Kubilay is the perfect host that anyone could ever dream of! The room was clean and warm, and the bed was comfortable. Kubilay has done a great job maintaining the house! What's more, he had made my first time in Istanbul an experience that I will cherish for a lifetime! We spent nights chatting in the living room while enjoying his famous home made tea and gormet snakes that his mother made. One day it was my birthday, he met me after work for dinner and took me to his "secret base" in TakSim. The place was very nice and I bet you can never find it just by yourself. There we were enjoying tea and Kurdish music, Kubilay taught me to play Persian chess. He explained the tips and tricks carefully and patiently and now I'm addicted to it! He took me for a walk to the peak where you get to see the skyline of whole Istanbul. We sat down and enjoyed the beautiful view while tasting tea... He knows lots of places that are not written in any of the travel guides. You shouldn't hesitate to ask him for suggestion. He is more than nice and kind. To me he is more like a long lost friend. You know, when you are alone in a foreign land, a host like Kubilay would not only ease all your anxieties and bring you a sense of safety, but also make the trip a meaningful experience. He has made Istanbul my home. There is no need to mention that he allowed me to use everything in his kitchen and insisted that I didn't need to wash them after use. I would definitely come back to visit him and stay at his place again! Thank you Airbnb for giving me the chance making this life-long friend!