Weekly travel reads: Cambodia’s sacred forests

[The Travel Wire #113] America’s last train-hoppers, in defense of travel influencers, Europe’s last Soviet sleeper train, and more travel reads.

Travel reads

• Walking with spirits in Cambodia’s sacred forests [The Guardian]
“Former loggers and poachers have embraced ancient traditions to promote and protect the Cardamom Mountains’ ever-threatened natural wonders.”

• Riding the rails with America’s last train-hoppers [Current Affairs]
“In an age of surveillance and hyper-connectivity, a secretive subculture still finds freedom in the open road.”

• I am one of those weird people who enjoys seeing mass tourism where I hadn’t expected to find it [Rolf Potts]
“I expected France’s Ardèche region to be like Tuscany. At times, it felt more like Branson.”

• In defense of travel influencers (yes, really) [Fodor’s]
“Travel influencers get plenty of criticism, but not all deserve it. Here’s how some creators are challenging stereotypes and making travel more accessible.”

• The slogan ‘Keep Austin Weird’ has been around for 25 years. Is the city still weirding out? [Adventure]

• Europe’s last Soviet sleeper train is bonkers [The Never Ending Footsteps Newsletter]
“Riding the Prietenia from Chișinău to Bucharest.”

• In Benin, Vodun is more than a religion [Afar]
“Photographer Brad Ogbonna captures communities across the West African nation during Vodun Days, a celebration of both heritage and faith.”

• My Pilgrimage to Leonard Cohen’s Montreal [The Quiet Life with Susan Cain]
“A musician, a synagogue, a backyard poem, and a day in the city he loved.”

• Are you a mapcuck? [Blackbird Spyplane]
“Travel-ruining pin prisons vs. the risks of free-form flaneuring.”

• Why are murals everywhere in Mexico? [Mexico Soul]
“The Big Three—Rivera, Orozco, Siqueiros—spearheaded the art of the Mexican Renaissance.”

• Well, at least this will make a good story one day [Everything is Liminal]
“A one act play inside a crack motel.”