With my camera around my neck, I walked slowly about the store. It was a small store — only one large room and then a smaller study.

It wasn’t overwhelming — if anything it was a quite sparse — and so I took my time studying all of his pieces, knowing that each one was very special.

I asked him if this was his store and he said,

“Yes.”

I asked him if it was okay if I took photos, and he said,

“Yes, of course.”

I asked him if he had any boxes.

He said, “yes, look here,” and he pointed to a glass cabinet in the corner by the entrance.

I pointed to a brass box and asked if I could see it.

“Yes, but she’s broken,” he said.

I pulled out my camera at the first bridge, photographing the river before wandering into a small park on my right side. It housed a beautiful willow tree, fresh lavender, and a gravel walk.

I photographed a couple on a bench by the water, his hand resting gently on her back. He smiled adoringly at whatever she was saying.

I continued to the next bridge, photographing the steady stream of people crossing, including an older couple holding hands and who never let go.

Across from them was a young couple stealing a kiss.

And a street performer taking a quick break.

There were two guys wearing shorts and high socks and berets.

Below, a boat drifted by carrying friends down the river, observed by strangers sipping wine and eating ice cream… Life as mutual theater, it would seem.

The path dipped down.

“You go first,” he said, signaling for me to walk ahead of him.

I stepped through the clearing and stopped cold.

“Yoko!” I exclaimed.

There, hidden in the jungle, was the most beautiful temple I’d ever seen. It was untouched and alive. Swallowed by time.

Yoko explained that the four faces carved into the temple stood for:

“Loving kindness, sympathy, compassion, and equanimity.”

We met Thama back on the main road and drove to Bayon Temple —

Llike Times Square,” Yoko said with a grin. It was built in the 12th century and had “many smiling faces.”

“See the lip?” he said and pointed to one of the smiling faces.

“Like mine. We are the same. Smiling faces means Buddhist temple.”