One of the many wonderful things about living in Istanbul is that you are constantly being introduced to a friend of a friend of a friend, and somehow they seem to be doing all sorts of extraordinary things.

At a recent boat party, I met Murat Gokmen, a Londoner with Turkish roots who returned to Istanbul for a month this summer to rediscover his home city as well as film a series of short pieces for the Guardian (with a bit of help from the lovely Zach Brown). His first was released yesterday, a beautiful visualisation of the Bosporus and it's importance to the city.  Andrew Finkel, a writer, long-term Istanbul resident, and father of a friend of mine, says it all better than I could:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/video/2011/sep/13/istanbul-bosphorus-video-guide

Also among Murat's films on YouTube is a clip of Baba Zula, one of my favorite Istanbul-based bands who combine "reggae, bellydance and oriental music." Here they react to the municipal ban on outdoor seating in Asmali Mescit at a local bar earlier this summer. Represent, yo.