Naraagiil - Lebanese and Turkish Awesomeness

[Hassouni]

[color="#333333"][font="tahoma"][size="2"]So as already posted, I just got back from a short trip to Lebanon, and about 8 hours before leaving the country I did end up buying an argileh, similar if not quite exactly like the kind I wanted. As you may have seen in the other thread, the standard Lebanese cafe pipe is tall, sleek, and simple, like these examples:

[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs459.ash2/73286_592564314571_37003198_34554486_3134232_n.jpg[/img]

[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs964.snc4/75708_592564259681_37003198_34554480_8281538_n.jpg[/img]

So I wanted one more or less like that. None of them are solid metal, they're all hollow and light stems. But I figure they smoke great and if the cafes use them multiple times a day they must hold up.

My biggest goal was to find one of those designs, with a big hose port and decent size purge like this, from the Bay Rock Cafe:

[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs797.snc4/67772_592653545751_37003198_34556797_8238286_n.jpg[/img]

Those ports are big enough to stick a big hose into, and they purge completely after a few seconds.

However, not every argileh you get at a cafe is like that - many have a very small hose port and really crappy purge - they smoke great too, but you're limited to specific kinds of hoses and purging through the bowl only.

Needless to say, I really wanted the first kind. Try as I might, I could NOT find one for sale like that. (I only looked on my last day, though I checked out two big shops. It seemed that to get the big hose port I had to get a super tall pipe that wouldn't fit in my luggage, despite the cafes having reasonable sized ones with big ports.) Here I am checking things out in Saida:[/size][/font][/color]
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[font="tahoma"][size="3"][color="#333333"][size="2"][img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs939.snc4/73260_647051212031_1002163_36185549_7026412_n.jpg[/img][/size][/color][/size][/font]
[font="tahoma"][size="3"][color="#333333"][size="2"]I passed on it because of its small hose port. However, in the end, I figured that was my only option
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[color="#333333"][font="tahoma"][size="2"]
So this is what I ended up buying, from a much bigger argileh shop in the outskirts of Tyre/Sour:

[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs056.ash2/36186_592653560721_37003198_34556800_6482840_n.jpg[/img][/size][/font][/color]
[color="#333333"][font="tahoma"][size="2"]
You'll notice - no purge, and a small hose port. I REALLY [/size][/font][/color][color="#333333"][font="tahoma"][size="2"]wish I had found one with a bigger hose port so I could use a Narbish or Elmas hose, but that'll have to wait till next time I guess. [/size][/font][/color]
[color="#333333"][font="tahoma"] [/font][/color]
[color="#333333"][font="tahoma"] [/font][/color][color="#333333"][font="tahoma"][size="2"]I figured screw it, if Turks don't need a purge on their Elmas nargiles I don't either, and the argileh at the last place I smoked before getting this had a small hose port like that and crappy purge BUT smoked great, so I figured what the hell. Specifically this one: same type of hose port, HUGE clouds of smoke:[/size][/font][/color]
[font="tahoma"][size="3"][color="#333333"][size=2][img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs472.ash2/74594_592653515811_37003198_34556793_2428453_n.jpg[/img]
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[color="#333333"][font="tahoma"] [/font][/color]
[color="#333333"][font="tahoma"][size="2"] Those issues aside, I quite like it! The whole set, glass, stem, tray, bowl, tongs, and hose was something like $33 or so. 600 grams of mu'assal as shown was about $18. Not sure the precise breakdown, but the total for everything in that pic was $52.[/size][/font][/color]
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Base detail:

[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs951.snc4/74494_592653570701_37003198_34556801_2432067_n.jpg[/img]
Not the thickest glass, but at least it's not painted - it's actually red.

The tray was an upgrade to the standard option, and well worth it in my opinion:

[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs783.snc4/66385_592653575691_37003198_34556802_7398464_n.jpg[/img]

Detail of the stem:

[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs918.snc4/73192_592653585671_37003198_34556803_3656279_n.jpg[/img][/size][/font][/color]
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It has a single port in the heart, no common chamber crap. Fairly wide bore (didn't measure). 100% airtight[/size][/font][/color]
[color="#333333"][font="tahoma"] [/font][/color][color="#333333"][font="tahoma"][size="2"]
And the hose, similar to HookahJohn's Syrian Beater Hoses, but slightly shorter, coming in at about 17". By the way, that's NOT standard - Lebanese cafes have short handled hoses as a rule.[/size][/font][/color]
[color="#333333"][font="tahoma"][size="2"][img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs891.snc4/72433_592653590661_37003198_34556804_4368539_n.jpg[/img]

The stem of the argileh is about 27" long, and the complete pipe, including a normal Lebanese bowl, is about 33".

Anyway, haven't smoked it yet (I just got in from Beirut today), but let's see how it goes!


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[Hassouni]

[color=#333333][font=tahoma][size=2]Additionally: Got 500g of Mizo at Beirut Airport duty free for $6! So now I have AF grape, AF mint, Nakhla DA, Mizo Guava, Mizo Watermelon, all for less than the cost of ONE 250g of AF in the UK. Sweeet. Also, I've heard about having a hose dedicated for DA, so I picked up a Mya Wide in London for £10. Sort of an impulse buy, not sure I should've done that. I'd rather get one of HJ's Syrian hoses.[/size][/font][/color]
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[color=#333333][font=tahoma][size=2]As for the Lebanese pipes in general, some have proper purges and purge great, but a[/size][/font][/color][color=#333333][font=tahoma][size=2] lot have dinky little purges that barely function. I dunno where the cafes get them, but about 50% of places I smoked at had big ports and good purges, and the rest had the small port like mine. I didn't notice a difference in smoke quality, in some cases the small ports smoked better than the big ports, but I'm sure that was due to packing and the holes. This is why I figured screw it and went with a small-ported one, given that it was that or nada. However, the big ports not only look much better, but would also be more versatile. [/size][/font][/color]
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[color=#333333][font=tahoma][size=2]They are all sort of unsettlingly lightweight, and it is offputting initially. My first and main argileh is a screw-together Lebanese that I got in Beirut in 2005, and it's MUCH heavier (it also looks much different). The one-piece stems were uniformly lighter. However, if these are what every cafe uses, they MUST be reliable, despite our overall preferences for solid metal. Worth noting: [/size][/font][/color][color=#333333][font=tahoma][size=2]the one in the first pic, and the one that the close up of the hose port and purge belong to (the third pic), while still clearly hollow, certainly felt a bit heavier than the small-port models. Heh, I smoked at 6 places in 3 days, and no joke tapped the stems of each pipe. So while all are light and hollow, some are a bit sturdier than others. [/size][/font][/color]
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[color=#333333][font=tahoma][size=2]The upside of this is that they're CHEAP. The one I checked out in Saida, similar to the one I ended up with, was 25,000LL, or ~$17. Seventeen bucks! Mine without the hose and tray upgrades was $30, I basically settled on the small hose port because it was at the last place I looked, pretty, still reasonably priced, and I knew from experience that it's still capable of smoking well[/size][/font][/color]

[mustafabey]

It sure looks like a beauty of a nargile to me. If these things can hold up to the traffic of a Beirut cafe, they must be tough. Someone with a little capital could make a killing selling tough heavy duty nargile here in the US Enjoy your smoking and welcome back

[Cp44]

Im as jealous as your other thread

[Chreees]

It looks great man! Out of all the ones you pictured, I like this one best!

[Hassouni]

smoked tonight for the test run

results: great! even better if i had better coals (i was using nours, meh). prob like most syrian pipes, more restrictive than an egyptian but as good as the best i had in lebanon, and got some proper clouds. the hose is wayyy better than a mya. serious bubbling sounds, and the lack of purge wasnt an issue as i never really needed it.

[Genie]

Wow, seeing what you spent on that hookah--I'm thinking I'd gladly spend that on the nice, deep tray alone. I can't get over how that tray looks more like a serving bowl. I'll be dreaming about hookah shopping overseas for weeks now. Seriously, I usually dream about purse shopping!

[mushrat]

what? didnt bring me one....

[Yasseah]

Al Fakher white grape

[Hassouni]

So my camera didn't catch it and I didn't notice it until now, but the base is actually not red, it's a very very deep amber color, maybe with a slight reddish tinge

[Chaz1337]

[quote name='Hassouni' timestamp='1288815016' post='487187']
So my camera didn't catch it and I didn't notice it until now, but the base is actually not red, it's a very very deep amber color, maybe with a slight reddish tinge
[/quote]

Looks straight up Amber in the pics O.o

[antouwan]

anyone want to take a sneak peek at al-falamanki/leb girls?

take a look at this bbc clip:

[url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/real_cities/8282773.stm"]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/real_cities/8282773.stm[/url]

[Hassouni]

[quote name='antouwan' timestamp='1288851962' post='487235']
anyone want to take a sneak peek at al-falamanki/leb girls?

take a look at this bbc clip:

[url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/real_cities/8282773.stm"]http://news.bbc.co.u...ies/8282773.stm[/url]
[/quote]

Hehehe that guy also has a video where he goes to John's father in law's snack shop near ABC Mall

By the way, I've NEVER been to Falamanki in the daytime, and never sat on couches....I think that's in a different part of the garden (It's big....)

I've always wondered why Falamanki, being an unabashedly Lebanese place, uses Egyptian pipes. I mean, they have "Mexican" beer, Saj, and the eponymous Falamanki himself was Lebanese.

[Hassouni]

[quote name='Chaz1337' timestamp='1288838637' post='487222']
[quote name='Hassouni' timestamp='1288815016' post='487187']
So my camera didn't catch it and I didn't notice it until now, but the base is actually not red, it's a very very deep amber color, maybe with a slight reddish tinge
[/quote]

Looks straight up Amber in the pics O.o
[/quote]

Weird, when I bought it I saw it as a deep red, and to me that's sort of what the pics look like too, but under direct light it's definitely a dark amber.

[Chaz1337]

[quote name='Hassouni' timestamp='1288870936' post='487250']
[quote name='Chaz1337' timestamp='1288838637' post='487222']
[quote name='Hassouni' timestamp='1288815016' post='487187']
So my camera didn't catch it and I didn't notice it until now, but the base is actually not red, it's a very very deep amber color, maybe with a slight reddish tinge
[/quote]

Looks straight up Amber in the pics O.o
[/quote]

Weird, when I bought it I saw it as a deep red, and to me that's sort of what the pics look like too, but under direct light it's definitely a dark amber.
[/quote]

Either way Its one sexy ass pipe!

[Genie]

[quote name='antouwan' timestamp='1288851962' post='487235']
anyone want to take a sneak peek at al-falamanki/leb girls?

take a look at this bbc clip:

[url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/real_cities/8282773.stm"]http://news.bbc.co.u...ies/8282773.stm[/url]
[/quote]

That was kind of a bummer, I wanted to see them set up a hookah for him and everything. I love those Coco tips and was tickled to see them being used in the video clip, I bought some recently and have really enjoyed smoking with them.

[antouwan]

[img]http://www.dirtcheaphookahs.com/bmz_cache/d/df18e154b179afa2b56ad4ccd5cba1d7.image.255x350.JPG[/img]
here's the beiruti beauty i want to snag

[Hassouni]

[quote name='antouwan' timestamp='1289278324' post='487694']
[img]http://www.dirtcheaphookahs.com/bmz_cache/d/df18e154b179afa2b56ad4ccd5cba1d7.image.255x350.JPG[/img]
here's the beiruti beauty i want to snag
[/quote]

I have it, it's not so great. It's also a lot smaller than it looks

[antouwan]

[quote name='Hassouni' timestamp='1289290760' post='487720']
[quote name='antouwan' timestamp='1289278324' post='487694']
[img]http://www.dirtcheaphookahs.com/bmz_cache/d/df18e154b179afa2b56ad4ccd5cba1d7.image.255x350.JPG[/img]
here's the beiruti beauty i want to snag
[/quote]

I have it, it's not so great. It's also a lot smaller than it looks



[/quote]

it's 30"
it was between that and a mya:
[url="http://www.myasaray.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=23&DEPARTMENT_ID=49"]http://www.myasaray.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=23&DEPARTMENT_ID=49[/url]
orrr:
[url="http://www.myasaray.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=866&DEPARTMENT_ID=46"]http://www.myasaray.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=866&DEPARTMENT_ID=46[/url]

i'm heavily leaning towards the first one i linked because i love the angle of the hose port for some reason.
also, i smoked from that stem over the weekend and it performed better than other myas i remember in the past.

[dizzbizz]

[quote name='antouwan' timestamp='1289297040' post='487726']
[quote name='Hassouni' timestamp='1289290760' post='487720']
[quote name='antouwan' timestamp='1289278324' post='487694']
[img]http://www.dirtcheaphookahs.com/bmz_cache/d/df18e154b179afa2b56ad4ccd5cba1d7.image.255x350.JPG[/img]
here's the beiruti beauty i want to snag
[/quote]

I have it, it's not so great. It's also a lot smaller than it looks



[/quote]

it's 30"
it was between that and a mya:
[url="http://www.myasaray.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=23&DEPARTMENT_ID=49"]http://www.myasaray....EPARTMENT_ID=49[/url]
orrr:
[url="http://www.myasaray.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=866&DEPARTMENT_ID=46"]http://www.myasaray....EPARTMENT_ID=46[/url]

i'm heavily leaning towards the first one i linked because i love the angle of the hose port for some reason.
also, i smoked from that stem over the weekend and it performed better than other myas i remember in the past.
[/quote]


I'm actually going to buy the stem in the first link. Mya sells it for 40 I think. I reeeeaaallllyyy love the way it looks.


[url="http://www.myasaray.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=616&DEPARTMENT_ID=36"]http://www.myasaray.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=616&DEPARTMENT_ID=36[/url]

[Hassouni]

It's not 30". Let me dig up the thread I made when I got it....

http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/37977-new-lebanese-argileh/page__p__468507__hl__argileh__fromsearch__1#entry468507

the downstem and internal diameter is REALLY narrow, the hose port is even smaller than the new one I got, and it wobbles a lot. When I get back to the states (or all my araageel are in the same place) I'm gonna use that just for heavily ghosting flavors, either DA or the VERY rare occasion I smoke zaghloul or similar stuff

[antouwan]

what about this bad boy:
[img]http://www.myhookah.ca/prd_images/12_big.jpg[/img]

[Hassouni]

Build quality looks a bit better, I still prefer my Leb araageel to be tall though. Also, def is the small port design, while I prefer the larger ones (there are Leb pipes with the larger ones, but I'll be damned if they're online)....

But you already bought it right?

[71903DC5]

[quote name='antouwan' timestamp='1289454974' post='487943']
what about this bad boy:
[img]http://www.myhookah.ca/prd_images/12_big.jpg[/img]
[/quote]
That looks awesome

[antouwan]

[quote name='Hassouni' timestamp='1289476555' post='487956']
Build quality looks a bit better, I still prefer my Leb araageel to be tall though. Also, def is the small port design, while I prefer the larger ones (there are Leb pipes with the larger ones, but I'll be damned if they're online)....

But you already bought it right?
[/quote]

it looks pretty decent. and i figured it's the smaller port design, but yeah - good luck finding the larger ones online. and 27" is tall enough for me. i'm not a fan of the massive pipes that are like 40" tall. in fact some 32" pipes can feel overwhelmingly bulky at times so for me, under 30" is preferable, and this hits that on the mark.

yep, i already ordered it. i hope it's a good one - i don't want to have to pay return shipping to canada...