Every journey creates a story
At Dusty Boots Journal, we believe travel is more than ticking off destinations — it’s about discovering stories, people, and experiences that stay with you long after the journey ends.
We focus on the paths less taken, offering insights and reflections from travellers who seek authentic encounters and meaningful adventures.
There are no boundaries. Stories can come from close to home, or from remote places that few have heard of – and everywhere in between.
Dusty Boots Journal is also a community. We welcome contributions from all travellers who want to share their journeys, tips, or lessons learned along the way. Here, your experiences are as important as ours.
Whether you’re planning your next trip or simply enjoy reading about travel through a thoughtful lens, Dusty Boots Journal is your space to explore, reflect, and stay inspired.
Welcome to the Journal. If you are reading this I must have done something right and I hope you won’t be disappointed. Here’s the how and why of it all…
As a would-be travel writer, my initial idea was to make some of my own scribblings visible to family and friends. Then it occurred to me that with a bit more effort I could provide a meeting place for people with similar interests. That way I could get some fresh ideas myself and offer the same opportunity to others. Hence the Journal.
Much of the early material I have posted comes from when I lived, worked and travelled in Asia. I have long been fascinated by how things work and what makes people tick. During my journeying I always tried to linger in places a little longer, listen to people, understand their lives. Uncover the stories behind the scenes. And along the way I took notes – perhaps sensing that they would come in handy one day.
When you go somewhere you have the opportunity to leave your life behind for a while. I admit this is not for everyone and home comforts can be important. But if you get the chance, stay in a family run hotel. Say no to the Heineken and yes to the local brew. Meet some locals and offer to help out or observe what they are doing. Seek out the surprising and obscure. Write about it, take some snaps and send it to us.
Stephen Martin – Founder and Editor
You can connect with Steve directly on LinkedIn here
Some of our Contributors
Allan A Murray
“If the Romans didn’t go there, why should I?” In short, this guides my travel. I seek grand history, great civilisations and military topics. If I can bundle these with outdoor adventure – road trip, trekking, fishing, swimming – then I’m all in. My belief is that you have to stay fit to make the most of travel and you should stay fit whilst travelling. Writing is another passion, I love creating content based on travel. Thank you to DBJ for being an outlet for this creative desire.
Neale Hughes
I enjoy the physical – man-made things and landscapes/flora/fauna; cultures take a back seat. On principle, I avoid countries with governments that annoy me. I like travel to be interesting, fun, easy, flexible, safe, stress and illness-free, self-drive, with adequate meat availability, sparsely populated, and not stinking hot – therefore usually to English-speaking, old, picturesque, democratic countries. But, I’ve still enjoyed myself outside these parameters, in some pretty undesirable places.
I like semantics, writing somewhat loosely, and long sentences – inexplicably in contrast to my preference for silence or laconic speech.
I don’t worry about being fit and healthy, I just stick to flat ground. If I can’t make it up the stairs to see something, I look at a picture of it on the net instead. Even the fittest/healthiest die young, sometimes it’s just bad luck. So even if you’re a couch potato, you can still get out there.
Muz
My favourite activities tend to include risk, physical exertion, discomfort and deprivation. We live in a comfortable age with easy access to dry and warm accommodation, electricity and water ‘on tap’. Experiences away from these things make me feel more alive.
Writing for DBJ encourages me to observe and reflect. What is the significance of that odd piece of clothing? Why is the design of that farm implement different from those at home? There is always a rationale. I’m naturally curious; and writing about what I see leads to deeper appreciation of both the natural and human world.
I also believe that travel and writing lead to some ‘betterment of self’. Although my eyesight and strength are fading, the messages within DBJ give me comfort that other elements of the soul can continue to flourish – curiosity, generosity and wisdom. The alternative? Sourly peering at the world over my glasses – a cranky, bitter and cantankerous old man.