years ago, during the 2008 summer games in Beijing, Thailand brought home four medals. One gold medal in boxing, and another gold medal in weight lifting. Two silver medals were brought home as well – one in taekwondo and the other in boxing. It looks like these athletes know what they are good at and are sticking with their talents.

So far, 27 athletes have qualified for the 2012 summer Olympics, but are hoping to have about 30-40 athletes show up in London Qualified for the games.

Unfortunately only three Thailand boxers qualified for the Olympics which definitely hurts their chances of winning a gold, but they are still hopeful. The three boxers are Kaew Pongprayoon, Chatchai Butdee and Sailom Ardi.

Thailand’s women’s volleyball team is hoping to qualify still. There are also women boxers still trying to qualify for the games as well. It will be fun to see who qualifies for the games and how many medals the Thai athletes can actually bring home.

Question: Where is Thailand Located?
Answer: Thailand is located in south-east Asia.

Question: Do you know what the area of Thailand is?
Answer: Thailand’s area is nearly 513,115 square kilometers. That equals 198,114 square miles.

Question: What kind of government does the country of Thailand have?
Answer: Thailand has a constitutional monarchy.

Question: Did you know that there is a conventional long name for this country? What is it?
Answer: The conventional long name of Thailand is “Kingdom of Thailand.”

Question: What is the population of Thailand?
Answer: in 2009, the population was estimated to be about 65,905,410. That number is most likely a little higher now.

Question: What are the natural resources of Thailand?
Answer: The natural resources of Thailand are tin, rubber, tungsten, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, and fluorite.

Question: Do you know the highest and lowest points in Thailand? (Maybe these would be fun places to stop on a vacation to Thailand.)
Answer: Thailand’s highest point is Doi Inthanon at 2576 m above sea level. Thailand’s lowest point is the Gulf of Thailand at 0 m about sea level.

Question: What is the climate like in Thailand?
Answer: Thailand’s climate is classified as sub-tropical. Thailand has long hours of sunlight and is very humid. The cool season is from November to January. The hot season is from March to June. The rainy season is from July to October. The average low temperature is 20 degrees Celsius and the average high temperature is 37 degrees Celsius.

After having read these facts, if you decide to visit Thailand, you can visit a little more informed about their country. If nothing else, you will be able to avoid the rainy season when traveling over there.

Bangkok

Bangkok is a city of opposites. This city is full of modern concrete and four star hotels. Among these attractions are typical Siamese villages and open air markets where “glitzy housewives” sell product and other products.

There is a warning however that this area was affected by some serious flooding in October of 2011. Before you travel all this way, be sure to check the news and travel advisories before you visit to be sure it’s safe.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is said to be a keystone of any journey to Thailand. Chiang Mai is located about 700 km northwest of Bangkok. This quaint city, surrounded by mountains is exceptionally visually stimulating. There are over 300 temples that draw the attention of many tourists and locals themselves.

Phuket

When you think of beautiful beaches and warm sun, this place is where most people think of. Here there are plenty of accommodations and facilities to keep anyone entertained when they get tired of the beach.

Hua Hin

Hua Hin is a place where the royal family still comes to unwind and relax. This beachside town is witnessing all kinds of growth – more shops and hotels are showing up every day.

Koh Samui

White sand, palm trees, clear green sea, a soft breeze, and picture perfect green hills surrounding the place. What more could you ask for? Moat accommodation here is mid to upper range. The cheap bungalows are slowly disappearing.

Have Fun!

No matter where you decide to visit, I am sure you will find something to make your vacation worth it. Any of these places sound amazing. Be sure to check ahead for weather and travel conditions before you travel.

Recently a supposed Iranian man (as they guessed from his passport) was seriously wounded in Bangkok as the grenade he was carrying violently exploded. Although we’d rather not go into too much detail, one of his legs was, in fact, blown off.   Several Thai residents were injured, and government officials are claiming that the incident was part of a series of terrorist attacks, blaming Iran for its ongoing efforts to spread violence.

According to Minister Ehud Barak, “The attempted terror attack in Thailand proves once again that Iran and its proxies continue to operate in the ways of terror and the latest attacks are an example of that.”

However, police have yet to confirm that the man involved was indeed Iranian and whether or not he was involved in any militant group.

Additionally, a few moments before the accident, there had been a house explosion near central Bangkok as well as another bombing on a nearby road. Five people were injured in the blast.

A Taxi driver reported to Thai Television that the suspect had thrown the bomb in front of his car when he refused to pick him up near the site of the first blast. According to Government spokeswoman Thitma Chaisaeng, the Iranian then threw another grenade at an approaching policeman, which detonated before it reached the officers.  This early explosion severely damaged the attacker’s leg, requiring immediate amputation.

Although India’s Home Minister doesn’t want to “point a finger” at any specific group, Palaniappan Chidambaran told reporters that “whoever did it, we condemn it in the strongest terms.”

Despite the fact that investigators are still hammering out the details, such acts of terrorism will not go unnoticed. Due to the recent bombings, Israel’s foreign missions were placed on high alert, and the United States suspect that Iran is trying to acquire the material and technology needed to build a nuclear bomb.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported “we will continue to act with a strong hand, systematically and patiently, against international terrorism, whose source is Iran.”

To read more about the bombings, you can find the article here at Washngtonpost.com and here at Jerusalempost.com.

Top 5 Thai Dishes You Have to Try

Fried Spring Roll: Por Pia Tord is one of the most popular appetizers among foreigners because it comes with a sweet and sour dip. No need to fear the wrath of curry (or at least not yet), Thai Por Pia comes in a wide variety of flavors that can be dipped in Japanese apricot sauce, making it a toothsome way to sample Thai culture.

Stir-Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts: Also known as Kai pad Med Mamuang Himmapan, this Thai treat is sure to please your palette. Slightly sweet and slightly salty, this chicken fried meal is a great way to spark your passion for Thai without overdoing it on the spice.

Fried Noodle: Probably one of the most widely known dishes in the world, Pad Thai has been eaten and enjoyed for centuries and it definitely flaunts the authenticity of Thai culture. Pad Thai is often seasoned to suit your preference, though it has evolved into two difference styles. Classic Pad Thai includes stir-fried noodle with eggs, red chili pepper, fish sauce, tamarind juice, and shrimp with a garnish of peanuts (and this is definitely a family favorite). The new Pad Thai is more dry and lightly flavored but it is more easily purchased through street vendors for a fast meal.

Grilled Pork Sticks with Tumeric: One of my favorite Thai dishes, grilled pork sticks (or Moo Sa-te) are often served with 2 different types of curry sauces. One, is mildly spicy and thick (made from peanuts and coconut milk) while the other is a delicious blend of sweet and sour vinegar (in addition to chopped shallot, pepper and cucumber to keep the oiliness to a minimum).

Green Chicken Curry: Many people are a little intimidated by the sheer amount of curry found in Thai food. However, Green Chicken curry is definitely worth tasting at least once. It’s pleasantly sweet (though slightly spicy) and is often served with steamed rice or rice noodles. By blending green curry chili paste with coconut milk, sugar, and fish sauce, you definitely have a winning dish.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re in the mood to traveling to Thailand or simply looking for some new foods to try, these mouthwatering meals will have you begging for more.

Here are some important Thai phrases you should memorize before you get to Thailand. Your trip enjoyment depends on it!

Learn to Barter

Like many countries outside the U.S, Thailand merchants are known to barter. If you are paying over half of the listed price, you are probably being ripped off. Here are some important phrases and words to know when bartering in Thailand.

Numbers:

1 – neung
2 – song
3 – sam
4 – see
5 – haa
6 – hok
7 – jet
8 – paed
9 – gow
10 – sip
20 – yee sip
100 – roi/loi

Barter Down

How much does it cost? – nee tao rai
Expensive – pang
Can we get a discount? – lot noi dai mai

Find Transportation

If you’ve ever been in a county where you don’t know the language, you know it’s difficult to get around. These phrases may help.

3-wheeled vehicle – Tuk tuk
Taxi – Taxi
I want to go… – chan yak pai…

In Case of an Emergency

Whether it’s a real, life-threatening emergency or a minor stomach ache, it’s important to know what to say in order to get where you need to be. These may help.

Where is the bathroom? – hong nam yu nai
I’m lost – chan long taang
Does anyone speak English? – mee krai pood pasa angkrit dai mai
Help me – chuay duay

Don’t Stress

We know traveling can be stressful enough. Don’t let the language barrier stress you out. Nowadays almost everyone speaks some English and is more than willing to help. If you cannot remember or simply don’t know what to say in a situation, ask around. You are more than likely going to be able to find help.

The rising waters have already claimed more than 400 lives and around 1,000 households are under water. But economic and health risks have emerged and become a large issue.

According to the Wall Street Journal, at least two people have dies from a bacterial infection that is spread through rat urine. The disease, along with other diseases, is expected to continue to spread when the water begins to recede, leaving pools of standing water.

Garbage, human waste and dead animal carcasses are also causing risks to people in the wake of the flood.

Though a very small fraction of those dead have died because of a flood related disease, it brings up some concern considering there is no way to clean up the waste and, in some places, there is no running water.

The flooding is also having an adverse affect on the economy, especially in the car and hardware markets.

Reports are saying that Honda Philippines has temporarily shut down production because they cannot get supplies in from Thailand.

ABC News reported that the flooding may likely impact the global supply of hard disk drives.

Thailand’s economy is also supported by their agriculture and tourism, which, needless to say, is taking a hit. As much as 14 percent of the countries rice fields has been wiped out. Tourists are deciding instead to visit neighboring India.

It’s hard to know for sure when the floods will dry out, but even the most optimistic experts say it will be at least a few weeks. If a trip to Thailand is in the near future, you may want to pack your umbrella and a canoe.

Since July, over 300 people have died from monsoon-caused floods in Thailand which have submerged about one-third of the country in water. And now, the worst flooding in Thailand in the past 50 years and its water levels are threatening to break through flood barriers set up around the country’s capital city of Bangkok.

According to several posts and blogs, the flooding has gotten so bad that even sheltered areas in the city designated for flooding evacuees are being evacuated.

Worst Flooding in Decades

Monsoon season happens every year in Southeast Asia. But this particular summer, the rains and storms have been especially unrelenting as the region has been hit by multiple rain storms and typhoons in succession.

And the product of all this water and havoc? Well, over 700 people have died in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines. Also, thousands of homes have been lost, and hundreds of families have been rendered homeless as well.

Even worse, Thailand’s prime minister, Kittiratt Na-Ranong, believes the flood threat and imminence could last for another month or so before things start to diet down. “We have to admit that we are in crisis,” Na-Ranong said to the media. “Everybody must be prepared.”

Na-Ranong urged Bangkok citizens to prepare for the worst and to set up a plan of what they will do and where they will go if their neighborhood were to become submerged by the flood water.

Other Issues

Currently, one of the biggest issues that needs to be taken care of outside of holding the flood waters back, is that of food shortages. The storms have destroyed thousands of acres of farmland and rice paddies, making it difficult for the country to supply its people with the nourishment they need to stay healthy and well fed.

Not only that, but emergency crews and aid support teams are having a tough time getting to affected areas because of typhoon-damaged roads which have become near impassable.

Also, multinational corporations such as Ford and Toyota have had to suspend and close down factories in Thailand due to the flooding, leading to major financial losses.

What’s Being Done to Mitigate The Flooding

As we speak, crews are working around-the-clock to install three more flood barriers and five more canals around the capital city in hopes that the plan will increase drainage and keep Bangkok relatively dry-free.

If all goes according to plan, the barriers will hopefully keep the flood waters back until they subside to a point where the city can start breathing a bit again.

Only time will tell whether or not this disaster takes a turn for the worse or better. Stay tuned to news reports to learn about further events which are sure to take place in the coming days.