NOELIA Island – click any image for full size
NOELIA Island, designed by Ida Carlberg and her partner, Lyshco, is a beautiful Mediterranean themed homestead region, offering visitors the opportunity to “dance, date, romance or cuddle in the romantic spots, take a fun boat ride, relax on the beach, take photos or meditate near the Buddha”.
Divided into three islands, the largest of which hunches high rocky shoulders to the east and south, encompassing land which rolls down to a low-lying coast to face two smaller islands on the north side of the region. One of these thrusts a rugged head up from its covering of sand and grass, while the other offers a low-lying atoll-like beach reached via a board walk spanning the water.
The largest island, which also encompasses the landing point, features a Tuscany style villa sitting up on a high plateau. Sheltered by sun beached rocks, and reached by a winding stair of stone steps, the villa oversees a terraced vineyard to one side, overlooking one of the two smaller islands and served by an aged stone stairway. The walls supporting the steps of the vineyard appear to be similarly aged, alike the steps, suggesting that perhaps they were once part of a much older structure hugging the slope.
Below the villa, snuggled back against the lowest level of rock, and sitting between it and the channel separating the island from its companions, is the terrace arrival point, offering a shaded place for visitors to sit. From here, dusty, sun-dried tracks lead the way around the island, a nearby sign pointing the way to various points of interest, such as the beaches across the water, a little walled garden close by, the main climb to the villa, and more.
There is a lot to explore on the main island, including a footpath and wooden walkway which takes visitors around the south and east sides of the island, hugging the backs of the rocky peaks to a narrow beach in the south-east corner of the region. While for those that follow the path around below the vineyards from the landing point, there’s a cave system waiting to be explored and a high hanging bridge spanning the water to the more rocky of the smaller islands.
This second island is a place of meditation, on which can be found the figure of Buddha mentioned in the region’s description, just down from the cliff top retreat which sits alongside the bridge. Wisdom is on offer here as well, from a standing stone close to Buddha, as is a meditative music stream for those who wish to listen.
The remaining island with the low beach, is a place of entertainment, again with its own music stream. A stage here is set out for music and dancing, while and tiki hut is one of several places where people can sit and relax.
With boats also available for getting across the water, a fabulous ambient sound scape and plenty of opportunities for sitting and cuddling, NOELIA Island makes for a very relaxing visit, offering a charming environment which has been beautifully put together by Ida and Lyshco. It’s also highly photogenic and begging to be filmed – and I hope to return in the near future to record a short machinima, subject to permission being given.
Should you enjoy your visit as much as I did mine, please consider making a donation towards the upkeep of the region at the landing point.
SLurl Dand Website Links
- NOELIA Island (Rated: Moderate)
- NOELIA website
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 