Yabangee Travel Blog: A Week in Northern Cyprus
A trip to Northern Cyprus should be on the list of any Istanbullu who thinks that our fair city is (sometimes) a bit too...
Lost in Turkey: Nemrut Volcano
For those unfamiliar, this isn’t the Mount Nemrut of stone headed statue fame in the province of Adıyaman. I’m talking about the caldera-topped Nemrut...
12 Cool Places to Study in Galata Neighborhood
Galata is a beautiful neighborhood in the apex of Beyoğlu district. It used to be a sanctuary for Turkey’s Greek, Armenian, Italian and Jewish...
Buying a House in Turkey – Finding the Right Place (Part...
So, you’ve been in Turkey for a while and decided that it might make sense to buy a house or maybe you have your...
Five Tips for Learning Turkish as a Native English Speaker
I've found myself having the same conversation with various people over the past few months. It generally goes like this:
"It's just different for native...
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....
The Heat of Summers Present and Past
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,...
16 LGBT Friendly Cafes and Bars in Istanbul
With so many rapid changes happening in Turkey and the world, along with all the changes in our personal lives, the LGBT community needs...
Open Call: Istanbulspor Season Ticket & Passolig Giveaway!
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...
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,...
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Turkish Fortune-Telling Culture
After observing several overturned coffee cups with increasing curiosity during my first few months here, it became apparent that one does not simply sip...
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...
Republic Day: A Last-Minute Guide
Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayramı) is this Wednesday, 29 October, and the holiday officially begins Tuesday afternoon. Republic Day commemorates the declaration of the Republic of...
Zululuzu, Portuguese Theatre’s Turkish Debut
They spoke to me of people, and of humanity.
But I've never seen people, or humanity.
I've seen various people, astonishingly dissimilar,
Each separated from the next...
A Guide to Traditional Turkish Herbal Remedies
Being a proud plant mother and a witch-in-training, I couldn't find a better place to live than in Istanbul. The city thrives with spice...
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...
Insider Trading: Bosphorus Brewing Company
Let’s be honest: Turkey isn’t exactly renowned for its beer. Efes and Bomonti, the country’s two homegrown brands, leave a lot to be desired,...
Seeing Turkey through Turkish eyes—The Dragoman
by Joel Thomas of The Dragoman
Anyone who has ever lived in a foreign country knows that bilingual friends can be a godsend. When we...
Insider Trading: Mua-licious
Summer, fall, winter, or spring, we all want ice cream. Luckily, the ice cream makers at Mua have a flavor for every season. Their...
Yabangee Recommends: “Where can I take my friends or relatives who...
“Where can I take my friends or relatives who want to try Turkish ev yemekleri?”
If you delve deep into Turkish cuisine, past the kebap...
In Conversation with Kate Clow of Trekking in Turkey
Kate Clow, a long-time resident of Turkey, is a renowned sage of hiking in the region. She is best known for heading efforts to build,...
Lost in Turkey: Lake Bafa
This little pocket of salty sea water trapped inland by ancient sediment accumulation has managed to retain all of its Aegean culture, with a...
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,...