bIrThDaY wIsHeS

Monday was my friend and old roommate, Katye's birthday. Since she was in Gainesville we all went out to celebrate. For this event we decided to go to Farrah's, which is a Mediterranean restaurant (I think). Anyway, we decided to go to have some drinks and smoke a hooka, something I had yet to do. So, we wandered into the restaurant around 8:30p.m., prime smoking and drinking time. Come to find out, the restaurant was just about to close. However, we were lucky and a kind waiter, something one does not come across in Gainesville, informed us he would stay. I don't mean kind like he brought us the extra salad dressing for free, but kind like he gave us a hooka, though they had just stopped allowing anyone to 'order' one, got us food (even though the kitchen had just closed), allowed us to eat in the 'hooka smoking area' (which you usually can't eat in, apparently), and was attentive and happy the whole time. Unfortunately, the evening was not well documented in photographs, but I was able to get a few nice shots. Below is a pix of Eray and Katye.

The 'hooka smoking area' was laid out with pillows piled against the walls. It was quite comfy and cozy. The hooka itself is an interesting mechanism, if it can be defined as such. They bring it out already heated, unlike a bong; yet it operates similarly. Additionally, ice is located within the hooka. Whether or not this is simply to cool the smoke before you inhale it or if it acts like some kind of filter, I am not sure. I am going to look more deeply into this matter.

Regardless, I had a wonderful time. It was good company and hooka smoking mading a great evening. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you can smoke one but perhaps never wanted to, highly recommend it. I found it to be much different than smoking other substances. It was not like tobacco at all. I am told it is more like an incense, which is actually worse for you than tobacco... something to do with the size of the molecules and them being able to penetrate and infiltrate your body, another matter to look into more deeply.