Say you're taking a trip to North Korea. By choice. What would you expect from your holiday? Tension, violence, poverty, famine: likely. Fun: not so much.
One look at the Mangyongdae funfair and your pre-conceptions will be validated. Quite possibly the least appealing theme park imaginable, the attraction mainly exists for visitors since locals have either died or are too poor/frail to leap onto a rollercoaster.
The rides are repaired on an ad hoc basis and to avoid the deaths of overseas visitors, local farmers are recruited to test them for safety. It would take a brave soul to actually choose to ride their rollercoaster as harnesses have been known to regularly unlock.
It's oddly seen as quite the jewel in North Korea's crown though as foreign journalists are often shown around the park when visiting. Although to make up for the lack of genuine customers, busloads of North Koreans are allegedly shipped in to populate the park and feign enjoyment.
Yep, consider North Korea well and truly crossed off, scribbled out, erased, removed and eradicated from our list of potential holiday locations.
Original Story: Vice and Alex Hoban
