Need an innovative way to light a piece of charcoal

[WhoIam]

I own a very nice hookah but obviously didn't bring it with me to Thailand. I miss smoking it so bought a cheap hookah here for about $30. After considerable effort, I managed to find some mint tobacco for it. The problem is I can't get self-lighting charcoals like you would find in the US, at least not where I am. The guy I bought the tobacco from gave me some of the natural charcoals they use at the place, they're basically partially burned wood.

I need to get these these things glowing red hot so I can smoke my hookah. Holding a piece over a candle flame will result in the very tip of it glowing red, but the rest remains cool. Soaking it in lighter fluid and igniting it does nothing (?!) Microwaving the charcoal until it caught fire showed promise but the roommate vetoed that idea. WTF do I do here? Would the flame from one of those torch lighters be enough? I don't have an oven or stove to work with.

[soko]

Um if soaking in lighter fluid didn't work I would suspect there is water inside it.

[WhoIam]

Bump. Any ideas?

[imitation]

You need to cook them hot first then put them on top, why don't you try roasting them in your wok or something like that.

[imitation]

or wrap them in aluminium foil and put them directly in a stove top flame for some amount of time.

[dw2006]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't have an oven or stove to work with.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ethan]

A butane torch will work well. A torch lighter may be easier to find locally, but if you get one of these it'll work better. I bought one of the Blazer Micro Torches 7 years ago, have used it for this specific purpose and it's still working perfectly. Refills are cheap too.