LOVE BLOWS FROM REUNION
Episode 186: HUGS AT THE TEMPLE

    After learning all the problems experienced by Yudi and his wife, Yuna, the Priest of the Shinto Shrine Yasaka, forbade Yudi to go home. Even the Reverend also forbade Yudi to leave the temple first. Yudi was forbidden to worship places, places of worship for people in general. The priest was worried that Yudi was also wanted by those who were crying for his wife.

    At night, the priest took Yudi away from Yasaka Shinto Shrine, taking a taxi north to Sakyo, northern Kyoto, in a valley that still looks beautiful. The taxi came in and stopped in front of the Shinto Kifune Shrine.The Reverend took Yudi down, then headed for the temple. Yes, the Reverend invited Yudi to enter the temple is quite large and magnificent, although the building looks ancient.

    A priest or Shinshoku who looks old, comes to two new guests, namely Yudi and Reverend Yasaka. He was a Guji, the chief priest of the Shinto Kifune Temple. Reverend Yasaka whispered to the old priest who greeted him. They talked long enough to whisper. Yudi did not want to know what was being talked about. What is important is that he survived for now.

    After speaking for a long time, Yudi was finally invited to enter the temple. Not into the worship room, but Yudi was invited to cross a small road by the river, down inside, away from the place commonly used by residents to pray. Yudi was invited to enter the inside at Kuli Shinto Kifune.

    Shinto Kifune is an old temple that is the center of small temples around Kyoto. It is like a mother temple. This temple is located in a mountain valley located on the Kibune River. The river is a source of water for the Sakyo people in Kyoto. Some even mention, this Kifune Temple was built to honor the Water Dragon God, who had generously sent out a source of water to meet the needs of the community.

    There are several places in the sacred Kifune Temple, among others the famous is Okumiya, a sacred place in the area of the temple along the Kibune river. The river in the temple is considered sacred. On the riverbank, given lanterns that decorate the banks of the Kibune river. Very beautiful and artistic. Like the word, if the tourists can visit at night, then this place will be a very interesting tourist destination.

    Yudi still continues to be invited to step across the river, until it reaches a place where there is a waterfall. This waterfall is named Amagoi no taki, which is a pretty beautiful waterfall located in the temple area. This waterfall is considered a sacred place that emits the water of life, which is passed down by the god from his sacred place. Amagoi waterfall is also saved by the people of Kyoto. In the place of this waterfall there are also lanterns that light up, illuminating the place. Of course, the sound of water gurgling and splashes of steep water is an attraction for people who see it.

    There is another sacred place in the temple, Funaishi, is a stone shaped like a ship. It is said that the stone of this ship is believed to be a vehicle that was rode by the Water Dragon God. People often do worship in the place of the stone of the ship.

    "Koko de yasunde kudasai ..." said the Reverend of Yasaka Shinto Shrine, who told Yudi to rest.

    Yudi followed what the priest said. He entered in the small room indicated by the Priest. Kind of like a maid's room if at home people are able to. But the room was just a ram-ram-walled wood, sort of a paper window. There was no bed or bed in the bathroom. There's only "tatami" on the floor of that little room.

    Tatami is a traditional mat that originated in Japan and is very popular for use in homes in Japan. Every family in Japan has a tatami mat. This tatami mat itself has the literal meaning of folding and stacking, which means this tatami if not used is usually folded and stacked in storage. Tatami is made of straw that has been processed long enough, which further resembles making weaving. But in accordance with the times, today there are many tatami made of styrofoam or dakron, so it becomes more soft and comfortable to use sitting or sleeping mats.

    Yes, like in Indonesia, people used to make mattresses from kapok. Now many mattresses are made of foam. That is the development of the times that resulted in the shift of traditional technology.

    Yudi who was already exhausted, according to what the Pastor ordered earlier. Finally he went into the small room, and broke down. In an instant, Yudi was already snoring soundly asleep.

    While Yudi was asleep, the Reverend of the Yasaka Shinto Shrine spoke to the Priest of the Kifune Shinto Shrine whom he met. The two of them conversed at the altar, facing each other cross-legged on the tatami on which he sat.

    The conversation between the shinshoku was very long. And certainly very serious. It was like a debate between the two priests. And more definitely, the conversation discussed the problems of Yudi and his wife.

    It was until the early morning hours, when the kannushi began to perform the tasks of administering the temple. There are those who extinguish the lanterns, some are cleaning, some are already carrying out various ritual ceremonies. There are even 'miko', who are kannushi assistant women or priestesses, who start busy in the kitchen.     Formerly the term miko was used for women who had magical powers to receive a prophecy. Usually the miko woman will be possessed by the spirit of the spirits. Then the woman miko when possessed, she spoke in her state possessed by a spirit commonly called "We".

    Yudi was shocked and woke up, when the door of his room was shifted by the priest's helpers who cleaned. Lanstas Yudi stood up and bowed his body, a sign of respect to the person who opened the door of his room, as he said, "Watashi o yurushite ...." Yudi apologized to the workers.

    Then the worker who knew there was a person in the room, he replied to his bow, and also said "Watashi o yurushite ..." who certainly apologized for disturbing comfort.

    Yes, the space occupied by Yudi to rest, is indeed commonly used for guest rest. But usually guests who come to the temple are people who have needs with religious problems. For example, a priest or messenger from a temple who will discuss issues related to his temple. So, usually the guests in the room, are people who wear the typical clothes of temple workers.

    But this time, the one sleeping in the place was just an ordinary man, who only wore jeans and a jacket, even his face did not appear to be Japanese. Of course the workers were wondering who this person was and what it would be like to be in this place.

    The shinshoku leader or the pastor's elder simply said, "Hanatte oki nasai" said the Reverend who asked that the person in the room not be disturbed, let Yudi stay in that place first. The pastor will discuss it later after the worship ceremony is over. Of course, so that the pastor's aides who are working are not disturbed in carrying out their duties.

    The worker bent down, left his leader, and returned to continue his work, which was to clean the temple grounds.

    However, after arriving in front of the room where Yudi slept last night, the kannushi's maid workers became confused, because the man who slept in the room, Yudi, was, it was already in the courtyard and sweeping through the entire courtyard. Of course the person was confused to ask for the broom back.

    "Sumimasen .., Anata wa koko no gesutodesu, sono shigoto o shinaide. Ikenai ..." said the priest's aide, who forbade Yudi from sweeping.

    Yudi stopped the broom, silent for a moment. After seeing the man, he swept the courtyard back.

    "Shinaide kudasai ..." again the man forbade Yudi, this time by demonstrating his hand as prohibition should not sweep.

    Yudi smiled at the man who had approached him. A big and friendly smile. Then he said, "Shinpai suru na .... Naretemaskus ...." Yudi told the man not to worry, because he was used to working.

    The man, who was the priest's maid, finally took another broom, and together with Yudi cleaned the temple grounds.

    After the other workers had finished their work, after the mikos had finished preparing breakfast, the priests, servants and people of the Shinto Kifune Shrine, as usual, were present, they enjoy the breakfast provided by the miko in the shared dining hall.

    The maid who had swept the courtyard, immediately invited Yudi who had been sweeping along, to have breakfast together in the dining hall. Of course the maid felt that Yudi had helped work, so it was natural to be invited to eat. Especially when he conveyed to the pastor, the man was a guest.

    Yudi who invited for breakfast, of course embarrassed and feel uncomfortable. Because all who ate in the hall room, were temple workers.

    "Watashi ni sa sete, koko de matteimasu ..." Finally, Yudim decided to wait in that room only first.

    However, only briefly left, it turns out that two temple workers came to meet Yudi. They were told by the Reverend, to invite Yudi to eat together in the dining room.

    The room was already full of young priests, workers and of course cooks who always prepared food. As soon as Yudi who was invited with two workers arrived in the room, all the people in the room bowed their bodies, a sign of respect for Yudi.

    "Are you from Indonesia?" suddenly a worker, a priest's servant, came over, and asked Yudi. That person was skinned just like Yudi. He is definitely not a Japanese.

    "Yes .... I am from Indonesia." replied Yudi while bowing his body.

    Upon hearing Yudi's reply, the man immediately hugged Yudi. Hugging with warmth, like a person who has longed not to meet.

    Who is this person who hugged Yudi?