Missing Istanbul Boy No.1... with Ali K

ALI K.
Aug 14, 2016
2 min read

I met Ali on one of the gay apps on the second morning of Istanbul shoot week. I proposed the idea of him taking part, and he was open. He certainly didn't know what Elska was and even at the time we met, I'm not sure he'd taken the time to check it out. He just fancied meeting up, trying something new, having a sort of adventure.

So we met that same afternoon by Üsküdar port on the Asian side of Istanbul. We walked along the shoreline to his place, which overlooked the sea and Maiden's Tower (where a crucial scene of Bond's 'The World is Not Enough' was filmed). It was an apartment way too big for him, and most of it was empty of furniture. I don't think he felt settled there, and indeed after talking he revealed that he recently moved there from the European side, feeling more at home there and nearer to friends and entertainment. But Istanbul as a whole didn't feel like home to him. He was wanting somewhere a bit smaller and a bit closer to the beach. By the time this is published he could already be gone.

Ali K wasn't published in Elska Magazine Issue (06) Istanbul. Some of the others were cut because they didn't submit stories on time, but Ali did submit a story, but it was just too short. I asked him to add a bit but he ignored my request. I think that indeed he didn't really want to be in Elska. He just was bored that day and thought a photoshoot could be fun. It's a shame, but these things happen.

Anyway, if you would like to read his story, I've posted it below. Sorry, I haven't had it translated though - no point spending money on a translator for something that won't be fully published, but you can always do a cut+paste into your favourite online translation site... - Liam C.

Bazen tarihi yarım adaya bakarken evimin balkonundan durup durup hayallere dalıyor kız kuleine baktıkça orada kimler tutsak edildi diye düşünürken, istanbulun muazzamlığı beni farklı hayallere götürürken sonra bir anda kendime geliyor ve diyotum... ben buraya mı aitim yoksa köklerimin derinlere daldığı incim izmirime mi aitim? bazen nefret bazen sevgi sanırım Istanbul... ama her ne olursa olsun Burda farlı yasamlar farklı insanlar insanın ufkunu acıyor.kendime daha cok baglanıyorum farklı hayatlar tanıdıkca.iki yakada da yasamak bana daha cok sey kattı avrupa tarafındaki kalabalığı keşmekeşi Asya yakasındaki sessizlik mutasıp hayatla değistirdim..mutlumuyum? bilmiyorum.ama tek bildiğim birsey var bende cok sey aldı bu şehir(Istanbul)...kültürümün adetlerinden nefret ettiğim Kadar bazende seviyorum ve inadına yasıyorum..Garip ama sanki kültürümü terkedersem kendimi terkedicem gibi hissediyorum..sanki bana kalan tek güzel set bu gibi.ama bilmiyorum işte..ilginc bir paradox içindeyim..ama yinede herseye rahmen seviyorum bu hayatı.. - Ali K.