Dr Karen Yates
@karenyates.bsky.social
Retired (rewired) midwife, nurse and academic. Quite fond of travel, #SundayBreakfast and crazy cat lady in training
People of Ban Paksith village
February 25, 2026 at 11:23 AM
People of Ban Paksith village
Ban Paksith village on Mekong River. Very subsistence living but lovely friendly people
February 25, 2026 at 11:21 AM
Ban Paksith village on Mekong River. Very subsistence living but lovely friendly people
Left Chiang Rai this morning and after a 1.5 hour drive crossed the border into Laos. Then onto a boat to travel along the Mekong River until 5pm (140 km) Stopped at a village along the way and then stopped at Pakbeng. Staying at Le Grand Resort Pakbeng. Tis quite grand!
February 25, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Left Chiang Rai this morning and after a 1.5 hour drive crossed the border into Laos. Then onto a boat to travel along the Mekong River until 5pm (140 km) Stopped at a village along the way and then stopped at Pakbeng. Staying at Le Grand Resort Pakbeng. Tis quite grand!
Rounded out the day with a nice lunch in the mountains and visit to a tea plantation with tea tastings (not me, hate the stuff)
February 24, 2026 at 9:35 AM
Rounded out the day with a nice lunch in the mountains and visit to a tea plantation with tea tastings (not me, hate the stuff)
Wat Rong Kun Chiang Rai. 4 photos aren’t enough! The toilet is the gold building
February 24, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Wat Rong Kun Chiang Rai. 4 photos aren’t enough! The toilet is the gold building
Wat Rong Kun also known as the White Temple. Seriously quirky. Couldn’t take photos inside the temple but among the religious paintings over the walls were Elvis, Michael Jackson, 9-11, Superman, Neo from matrix etc.
February 24, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Wat Rong Kun also known as the White Temple. Seriously quirky. Couldn’t take photos inside the temple but among the religious paintings over the walls were Elvis, Michael Jackson, 9-11, Superman, Neo from matrix etc.
Town clock in Chiang Rai goes off at 7pm
February 24, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Town clock in Chiang Rai goes off at 7pm
Visited the Elephant Care Centre on way to Hmong Hilltop Lodge. Very kissy elephants and big suction noise when they let go, leaving a slobbery cheek 😝. When they wrap their trunk around you they pat you on the bum with the end of the trunk.
February 22, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Visited the Elephant Care Centre on way to Hmong Hilltop Lodge. Very kissy elephants and big suction noise when they let go, leaving a slobbery cheek 😝. When they wrap their trunk around you they pat you on the bum with the end of the trunk.
Lunch at the aforementioned restaurant. As deliciously fantastic as yesterday’s lunch.
February 22, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Lunch at the aforementioned restaurant. As deliciously fantastic as yesterday’s lunch.
Started the day with a yoga class ( well half a class, snuck off for a coffee). Then had lunch at a restaurant on the way to Hmong hill tribe lodge where staying tonight. Most beautiful gardens
February 22, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Started the day with a yoga class ( well half a class, snuck off for a coffee). Then had lunch at a restaurant on the way to Hmong hill tribe lodge where staying tonight. Most beautiful gardens
Lunch yesterday at restaurant Naree de Klangwian. A vocational training centre for Chiang Mai Women’s Correctional Institution/prison. Think this was be best meal so far. Absolutely delicious.
February 21, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Lunch yesterday at restaurant Naree de Klangwian. A vocational training centre for Chiang Mai Women’s Correctional Institution/prison. Think this was be best meal so far. Absolutely delicious.
Wat Chedi Luang temple. What can I say, it was temple day.
February 21, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Wat Chedi Luang temple. What can I say, it was temple day.
Visited Wat Doi Suthep temple. 1056 metres above sea level in Chiang Mai. Lots more gold and Buddhas. Caught a funicular the last bit up to view it (better than 300 stairs!). Pleasant temperature and not much humidity up that high
February 21, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Visited Wat Doi Suthep temple. 1056 metres above sea level in Chiang Mai. Lots more gold and Buddhas. Caught a funicular the last bit up to view it (better than 300 stairs!). Pleasant temperature and not much humidity up that high
Wat Phra Singh temple Thailand
February 21, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Wat Phra Singh temple Thailand
#SundayBreakfast Zucchini sweet corn fritters
February 7, 2026 at 9:57 PM
#SundayBreakfast Zucchini sweet corn fritters
#SundayBreakfast Miso scrambled eggs
January 31, 2026 at 9:40 PM
#SundayBreakfast Miso scrambled eggs
Another beautiful Cairns sunrise
January 31, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Another beautiful Cairns sunrise
Left him alone for 2 days. ‘I missed you but I’m not looking at you!’
December 26, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Left him alone for 2 days. ‘I missed you but I’m not looking at you!’
#BoxingDayBreakfast (because not enough food yesterday 😆)
December 25, 2025 at 11:22 PM
#BoxingDayBreakfast (because not enough food yesterday 😆)
Lovely sunrise this morning
December 23, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Lovely sunrise this morning
Kiriwina Island. More beautiful clear blue water. Big craft market with carvings, shells, baskets and cloth mostly. Lots of stalls but very similar products throughout. 31 degrees & 70% humidity, not unlike home but sweated buckets! Probably because I was in the sun and at home I’d be in the aircon
November 30, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Kiriwina Island. More beautiful clear blue water. Big craft market with carvings, shells, baskets and cloth mostly. Lots of stalls but very similar products throughout. 31 degrees & 70% humidity, not unlike home but sweated buckets! Probably because I was in the sun and at home I’d be in the aircon
St Mary’s Vunapope Catholic Hospital in Kokomo/Rabaul
November 29, 2025 at 8:23 AM
St Mary’s Vunapope Catholic Hospital in Kokomo/Rabaul
Hot springs and volcano that destroyed Rabaul in 1994. Still smokin’!
November 29, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Hot springs and volcano that destroyed Rabaul in 1994. Still smokin’!
Beautiful Rapopo resort near Rabaul
November 29, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Beautiful Rapopo resort near Rabaul