Lonely Planet Six Degrees: Istanbul

Waking up from a century in the doldrums, the city that invented the concept of East meets West is doing what it does best—taking the best of both worlds and creating something greater than the sum of its parts. Presenter Asha Gill hooks up with six of its citizens to find out why this 2,000-year-old city is suddenly back on the radar again. She meets: Cemil Pekci – a flamboyant fashion icon, Cemil turns Asha into a blushing bride, a drinker of moustache moisturiser and a model Turkish postman to boot. Serra Akcan – a freelance photographer capturing the stories of Istanbul women on film, Serra reveals what orthodox girls wear for a dip when she ropes Asha into an Islamic swimwear photo shoot. Murat Uncuoglu – a DJ, music producer and beatmaster who unites traditional Anatolian folk, contemporary Istanbul jazz and the vocal musings of one Asha Gill into a mesmerising new track. Emir Uras – sought-after Istanbul architect of cool with a 360-degree panorama of the city, Emir introduces Asha to the Bosphorus Strait, a donkey she’ll never forget and the fine art of drinking raki. Ayse Cevahir – an interior designer re-connecting with the spirit of architects who lived half a millennium ago, Ayse reveals what an exquisite Ottoman mosque and Istanbul’s biggest shopping mall have in common. Nasuh Mahruki – adrenalin junkie, mountaineer and founder of search-and-rescue outfit AKUT, Nasuh puts Asha through her paces in an earthquake rescue drill. (From Series 3 of Lonely Planet Six Degrees)