Jessica Vitorelo & Julie Kern

Because we think it’s cool to be different, we embraced the weird stares from fellow tourists and got down with our cheesy poses. Then we ate pizza and drank lots of wine. Or was it the other way around?

Diving is freakin’ awesome. Like…really, really awesome. First of all you can breathe underwater, which makes you as close to a superhero as you’ll ever be. Second of all, you can do this activity all over this awesome planet of ours. And ninth of all? Well keep on reading.

As a backpacker, you’re automatically 98%* more at risk for contracting this misunderstood condition. When you are away from your routine, friends and well… normal life, you don’t realize how easy it is to learn new habits, and make them your own. So beware, here are eight weird-ass things you’re probably gonna pick up along the way.

You will learn to breathe in and slow down.

While making our way across the Southeast Asia loop, Jess and I decided to buy Yamaha Nuovos for $300 a piece from a dude we met on the street. We thought it would be fun to drive them 2,200 KM through Vietnam with two guys we met randomly on a bus.