Arrested as a Spy, Caught in a Major Earthquake, & More:...
We've all been there, haven't we? You are in a foreign country and some strangers approach you.
You immediately think: "Whatever they are they selling,...
An International Linguistic Puzzle
My wife and I visited Konya, May 2023. Never having been to Konya before, we decided to hire a guide for an all-day walking...
Zorlu Center is a Jellicle Cat
Zorlu Center recently opened its doors to the world as an international center for business, shopping, and, above all, culture and art. It is...
Ramadan in Turkey: A Primer
Ramadan, pronounced in Turkish as Ramazan, is once again upon us. There are the basic tenets of the month-long fast that anyone living in...
10 Tips for Coping with Feelings of Isolation and Loneliness as...
Being an expat is difficult. You need courage to leave not only your comfort zone and sense of security behind, but also your lifestyle,...
Eleven Things No Turkish Home Should Be Without
Eleven essentials for the Turkish home:
1. Hamam kit – Regular trips to the hamam are an Istanbul institution. With this in mind it’s no...
Finding and Tasting Turkey’s Microbrews: Gara Guzu and Pera
Beer in Istanbul is a touchy subject for a lot of expats, who generally fall into a few camps when it comes to preference....
Green Getaway: Atatürk Ormanı and Florya Sahil Parkı
Fighting against the stereotype that Istanbul has few green spaces or parks is not an easy thing to do. It’s a common complaint that...
Life Hack: Mobicar Carsharing Service (Yabangee Discount Included!)
Istanbul is a massive city, there is no doubt about that. Although there have been concerted efforts to expand public transportation in recent years,...
Top 11 Foods to Bring from Home
These days more and more imported items can be found somewhere here in Istanbul. But finding these items often involves a wild goose chase...
The Creme de la Kaymak of Eccentric and Interesting Expat Istanbulites
Someone recently described Istanbul to me as a city where you can "have the best day of your life, followed by the worst day”,...
Istanbul Street Names: The Stories They Tell
Having only laid claim to most of their monikers since the declaration of the Republic, Istanbul’s street names often go unnoticed (highly due to...
Awkward Tales from the ‘Bul #1: The Shopkeeper
The man who runs the corner shop next to my apartment building has a very strange approach to business, whereby he literally just changes...
Obtaining a Work Permit in Turkey
The work permit process in Turkey is unclear or confusing for many people because of the bureaucracy and inconsistent manner in which information and...
How to Survive the Metrobüs Experience in Istanbul
“Metrobüs” is a word whispered in dark corners of the yabangee community in İstanbul. So what is this so called Metrobüs? How does it...
Weekend Getaway: The Green City of Düzce
Tired of the massive crowds of this crazy city or just sick of the usual vibes and having been everywhere already? Then you must...
16th Istanbul Biennial: The Seventh Continent
IKSV has announced the title and conceptual framework of its 16th Istanbul Biennial. The Biennial will be taking place between September 14th and November...
In Conversation with Christian Feiland, Aiding Istanbul’s Street Animal Helpers with...
Anyone who has spent time in Turkey, especially Istanbul, will have noted the condition of street animals here. For all the compassion that exists...
Guide to Houseplant Hunting in Istanbul
In a heavily built-up city such as Istanbul, green space is at a premium. When I first came here to live, I remember looking...
Aliens On The Minibus (Poem)
“İnek var!” an alien called to the driver.
“İnek mi var?” I replied to her great surprise
then suddenly as if by pure magic
inek appeared in...
Istanbul’s Hidden Architecture: Şemsi Pasha Mosque
Mimar Sinan was, without a doubt, the greatest architect of the Ottoman empire. His importance and influence are often compared with his contemporary Michelangelo, and it's an established...
Four Masters of Turkish New Wave Cinema
A notable player in the current world of art house cinema, Turkey has seen a new wave emerge and establish itself. Amongst others, there...
University Guide: Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul Technical University, commonly known as ITU or Teknik Üniversite, is one of the best universities in Turkey, always ranking among the top three....
Aradolu: Organic and Homemade Turkish Goods
It seems safe to say that organic is now a thing in Turkey. This isn't that surprising, actually, as villagers all over the country...