Burma or Myanmar as it's shady leaders call it, has always been on my countries list, mainly due to those shady leaders and their grip on the country. Who wants to visit boring democracies! So when it came to choosing a destination for our honeymoon (a condition of marrying in a church), Myanmar was very much on the list. My new Wife was keen to go as well. As a former journalist, she'd been turned down for a visa in the past. Now the visa situation had been relaxed and variations of democracy restored, we were both able to log into a website, and get visas in a short period of time.

Obviously my main interest on the honeymoon was to relax in nice hotels with my wife, eat good cuisine, and see some sites. It just so happened though, that while walking home after wandering around downtown Yangon, we came across an old theme park, being swallowed by the jungle. I told the wife to head back to the hotel, i'd just be erm, 5 minutes behind her!

There were people's homes on either side of the entrance, so I wasn't sure what the situation would be with trying to enter. So I waited until they were out of site, and hopped into the park. This was one of the entrances.

Not far into the park, was an old Dogems site. The Dogems were all pushed up in one end, so the rest of the site could be used as an indoor football pitch by local kids.

Further on, a traditional carousel, it's horses waiting to be taken out to pasture or the local glue factory.

The Balloon cycle ride, the rides named in English, and other signs all in Burmese. The theme park had come from Japan, opening here in 1997. The opening ceremony was rather lavish by all accounts, and attended by the Burmese Junta and sidekicks.

The entrance to the rollercoaster ride.

I hopped onto the tracks, and went for a wander...

I ended up higher than the space pod ride.

The balloon cycle ride from above.

Up and under in the trees

A health and safety officer's wet dream, the rollercoaster carts.

A guide to the rides and prices in Burmese. Interestingly a website is just visible on the banner.

Looking precariously down from the top of the swinging pirate ship ride.

Various rides under a roof. On the roof is a monorail circuit.

Carts for the monorail on the roof. Also some track action on the ground!

Various coin-op rides stashed in one corner.

A horizontal big wheel with carts. I climbed on to a fixture not to take this picture, but to avoid a wild gang of dogs. I thought I should be worried about snakes, however I was wrong! While they got bored, I ripped a branch off a nearby tree, and had it ready to teach the dogs who's boss. Apparently they understand that kind of thing. Luckily for me and the dogs, it didn't come to that.

Another whirly ride with the carts rising on a vertical axis for added thrills.

Another spinny ride. Whoop whoop, the fun never stops in Burma.

A fat buddha welcomes guests to the park near the entrance.

Conscious of the fact that i'd slipped over 5 minutes by an hour, I hopped out of the park, and jogged along the choking Yangon streets. As a city it was very lively and bustling, with lots of places to eat great local food. The rest of the honeymoon involved a short flight to Bagan, which was full of ancient temples left to the elements, and then Mandalay, which was rubbish! All the exploring was kept to Burma, after we left to a 5* resort in Thailand's islands. From a former dictatorship, to a new dictatorship.