T R A V E L
WRITER + PHOTOGRAPHER
destinations
Costa Rica • Mexico • Asia • Egypt • Spain • Costa Rica • Photography • Wanderlust
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, etc.
I started out as a designer and the passion for graphic design has not waned. It was here, in this profession, working with some famous photographers that the love for photography grew.
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
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.
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 traveled beyond the United States. Aside from road trips to Tijuana, various National Parks, and Crestline, we stayed close to home.
As a child, I frequently visited San Francisco and Palm Springs. After high school, New York City became a regular destination. But it wasn’t until my first flight to Hawaii that I realized travel could change how you feel. Waking at 5 AM—jet lag, maybe?—and diving into the Pacific made me recognize that a place could shift something inside you. And it did.
There’s no way to fully understand a place until you’ve been there. Everything else is just speculation.
Growing up in Los Angeles—and still living here, despite an eight-year stint in New York—I know this city intimately. Maybe too well. A trip to Bali in the ’90s cemented what I had been searching for: otherness. Something beyond American culture. Seeing a bare-chested woman balancing fruit on her head as she walked a dirt road in Ubud made me realize—I wasn’t in America anymore. Later, witnessing a bloody cockfight solidified that notion.
The heat and humidity never deterred me from traveling. I explored Bali, Australia, Europe, the Maldives, Mexico, Belize, and many other countries. For years, I made a tradition of celebrating my birthday somewhere new—Japan, Paris, Greece, Bangkok, Rome, Hong Kong. Perhaps it was the fatigue of the familiar that pushed me toward fresh scenery, new music, and unknown languages. Travel was never a burden; it was anticipation. Planning was half the fun.
I didn’t always have a camera. I missed what could have been an award-winning shot—Paris, 2015, Vogue’s 95th Anniversary Party at the Hôtel Potocki—and countless other moments where light shifted, people moved, or a car blocked the perfect frame. But I captured some that still feel timeless.
Contact
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mailto: randy@destinationsbydunbar.com