Shisha Smoking: Do You Do It?

[Guy]

Popularised by the exotic Persian ways, Shisha (more so known as Hookah in the US) has spread across Europe and North America. Now, anyone can find a café here and there designed especially for relaxing and having a smoke. So, does TWC smoke Shisha/Hookah?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I must admit, I do enjoy smoking Shisha occasionally. I'll go to a local café, sit back and spend a few hours there with a small group of friends (not a few hours constantly smoking, of course!). We smoke non-tobacco though due to the smoking ban in the UK and other regulations, but it's still great to do nonetheless.

[Ascarona]

We have one at home but I have no idea how to start it :/, I do like to smoke it though.

[Guy]

We have one at home but I have no idea how to start it :/, I do like to smoke it though.

Agreed. It's complicated as hell if you have no idea whatsoever. Maybe if you've seen it done before or have some idea... Still.

That's the reason why I go to a café instead of doing it at home. Saves time and saves me burning my house down!

[Katsumoto]

I did a few times, found it pretty boring - you're just blowing smoke around, there doesn't seem to be any effect from it whatsoever. £8 and a compulsory drink are not really worth it.

[Turtle Hammer]

I have used them before, there's a convenience store that doubles as a headshop near me and they've got a few cheap but quite serviceable looking ones. My friend's housemate at uni had an enormous one with four hoses that was very nice. Put The Doors on, pull up every comfy chair from the house, and blow smoke rings and argue over who's turn it is to reload the thing.

Essentially, although it's "basicly" smoking, but people seem to go "ooh, you use a hookah?" rather than "dude, you're gonna get lung cancer". For some reason it's seen as a little exotic, and far more socially accepted. I think the ban on smokingin public buildings is sort of overlooked or granted a loophole too, 'cos the Desert Rose cafe in Luton's still going as far as I know.

As for the flavours, I like molasses flavoured, and mintier ones too, although some can be a bit too close to toothepaste flavour rather than a genuinely nice minty taste.

[eggthief]

Did it twice, found it to be boring both times.

[rusina]

I wish I had one. It's relaxing as hell.

[Turtle Hammer]

I wish I had one. It's relaxing as hell.

You can find them quite reasonably priced online. I'm not sure how easy they are to come by where you are though, but if you want one they're out there. I'd try to not be tempted by the very cheapest ones though, they can get a bit broken. Also, I hear cleaning them's a pain in the bum.

[rusina]

You can find them quite reasonably priced online. I'm not sure how easy they are to come by where you are though, but if you want one they're out there. I'd try to not be tempted by the very cheapest ones though, they can get a bit broken. Also, I hear cleaning them's a pain in the bum.

I'm trying to save money. And besides, if I ever got one I'd be too lazy to actually use it. Therefore I must convince one of my mates to get one.

[LoZz]

i have tried them once or twice, both times i felt sick. so i avoid them now!

[Lordinquisitor]

Kids here in germany use little transportable ones to be cool.

I plan to buy myself a big one to relax after hard days.

[Dave Strider]

Yeah, I'm also 13, so I won't use a metal bong.

[Copperknickers II]

I only knew it as an old traditional custom in India, and something that some hippies used in the 60s to smoke hash. If i ever did want to smoke though, i'd stick with a cigarette, seems utterly pointless to me.

[Guy]

The café where I go is awesome. They have leather chairs and sofas there, so just lie back, kick your feet up and relax. I can't tell you how great it is to do after college. It's a great way to unwind if you've had a stressful day and sets such a relaxing tone if you're with friends.

i have tried them once or twice, both times i felt sick. so i avoid them now!

Hey, I know how you feel! I first tried it in Egypt where they use the heavy Shisha (full tobacco). Started off coughing, but then it got smoother and I smoked and smoked for a good hour. After I stopped, my head starting spinning and I spent a good 30 minutes in the bathroom looking at my breakfast!

Thing is, you've got to be gentle with it. These things give off a lot of Carbon Monoxide, so if you mess with them they'll mess with you unless you're relaxed. Also, try smoking non- or half-tobacco shisha. It's much more gentle with you and a damn sight better for your health.

If you were to try it again, take it easy. Take about 3 puffs, have a glass of water and pass it round. There's no rush to smoke it, just take your time with it.

Nevermind him, Guy, he's one of the non-believers, all hail to shisha

He is not one of us.

Yeah, I'm also 13, so I won't use a metal bong.

They're not a bong pipe! Everyone says that! Kids, eh?

[Justinian]

My friend has a hookah and we smoke it every so often, the flavors are nice and it's relaxing. More of a buzz than cigarettes too since you smoke a ton more of the stuff.

[Lord of Lost Socks]

I've done it, but it's nothing special.

[Spitfire -WONDERBOLT!]

I want one, but only as an ornament, because I have a pipe!

[Vítor Gaspar]

I don't do it every day (thankfully) but I like to smoke some when I'm out with my friends in a special day or something like that. Though shisha has been popular in Portugal for decades, at least, as it seems my cousin, 20 years ago, was grounded for keeping a pipe under his bed

The flavour I like the most is the fresh mint one. It's great. But the first time I smoked it, it kinda struck me a little harder than I thought and felt a little bit dizzy.

It's good but don't make of it a habit.

The café where I go is awesome. They have leather chairs and sofas there, so just lie back, kick your feet up and relax. I can't tell you how great it is to do after college. It's a great way to unwind if you've had a stressful day and sets such a relaxing tone if you're with friends.

The nearest two shisha cafés we have here (they're around the same distance) are also like that. One has a Turkish-like architecture, inspired in the Hagia Sofia, with Arab music on the background, an atmospheric dim lighting, and some comfy sofas and giant pillows/puffs. The other is an eastern themed café.

[razor-]

Yes, me and my friends did it a lot at parties when we were around 16, it was the coolest thing at that time, then we started smoking cigars, cigarettes and you know... One of my mates still have one however and we do use it on rare occations, my favorite tobacco (or whatever its called) is with apple flavor

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

Yeah, its nice.