University Guide: Bilgi University

Istanbul Bilgi University, known to most as simply "Bilgi", is a private, liberal-arts university founded in 1994. Bilgi is frequently ranked as one of...

Choosing a Housekeeper and/or Nanny in Istanbul

All of us - single or in relationships, with or without kids - need help at home from time to time. It can be...

Visiting a Tailor in Istanbul 101

Istanbul has developed in so many ways over the years, including shops of all kinds which have seen shifts in terms of services, logistics,...

The Journey of the Istanbul Ferry

Vendors and commuters criss-cross in front of the gates of the dock. My friend and I use the akbil dangles with the circular buttons...

Renting a Flat in Istanbul: A Basic Guide to Accommodation

Renting a flat in Istanbul can be a stressful, intimidating experience - especially for first-timers. There's a lot to take into account and if...

BLOK art space: Empowering Istanbul’s Contemporary Art Scene

Gallery spaces can too often reflect a highbrow approach to art which can be off-putting to the more casual art enthusiast. This is where BLOK...

Dispatches from Cappadocia: The Soup Of Shame – A Late Night...

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...

Şahsiyet: A Must-See Turkish Cult Classic in the Making

If you watch Turkish TV to learn Turkish, you may feel that you've sacrificed part of your life for this language. The episodes usually...

Review: Spoken Word Istanbul @ Arsen Lüpen

Three years ago, Merve Pehlivan, an art and writing enthusiast, decided to create a friendly environment where writers, poets, singers and performers of all...

Giving Birth in Turkey: Getting Prepared

In our previous piece we discussed choosing your obstetrician - this was the most difficult part. Now it is time for you to relax...

University Guide: Istanbul Ticaret University

Istanbul Ticaret University is a private university founded in 2001 by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. It is considered as one of the top three private...

On Being Happy in Istanbul

Being an expat living in Istanbul over the past few years, I often get asked this question: Are you happy in Istanbul? This query...

Touring Turkey with Kids in a Camper Van

We are an English-Turkish family and we travel around in an old Mercedes bus that we converted ourselves to a camper van. A year...

The Art of Solitude

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...

More Çays, More Guys (2): Exploring Online Dating & Winter Drinks...

Right before Valentine’s Day, I published a piece here on Yabangee about my online-dating and winter-drinks-sampling adventures across Istanbul. (Un)surprisingly, I received a lot...

Anatolian Travel Archives: Hattusha/Hattuşa

Once there was a time when Hattusha was reached by foot, through a dense forest that flourished near the Red River or Kızılırmak and...

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...

A Guide to Volunteering In Istanbul

Every single day you spend with a person to make their day better, every moment of teaching someone something new, every step you take...

The Art of Nothing in Istanbul

Nothing: nothing to do, nothing to fix. No work to go to, no garden to tend. No meetings to go to, no dance classes…absolutely...

Book Review: The Time Regulation Institute

There’s a moment in The Time Regulation Institute, the novel by acclaimed Turkish author Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, where the protagonist Hayri Irdal explains the...

Top 5 Bookshops in Istanbul

Istanbul sure does have a lot to offer when it comes to the world of books - there are boutique retailers, hidden stores, retail...

Insider Trading: At Origin Coffee

If you are a coffee lover, no doubt you have heard by now of single-origin coffee. It’s all the rage; even Starbucks has joined...

In Search of Mantı

As you walk down the streets of Istanbul, the air swirls with color and unfamiliar smells. Occasionally, you stop and peer into shop windows,...

Istanbul’s First Second-Hand Shopping Guide

This article was adapted from Yesilist.com. Don’t you just adore the colorful display windows of second-hand shops? Even more so, the quest for second-hand treasures...