Weekly travel reads: Canada’s ghost island

[The Travel Wire #110] Havana’s vanishing Chinatown, 5 places I was warned not to visit, on filling photo albums, and more travel reads.

Travel reads

• No cars, no phone signal: Canada’s ghost island where guests still check in [BBC Travel]
“Once the thriving heart of Labrador’s fishing industry, Battle Harbour has found new life as an island retreat with barely a trace of modern life.”

• A taste of Havana’s vanishing Chinatown [Intrepid Times]
“A traveller is invited by a Chino Cubano family to explore Chinatown, sample Chinese food, discover an identity fading down generations.”

• More than a feeling [Around the World in 80 Scrapes]
“It’s become something of a tired online trope these days to preach that one shouldn’t “fall in love” with countries. To which I say why on earth not? Countries are a lot less likely to hurt you than people are, and we’re actively encouraged to develop feelings for our fellow meatbags.”

• I closed my eyes and stuck my finger on a map of western Europe: ‘This is where we’re going on holiday!’ [The Guardian]
“Sick of relying on internet recommendations, I left my next destination to chance. Luckily, it led to me discovering a magical hamlet in the Cévennes mountains of south-central France.”

• 5 places I was warned not to visit [Alexa McDonald]
“but I went anyway.”

• We travel a lot. But if every destination was as crowded as some of the places we visit, I’d give it up. [Brent and Michael Are Going Places]
“Too many people completely ruin it for me. But there are ways to avoid the madness.”

• The many faces of Cairo [Scott Monaco]
“Conversations with strangers from Al-Azhar Mosque to Zamalek.”

• A border is where a country’s official story gets enforced [Never Quite A Local]
“(And a border town is where nobody’s listening).”

• Go for the gorillas, sure. But then stay for more riches, culture and wonders in Uganda’s landscapes [Adventure]
“Uganda is best-known for its gorilla tracking experiences, but there’s much more to this landlocked nation. From Nile lions and the ‘lost chimpanzees’ of Kyambura to the remoteness of Kidepo National Park and the story of Bwindi’s Batwa community, this East African country is packed with experiences.”

• Romania: I missed it 15 years ago. Now I’m back to ride the world’s best road. [Sherri Jo Wilkins]
“A long-awaited ride through Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, a reunion with old friends, and one very stupid tourist.”

• On filling photo albums [Get Lost with Lonely Planet and Ann Douglas Lott]
“They’re my favorite travel memento.”

• The ugly politics of beautiful places [unpacked by fialka]
“When travel becomes propaganda.”

• How to not be an entitled, snobbish vacationer: The boiling pot of tourist towns part 2 [In the Teeth of All Hope]
“Some tips on interacting with slack jawed yokels like yours truly.”

• Seoul [From the New World]
“Korea is an autonomous cultural unit. From my experience, it’s more culturally self-contained than any modern country I’ve visited.”