- Title: WEST BANK: West Bank water pipe home delivery business eases smokers' lives.
- Date: 16th December 2009
- Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (RECENT) (REUTERS) MEN WASHING SHISHA WATER PIPES SHISHA WATER PIPES ON GROUND MAN WASHING HEAD OF SHISHA WATER PIPE YASSER JIBRIL, OWNER OF WATER PIPE DELIVERY SHOP, WALKING OUT OF YARD JIBRIL WALKING TOWARD VAN JIBRIL DRIVING TO DELIVER SHISHA TO CUSTOMER JIBRIL WALKING UP TO HOUSE TO DELIVER WATER PIPE JIBRIL DRIVING CAR JIBRIL ARRIVING BACK AT HIS SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OWNER OF SHISHA WATER PIPE DELIVERY BUSINESS, YASSER JIBRIL, SAYING "I wanted to benefit from my contacts and set up my own business. And since I know about shishas and I worked with then a lot, I thought I'd set up a good business, and I have. I make Shisha deliveries to houses, shops, parties, and weddings" VARIOUS OF MAN PREPARING HEAD OF WATER PIPE MEN WASHING SHISHAS CLOSE OF SHISHA WATER PIPE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OWNER OF SHISHA WATER PIPE DELIVERY BUSINESS, YASSER JIBRIL, SAYING "I have my uniquely flavoured tobacco. (Question: 'What is it?') It is known as Zoro's flavour. (Question: 'What is Zoro's flavour?') I make it with fruit cocktail flavours and with other things and it is delicious, and the people order it, it is delicious" +++NIGHT SHOTS+++ DELIVERY CAR PULLING UP OUTSIDE HOUSE JIBRIL ENTERING BUILDING JIBRIL WALKING UP STAIRS JIBRIL KNOCKING ON DOOR WOMAN OPENING DOOR AND PAYING FOR SHISHA PIPE WOMAN TAKING SHISHA INTO HOME CLOSE OF BURNING COALS TO FEED SHISHA PIPE MAN SMOKING SHISHA MORE OF MAN SMOKING SHISHA HEAD OF SHISHA PIPE (SOUNDBITE) (English) VIVEK CHILUKURI, TEACHER FROM THE U.S., SAYING: "Well it's after a long day of work, it's really convenient, it's a nice way to relax" WOMAN SMOKING SHISHA PEOPLE GATHERED IN LIVING ROOM, SMOKING SHISHA
- Embargoed: 31st December 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Environment / Natural World
- Reuters ID: LVA3GWU0W2Q0KEZKC553XQX9FMI3
- Story Text: An enterprising resident of the West Bank city of Ramallah sets up a "shisha" delivery service, through which residents can order a ready-lit shisha water pipe to be delivered to their home. The traditional water pipe, which is notoriously difficult to prepare, is usually served at restaurants and cafes throughout the Middle East.
Smoking a "shisha" -- or traditional Middle-Eastern water pipe -- has become a popular pastime in countries across the region. The rise in popularity comes with the new generation of more palatable flavoured tobaccos that have become available over the past decade. They allow the smoker to blow a large cloud of white smoke that fills the air with the sweet aroma of exotically-scented tobacco.
In the city of Ramallah in the West Bank, Yasser Jibril, also known in town as "Zoro," has started delivering shishas to people's homes, workplaces and weddings.
The pipes are notoriously difficult to light and are thus usually served at coffee shops or restaurants, where a dedicated employee keeps the customers' shisha pipes burning. The tobacco is placed in the pipe's "head" and lit with bits of charcoal. The smoke is filtered through water at the base of the pipe and is drawn through a long hose.
Originally, shisha pipes contained a harsh, strong flavoured tobacco, and were mostly smoked by the older generations. Today, shishas are lit with flavoured tobacco such as apple, cherry, mint, lemon, strawberry and melon-flavoured tobacco. Some cafes, restaurants and bars now boast their own unique shisha tobacco blends, and cater to a mostly young clientele.
Jibril used to tend shisha pipes in restaurants and decided to put his expertise to use by starting his own business.
"I wanted to benefit from my contacts from a previous line of work, preparing shishas at restaurants and create my own business. Also, I know how to make shishas and it is a profession. So I thought that I should use this and I did, thank God, I am making shisha deliveries, I deliver shishas to houses, shops, parties, and weddings," Yasser Jibril said.
Jibril says he has all flavours of tobacco and will deliver them within 15 minutes of receiving an order. He delivers the shisha with its own container of red hot coals and as many spare heads as are ordered.
He says he has developed his own unique tobacco blend which has become popular in town.
"I make it with fruit cocktail flavours and with other things and it is delicious, and the people order it, it is delicious," Jibril said.
The new shisha delivery service is very popular with the locals as well as internationals working in the West Bank.
"Well after a long day of work it's really convenient, it's a nice way to relax," said Vivek Chilukuri, a teacher from the U.S. working in Ramallah. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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