In May 2004, Jono Lewarne and a childhood friend set out from the UK for a 12-month round-the-world trip. Little did he know, then, that it would turn into an odyssey that would run through April 2006. Starting in San Francisco, they headed across the Pacific, splitting a month between the Cook Islands and Fiji. A three-month roadtrip of New Zealand followed, and then Australia, where a free place to stay and a pressing need for cash led them both to eventually apply for work visas – which they got in a snap. Instead of a trip, Jono got a new home base, living and working first in Brisbane, then Perth, and using Oz as a launchpad to travel through Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam during the next year. His camera, of course, went with him everywhere, and so far he’s uploaded fantastic footage from Australia, Fiji, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and New Zealand to Travelistic:



Now back in the UK, living in Bristol, Jono says the most important part of the journey was the confidence that comes from living successfully on the road. “I’ve found I almost never worry,” he writes “I know, no matter what, I will always have a bed to sleep in and food to eat. Even if they are not my own!” His favorite stops along his extended route? The Cook Islands; Wanaka, New Zealand (“a village that reminded me of my hometown. But with a mountain perimeter and a serene lake, instead of imposing cliffs and Atlantic coast”); and Koh Phi Phi in Thailand (“a lot of people say how commercial it is but I looked past all of that and really got into the vibe of the place. I really got the most out of my camera on Phi Phi and would say the footage I got there was some of the best I have ever shot.”) In his spare time, he can be found working on graphic design and video projects, and says that more clips– from the US, Canada, the Cook Islands, and various European destinations–are coming soon.

Laos
– “The Centuries-Old Allure of Laos’s Relaxed Capital” (NYT)

Colorado Skiing
– “Out of Bounds, Within Limits in Silverton, Colo.” (NYT)

Venezuela
– “In Angel Falls, Venezuela, a Forest of Islands” (NYT)

New Mexico
– “Albuquerque rising” (LA Times)

Tokyo for Cheap
– “Stretching your yen in Tokyo” (LA Times)

Iran
– “Intrigued By Iran” (SF Chronicle)