Across the kolok-kolok there is another group busily playing Tepo. In Loncek it is known as Tongkok, the Chinese poker well known among the local community especially along the East Coast of West Kalimantan. To play the Tepo, one also uses a dice but a much smaller one compared to the ones used for kolok-kolok. It is cube- like with kanji writing in red and white on its side.
“Can they write kanji?”
“No, they cannot read (the Chinese characters)”
“Then how do they play the game?”
“They only need to remember the color on the dice, that’s all.”
Hmm, I looked at Edi. How did this young lad know so much about gambling? He smiled, knowing the questions in my head.
“I have known gambling since es-em-pe (SMP or middle school). Kolok-kolok was my favorite game, but not anymore.”
“Why?”