Cheap Istanbul: 8 Things to Do for under 10 TL
Summer just won't seem to quit, and we all know how the heat tends to stifle any imagination when it comes to finding ways to...
Smoke on the Water: Istanbul’s Vapurs
With its long and colourful history, its unique geographical position, its collection of characters, cultures, and creeds, Istanbul has no shortage of laudable attributes....
Yabangee Summer Checklist
Fear not fellow summer lovers! Yes, September approaches and all your expat teacher friends are bemoaning the end of their two-month-long vacations, but the...
St. Mary of the Mongols: The Last Byzantine Church
Nowadays Istanbul is known for its mosques, but prior to 1453, Constantinople was a completely Christian city replete with churches. Many of them exist to this day:...
Socially-Conscious Turkish Souvenirs at Nahıl Gift Shop
There comes a time for all of us when we have to purchase Turkish souvenirs for curious kith and kin back home. To get...
Book Review: Mark Wyers’ “Wicked Istanbul”
Fun Fact: There are around 60 state-run brothels in Turkey. This may be surprising given Turkey’s reputation as a conservative, rather religious country. So,...
Ani: A Timeless Beauty on the Edge of Turkey
I remember walking down the large avenues and neatly perpendicular streets of Washington, D.C. not too long ago, longing for old buildings and crooked...
Miniatürk – Educational and Fun!
Miniatürk, situated on the North-Eastern shore of the Golden Horn, in a nutshell, is a display of the main monuments of Istanbul and Turkey...
Insider Trading: Aynalıkavak Palace
Surprising to say, but Ottoman palaces in Istanbul are a dime a dozen. Palaces were a necessary part of imperial life, but after the...
To the Black Sea and Back in a Day: A Scooter...
If you are longing for an excursion and escape from your everyday surroundings, sometimes there is no need to even leave the city. One...
Sea Turtles in Turkey: Caretta Caretta Conservation at Iztuzu Beach
In a time of increasing disregard for the environment within Turkey, the conservation work being undertaken to protect endangered marine turtles on the southwest...
Introducing BookSerf: Exchange Books and Meet New People
In theory, BookSerf is a simple enough concept. You choose some of your own books you'd be willing to share, browse other people's selections and...
Insider Trading: Museum of Turkish Jews in Karaköy
You may not be aware that there is either a museum or a synagogue in central Karaköy, downhill from Galata Tower and directly facing the tram stop....
The Untold Story of an African in Turkey
By Bairma Kihoro
People have always been crossing borders. Not just geographical, but social, cultural and psychological ones as well. Everyone has their own dramas,...
Istanbul’s Hidden Architecture: The Camondo Stairs
Strolling through Istanbul requires two basic skills: a good sense of direction and a strong pair of legs. The steep hills and windy streets...
Yeşilce: An Extraordinary Village with an Ordinary Name
I doubt Ordu ranks high on anyone’s list of places to visit in Turkey. It certainly wasn’t on my ‘must-see’ radar. It doesn’t have...
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the ‘Bul
During my first few months in Istanbul I wasn’t exactly bowled over by the place. I thought it was pushy, crowded, ugly and disorganised....
Life Hack: Bank-free Nakit Cards for Online Shopping
When I moved to Istanbul I encountered problems with shopping online because websites wouldn't accept my foreign bank card. Although I later opened an account...
5 Things I’ll Miss Most About Istanbul
In a few days my wife and I will be leaving Istanbul after living here for three years. We have had an incredible time...
A Multitude of Mosques: The Book Covers of Turkish Novels in...
Some time ago, I was discussing Elif Şafak with a Turkish friend. I mentioned that I was reading The Bastard of Istanbul, and after...
Cappadocia: A Few of My Favorite Things
Outside the bustling everyday life of Istanbul there is a magically serene interior, which I can only hope each of you are lucky enough...
Nicole Restaurant: Raising the Haute Cuisine Bar
My wife and I have something called “The List.” It started in Washington, D.C., when my then-fiancée and I had recently finished graduate business...
How to Get a Turkish Residence Permit (Updated June 2014)
Obtaining a Turkish residence permit used to be a pain, but not incredibly challenging if you had all the necessary paperwork. Now though, with...
An Ode to Yabangee
Well this isn’t technically an ode seeing as poetry intimidates me. What it is though, is a giant shout-out to all you Yabangee-ers out...