Join our Turkey in English Discord – Chat & Stay Connected
Yabangee is now on Discord - an easy way to chat and stay close with friends and communities in Turkey.
What is Discord? A free...
Tips for Eating Organic & Healthy in Istanbul
While eating healthy might not normally be a top priority, if you have kids like me, that opinion will likely change as you probably...
Istanbul to Sofia Train Ride: Cigarette Smuggling and Bribery on the...
An evening on the oat sodas on Kadıköy’s infamous bar street brought an idea into my friend’s head: we should head to Bulgaria. Whilst...
Feriköy Organic Market and the Lady of the Cake
This is a story of how I unexpectedly stumbled upon the perfect cake.
Like crossing a perilous street in Taksim on Labor Day or eating...
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...
Romance in the Air: Date Ideas for Istanbul
Istanbul beats Paris any day when it comes to experiencing romantic moments, as far as I am convinced. Even logistically it is superior to...
Istanbul Adrift
It was bound to happen sooner or later. But it happened much sooner than the citizens of Istanbul were ready for. And it happened in...
Insider Trading: Dört Kadıköy
“A post-modern neighborhood cafe.” That’s how Neylan Öğütveren, one of the owners of Dört Kadıköy describes it. The coffee shop, which opened in October...
There’s No Such Thing as a Simple Turkish Wedding
The marriage bureaucrats at the Şişli marriage bureau seem like the unhappiest people in the world. Just a few meters from the miniature theater, where everyday...
Istanbul Welcomes the Yellow Bouncy Castle
Istanbul attracts all sorts of heroes and magnificent freaks. And I am not talking about Sean Connery or Liam Neeson.
Meet Thomas, who calls himself...
Review: Sutra Visits Zorlu Performing Arts Center
One of the highlights of my incredible solo backpacking trip around China in the winter of 2012 was seeing a traditional kung fu performance...
An ode to public transit. Thank you, Istanbul!
Public transportation in Turkey is pretty grand! And, really, has to be. It serves a city of upwards of 16 million individuals. A densely...
Your Most Important Vocab Lesson: The Haircut
Sick of leaving Turkish hair salons looking like a 50-year-old, overly done-up newscaster? No matter how much you try to tell hairdressers that you’re...
Awkward Tales from the ‘Bul #5: Döner Kebab
Three weeks ago, I was taking the metrobüs with my brother from Şirinevler, on a very rainy day. Being as crowded as it was...
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...
Open Call – ‘We Call It Home: Istanbul Dialogues’ Speaker Suggestions
We Call It Home: Istanbul Dialogues is a new monthly series showcasing the inspiring contributions being made by Istanbul’s diverse international community to the...
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,...
Off In The Direction Of Tarabya (Poem)
cold, dark, eerie
leather soles staccato along pavements
avoiding cracks and stray van
İstanbul becalmed, again
street lamps whisper through hüzün
diesel engines growl like kangal
buses ready to depart
north...
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....
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...
Guide to Keto and Low-carb Dieting in Istanbul
What is a keto diet? What is a low-carb diet?
A keto (ketogenic) diet is where you are restricted to consuming a maximum of (typically)...
The Way We Travel
When it comes to travel, the questions, ‘why?’ and ‘how?’ are often far more meaningful than, ‘where?’ Two people may go on the same...
Summer Activities for Kids in Istanbul
Bad weather may confuse you but summer is here, yet you still have no idea on how to entertain your kids and keep them...
Green Getaway: Belgrade Forest
There's no denying that life in Istanbul can be a bit hectic. It's what makes this city so intoxicating. But there are times when...