Istanbul, Republic of Turkey Datasheet
Hello all. Another datasheet and more to come. The reason I enjoy writing datasheets is because personal insights are useful at all times. Also, like I stated in my previous datasheet, cities and countries are always subjected to change so it is a good thing to keep the fresh flow of information coming. Every datasheet has their own flavor and I rather come with facts/advises instead of personal stories.
Turkey is everything but a Poosy Paradise. Something that the most of us probably already know. Yet every destination has it's charm and possibilities and if you ever find yourself traveling to Turkey it's better to be prepared. This thread is going to be about Istanbul. I visited Istanbul for one month during the beginning of 2018. Mostly for business purposes but of course I always make time even in such cases to explore the city and share the right kind of information with all of you.
The city of Istanbul is huge. With the metropolitan area included it has 15 million inhabitants. As a result, every visit will be different for everyone. It is therefore advisable to investigate which areas you will visit in order to have the best possible time. I will explain later on what areas I have visited and what is my opinion on those areas. Istanbul is a vast place. There are very conservative neighborhoods, there are places that are upper class, Westernised, consuming Western culture. Also don't forget to purchase a visa before traveling to Turkey which can be done here. Only do this on the official website.
Local Currency and Cost of Living
The local currency is the Turkish Lira which is at a very favorable position for people coming to Turkey. For the actual exchange rates you can click here.
After doing some research, I found out that the average salary in Istanbul is $ 670 per month. The average in Turkey is $ 590. This should give you an idea about what things might cost. What I noticed is that the local food is very cheap. Cheaper than some Eastern European countries. You could save money on this. Also buy as much clothes as you can. It's cheap and you can negotiate. Especially shoes and bags are in a great price range.
A few practical examples:
- Uber is officially forbidden but nobody really cares. A taxi ride of 2 hours only costed me $30.
- Alcohol is difficult to obtain and if you manage to find it paying $ 20 for a bottle of wine would not be exceptional.
- A 3 course dinner will cost you around $7.50 in a non-touristic district.
Climate
Summer months are warm and humid with very little rain especially between July-August, winter months can be cold and wet with some snow but not that much extreme as some other areas of Turkey. Spring and autumn are mild and this would be the best time for visitors.
Accommodation & Transportation
Flying into Istanbul you'll have the choice to land in one of the 2 major airport hubs. If you fly with Pegasus airlines (one of the price fighters) it will cost you peanuts to get there. If you're in Sofia, Bulgaria for example you could take a bus which costs you only $22 for a 9 hour drive to reach Istanbul. Flying within Turkey is worth it. Flying from Istanbul to Izmir only costs $15 for example.
What is interesting and something I noticed is that the price of some hotels is equal to that of Airbnb apartments. If you find it no problem to have less space and are more focused on luxury it is something you could consider. Booking.com is forbidden in Turkey but you could use Expedia for example. I stayed in hotels for the first two weeks for which I paid $80 for each week. Not a bad deal. Then I stayed in Airbnb apartment for approx. 2 weeks. This apartment was located in the city center and costed me $225.
Public transport is accessible and easy to use. I recommend this app called Trafi. I never heard of it before, before I downloaded this one but I have to say it's useful. You can plan your trip and it will tell you which tram/bus/train you should take. It can be used in other countries as well. If you would like to walk somewhere and it's not around the corner I still recommend you taking an Uber. There are many drivers available which results in a driver being with you within 3 minutes most of the time. It's more than affordable as well. It barely costs anything to get around. Then there's the public transport tickets. You can buy a single ticket for 5 lira or you buy this thing called Istanbulkart. You pay a deposit of 10 lira (which is refundable when you’ll return the card) for the card itself, then you can load as much credit as you’d like on it using the self-service kiosks named as (ISTANBULKART DOLUM NOKTASI, meaning Istanbulkart refill point). The Istanbulkart is sold at basically every ticket booth. Keep in mind there's usually a separate charging machine next to the ticket booth. Something that's popular in Turkey are little buses called "Dolmus". You'll have to wave your hand for the driver to make him stop and when you are inside of the bus you'll have to communicate with the driver which could be challenging. You have to tell him where to stop. Yet the big advantage to using a Dolmus bus is that it barely costs anything to use.
Clubs and Bars
On 1 January 2017, there was an attack on the Reina nightclub in Ortakoy, Istanbul; 39 people were killed and 69 injured. This gave me a reason not to visit any clubs. I've been in many places in the world but when my feeling tells me not to do something I won't. Yet I could tell you about the best clubs to attend.
360 — The venue is located in a penthouse of a 19th century apartment building with 360 degrees fascinating landscape views of the Bosphorus, Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. The place expresses itself with four elements: cuisine, design, entertainment and atmosphere. The club comes alive in the weekends, offering DJs and vocalists with live dancers and performances, and non-stop partying until the early morning hours.
Ruby — Located on the shore of Bosphorus, it goes without saying that this three storey mansion offers a good view as well as a broad variety of food in the garden /balcony with Bosphorus panoramic views. There are two nightclubs, one on the bottom and one on the top floor.
Sortie — An elite ambience, with a picturesque view of Istanbul located by the Bosphorus with a combination of six restaurants and 3 bars, open between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m. Sortie is one of the best escape places to relax and have fun.
Women
This is where it gets interesting. An interesting subject. Istanbul (I can't speak for the whole of Turkey) surprised me on several occasions. Which began at the airport right away. I saw some women that were absolutely beautiful and whom I did not expect to be Turkish. But they were. The majority aren't stunners but there is definitely some good quality! Creeping around on Instagram is not my cup of tea, but to give you an idea of what the top 1% looks like you can take a look when you click here. If you walk around in the city center during the day you might be able to catch a glimpse of a few of those girls.
During my stay I had a whopping 2 Tinder matches. Yes, 2, you read that right. The dating scene in Turkey is not impossible but very inaccessible. It is common for people of Turkish origin only, to go together. In addition to that religion also plays a major role. People are mainly focused on serious relationships. Even if a girl would be glad to be go out with you she is dealing with a lot of pressure from outside. Before you are even able to take any action you're already behind with 1-0. Keep this in mind.
I have not spoken to girls of whom it was obvious that they were religious (for example by wearing a headscarf). Not only do I think I wouldn't make a chance with them but also as someone who considers himself red pilled I appreciate serious values. In my personal opinion I think that a marriage or relationship can continue to exist successfully through interference of religion. I respect girls who believe in conservative ideals. I would only approach such girls if I wanted to get into a serious relationship. And I recommend everyone doing the same to create a better world.
It is advisable to use night game. By doing so you know you're going to come across girls who are more liberal and willing to meet people in a spontaneous way. Your success rate is going to be higher. Day game is something that simply won't be a successful thing here. At least; rarely. You'll have to deal with social control and it's as if everybody knows each other. The fact that this such a huge city makes no difference in this sense.
Personal experiences
Because I wanted to get a grip of the city I stayed in different hotels in different parts of the city. First the Eastern Asian part and then the Western European part. Some parts of Istanbul can give you the feeling you're in Pakistan/India. That's how it felt for me. Walking around those streets didn't give me the feeling I should hang out there for a long time. Surprisingly there also parts that are very modern and Westernized. So the experience you are going to get really depends on what you make out of it! You'll have to make sure where to go. Perhaps there are some people on the Forum who can recommend the best parts of the city to visit.
When I felt that it was going to be a bad day this also became reality. I ordered a ride with Uber and the driver arrived within 3 minutes. A journey that was supposed to only take 15 minutes lasted 3 hours. I became nervous after half an hour and started to ask the driver when we would be there. Then he suddenly could not speak English anymore. The driver put me under pressure to pay the full amount. When I refused he managed to get some friends and it became a dangerous situation. When I threatened with the police and the embassy (I just said random stuff that came to mind) suddenly there was nothing going on anymore. Opposed to South-America it's important you stand your ground and not back down from your point of view. In the end I did not pay anything. You have to be very careful because even through Uber you can be scammed in this city. It is sometimes best not to make it too clear that you are a tourist.
Turkish people are in general (there are always exceptions) very friendly and helpful. Every day I've been asked where I'm from and they just tried to talk to me without any commercial interest. They also have a high energy level. That probably has to do with the culture and liveliness of this same culture. Especially when it comes to men. Turkish guys are red pilled/game aware. They take every opportunity they'll get with girls. This means quite some competition for you.
Important info
Exercise a high degree of caution in Turkey due to crime, the threat of terrorist attacks and ongoing demonstrations throughout the country. On 15 July 2016, a coup d'état was attempted in Turkey against state institutions, including the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This and the recent Turkish interference in Syria should give you reason to be careful.
It is especially important to use common sense. Discontinue discussions that are opposed to Western ideals and treat sensitive issues with respect. To give you an example: the diplomatic ties with countries such as Germany and the Netherlands have recently deteriorated and the opinion of the Turks have not improved on people coming from these countries. Insulting the Turkish nation, flag, government and head of state is forbidden. So watch out for making jokes about that. Even small actions can get you into trouble nowadays. Something I do with great pleasure but what you should definitely not do during your stay in Istanbul: calling Istanbul Constantinople. Also, the use of internet is monitored and many sites are blocked. A few examples: foreign news sites, Wikipedia, Booking.com, etc. watch out with what you post on the internet. Investigations and lawsuits against foreigners are very common nowadays. Also, do not be critical in the matters above on the internet during your stay. As it will most likely bring you into trouble.
Travel Advice Turkey - UK Government
Travel Advice Turkey - US Government
Personal Opinion and Conclusion
If you do decide to travel to Turkey, I advise you to travel to the coastal areas. Despite the fact that Roosh has had bad experiences in this area (10 Things You should know Before Visiting Turkey in The Summer) you'll have the biggest chance of succeeding there. This has to do with the fact that during the summer months there is a massive influx of tourists from FSU Countries, Scandinavia, Western Europe and so on. A reason to visit Istanbul is of course the size of the city. You will have more opportunities and big cities are often more liberal. Unfortunately this comparison is no(t) (longer) valid when it comes to Istanbul which is a very conservative city.
On a sideline, if you have a adventurous mindset and still would like to interact with Turkish women you could for example pay a visit to Central Turkey (Central Anatolia). Where the chance of encountering tourists is very small. An exotic factor therefore plays it's role here. Something that could work to your advantage (as in many countries) is if you look different than the local population. This will make you stand out. This is especially the case in Turkey.
Would I visit Istanbul or another location in Turkey again? The answer to that is simply no. I am able to look back on interesting moments but the inconveniences did not outweigh the benefits. No results, difficult and tiring days, and it feels very different from any place in the world where I've been. I even felt depressed throughout my stay here and I was happy to leave. Living in Eastern European countries most of the time I am used to gloomy places but this was a different thing. Hard to explain until you've experienced it yourself. In my opinion Turkey is becoming radicalized in a rapid way. It could be me but that is something that was very noticeable to me in comparison with when I last visited Turkey 8 years ago. If you are both an experienced gamer and traveler you could give it a go. But you'll have to enjoy challenges. No guts no glory.
Let the magic happen.
Make the impossible possible.
/ANV
![[Image: nut87.jpg]](http://i63.tinypic.com/nut87.jpg)
Hello all. Another datasheet and more to come. The reason I enjoy writing datasheets is because personal insights are useful at all times. Also, like I stated in my previous datasheet, cities and countries are always subjected to change so it is a good thing to keep the fresh flow of information coming. Every datasheet has their own flavor and I rather come with facts/advises instead of personal stories.
Turkey is everything but a Poosy Paradise. Something that the most of us probably already know. Yet every destination has it's charm and possibilities and if you ever find yourself traveling to Turkey it's better to be prepared. This thread is going to be about Istanbul. I visited Istanbul for one month during the beginning of 2018. Mostly for business purposes but of course I always make time even in such cases to explore the city and share the right kind of information with all of you.
The city of Istanbul is huge. With the metropolitan area included it has 15 million inhabitants. As a result, every visit will be different for everyone. It is therefore advisable to investigate which areas you will visit in order to have the best possible time. I will explain later on what areas I have visited and what is my opinion on those areas. Istanbul is a vast place. There are very conservative neighborhoods, there are places that are upper class, Westernised, consuming Western culture. Also don't forget to purchase a visa before traveling to Turkey which can be done here. Only do this on the official website.
Local Currency and Cost of Living
The local currency is the Turkish Lira which is at a very favorable position for people coming to Turkey. For the actual exchange rates you can click here.
After doing some research, I found out that the average salary in Istanbul is $ 670 per month. The average in Turkey is $ 590. This should give you an idea about what things might cost. What I noticed is that the local food is very cheap. Cheaper than some Eastern European countries. You could save money on this. Also buy as much clothes as you can. It's cheap and you can negotiate. Especially shoes and bags are in a great price range.
A few practical examples:
- Uber is officially forbidden but nobody really cares. A taxi ride of 2 hours only costed me $30.
- Alcohol is difficult to obtain and if you manage to find it paying $ 20 for a bottle of wine would not be exceptional.
- A 3 course dinner will cost you around $7.50 in a non-touristic district.
Climate
Summer months are warm and humid with very little rain especially between July-August, winter months can be cold and wet with some snow but not that much extreme as some other areas of Turkey. Spring and autumn are mild and this would be the best time for visitors.
Accommodation & Transportation
Flying into Istanbul you'll have the choice to land in one of the 2 major airport hubs. If you fly with Pegasus airlines (one of the price fighters) it will cost you peanuts to get there. If you're in Sofia, Bulgaria for example you could take a bus which costs you only $22 for a 9 hour drive to reach Istanbul. Flying within Turkey is worth it. Flying from Istanbul to Izmir only costs $15 for example.
What is interesting and something I noticed is that the price of some hotels is equal to that of Airbnb apartments. If you find it no problem to have less space and are more focused on luxury it is something you could consider. Booking.com is forbidden in Turkey but you could use Expedia for example. I stayed in hotels for the first two weeks for which I paid $80 for each week. Not a bad deal. Then I stayed in Airbnb apartment for approx. 2 weeks. This apartment was located in the city center and costed me $225.
Public transport is accessible and easy to use. I recommend this app called Trafi. I never heard of it before, before I downloaded this one but I have to say it's useful. You can plan your trip and it will tell you which tram/bus/train you should take. It can be used in other countries as well. If you would like to walk somewhere and it's not around the corner I still recommend you taking an Uber. There are many drivers available which results in a driver being with you within 3 minutes most of the time. It's more than affordable as well. It barely costs anything to get around. Then there's the public transport tickets. You can buy a single ticket for 5 lira or you buy this thing called Istanbulkart. You pay a deposit of 10 lira (which is refundable when you’ll return the card) for the card itself, then you can load as much credit as you’d like on it using the self-service kiosks named as (ISTANBULKART DOLUM NOKTASI, meaning Istanbulkart refill point). The Istanbulkart is sold at basically every ticket booth. Keep in mind there's usually a separate charging machine next to the ticket booth. Something that's popular in Turkey are little buses called "Dolmus". You'll have to wave your hand for the driver to make him stop and when you are inside of the bus you'll have to communicate with the driver which could be challenging. You have to tell him where to stop. Yet the big advantage to using a Dolmus bus is that it barely costs anything to use.
Clubs and Bars
On 1 January 2017, there was an attack on the Reina nightclub in Ortakoy, Istanbul; 39 people were killed and 69 injured. This gave me a reason not to visit any clubs. I've been in many places in the world but when my feeling tells me not to do something I won't. Yet I could tell you about the best clubs to attend.
360 — The venue is located in a penthouse of a 19th century apartment building with 360 degrees fascinating landscape views of the Bosphorus, Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. The place expresses itself with four elements: cuisine, design, entertainment and atmosphere. The club comes alive in the weekends, offering DJs and vocalists with live dancers and performances, and non-stop partying until the early morning hours.
Ruby — Located on the shore of Bosphorus, it goes without saying that this three storey mansion offers a good view as well as a broad variety of food in the garden /balcony with Bosphorus panoramic views. There are two nightclubs, one on the bottom and one on the top floor.
Sortie — An elite ambience, with a picturesque view of Istanbul located by the Bosphorus with a combination of six restaurants and 3 bars, open between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m. Sortie is one of the best escape places to relax and have fun.
Women
This is where it gets interesting. An interesting subject. Istanbul (I can't speak for the whole of Turkey) surprised me on several occasions. Which began at the airport right away. I saw some women that were absolutely beautiful and whom I did not expect to be Turkish. But they were. The majority aren't stunners but there is definitely some good quality! Creeping around on Instagram is not my cup of tea, but to give you an idea of what the top 1% looks like you can take a look when you click here. If you walk around in the city center during the day you might be able to catch a glimpse of a few of those girls.
During my stay I had a whopping 2 Tinder matches. Yes, 2, you read that right. The dating scene in Turkey is not impossible but very inaccessible. It is common for people of Turkish origin only, to go together. In addition to that religion also plays a major role. People are mainly focused on serious relationships. Even if a girl would be glad to be go out with you she is dealing with a lot of pressure from outside. Before you are even able to take any action you're already behind with 1-0. Keep this in mind.
I have not spoken to girls of whom it was obvious that they were religious (for example by wearing a headscarf). Not only do I think I wouldn't make a chance with them but also as someone who considers himself red pilled I appreciate serious values. In my personal opinion I think that a marriage or relationship can continue to exist successfully through interference of religion. I respect girls who believe in conservative ideals. I would only approach such girls if I wanted to get into a serious relationship. And I recommend everyone doing the same to create a better world.
It is advisable to use night game. By doing so you know you're going to come across girls who are more liberal and willing to meet people in a spontaneous way. Your success rate is going to be higher. Day game is something that simply won't be a successful thing here. At least; rarely. You'll have to deal with social control and it's as if everybody knows each other. The fact that this such a huge city makes no difference in this sense.
Personal experiences
Because I wanted to get a grip of the city I stayed in different hotels in different parts of the city. First the Eastern Asian part and then the Western European part. Some parts of Istanbul can give you the feeling you're in Pakistan/India. That's how it felt for me. Walking around those streets didn't give me the feeling I should hang out there for a long time. Surprisingly there also parts that are very modern and Westernized. So the experience you are going to get really depends on what you make out of it! You'll have to make sure where to go. Perhaps there are some people on the Forum who can recommend the best parts of the city to visit.
When I felt that it was going to be a bad day this also became reality. I ordered a ride with Uber and the driver arrived within 3 minutes. A journey that was supposed to only take 15 minutes lasted 3 hours. I became nervous after half an hour and started to ask the driver when we would be there. Then he suddenly could not speak English anymore. The driver put me under pressure to pay the full amount. When I refused he managed to get some friends and it became a dangerous situation. When I threatened with the police and the embassy (I just said random stuff that came to mind) suddenly there was nothing going on anymore. Opposed to South-America it's important you stand your ground and not back down from your point of view. In the end I did not pay anything. You have to be very careful because even through Uber you can be scammed in this city. It is sometimes best not to make it too clear that you are a tourist.
Turkish people are in general (there are always exceptions) very friendly and helpful. Every day I've been asked where I'm from and they just tried to talk to me without any commercial interest. They also have a high energy level. That probably has to do with the culture and liveliness of this same culture. Especially when it comes to men. Turkish guys are red pilled/game aware. They take every opportunity they'll get with girls. This means quite some competition for you.
Important info
Exercise a high degree of caution in Turkey due to crime, the threat of terrorist attacks and ongoing demonstrations throughout the country. On 15 July 2016, a coup d'état was attempted in Turkey against state institutions, including the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This and the recent Turkish interference in Syria should give you reason to be careful.
It is especially important to use common sense. Discontinue discussions that are opposed to Western ideals and treat sensitive issues with respect. To give you an example: the diplomatic ties with countries such as Germany and the Netherlands have recently deteriorated and the opinion of the Turks have not improved on people coming from these countries. Insulting the Turkish nation, flag, government and head of state is forbidden. So watch out for making jokes about that. Even small actions can get you into trouble nowadays. Something I do with great pleasure but what you should definitely not do during your stay in Istanbul: calling Istanbul Constantinople. Also, the use of internet is monitored and many sites are blocked. A few examples: foreign news sites, Wikipedia, Booking.com, etc. watch out with what you post on the internet. Investigations and lawsuits against foreigners are very common nowadays. Also, do not be critical in the matters above on the internet during your stay. As it will most likely bring you into trouble.
Travel Advice Turkey - UK Government
Travel Advice Turkey - US Government
Personal Opinion and Conclusion
If you do decide to travel to Turkey, I advise you to travel to the coastal areas. Despite the fact that Roosh has had bad experiences in this area (10 Things You should know Before Visiting Turkey in The Summer) you'll have the biggest chance of succeeding there. This has to do with the fact that during the summer months there is a massive influx of tourists from FSU Countries, Scandinavia, Western Europe and so on. A reason to visit Istanbul is of course the size of the city. You will have more opportunities and big cities are often more liberal. Unfortunately this comparison is no(t) (longer) valid when it comes to Istanbul which is a very conservative city.
On a sideline, if you have a adventurous mindset and still would like to interact with Turkish women you could for example pay a visit to Central Turkey (Central Anatolia). Where the chance of encountering tourists is very small. An exotic factor therefore plays it's role here. Something that could work to your advantage (as in many countries) is if you look different than the local population. This will make you stand out. This is especially the case in Turkey.
Would I visit Istanbul or another location in Turkey again? The answer to that is simply no. I am able to look back on interesting moments but the inconveniences did not outweigh the benefits. No results, difficult and tiring days, and it feels very different from any place in the world where I've been. I even felt depressed throughout my stay here and I was happy to leave. Living in Eastern European countries most of the time I am used to gloomy places but this was a different thing. Hard to explain until you've experienced it yourself. In my opinion Turkey is becoming radicalized in a rapid way. It could be me but that is something that was very noticeable to me in comparison with when I last visited Turkey 8 years ago. If you are both an experienced gamer and traveler you could give it a go. But you'll have to enjoy challenges. No guts no glory.
Quote:Quote:
“From the first, Istanbul had given him the impression of a town where, with the night, horror creeps out of the stones. It seemed to him a town the centuries had so drenched in blood and violence that, when daylight went out, the ghosts of its dead were its only population.”
― Ian Fleming, From Russia With Love
Let the magic happen.
Make the impossible possible.
/ANV