Some Smoking Experiences from my Travels

When you go backpacking round the world as a smoker, you need to be aware of the cultures you are jaunting through. For example, smoking cannabis may be perfectly acceptable in the coffee houses of Amsterdam as nobody flinches an eyelid. However the entire world is not the same. On my journeys, I’ve highlighted 5 places with different smoking related cultures.

1. Iran – Shisha Houses
Iran can be a strict country for the younger backpacker as there is no pork, no alcohol and no way to use visa or mastercard. There is also a no tolerance for illegal drugs, such as marjiuana and cocaine. However Iranians get their cool fix in a different way – these awesome Shisha Tea Houses! Well worth a trip and we loved cities like Kerman and Yazd because of this.

2. Bulgaria – Smoky Bars
Bulgaria is still quite an unventured country in parts especially in smaller towns and cities. One big problem can be that bars get smoky. Of course we will smell the scent of marijuana a mile off, but it’s the after smell your clothes get mainly from nicotine that is worse.

3. Colombia – Drug Central
OK so the Colombians may have a reputation for drugs, however you should be aware that some remote towns and villages have fairly laid back lifestyles due to it. Towns like Guasca and Guatavita all have their locals smoking a joint on a Saturday night, but they don’t go crazy and kill people over it. Leave the drug barons to do their ugly work while you relax with a cocktail and a reifer in the farming villages.

4. Netherlands – Amsterdam
Well I had to include Amsterdam in this list anyway as it’s the hippest place to be to smoke pot and weed on the streets in relative harmony. Pop into a smoke bar and puff the night away, you can find lots of sensi seeds and all sorts of different strengths of cannabis but don’t try to smuggle them out of the country!

5. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Despite being a Muslim country, Malaysia is fairly stringent on the laws of smoking and drinking. Kota Kinabalu is a spot of loads of bars, some shisha smoking and if you know the right contacts, you can get your fix of weed too.

So there are some smoking related tips for you on your travels. Stay safe and within the laws please!