DRAGON CARVED JADE BRACELET
Chapter 94: ENTER THE TEMPLE

    Melian was wearing a white-gray uniform. The coveted High School Uniform. As desired, finally Melian can talk directly to the students who yesterday featured wushu attractions. Her name is Mei Jing. The girl is a classmate, just different class. Mei Jing was in class I B, while Melian was in class I D. But during the break must have met, because the classrooms are lined up, only one class apart.

    Unabashedly, Melian directly asked where Mei Jing practiced wushu. He also wanted to learn Wushu. Good boy and Melian is a good boy. Mei Jing was instantly familiar with Melian. Melian wants to learn Wushu. At least if you want to practice wushu with him, then you can go and go home together.

    "Melian, if you want to learn wushu, at least you exercise, to maintain health. And you can also take care of yourself, if at any time there are bad children or bad people who want to disturb you, you can defend yourself" said Mei Jing who certainly captivated Melian's mind.

    "Yes, right, Jing .... I want it to be so too .... Just in case. I love it when I can be like you." Melian replied.

    "If Melian really wants to practice wushu, tomorrow I will take her to the training ground. See the location first, the same see the children who practice there. You're a good fit, not for consideration." said Mei Jing who would invite Melian to see her training ground.

    "A long way from here?" ask Melian.

    "Lumayan, not so far away .... The Chinatown area. But if the walk is good too. If you want, we'll ride a rickshaw tomorrow. You will play at my house" said Mei Jing, who felt a match for Melian.

    "Lhah, if in Chinatown, I also hostel there, but still in the area of Jagalan, have not entered Semawis." said Melian.

    "It's in the Lombok Gang. Close to the Butcher." said Mei Jing.

    "So much later, how do I get home?" asked Melian who must be confused, because he has not memorized the streets in Semarang City.

    "Later from my house ride a rickshaw. From my house is near. Or I'll drop you off." Mei Jing replied.

    "Allah .... Tomorrow we go back to school there." Melian said approving of Mei Jing's invitation.

    The bell went in. They go into their own classes, return to their lessons.

*******

    That day, as planned, noon after the lesson, Melian with Mei Jing took a rickshaw ride to the Lombok Gang area. Of course in the rickshaw they were chatting to know each other.

    "Melian here kost?" ask Mei Jing.

    "Yes .... Later this will be straight until my boarding place." replied melian.

    "Where did Melian come from?" ask the curious Mei Jing.

    "My house is in Juwana, Pati .." Melian replied.

    "Indeed in Semarang Melian has no brothers?" ask Mei Jing again. Because usually children from the area who attend school in Semarang mostly follow his brother.

    "Nothing .... Even Mak same my Pak-e, to Semarang just yesterday when I sent me to school. We rarely travel." Melian replied.

    "Hm .... So you are a home child, yes .." said Mei Jing who certainly felt strange with the answer of her friend who never traveled.

    "Yes .., not really .... But if you go not too far. Most to Tuban. Yesterday, the breakup time of Junior High, where I had a picnic to Jakarta" said Melian who told her about her life.

    "Keep, what's the house?" ask Mei Jing again.

    "Sometimes I help Ma'am Ika in the store. Ma'am Ika is my Pak-e employee who works in the shop" Melian replied.

    "What does your father have to do?" ask Mei Jing again, naturally curious.

    "Making brass crafts. Miscellaneous .... There are water faucets, souvenirs, trophies, trophies .... There was also that big lamp. The original Mei Jing was born in Semarang, huh?" said Melian who would want to know also the origin of his friend.

    "Yes .... I was born in Semarang. I have never been to Juwana. He said his famous banding huh?" answer Mei Jing who directly inquired about banding.

    "Yes right .... But that's the one on the north side. Pond area. If my house is in Kampung Naga, in his town." Melian replied.

    And without feeling, they had already arrived in front of the temple. Rickshaw stopped the rickshaw.

    "Thank you, sir .." said Mei Jing who gave the money to the rickshawman.

    The two of them were standing right in front of the door of the temple. Mei King was already a regular at that place. But for Melian, this is new. Never entered the prayer building of people of Chinese descent. A very artistic ancient building, with beautiful doors. One large door is in the middle, and flanked by two small doors on the left right. The most interesting to Melian was at the top of the precarious. At the top of the precarious there are two dragons who are guarding or whether playing fireball. while behind the two dragons there are dragons who also look towards the two dragons who guard the fireball. The dragons seemed like real, because the carvings are very good with interesting paint colors as well.

    "This is the place, Mel .... Let's go in." said Mei Jing, taking Melian who was still amazed to see the temple building..

    With some hesitation Melian stepped foot into the place of worship. His eyes glanced to the right and to the left, observing all the ornaments and images in the temple building. Of course Melian was very amazed by the things she saw.

    "You've never been to a temple, have you?" ask Mei Jing.

    "Yet. This is the first time. But if you see barongsai and liong-liong in the courtyard of the temple, my parents once invited you to watch.." Melian replied.

    "Indeed in Juwana there was never any activity in the temple?" asked Mei Jing who thought Melian was often praying in the temple.

    "The temple is only crowded if the Chinese new year celebration. Yes the new stage." replied Melian.

    "This is the largest temple in Semarang. She's hundreds of years old." Mei Jing said.

    "What is this temple called?" ask Melian who wants to know, in order to tell Mak-e in the village.

    "This temple is called Tay Kak Sie Temple, which is used as a place of worship of Goddess Kwan Im. But because of its place in the Lombok Gang, people are more happy or easy to call it the Lombok Gang Temple. It is said that according to history the construction of Tay Kak Sie Temple was built by builders who were imported directly from China." said Mei Jing who certainly heard the story hereditary from his ancestors.

    "Waaah .... That's great ...." Melian.

    "This temple is a folk temple. This place is used to worship the general public. Anyone can come in and pray here. This temple is very crowded with people visiting. Especially people of Chinese descent, on praying in this place to pray for his ancestors. Including people who travel, want to see the beauty of this temple. Even foreign tourists from China there, also many who come here. This building is already included in the heritage cultural heritage reserve of ancient buildings." explained Mei Jing.

    "Waaah .... At times I was taught to pray here, yes ..." pinta Melian, who did not know how to pray Chinese.

    "Definitely .... Come on, let's go in .... Well, this is see .... The main entrance is decorated with paintings of two guardian angels, Wi To Po Sat and Kiat Lo Po Sat. While beside it, there are paintings on the right and left, namely the Green Dragon and White Tiger, which serve as opponents of evil influences

which disturbs the temple. The Green Dragon symbolizes wisdom-filled strength, while the White Tiger represents a child devoted to parents." Mei Jing said. Of course he was very familiar with the meaning of the paintings, because he very often to the place.

    "You know all the history of this temple, Jing .." - Melian.

    "Yes, I come here almost every day .... Let's go in again." take Mei Jing.

    "Yes ..." said Melian who stepped in.

    "Mel ..., you see that .... If it was from the outside, it looks above the precarious there are two sun guardian dragons. It symbolizes strength, might, glory, prosperity and justice. While the one on the roof of the middle building, decorated with a pair of dragons flanking the pot, which is a drinking place made of a kind of dry pumpkin. Usually by Chinese priests, the jar was used for holy water containers or medicine often carried by gods. It symbolizes this place to be a symbol of the balance of nature and serves to ward off bad energy and evil spirit forces." Mei Jing told Melian.

    Of course Melian was very excited to hear the words from her friend, which was really amazing. Then the two of them stepped together towards the inner court. But when he reached the terrace, Melian and Mei Jing met the priest who took care of the temple. The pastor with the bald head was dressed in a yellow red suit, like the priests in the movie Saolin.

    "Beautiful child .... What's your name?" suddenly the priest was holding Melian's wrist, right on the arm with the jade bracelet.

    "Melian, Mr. Pastor .." replied Melian who was rather shocked.

    The priest of the temple was stunned for a moment, observing the jade bracelet Melian was wearing. A moment later I saw Melian's face. He looked at Melian with a strange attitude. Frowning, as if something was inside Melian's body.

    "Take a good look at this jade bracelet" the priest said. Then let go of Melian's hand, and stepped away leaving the two girls.

    Melian and Mei Jing looked at the steps of the priest's departure, until it disappeared after turning into a place of worship.

    What exactly was the priest observing Melian's jade bracelet? Is there anything strange? Did the priest know that the jade bracelet he was wearing never slipped out of his hands?

    However, Melian used to respond to the priest. They continued to pass, entering the inner courtyard, where the children had been practicing wushu.