@Steve *****

true!

@Steve *****

that's a common truth that applies to common situations. For the common task of trimming the garden bushes, a 1500 THB gardener cannot possibly trim the bushes three times better than the 500 one. They call this "the point of diminishing returns".

@Francis ********

I have been told factories near BKK will pay 250 a day while new employees are in their 3 mo "evaluation" period , after which they are let go and replaced by new recruits.

@Francis ********

not yet approved by law. Soon.

@Regina *********

it is *them* that want the work. I personally have nothing to do with it. By the way, I met a man who worked as a gardener in a plant and flower shop, daily, for seven years. One day he asked his local boss for a few days off to visit his family in the province. He was swiftly fired.

The LOS gov is considering raising daily min wage to 400 THB per day, so a gardener would be tickled pink if you gave him 500 for a day's work. Assuming that the live-in help was there daily, 30 days a month, 30 X 400 = 12,000 THB, or $330. A employee earns about that much. Your being "cheap" is nobody's business. Your survival is more important.

Very good idea. I did the same and over the next two years, from this BKK base, explored Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Korat, Pechaburi, and Phuket. Saw big cities, rice villages, tourist traps, temples, parks, mountains, islands, and beaches. Then made a choice that lasted for the next 20 yrs. Will hit the road soon again. Remember, test drive your location, and do not *ever* leave a rental deposit that exceeds one month rent (LOS is a religion tolerant country and if you land near a mosque, you'll hear call to prayer thru loudspeakers five times a day starting at 5 am). Also require for the landlord to register their renting to a foreigner. Good luck.

A PGCE will probably help. The ad below is past but will give you an idea. You can call/write to them. Good luck.

Nothing you can do. This is a recurring problem and those who get lucky keep telling others to ship their stuff over. Somebody just got a free phone, the one you paid for.

@Dave *********

thanks for the info and URL!