Hubbly Bubbly

I’m not sure how many of you will be aware of the Sheesha pipe (also known as a Hookah or Hubbly Bubbly!). It’s a Middle Eastern item that is predominantly utilized by men here in Doo as the social activity that replaces the relaxed evenings around a nice bottle of red that I’m used to. It has water in the bottom, some flavoured tobacco in the top bulb, and the tobacco is gently smoked by a burning piece of charcoal on top of pierced aluminium foil. Smoke is created in the pipe by sucking through a long tube, which creates a vacuum of sorts and encourages the charcoal to toast the tobacco. It doesn’t taste like tobacco or a cigarette – rather it’s a gentle smoky fruity flavour depending on what kind of tobacco is used. I get a little light-headed from it (more than likely my poor technique that leads to low-grade hyperventilation!) but mostly it’s just fun.

I first tried it in Melbourne with a friend who has spent some time over in this part of the world, and it can be seen in a few cafes on Sydney Rd or Lygon St. I discovered, to my delight, that Glenda is an experienced user as it’s also a popular social event in Vancouver. We happened to discuss our keenness to buy one in our taxi on the way to the well-known Shweiq souq in Al Hofuf and our taxi driver overheard and asked if we wanted to go to a shop. Yes! He took us to a store, did some serious negotiation over the price and we left with a gorgeous blue and white glass pipe, some cinnamon, apple and strawberry tobacco, charcoal briquettes and fancy aluminium covers for approximately NZ $100. Very cheap for the hours of relaxed enjoyment we will have on my rooftop terrace. We tried it in our hotel room last night for the first time. Unfortunately, the charcoal we bought is exceptionally difficult to light, so after about 15 matches and a lot of laughing and near-burnt fingers, we invented a long cardboard light and Sarah held the coal with tongs, while Glenda and I torched the very unfriendly coal. We eventually got it lit and it took us about half an hour to get everything right, but it was worth it and the cinnamon flavour was just yummy. A fun and relaxing activity that I’m looking forward to enjoying in many evenings to come.