Lifestyle & Commentary

I’m pretty sure we hit traffic the first time I visited Ortaköy. I distinctly remember being in a taxi for what felt like ages,...

I arrived in Istanbul with little knowledge of the country, its culture or language. Straight from the vacation in Japan with my boyfriend and...

It comes on suddenly. One moment you’re experiencing an exciting roller coaster of new experiences, emotions, thoughts, and people. You’re learning to become more...

Aligning oneself with an Istanbul football club is a right of passage when living in Turkey's most populous city. There are plenty of clubs...

Personality is a phenomenon which describes the way people behave in everyday life. It’s an essential concept in order to understand and predict our...

If you are in a relationship with a Turkish partner, one of the first things you may notice is not just how much he...

This weekend has seen the country suffer its worst terror attack to date, with two bomb blasts in Ankara leaving over 95 dead and 240 injured. The tragic...

In a time of increasing disregard for the environment within Turkey, the conservation work being undertaken to protect endangered marine turtles on the southwest...

This week has been one of sadness and deep reflection for all of us in Turkey. These heinous, tragic attacks are all too frequent and...

“At no other time (than autumn) does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is...

Being Australian and living in Istanbul, one of the hardest things to cope with at first was the difficulty of finding a pool to...

OK, I’ll admit it: I hate these lists. They’re usually a shortcut to thinking. Besides, I’ve always fancied myself more an impressionist than medievalist,...

Anyone who has spent time in Turkey, especially Istanbul, will have noted the condition of street animals here. For all the compassion that exists...

We recently made an open call to our community for suggestions and have since compiled a list of organizations that are currently taking part...

Editor's Note: Jasmine Baladi is one of the organizations at this year's We Are All Refugees event. Jasmine Baladi is a Syrian run, non-profit organization...

Friday night. A few minutes before midnight. April 20th, 2020. Kaan is in the CCTV room of the luxurious hotel where he works as...

“Habitash! Habitash!” The unfamiliar deckhand appeared as a silhouette, repeatedly emphasizing this made-up word as though I would finally understand what it meant the sixth...

In Turkish, the word ‘korkma’ means ‘don’t be scared.’ How I learned this makes for an interesting story—one which strengthened my belief that people,...

In all facets of daily, human life, the divide between what is expressed to others and what is in truth thought in one’s own,...

The timeless column feels cold and rough to the touch. I like to visit things that are a lot older than I am. It...

After a few years in Istanbul and a very yabancı life, it is time for us to go on a big adventure in 2020!...

Let’s first and foremost acknowledge the great privilege of being able to choose your place of residence. Most people are not granted the luxury...

'The girl on the seesaw is laughing For love is the color this place imparts... Admission is easy, just say you believe And come to this place...

Recently my friends and I have created a rule. We are not allowed to have more than 3 cocktails when we’re out. Whoever is...