Made My First Purchase Of Good Shisha

[kcK]

Well, since I had gotten the very sharp and pointed Al Masah Melon at 250g, I figured I needed to branch out [And since I'm averaging a few sessions a day, and my earliest session killed a WHOLE LOT OF FUCKING TOBACCO]... I figured maybe I should get some legitimately decent shisha, so I've ordered on the great World Wide Web. It was a small purchase, All coming from the Nakhla Egypt set. The website which I ordered from [Which shall remain nameless, I don't know the policy of dropping names, but I figured I'd avoid dropping names.. Maybe the prices will give you an idea of where I ordered? :-P] treated me fairly well in this department.

I was going to get Tangiers, but I could just drive to San Diego to pick it up anyways, it's only a 2 and a half hour drive... Nevertheless, I seen for $4.99 a 250g box of Coffee, so I figured I'd grab two after reading the wonderful review section... So after making the 500g of Coffee go into the Shopping Cart, I browsed a bit more. I only had $24 bucks in the bank account, so I had to be somewhat picky.. I have more money on hand, but at 12AM banks are usually closed. I was kinda eager, so I tried to wrap up the ordering session sooner, but I found that to not be the easiest task.

The Review section is a wonderful addition on this site. I actually didn't see it until maybe 2 days after being on here, at which point in time I've taken time to review future plans... Nevertheless, my 2nd addition to the shopping cart was Nakhla's Peach [the OG, not Mizo]... I found a whole lot of positive reviews, one really negative one [2.5/10?] but if I recall correctly that was Mizo and I read a few saying that acclimating the Mizo Peach for an hour or two brings out the true flavor, as opposed to it being as a bar of soap.

I have to take some of these reviews, if not all the reviews with a grain of salt though. Not saying they aren't genuine reviews, they are most certainly crucial in my decision making when ordering without even the chance to smell the tobacco... But, I've read that over time some formulas change a bit... Sometimes they go from a drier state, to being wet.. And vice-versa.. Dropping dyes, adding dyes... But I feel the true flavor couldn't have changed too much...

So, as of right now, I'm very happy with my purchase, coming in literally just a few cents short of my maximum budget [And overdrafting!]

I would maybe start writing reviews in the future, but as it stands... I need a few more sessions [out of a legit hookah, nonetheless], a few more flavors and brands, and a few more NATURAL coals [Fuck these QLs... *hides his rolls of QLs*] under my belt before I can start writing ACCURATE reviews. At this point it'd be like this [SAMPLE/JOKE REVIEW]

AL MASAH MELON
SMELLS LIKE MELON
TASTES LIKE MELON
BURNS LIKE.. MELON
BUZZ SOUNDS HAPPENING AFTER SMOKING IN A QUIET ROOM [LOL, BUZZ.. GET IT???]
QUALITY 9.5 [I WOULD GIVE IT A 10, BUT I GOT A NEEDLE IN MY SHISHA BAG, AND IT POKED ME AS I HAND-MIXED THE SHISHA]

CAPS LOCK IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL [And thinly-veiled sarcasm, of which I just mastered]


Happy to be here --- kcK

[Coleman]

Ok my man yo need to stop hating on that pumpkin of yours. Yeah so many people here dislike the pumpkin but its all preference and ability to adjust. The pumpkin can smoke great. Shit i have had that thing smoking like my qt and that qt smokes like a km. its all about learning, once you get packing down and you get water levels right and heat management. there are many great members here who can help you learn all this stuff. Im still learning (although i will say im pretty good at packing tangiers) but as for the pumpkin not being a "legit" hookah i say this......

[kcK]

I can't wait anymore... I need that shisha asap! Please tomorrow... I can't wait for Monday..

[Rani]

When you're ready for Tangiers, since you're in California, I'd suggest making a drive to the lounge and meeting Eric. Best way is to learn from the Master himself because it can be tricky for some people. Less for those of us lucky to live in California where it's made, but still a little hands on experience couldn't hurt. Plus you have the option to purchase flavors that are only available at the lounge. Several people run down there on a weekend every now and then. Usually it';s posted in a thread, and if you can make it, you'll meet up with Cali Tangiers addicts in person. And saves on gas if you end up doing the car pool thing. I really recommend you make the trip if and when you can.

'Rani

[kcK]

Oh believe me, I plan on doing that very soon. I'm going to San Diego for the weekend next month with my girlfriend. Let's just say we'll hit the lounge for a few hours. :-p

I look forward to trying Tangiers, I really do. I was going to buy some for my first online purchase, but I passed. Most people would just as quickly think "What the F*@#?".. But, patience is a virtue, and trust me... I don't want to jump in before knowing what needs to be done properly.

I'm currently getting my Heat management under control for this hookah. I'll buy personal Tangiers once I get my Mya QT. For now, I'll just be smoking Nak out of the Pumpkin, and making sure I get everything proper in my own mind.. Then I'll turn to Acclimating Tangiers :-D

[Rani]

[quote name='kcK' timestamp='1297559672' post='497761']
Oh believe me, I plan on doing that very soon. I'm going to San Diego for the weekend next month with my girlfriend. Let's just say we'll hit the lounge for a few hours. :-p

I look forward to trying Tangiers, I really do. I was going to buy some for my first online purchase, but I passed. Most people would just as quickly think "What the F*@#?".. But, patience is a virtue, and trust me... I don't want to jump in before knowing what needs to be done properly.

I'm currently getting my Heat management under control for this hookah. I'll buy personal Tangiers once I get my Mya QT. For now, I'll just be smoking Nak out of the Pumpkin, and making sure I get everything proper in my own mind.. Then I'll turn to Acclimating Tangiers :-D
[/quote]

Acclimation won't be much of an issue for you. You mentioned before you're 2-1/2 hours from San Diego, so I kind of have a general idea of where you're located and those of us lucky enough to be so close have much fewer acclimation issues. ( I'm 10 minutes south of the Staples Center myself.) Certain flavors require slightly different acclimation. Some work for me fresh out of the bag. Bug Powder being one of them. Orange Soda being another. The key is packing and getting the heat right. Packing is pretty much a matter of stuffing as absolutely much tobacco as you can into the bowl and then stuffing in some more. Heat is trickier. Tangiers needs much less heat than Nakla and other brands. I'm one of the lucky ones who managed to get it right the first time and almost every time after that. I take no credit - just pure dumb luck.
(Though Eric says women do better with Tangiers because girls actually read directions! [img]http://www.hookahforum.com/public/style_emoticons/default/girl_wink.gif[/img])

Oh! And if you're not used to heavy doses of nicotine, be prepared to be knocked on your ass.

'Rani

[Jesse]

[quote name='Coleman' timestamp='1297338621' post='497440']
Ok my man yo need to stop hating on that pumpkin of yours. Yeah so many people here dislike the pumpkin but its all preference and ability to adjust. The pumpkin can smoke great. Shit i have had that thing smoking like my qt and that qt smokes like a km. its all about learning, once you get packing down and you get water levels right and heat management. there are many great members here who can help you learn all this stuff.

I've got a pumpkin base, a big one, that's part of my 14" Sapphire hookah and I love the thing.. very solid and stable. As for packing the bowl, my shallow Egyptian likes the overpack Method with AF and Nakhla, but I pack lighter with Herbal. I agree about the Ql's.. hate 'em but it's all I can get so far because of my budget and the fact that I am in South Africa right now. There is a hookah shop on the coast so may try and go there and see if they have naturals, and that Heba Diffuser that you have.