Guess where you'll find a ride that doesn't exist in any Disney theme park ?

You've probably heard that Kim Jong Il, the north Korean dictator died today - well, actually he died last saturday but it was announced officially today. North Korea is the last stalinist regime in the world and frankly i think it'll be hard to find something to envy in the hard lives of poor north korean people, except may be the lack of traffic jams in cities which always look deserted.

You might want to know if they have theme parks in North Korea? Well, the best you'll find is in Pyongyang and we can't call them theme parks because they're not. These are more funfairs with rides which looks 50 years old like the one above and below...



However, they do have rides more recent in Kaeson funfair, of course all manufactured in occidental countries. Now, believe it or not but they even have a ride system that doesn't exist in any Disney theme park! It's a coaster ride, and it's a "flying coaster"! The people below are "ready for launch" and look "happy happy" in Pyongyang favorite ride.



Of course this flying coaster is the exception that confirms the rule and North Korean amusement parks mostly look exactly as you think: incredibly old, no ride refurbishment seems to have been done since 30 years, and most of all, the parks are deserted. You'll find an interesting report on all this on Stefan's Theme Park Guy website from the picture above is coming. Also, there is on the iTunes Appstore an excellent Fotopedia application with hundred of pictures shot by excellent photographer Eric Lafforgue - who shot the two first pictures above - that will show you more about North Korea, undoubtedly the most secret country in the world, and also the most unpredictable...

Pictures: copyright Eric Lafforgue, Theme Park Guy