Dancing Buttacupp

What happens when you wake up one morning and discovered that you are missing RM 120k from your savings account?

Pre-2008 financial crisis ok.

Naturally, you start questioning how the cash disappeared. Did they bank go bankrupt? Did you accidentally telegraphically transfer (TT) it to a stranger? Were you robbed and you forgot about it? Was your wallet stolen and you glued your pin number on your bank card?

How in the world…?!!

Well, if you are over 70, and naturally forgetful, you may choose one of the above. You may have passed your bank card with the pin number in a piece of paper in an envelope, left it in your room, for your children to assist you to get some cash for you.

What you never suspected, that the hired-help that has been taking care of you for a decade, dutifully cooks you healthy low fat, low sugar, low-everything meals, gives your daily insulin shots, the one who tends and cares for you when you are sick…would steal from you.

Yes.

My grandmother lost at least RM 120k in one year.

Her maid took from RM10k to RM30k a month for the past year.

She found the card one day with the pin number in an envelope…and I guess…had an evil light bulb moment.

She took it around 12-1 p.m. several days a month, at several bank branches. That is the time when my grandma has her routine afternoon naps.

My mom discovered my grandma’s bank balance to be too low. She immediately suspected something being amiss. She quietly requested the full withdrawal transaction from the bank, and noticed clearly the pattern in timing, and the hot spots the perpetrator used. She lodged a police report, and with sheer dedication went to each bank branch to acquire their CCTV videos.

In most of the clips, we see an unidentified man withdrawing money that ties back to the bank reports. Then, in one or 2 slip ups, we see him handing the money to female with a hand bag.

We publish the photos and surrender them to the police as evidence.

After having sufficient evidence, the police came to my grandmother’s residence and arrested the help. The help was so defiant and confident that she will not get caught.

The remaining police officers searched her room and coniscated  3 handphones, an address book, and many pictures of the family.

Pictures were taken so that the alleged perpetrator may not get in touch with any  ’kongsi gelap’ by buying them off with RM5k to finish off a family she may have a personal vendetta against.

After a few days of intense questioning, the help confessed to stealing the money. They nabbed the unidentified guy and he confessed to being paid RM200 each time he withdrew money.

Now she will be brought to court. If she confesses to being guilty, she may serve 7 years in prison. If she suddenly changes her plea, then there may be a court case.

We cannot recover the money because she doesn’t have a bank account. For all we know, she may own assets in Indonesia and is a millionaire.

What we are concerned here is my grandma’s mental health. She became depressed when she discovered it was her help, whom she trusted.

Also, we pray that Allah keep parang gangs or any baddies away from our family.

We’re grateful there isnt’ any physical injury to anyone due to this whole affair.

I’m particularly proud of my mom for getting the investigation done all by herself.

May Allah bless and protect us.

-asma wan signing off-

After 7 months of planning, problems after problems, the much awaited holiday finally arrived.

We managed to cover these areas in 10 days (inclusive of travelling time):

1st Day: Istanbul

Visited a hill accessible by cable cars overlooking Istanbul.

Walked down along the tombs of scholars and learned men.

Visited Eyup Sultan where we saw the foot prints of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Visited Mini Aturk, a theme park which showcases all of Turkey’s historical, religious (biblical) and natural (biological) attractions. 

2nd and 3rd Day: Cappadocia (Goreme)

Visited churches, forgotten cities and Kaymakli underground cities in the central Anatolian region. 50 years ago, Turkish people still lived in their cave homes until the earthquake in the 50s forced them to vacate into residential areas. Underground cities were built as a hiding place from invading foreign and local forces. Now I know how Osama managed to escape capture!

4th Day: Pamukkale, Denizli

After 2 bus changes, we were kidnapped by a hotel operator; an effort to lure us to stay in his hotel. After discovering we were only in Denizli for a day trip, he sent us to our temporary waiting hostel. He’s actually a nice old man, who was shocked that we had planned our trip solely from the internet. We advised him to start advertising online to attract tourists, and to minimize effort from err….early morning kidnappings :p

At Pamukkale, we visited the Travertines, which are natural hot springs. These springs were once open to the locals, but now closed for preservation. Here we also marvelled at the Roman ruins i.e. collusseum, etc.

5th and 6th day: Prienne, Miletus, Dydima and Ephesus (Selcuk)

It is here that we became friends with the hostel owners Jimmy, Juju and Baba. We had so much fun visiting Prienne with the Temple of Athena, Miletus for its grand collusseum, gladiator cells (cages), corridors, Roman hamams (baths), and roman senate council! Then we moved on to Dydima and interacted with Apollo the Sun God and pranced around with Pegasus at the Temple of Apollo. We pretended to be DKNY models and tried to act out the ‘letters’ at Prienne, and even ran around restricted areas in Dydima. Shame!

We visited a site which is believed to be Virgin Mary’s final resting place before she passed. It is a spiritual place for our Christian friends, and I lit a candle out of respect with positive thoughts. Vima left a prayer on the wall, while Swan and I tested the water from the fountain. It is such a beautiful place.

Swan and Vima tried the Selcuk Hamam, while Farrah and I went around Selcuk chatting with shop owners who invited us in for apple tea (a usual custom for the Turks). We also met a lovely dondurma seller (ice-cream) who was so taken in by our erm…’muhibbah/majmuk-ness’ (unity). He told us of his dream in business, and prayed for our success and well being.

7th-10th: Istanbul

We visited Aghia Sophia (Church of Wisdom) and marvelled at how Ottomans preserved the church and innovated it into a mosque. The uniqueness of this mosque is you can see the assimilation of Christian and Islamic influences from different eras. You see the paintings of Jesus and his apostles, Angel Gabriel, Virgin Mary, yet you also see the names of the Muslim Prophets, a library, a place for ablution, etc. It is breathtaking!

Then we walked over to the Blue Mosque, which was then a private mosques for the Ottoman rulers. I had the opportunity to pray there twice, which was a magical experience for me. The mosque was truly a beauty.

After that, we had 2 hours to kill before Iftar, so we dashed over to the infamous Grand Bazaar. We only browsed because we were warned that prices here are steep and only experienced hagglers should purchase from the Grand Bazaar. It is truly a buyuk (big) bazaar, with so many corridors that we go lost! Every turn and every stall we passed, sellers would attract us to their goods. It was very overwhelming that Farrah and I felt nauseus, and wanted out! Ok, so I am not very fond of crowded places.

The next day we visited Topkapi Palace and the Harem. Here we saw many biblical artifacts such as Moses’s cane used to split the Red Sea, Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) turban, strands from his beard, his sword, the keys to the Ka’aba, the Sahabah’s swords, etc. It was such a special moment for me.

Later we walked over to the Basilica Cistern, an underground water reservoir built by the Romans. Such a marvellous invention indeed! Of course now I want to go to Granada, Spain and see the Muslims’ invention there!

For Iftar we had dondurma (actually we had it at least thrice in Turkey). Farrah left Turkey early to head off to Switzerland before arriving in London, which leaves Vima. Swan and I to discover other parts of Istanbul.

On last 2 days, we visited Yusha Hill where I read a prayer for Nabi Yusha (not among the 25 Prophets), and brother Yusuf and sister Zuleikha took us driving along the Bosphorus, Marmara and Black Sea! We did not manage to see the Spice bazaar, but we met some nice sisters from Hayrat Fund. They were so intrigued with Vima and Swan because some of them have never seen a real Chinese and Indian! They were so friendly, hospitable and kind that we felt so bad to leave them so soon..but leave them we must.

The next day we walked around and went for the infamous Chamberlitas Hamam. A typical Turkish hamam comprise of washing, scrubbing and a massage. This was the most unforgettable experience ever! The hamams are separated for males and females…and erm, this is my first experience with…porn. The masseurs were either topless or nude! I was relieved to not be wearing my glasses but still I think I nearly went blind. Worse, those who went for the hamam had to erm…go topless in front of other females! Gosh, thankfully Swan, Vima and I were far apart. I couldn’t look at them if any of them saw me and vice versa! Of course we had such a big laugh afterwards.

All in all, Turkey has definitely a special place in my heart. Not only does she have many historical and biblical attractions, but the people that we met are by far the friendliest, most hospitable and kindest on this planet. Kalah orang Malaysia.

Similar to other European nations, most Turkish people do not speak English. Even so, they strive to make you understand, and are so dedicated and go out of their way in helping you that you are often left speechless.

For schizzle.

Definitely saving up to go there again, win a trip or work there! This is the first time I felt sad leaving a country I visited …