Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand April / May 2015 - The Health & Wellness Issue | Page 56

Travel & Lifestyle Splish, Splash, Slide! A Handy Guide to Vana Nava Water Jungle by Rose Swagemakers Photos: Shutterstock O n our kids’ latest school break, we visited the recently opened Vana Nava Water Jungle in Hua Hin. My friend Sylvie and I—with our combined total of five, ecstatic kids —hopped in a van for the 3-hour drive from Bangkok to this highly praised water park. As we closed in on Vana Nava, we eyed the colorful structures of the grounds, including a huge, exciting-looking funnel. Once inside, armed with tickets and nifty wristbands with RFID* technology, we were ready for our day of adventure. We began at the innocent Aqua Course, a cool obstacle course with loads of water guns and ropes. When one of my friend’s children was feeling apprehensive, I went with him to the Lazy River to chill 54 WANDERLUST out. We bobbed along on a tube through tropical jungle and waterfalls for at a leisurely pace for 345 metres. Then we visited the Rain Fortress, where a huge bucket tipped an enormous amount of water every five minutes, completely soaking us, and making us all burst out in laughter. Working ourselves up to the big slides, we headed to Coconut Beach, a man-made beach with lovely white sand, comfortable lounge chairs, and an infinity pool with a great bar. We enjoyed the wave pool at Coconut Beach, which is ideal for all ages, as the waves are mild and tubes are provided for floating and relaxation. Finally, it was time for the slides. The variety of colored tubes and ride experiences to choose from was wonderful, but our group—kids and moms alike—favored the Super Bowl slide. The Super Bowl ride tossed and turned us and made us laugh when dropping us into a giant bowl. The one we didn’t try was the Free Fall slide. Not for the faint of heart, the Free Fall takes you up 18 meters high and then drops you straight down at speeds up to 50 km/hr. I saw proud fathers, boyfriends, and some brave girls shake with nerves and excitement while telling their friends and family what this ride felt like. Although it gets rave reviews from adults, the Free Fall slide is not something I am trying in my lifetime! We were totally drenched, having a great time, and feeling prepared www.wanderlustmag.com