It is best to be open and fresh- an absolute beginner. For instance food thermometers are unnecessary. You test food during cooking by looking, tasting, smelling, or by using your senses. It helps to have a good wok, mortar and pestle and steamer, but you can improvise. Cook Thai food because it makes you feel happy.
Many Thai dishes take a lot of preparation.
The cooking time is actually quite short. Using a mortar and pestle can be like therapy. Cutting up takes time, so don't worry about when it will be done. Enjoy the process. Enlist your dinner guests to help.