Today I used a wheelchair at international arrival and asked a few question while the polite man pushed me from the plane through immigration, picked up my luggage and wheeled me to the taxi stands. He informed me that he works 6 days a week on alternating shifts every 2 day and receives a monthly salary of 6,000 baht (about US$192) which is less than $8 a day. The interview was parts of a friendly conversation in Thai about his family, how he spent Thai New Years, other pleasantries. I asked the same questions last week with similar results. These guys are mostly from the northeast and send money home every month to support the family. I always give 100 baht at least but sometimes more at holiday time or for very attentive service. I have lived in Thailand more than 25 years and seen the cost of living significantly outpace salaries. 20 baht was generous 20 years ago but today it is certainly an insult. The response was likely a face-saving reaction to the perceived insult, especially if it was coins, handed with the left hand or in front of the taxi driver. Thai New Year is a time when they need extra money to send to their families as they can not take off time to go home. Thailand is changing and is no longer a cheap place to live or visit. These are my observations. If you don’t agree, fine, but please be polite. I have been afraid to write anything on FT before because of the negativity.