We meandered around the city later that evening. In the mid-’80s, the weather was perfect, and the clouds had clouds puffs printed all over it. We made our way past a three-story wood pillar monument that locals tied with colorful ribbons for a happy 2024 start by strolling through the grassy, tree-shaded town square.
When we stopped at a street rose shop across the street, we noticed that a square-block business tower made of concrete was closing. Reangprakaiy Decha, a man, said hey with a nod before revealing that his family has been selling groups of daisies, chrysanthemums, and wreaths of peach marigolds for church offerings for 50 years.
Reangprakaiy, 39, practices daily meditation to “be sharper, not to steal folks, but to help them,” he said. Why did the city seem so quiet and welcoming, I asked? He explained that it had to do with the strength of a particular Buddha monument.