I sort of picked up a bad habit (probably addiction) during my tour of duty in Egypt last year. Its this wonderfully, deceptive device with billowing smoke coming out from the mouth of the person smoking it .Its called Shisha.
History and Introduction
Lets have a little history lesson of the Shisha.The shisha or AKA:
-Hookah
-Waterpipe
-水烟 / 大烟 in China
-Nargeela or Argeela in the middle east
originated from India and currently is very popular especially in the middle east. While i was in Egypt i came across quite a number of shisha cafes/spots scattered around Cairo, Ismailia and 6th of October City. I am very sure that its much similiar throughout the other arab speaking nations. Where non Muslim people love to hang out at bars and chilling with beer and hot women. Over there i guess people just love to hang out and shisha all night long. I guess that was how this bad habbit of mine started since i do love to go out and party on fridays but there really isn't much of a choice while i was there so hence the frequent visits to shisha cafe's on fridays when i am off.
Structure and Operating Principles
So how does a shisha looks like and how it works? Shisha's come in all shapes and sizes
But generally a shisha bong is a water container containing 2 leads. One leads would house the shisha flavor covered with aluminum foil with air holes and charcoal at the top while the other is attached to a hose which you use to inhale the smoke with.
All shishas generally look like this from a cross sectional view and the principles of operations are pretty much similar to bongs. When you breathe in through the hose/pipe attached to it, air rushes in from the top through the charcoal, past the bowl (actually a ceramic container)
which houses the shisha flavors
and down the body and into the water contained inside the jar. The water helps to collect the smoke and since smoke is technically lighter than water it naturally rises to the surface. As it reaches the surface it burst opens and the concentrated flavored smoke is collected just above the surface of the water where it can now be sucked in through the hose for your enjoyment :).
You can pop by here for instructions how to prepare shisha.
Fun Facts
Common misconceptions and facts i usually come across during my sessions and discussions about shisha with family, friends and random people are:
MISCONCEPTION 1: No you don't get addicted to shisha
This is quite subjective to the individual depending on whether they like the experience or if they have the will power to stop but shishaing can become a habit just like in my case. I am not a smoker but i have a tendency to want to shisha when friends come over or when i simply hang out somewhere. It certainly beats sitting down and feeling stoned. Bear in mind that shisha flavors do contain nicotine though sometimes it is not shown. As you know nicotine also causes addiction in cigarettes.
FACT 1: Shisha is a terrible substitute for smoking.
Just like electric cigarettes:
You can't ask for a lamer excuse just to inhale smoke and blowing it out through your mouth of nose. Cigarettes be it electrical or conventional and shisha all contain nicotine which contributes to the addiction of it and you don't have to be a doctor to know that sucking smoke into your lungs is bad for your health.
MISCONCEPTION 2: The water acts as a filter
What kind of brain dead observation is that? If you really observe shisha's when you inhale, the smoke actually collects at the bottom and forms bubbles containing the flavored smoke and as it reaches the surface of the water it burst opens and builds up above the surface. When you inhale, this is where the smoke usually comes from. With that said, what kind of filter would water be if all it does is help collect flavored smoke for you?
FACT 2: Its not really a hassle to prepare shisha but it sucks when you have to clean up after.
Yes people it is really a bummer to clean up after shishaing. Although it usually takes less than 5 mins to prepare the shisha provided if you are using quick burn charcoals, i always find it a bummer while you are shishaing and cleaning up after. Bear in mind that you have to constantly burn fresh new charcoals as soon as the ones you are using begin to die out. Its kinda wasteful too to burn a whole bunch only to not use half of it latew. Handling the shisha flavor is quite messy too since you have to scoop it into the bowl and wrap it in aluminum foil. After shishaing comes the part i dread most.... clean up duty. This involves:
-Clearing the ash
-Clearing the spent shisha flavor from the ceramic container. (it is really icky gooey and sticky)
-Water rinsing of everthing especially the hose
-Scrubbing of all parts <= yea i hate this :(
So word of advice... do it outdoors and if you live in a condo/apartment do it on the balcony or somewhere where you can water jet all the ash away so you dun have to sweep or mop the floor when you are done.
Now about maintenance of the shisha bong. Rule of thumb, always and always remember:
Clean up after using and never ever leave it even if its just water in the bong.
Always scrub the main body's interior. You can use a modified baby bottle scrub with extended handle
but please do remember to rinse it throughly again after scrubbing, You certainly don't want to accidently inhale in some of the brush tips. Now why is scrubbing important? it keeps the passage way clean and charcoal taste free. I made a mistake of only rinsing it and now one of my shisha bongs has a tint of charcoal taste in it.
MISCONCEPTION 3: You stuff the flavor from the bottom of the ceramic container and you only put charcoal on top.
Nope if you do that then you are going to die trying to inhale and collect smoke as the airway has been blocked off by the shisha flavor. You are suppose to put in on top of the container and cover it with aluminum foil. Then make little air hole preferably using a toothpick and then place the hot charcoals on top.
FACT 3: Shisha IS more dangerous than cigarettes.
No matter what people say do believe this fact because the same thing that gets you addicted to cigarettes but make it less harmful to you compared to shisha is not present in shisha flavors. That is the nicotine filter. Although it does contain nicotine it does not effectively filters out the harmful particles than you inhale in every time you smoke shisha. So if someone tells you shisha is safer than cigarettes because it has water acting as a filter you know damn well they are telling you a little story about the cock riding the bull to school. Tell them to read this post and do their homework before they create more misconceptions. If all else fails just tell them this... "Here's a kite... go fly it"
Shisha in Malaysia
Now back home here in malaysia you might wonder where can i buy shisha and where can i smoke shisha around Selangor and KL?
If you are looking to buy a shisha bong, flavor or other accessories you can always drop by
The Arabian Nights or if you happen to frequent Subang Jaya you can drop by this little shop located near subang avenue in SS15. Its actually a little convenient store at the end of the condo beside subang avenue. The last i remembered per bong is about RM140 (made in china but its quite good quality) and flavors cost from RM150, RM30 and RM7. Most are al fakher brand aside from 2 other brands from dubai and they have most of the common flavors like apple, orange, grape and mint. You can check it out from here.
View Shisha Convenient Store in a larger map
Now for places to smoke shisha these are some of the places i have visited before and frequent
View Shisha Spots in a larger map
There is another area in seksyen 13 shah alam near the stadium. This spot really has alot of funky cool shisha flavors. I love the homemade red bull flavored shisha. I can't remember the exact location though but i will update this map when i do :) Ooo i found the spot in seksyen 13. Currently this is my favorite place cause its nearby my place
Thoughts from your's truly
If you ask me what i like about shisha well it does have a calming chilling affect on me much like how cigarettes do on some people. I like trying out funky fresh flavors and new ways to prepare shisha. For instances we use emptied watermelon and pineapple instead of the ceramic container for the shisha flavors.
Apparently the flavors last longer when you use fruit skin. I have tried using mandarin oranges but i think there isn't enough room for air to flow.
Instead of water try using soft drinks or even alcoholic beverages like beer or even vodka. Yea i know its wasteful but what the heck! it does give out an interesting flavor like when i used beer it has a hint of malt flavor to it. Usually 2 and a half cans will do. As for vodka, it makes the flavor really strong. I don't know but that is what my friend Ryan and sis says. To me its all the same.
Well to wrap things up about shisha. If you are someone who has never tried shisha before i think you should at least give it a try it. Its an interesting experience but bear in mind that you have to be prepare to take steps to avoid getting addicted to it. Even if the chances are slim there is still a possibility. It is a great gadget to pop out though during social gathering. and it quickens the feeling of getting high when alchohol is present :) Love or hate it. Shisha is great during social gatherings even if you aren't a smoker. Anyways here's a really original, annoying but hillarious hit from Egypt about shisha. Try listening to it every night for 2 hours for a month. I am sure it will grow into you ;P. Ciao!
