Secret Weapon of the Roadtrip

Going on a long roadtrip, cross-country or cross-countries?? One thing you might not consider packing that would be well worth the space--a hookah.

For the uninitiated, the hookah (or "hubbly bubbly" if you happen to run into an Afrikaner) is that oddly-shaped water-bubbling tobacco pipe. The molasses-flavored tobacco smoked through the hookah is called shisha. Middle Eastern in origin, shisha smoking's popularity has grown worldwide in the past decade.

Light up a hookah at a backpackers place, and you will have no problem making friends. It's the perfect tool for meeting new people, as well as the perfect means of chilling after a long day on the road. Hookahs come in all shapes and sizes, so unless you are doing hardcore backpacking, it is well worth the extra space.

Of course, tobacco is tobacco, so be aware of the health risks. The water filters out the addictive qualities--neither I myself nor anyone I know has ever felt any addictive drives from hookah tobacco. Like a lot of life's pleasures, moderation is the key. I'm assuming that if you are a fellow adventurer, however, you will need little convincing.