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Cockpit Chronicles - Paragliding In Rio: Best Layover Ever! (Video)
An Interview With Paul Theroux, Author Of 'The Last Train To Zona Verde: My Ultimate African Safari'
Very Weird Amusement Parks
Recently, I read about Roswell, New Mexico's intention to build the Alien Apex Resort, a UFO-themed amusement park, complete with an indoor roller coaster that'll take passengers on a simulated alien abduction. With a price tag hovering around $800 million and a target completion date of 2010, there are lots of factors that could slow down the construction of this weird amusement park. Until Alien Apex opens for abductions, er, business, we thought we'd point out some other unusual amusement parks already ready to show you a good time.
The Nintendo Amusement Park
The Nintendo Amusement Park is a real-life obstacle course that players navigate using a power-assist harness. The park features nothing digital, nothing projected, and nothing virtual: both the power harness and the moving parts of the obstacle course are entirely mechanical, giving a player the feeling of being inside a classic video game.
Though it's still largely a prototype, if you're interested in trying it out, they're looking for volunteers in the NYC area to dress as Mario and jump around! Check out this video; it looks like fun!
BonBon-Land
Denmark's fourth largest amusement park is BonBon-Land, an amusement park that's based on a Danish confectionary that makes candy featuring unusual objects and animals.
In addition to some pretty racy attractions and numerous vomiting rodents, visitors to BonBon-Land can enjoy elegantly-named rides, such as The Horse Dropping; The Crazy Turtle (who looks like he's just about to puke!); and -- my favorite -- Hundeprutterutchebane. Also know as "Dog Fart Switchback," Hundeprutterutchebane takes riders on a fun-filled journey around a hound's piles of poop and allows them to listen to the sounds of his farts. Ah, this ride gives new meaning to the phrase "the wind in my face."
Moving from farting dogs to sweaty wenches, England's Dickens World is a brand-new amusement park designed around everyone's favorite topic: plague-ridden, sewage-filled 19th century London.
Designed to spotlight the life and times of Charles Dickens, Dickens World features one of Europe's largest dark boat rides; the Haunted House of Ebenezer Scrooge; and a Victorian School Room -- which gives parents the chance to show their kids how lucky they really are. Not really. In reality, I imagine it's something of a mash-up between a "real" amusement park; a "living history museum"; Vegas; and the most boring component in the canon of English Literature. Oliver Twist? Puh-lease!
Before you accuse the British of making something fun into something very, very dry, check out Brendan O'Neill's experience inside Dickens World. Either he's being nice, or it's actually fun ... in a giant-turkey-leg-chimney-sweep-polio-filled sorta way.
Diggerland
After you're finished with Dickens World, motor over to Diggerland, an amusement park that gives both kids and adults the chance to "ride in, and drive, different types of construction machinery including Dumper Trucks, Mini Diggers and Giant Diggers (all under strict supervision)."
In addition to the heavy-duty machinery, Diggerland also features thrill rides and the Dancing Diggers, a stunt team that performs inside front-end loaders. Seriously, even if you have no intention of visiting Diggerland, you should head to their homepage and listen to their infectious jingle.
Suoi Tien Park
Shifting gears (ha ha) from large machines to quiet introspection, Vietnam's Suoi Tien Park is a Buddhist-themed amusement park. In addition to a giant splash park and various thrill rides, the "amusement park" features Heaven Palace, the Park's vision of eternal life for people who manage to escape the torments of hell after years of gambling, adultery, and taking drugs. If hell isn't enough to scare you straight, the park also features "Bat cave with innumerable bats, Mid air cycling over crocodile farm with more than 1,500 crocodiles of all sizes which cause fearful feeling for tourist." Yikes.
Wow, those Buddhists really know how to unwind and relax during family getaways. That said, I am impressed with the ginormous faces/waterfalls in the Park. Check out the short movies of the falls in action.
After you're finished with Dickens World, motor over to Diggerland, an amusement park that gives both kids and adults the chance to "ride in, and drive, different types of construction machinery including Dumper Trucks, Mini Diggers and Giant Diggers (all under strict supervision)."
In addition to the heavy-duty machinery, Diggerland also features thrill rides and the Dancing Diggers, a stunt team that performs inside front-end loaders. Seriously, even if you have no intention of visiting Diggerland, you should head to their homepage and listen to their infectious jingle.
Shifting gears (ha ha) from large machines to quiet introspection, Vietnam's Suoi Tien Park is a Buddhist-themed amusement park. In addition to a giant splash park and various thrill rides, the "amusement park" features Heaven Palace, the Park's vision of eternal life for people who manage to escape the torments of hell after years of gambling, adultery, and taking drugs. If hell isn't enough to scare you straight, the park also features "Bat cave with innumerable bats, Mid air cycling over crocodile farm with more than 1,500 crocodiles of all sizes which cause fearful feeling for tourist." Yikes.
Wow, those Buddhists really know how to unwind and relax during family getaways. That said, I am impressed with the ginormous faces/waterfalls in the Park. Check out the short movies of the falls in action.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gregg in Sarasota Aug 20th 2009 3:26PM
Did you hear about the new German Microwave Oven?????
It seats twelve!!!!!
Berkana May 28th 2007 7:13AM
Isn't it ironic that they would have a Buddhist themed amusement park in communist Viet Nam? What ever happened to the Revolution themed Socialist worker's amusement park with class-struggle themed musical shows, gulag simulators, and ore-cart rides? *sarcastic*
bedpan999 May 28th 2007 9:24AM
very funny although i do not think ill go to any of them but you never know
hhh May 28th 2007 10:32AM
you forgot the sex park in korea
Jeff May 28th 2007 10:35AM
What's the matter, "Berkana", don't you like the idea of commies being able to have fun? Do they fail to live down to your stereotype of being godless commies because they're Buddhists, so you have to drag out all of your knee-jerk reactions. You should be thrilled they have religion there, although I suppose since they're not in the Moral Majority, it doesn't count as a religion to you. Maybe you should go to an amusement park and lighten up for a change. And by the way, if you have to label your post as being sarcastic, you should work on learning how to be sarcastic better so people would know you are without needing to be told.
refdxf May 28th 2007 10:33AM
no it's not ironic, buddhists take to communism's philosophy incredibly well actually, the buddhist monks in vietnam are some of its biggest proponents, stop being ignorant.
jmo May 28th 2007 11:48AM
this should make your list as well, i've been there, super weird:
http://www.phuket-fantasea.com/glance.html
Pablo May 28th 2007 5:33PM
http://www.muklukland.com/
I grew up next door to this strange one...
andy May 28th 2007 12:29PM
Jeff, because someone criticizes your precious communism you assume that they're intolerant of any religions other than their supposed conservative Christianity? F*ck you.
minh May 28th 2007 2:52PM
Suoi Tien is a piece of shit park. I've been there, it's not very well kept, they gouge you on the rides (even if you're not white), and it has nothing to do with Buddhism at all. The biggest irony is that Suoi Tien is an ultra-capitalist park.
Kevin May 29th 2007 10:50AM
I've taken my family to Diggerland. It was for my youngest birthday party. Great day out, cool to be able to operate a front-loader and watch my 10 year old scoop up a boulder that ways several tons!
Bee Jun 2nd 2007 7:18AM
Berkana: Check this out: http://www.grutoparkas.lt/index-en.htm . I've actually been there. It's in Lithuania. It's complete with a cattle car which brought millions of people to Siberia during the deportations of WWII and has a "leisurely" walk amongst huge statues of Communist "heroes" like Stalin and Lenin. It also has a traditional Eastern European restaurant. I went there because my father was in a forced labor camp in the Siberian Gulag during WWII. He managed to get out but my grandparents died there of starvation and freezing temperatures. It got as low as 40 degrees below zero celcius during the very harsh winters. For more information, email me.
skbreensr Jun 2nd 2007 10:33AM
Jeff, have you every heard of free speech? It is the same freedom that gives you the right to critize someone else that Berkana uses to express the view s/he did. Add something to the conversation rather than take away from it.
What your grandparents suffered was murder in my mind but not a reason to limit someone else's expression of opinion.
TPF Jun 2nd 2007 12:00PM
Communism as an ideal is a wonderful fantasy. However, the problem with communism is the same as with any other leadership structure: power corrupts. And just like in America, the leaders of communist nations act and do as though they are above the law, take advantage of the law (and their people), and try to dictate what is "in the best interests" of our country.
And resorting to foul language, by the way, doesn't really encourage others to take what you say as "intelligent". I can use a number of four letter words myself but none of them compare to one five letter word I know: Peace.
Deborah Jun 2nd 2007 12:26PM
Good Lord ! You people are rediculous. Just give your opinion of the parks and stop trying to eat each other alive. Personally, I wasn't "Attracted" to any of the "attractions" with, maybe, the exception of "Diggerland" because of my son and grandkids. My son in in heavy construction so I'm sure his son would love it.he others just doen't spark interest.
CloudyInSunnyCA Jun 2nd 2007 1:08PM
I heard there may be a "Harry Potter" theme park in the future. Can anyone enlighten me on this? My daughter is addicted and is counting down the days to the new book and movie.....
Nancy Jun 2nd 2007 1:57PM
CloudyInSunnyCA, yes, there is going to be a theme park based on Harry Potter. It is going to be built at Universal Orlando's "Islands of Adventure". Completion date is supposed to be the end of 2009. There has been mention of it in article online, so keep your eyes open for those.
Mark Abbott Jun 2nd 2007 2:31PM
What's up with everyone taking everything so personal? Too many people out there living embittered lives and blaming it on others. The way I see it, if your "way" is so great - whatever it happens to be, shouldn't it reflect in your attitude? It's quite uncommon to see people in communist countries smile or display any show of optimism. Rather, the theme seems to always be about a "struggle" and I can do without that. But there are pros and cons in every society and that's no reason to get so super-offended because someone made a tongue-in-cheek remark. If everyone lightened up, maybe life wouldn't seem like such a punishing struggle. Might as well be able to enjoy those theme parks without a scowl and a chip on one's shoulder. They were made for fun!
AlienApexThemePark.com Jun 4th 2007 3:58AM
More information, News and Updates about Roswell New Mexico's Alien Apex Resort Theme Park can be found at http://AlienApexThemePark.com
Bryan Temmer Jun 5th 2007 9:59PM
Please note, the ONLY official web site of the Alien Apex Resort is: www.alienapexresort.com
All other sites are not in any way related to Alien Apex Resort.