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)...

Camel Wrestling in Turkey

The long wait is over: The camels are in heat. Bright-yellow shawls are fetched from the back of the closet. It’s okay again to...

15 LGBT Friendly Spaces in Istanbul

As a queer person, I can attest to how easy it is to feel isolated in a foreign country. This past year, we saw...

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...

Walk Across Turkey: Charly’s Pansiyon

30 September through 7 October at Charly's Pansiyon I stayed at the pension for over a week, sleeping by the lake, taking showers with hot...

Walk Across Turkey: Denizli’s Charm

Monday, 17 September - Denizli Monday morning, the third week of the walk, I packed up my stuff and said goodbye to Metin and the...

Out Now: “Letters from Istanbul, Vol 3: Living with Terror” by...

We're delighted to announce that long-time contributor James Tressler has recently released the third volume to his Letters from Istanbul series, available for purchase via Lulu....

5000 Kankalar in a Day: In Conversation with Joel Moriasi

The expat scene in Istanbul, as it is in many places, is one rather preoccupied with the preservation of the cultural habits of home,...

Winter Drinks: Searching for Real Sahlep

With all the snow in Istanbul this winter, and the unforgettable sights it brought of children sledding, snowmen in coats, and seagulls waddling in...

Winter Days in Istanbul: Exploring the City’s Museums

There are many ways to find solace during these damp days in Istanbul. As winter settles on the city, streets come alive with the...

Scorp is Hiring Speakers of Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian, Portuguese, & Spanish

Scorp is hiring! Scorp is a thriving local social media start-up, actively seeking new additions to their marketing department in the role of Digital...

Arter & Antrepo 5: Architectural Monuments Hosting Contemporary Art in Istanbul

That Istanbul is a force to be reckoned with in the contemporary art world is undeniable. You just need to look at spaces like...

Living Abroad Blues: Coping with Loneliness

When I first moved to Istanbul in 2016, I too experienced loneliness. After all, I was a foreigner in a new country, who did...

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...

Exploring Istanbul’s Museum of Innocence: Where Fiction Meets Reality

In the heart of Istanbul, in the historic district of Beyoğlu—more precisely, in the ancient streets of Çukurcuma—lies a museum that is out of...

Ancient Love Affair: Carian Project, a Self-Initiated Artist Residency

After moving from Istanbul to the small village of Turunç in southwest Turkey’s Muğla region, I finally had the time and energy to explore...

Insider Trading: Street Art Istanbul Mobile App

In recent years, street-art has begun spreading like wildfire through Istanbul's winding alleyways and backstreets. Some of the best pieces are hidden gems, however,...

In Conversation with Istanbul Rock Band, Farketmez

With their upcoming performance alongside The Young Shaven at Karga on Saturday 16 December, Farketmez reminds us that plenty of Istanbul's most promising bands...

Diaries of a Couch Potato: How to Learn Turkish via Kiralık...

I have received a mixed bag of reactions from Turkish people when I explain that Kiralık Aşk is “my dizi.” It’s a barely-realistic technicolor drama...

In Conversation with HICCUP, Istanbul Electronic Music Pioneers

Electronic music in Istanbul is a seriously mixed, often disappointing bag. For the late night revelers among us, there are only a few options in...

Dispatches from Cappadocia: From Türkiye to Brazil – The Scandal Surrounding...

Imagine this scenario: you are enjoying a trip to Thailand while ordering a coffee at a very simple place but to your surprise, the...

Diwali in Istanbul: The Indian Festival of Lights

In November, Yabangee contributor Devanshu Bawa and I were invited to the Indian Diwali Festival that is organized annually by the Friends of India...

Be Earthquake Ready in Istanbul

It’s the kind of story that sweeps down the gossip chain, becoming so popular that it morphs into an urban legend. The tale retold whenever...

Izmir Chronicles: Izmir is Worth Visiting (Part II)

Izmir offers plenty of local sites within the city of four million people, but it is also known for its access to easy day...