(Through Sep 12) Venice VR Expanded 2020 @ Soho House
The Venice International Film Festival’s VR program “Venice VR Expanded 2020” has come to Istanbul
For the first time in its 125 year history, La...
Updated: 1,169 Neighborhood Closures to Foreigners in Turkey
IMPORTANT NOTE: As of Friday 07 October, the Interior Ministry has made the decision to close several districts in Istanbul entirely to any new...
Antalya Heat
“O for a beaker full of the warm south,” wrote John Keats, capturing that almost marrow-level need for sun after a long time in...
That Pink Elephant Mystique: A Celebration of International Women’s Day, in...
“Silence is the worst. Whenever a thick cloud of silence descends, the yapping voices inside me become all the more audible, rising to the...
Expat Life: Bringing Your Baby Home
When we first brought our daughter home from the hospital she was fast asleep in her car carrier. We were home, she was asleep....
In Conversation with the Editors of Sofra: A Gathering of Foreign...
Having been one of the contributors to the Tales from the Expat Harem anthology over a decade ago, I was excited to see a...
Yabangee Recommends: “Where can I have a leisurely breakfast and not...
“Where can I have a leisurely breakfast and not be elbow-deep in my neighbor’s menemen?”
There are few things more satisfying than waking up late...
The Passages of İstiklal
İstiklal Caddesi is home to many eateries, stores and coffee shops. Although chains such as Shake Shack have been cropping up, the promenade manages...
Insider Trading: Dansorium
Taking dance lessons in Istanbul is a great way to keep fit, meet new people and enhance your Turkish skills. I have been taking...
Neighborhood Stroll: Balat
One of my family's favorite weekend activities, particularly now that it's gotten warmer, is to spend the morning wandering around neighborhoods, whether it's our...
How Bazaar: Istanbul’s Best Markets
When one thinks of shopping in Istanbul, there’s one particular place that usually springs to mind. The city’s most famous market, the Grand Bazaar,...
Istanbul: So Good They Named It Thrice
What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet
True facts, Shakespeare, true facts. And while I...
Müslüm Gürses and The Rise of Arabesk
“Çilesiz bir günüm olmadı gitti
Bilmedim ömrümün suçu ne usta
Allah'ın gücüne gider mi bilmem
Verdiği bu candan ben bıktım usta
My carefree days never came
I don’t know,...
Book of Travels: The Evliya Çelebi TV Show
These days quasi-historical shows like Game of Thrones are the most watched (and pirated) shows on TV. Also, Muhteşem Yüzyıl, “The Magnificent Century”, a prime-time...
Weekend Getaway: Alaçatı
Despite Istanbul’s beauty, sometimes a break from its busy buzz and hassle is needed! A quick weekend gateway to one of Turkey’s less-frequented towns...
Giving Birth in Turkey: Choosing the Right Obstetrician
You are pregnant, congratulations! This is most probably the happiest moment of your life, enjoy it for a second! But not too long, because...
The Language of Swimming: Freestyle or Overarm
Being Australian and living in Istanbul, one of the hardest things to cope with at first was the difficulty of finding a pool to...
The Fasting and The Furious: On Istanbul Taxi Drivers
This past week we read of some journalists from Hurriyet Daily News going undercover, disguised as tourists, to shine a spotlight on Istanbul’s notoriously...
26 Yabancı Stereotypes You’ll Encounter Living in Istanbul
Stereotypes are inherently oversimplified, but can also hold some truth to them and be a fun(ny) opportunity for self-reflection. The international community living in...
Anatolian Travel Archives: Zelve
The Zelve Valley is an extraordinary landscape located in the Cappadocia Region of Central Anatolia. Dusty, rose-colored spires with knobby crowns balance against a...
Five Must-Visit Istanbul Streets After Coronavirus
Walk. Breathe. Eat. Drink. Consume. Repeat.
Wasn’t life nice and easy in Istanbul before coronavirus? We didn’t realize how fortunate we were back then. Thankfully,...
The Struggles of a New Yabancı in Turkey
Moving to Istanbul was an exciting thought. I get to live in a new country, surrounded by people of a different culture. Oh, the...
The Restless Art of Mohammad Zaza
Mohammad Zaza is an accidental convert to the life of a travelling artist. Born in Saudi Arabia to Syrian parents, Zaza moved to Aleppo in 2005...
Weekend Getaway: Muğla
Looking to experience a city with a mellow vibe? Head to southwest Turkey, away from the crowds, to the picturesque city of Muğla, located...