To enjoy your shisha, it is necessary to be in a good state of mind... sitting for example in a comfortable sofa or among of cushions! Relaxing music can create a nice environment to have your narghile smoking time. When I smoke, I often listen to the famous Egyptian singer Om Kolthoum.

SETTING UP YOUR SHISHA

1. Fill the glass base with cold water and enough air inside. Only the end of the metal tube of the shisha (see picture 1) must be in the water. Some people put lemon in it to reinforce the taste of the tobacco. Some people add alcohol to it, but if you do that, you may need aspirin...

Assemble the shisha. There must be an air-tight where the metal stem attaches to the glass base.

2. Put the tobacco in the haggar (Picture 2).

3. Cover the tobacco with an aluminium foil. Make small holes in the paper (picture 3).

4. Take a charcoal (you can use little round charcoals sold in oriental bazaars...) with the grip and light it. When the charcoal is red place it on the top of your shisha. Sllightly the charcoal so that it adheres well to aluminium.

5. Wait until the tobacco starts to heat. Aspire two or three times the air through the hose; you should obtain smoke and start feeling the taste of tobacco. Now, enjoy your shisha !

IMPORTANT WARNING:

Small round charcoals are very useful, but extremely harmful if they are misused. They produce carbon monoxide than can cause headache or nausea. Always smoke in a ventilated place.

SMOKING TIPS:

- do not aspirate too strongly if you are not used to smoking ! You can smoke the shisha either as a cigarette (by swallowing smoke) or just tasting the smoke.

- If there is no smoke, your charcoal is not warm enough. Add a second one.

- When the shisha goes off, you can also add coal (but only one time!)

- When the tobacco becomes too strong, blow in the hose to drive out a little smoke of the vase, or lock out the small valve of the shisha.