I arrived for the first time in Thailand thirty years ago today. Here's my journal entry for that day:
21 August 1977
Got up early to see the sunrise on Shwe Dagon Pagoda but the sun was not shining. At about 9:30 took the number 10 bus to the Pagoda and spent three hours walking around the beautiful area with its multitude of shrines. Caught the same bus back, packed, lunched and met the Irish at the Thamada Hotel. Took a taxi to the airport for the short flight to Bangkok. Arrived at about 6 local time and took the number 29 bus in to the railroad station near which I booked a small room with one bed at the Thai Song Creet hotel on Rama IV Road for 40 Baht. Had a nice pork curry and Coke supper for 7 Baht.