T R A V E L
Writer • Photographer • Designer
A passion for story telling
Stories lead the way into the heart of travel, where every destination is a story waiting to be told and every journey is an opportunity to see the world through new eyes. Welcome to a space where curiosity meets discovery, and travel writing connects us all to the vast world beyond our doors.
Photography
Ultimately, being a travel photographer is about embracing a life of exploration, of never settling for the familiar. It’s a profession that teaches humility, gratitude, and a profound respect for the earth and its inhabitants. Each photograph is a testament to the journey, a reminder of where you’ve been, and an invitation to where you have yet to go.
Let me tell your story.
Journalism
Being a travel journalist is more than a job; it’s a calling. It’s about chasing stories across continents, witnessing history in the making, and being a bridge between cultures. It’s a lifelong journey of discovery, not just of places, but of oneself and the endless narratives that weave the fabric of our world.
Design
For many decades I have been an editor, writer and photographer—I have also generally been the designer of my travel stories—be it, magazines, Instagram, Tik-Tok.
An array of resources
Stories have appeared in the following publications:
Desert Magazine
SoCal magazine
Genre magazine
Wanderlust:
Travels Here & There
a published book of travel writing and photography
I have been visiting Baja since I was a child. I once attended a bullfight in Tijuana.
I have slept on the beaches below Rosarito, been astonishedly drunk at Hussongs in Ensenada, eaten lobster in Puerto Nuevo, and only recently, in the briefest of windows, came to Cabo on a “tender boat” from a large cruise ship and swam in the moody waters.
For Californians, Mexico and Baja in particular hold a certain allure—proximity, food, people, weather, a coastline that rivals Italy. There other destinations, inland as Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, Puerto Vallarta, and the lovely island of Cozumel.
Written and Photographed by Randy Dunbar
Then there is Cairo. The first impressions came quick: the buildings were all the same color, and there is a bustle unlike many cities—maybe it is the 10 million people trying to cross the street. Not a liquor store in sight.
Thousands of taxis jockeyed for position in a smog-filled haze, accompanied by the staccato of cigarette smoke darting from car windows.
The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities was across the street from the hotel. The architect of the building was selected through an international competition in 1895, which was the first of its kind and was won by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon. The museum was inaugurated in 1902 by Khedive Abbas Helmy II and has become a historic landmark in downtown Cairo, home to some of the world’s most magnificent ancient masterpieces.
Architect App
Written and Photographed by Randy Dunbar
Europe is first and foremost an idea…
An idea that was visited in the early 1970s as a small group of friends traveled to Europe. The first stop was the Netherlands.
The red light district, the Rijksmuseum, and an unforgettable meal called rijsttafel.
With a Eurorail pass in hand, we went from Belgium to Nice, Nice to Rome, Rome to Munich, and finally to England. There would be short detours: Dachau, Hamburg, and Venice. We were young. Europe was so foreign to a small group of Americans—there was an audible sigh of relief as we strolled into London and finally understood what people were saying.
It was a foray into adventure beyond the American shore. In a distant land of multiple languages, customs, and cuisines, we participated in each as only the young could.
It was different. Police with machine guns stood guard on street corners. We stayed in affordable palazzos with large tiled bathrooms and luxurious, heavy cotton towels.
Decades later, Europe still maintains a travel experience unmatched. Other than the tourist attractions, it is the people and cuisine that one most remembers. In Rome, cobbled streets detoured off to reveal a little restaurant, Osteria Del Gallo, so quaint and charming, you had to come back.
Driving through the hillsides of Tuscany, one can come upon Saturnia. Strategically located between Rome and Florence, Saturnia is a free mineral hot spring in the middle of nowhere. It is as close to a Fellini experience as you can get.
Rome calls, and you answer. Many trips to this capital city of Italy provide unique experiences: the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Fountains of Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, and the Forum.
For us, we went old school—rented a scooter, braved the Italian traffic, and went places not usually found on the tourist map.
Written and Photographed by Randy Dunbar
Frequently, we are asked, “Is Mexico safe?” which is ironic considering… But let’s leave politics for the pundits and Facebookers. Mexico is literally a feast of places to visit. From Los Angeles, Mexico City is a three-and-a-half-hour plane ride costing under $300. Hotels, restaurants, and museums abound and are all reasonably priced. The people are extremely friendly. Due to its rich culture and history, Mexico ranks first in the Americas and seventh in the world for the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of those is Miguel San de Allende, located 170 miles from Mexico City and a 10-hour drive from the US border. While the outlying areas of the town and municipality have changed over time, the historic center remains much as it was 250 years ago. The layout of the center of the city is mostly a straight grid, as was favored by the Spanish during colonial times. However, due to the terrain, many roads are not straight. There are no parking meters, no traffic signals, and no fast-food restaurants. And we are thankful for that. There are weddings by the hour, initiated by the callejoneada, a wedding parade that’s customary in San Miguel. The parade has a mariachi band and a donkey with tequila shots. Welcome to Mexico!
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller.”
About the Author
My family rarely left the United States. Other than some road trips to Tijuana, the National Parks, and Crestline, we never left the country. My brother, bless him, did stray off to Alaska to live for a time. But, that’s it.
At an early age, I did visit San Francisco and Palm Springs frequently, and after high school, trips to New York City were frequent. But it wasn’t until that first flight to Hawaii that the notion that travel could make you feel different happened. Waking at 5 AM (jet lag?) and jumping into the beautiful Pacific, suggested you could “feel” different. And I did.
It’s not easy to know just what it is because, until you’ve been there, you’re only speculating.
As I think about it, having grown up and still living in Los Angeles, despite that sojourn of eight years in New York City, I know this town, maybe too well.
A trip to Bali in the 90s convinced me that what I was seeking was “otherness,” something other than American culture. When a bare-chested woman was walking down a dirt road in Ubud with fruit on her head, I thought—I’m not in America anymore. Later, witnessing a bloody cockfight would cement that notion.
Heat and humidity could not wrest my love of traveling from me. I went to Bali, Australia, Europe, the Maldives, Mexico, Belize, and many other countries. For many years, I made every effort to be somewhere else on my birthday—Japan, Paris, Greece, Bangkok, Rome, Hong Kong. In the end, it could be the fatigue of the familiar that provoke new scenery, new music, and new language. Travel has rarely been a burden, but more of a sense of anticipation. Planning is half the fun!
I didn’t always have a camera. I missed what I am sure would have been an award-winning photo (Paris, 2015, Vogue’s 95th Anniversary Party at the Hôtel Potocki) and numerous other “moments” where people shifted, the light changed, or a car blocked the view, but I have captured some that seem timeless.
Some pictures were taken with a 35mm camera—most with an iPhone, which in many ways is the better camera—certainly when traveling, it is the more convenient tool. Photography is about how you see the world—and the ability to capture it at the moment, because they are indeed, fleeting.
It is a game of sorts—go to tourist destinations and make every attempt to photograph things differently—a good example was at the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, where holding the camera toward the vaulted ceiling captured some kaleidoscopic images. Photography has always felt like
Traveling creates stories. And all places have their stories, as do the people you meet. We engage with a culture other than the one we know—language, cuisine, and dress come together to create a story vastly unique and, for many, transformative. It can be arduous and boring (airports, delayed flights, and toll tickets from other countries), but with the first exploration of the streets, the cuisine, the art, and the music, all the initial logistics fade.
Contact
Stay in the loop with everything you need to know.
mailto: randy@destinationsbydunbar.com