Laura and Timotej Janko are a couple who made a decision that many dream of, but few actually dare to make. He is a cameraman, she is a restoration chemist – both sensitive to detail and deeply connected to what makes up their everyday life: cooking, friendships, and being kind to the people they love.
A year and a half ago, they decided to travel the world together. They started their journeys first in Australia and New Zealand, then traveled to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, India and Nepal, and today they write these lines from Japan. On the road, they cook for themselves and for people in restaurants. Their expedition is not an escape, but an immersion in the world.
In addition, they always have room in their backpack for Malinna products, which they have truly come to love while traveling. They have become their discreet companions in new countries, different climates and regimes, helping them to create a sense of care wherever they find themselves.
And that's why we asked them to share with us what this great journey of theirs gave them, took away, and what they found along the way.
Do you remember the moment when you first said to yourself, “We’re going to travel the world?” What was the trigger?
Our birthdays are on the first and second of December. Even during high school, we decided to always spend these days together somewhere abroad. We traveled to several countries in Europe this way. We found that we felt comfortable and free in this position, and even then we always said to ourselves that after graduating, we would like to travel full-time.
You've lived in Australia, traveled around Asia, and now settled back in Japan for a while. What were the differences in pace, culture, and energy between these places?
Looking back, we assess that Australia was a good springboard for the beginning of our journey. The same script, minimal language barrier, similar habits and way of life to what we are used to from Europe. It has unique fauna and flora, but the culture is difficult to define, as it is a mixture of nationalities from all over the world. However, Asian countries and their functioning are a greater contrast for us. Each of them has distinctive features and its own dynamics. However, it is pleasant to experience that wherever we are as a person and regardless of the language we speak or the culture we come from, empathy, helpfulness and mutual understanding remain the same.
Which country has surprised you the most so far - and why?
So far, definitely India. We were prepared for it to be intense, but it was many times more than we expected. But it's not about one specific experience or moment. Being exposed to the most populous country in the world and their everyday life can be exhausting.
What was your biggest "resilience moment" on the road - a moment when you had to take action, adapt, release control?
All long-term travel deals with a certain amount of uncertainty and comfort zone. But it's always up to you how you're willing to work with it, what your boundaries are, and whether it affects you enough to disrupt your setup. A difficult moment was when we were stuck in one place in the Himalayas for a few days due to a cyclone and couldn't continue our 16-day trek, as the strong winds and rains completely destroyed the route. We had to turn back, move to another region, and start an alternative trek on the opposite side of the Himalayas that wasn't affected.
What has long-term travel taught you about yourself and about you as a couple?
Paying attention to the pace and our own boundaries shows us what we are like when routines are lost. We have learned to function without the support of a stable environment, to divide responsibilities, to give ourselves space, and to communicate even in moments of fatigue or silence.
How do you create a sense of home in places where you've only been for a few weeks or months?
Ever since we started traveling, we've had a ziplock in our luggage, which is a kind of first aid if we need to evoke the essence of home. Whether we lived in a car in New Zealand, slept in a different hotel room every day, or rented an apartment in Sydney, we always knew how to put a small piece of red foil on any light bulb there, light a candle, palo santo, or play American bridge with German cards.
You cook a lot - for yourself, people at home, and for restaurants. What have you learned about food while traveling?
To perceive food as a relationship, not as a performance. The attention that is generated is important. A lot can be read, perceived, learned from the discussion about food, dining or eating itself. You could say that it is one of the biggest points of interest during our travels. Whether during the free months of traveling or the working ones. Cooking is not only about taste, but also about care. About ourselves, about others and the moment we share together.
Has your perception of work, home, time, or the future changed?
Traveling easily shatters the idea that life has a clear sequence. Here, we see work as continuity rather than a career. Home as something we carry with us. The future less as a plan, more as a space. We try to find stability not in structure, but in relationships and rhythm.
What would you say to someone who dreams of such a journey but is afraid to take the step?
You don't have to leave forever or go far. Even a short trip can make a big difference if you give it space.
When you travel, you have very limited space and you only take the bare essentials. How did Malinna earn a place in your backpack?
Supporting immunity on the road is crucial due to frequent changes in environment, climate and pace. Elixirs provide us with simple and natural support. At the same time, it is practical for us that these are products with a natural composition. For example, while living in a car in New Zealand, sleeping in nature or operating a camp or caravan, we can indulge in skin care anywhere, without worrying about the impact on the environment.
If you had to describe Malinna to someone who doesn't know her yet - what would your personal definition be?
For us, Malinna works with nature and routine. It is a care that easily becomes part of the day, without pressure and unnecessary complexity. It has pleasant natural scents and an overall identity.
