Day: February 9, 2018

Kamigami, Pandora Resort

Note: this vision of Pandora Box of Dreams closed on August 1st, 2018, so the SLurl have been removed.

Lokhe Angel Verlack (Jackson Verlack) is a master in creating immersive environments, and I’ve covered a number of his region designs over the last few years – the most recent being Namaste, under their Pandora Resort/Pandora Box of Dreams banner (read here for more). Recently, he had his partner, Miza-Cupcake-Verlack (Mizaki) opened a new destination at Pandora Resort – Kamigami, a Japanese themed, down-town style environment with some nice little touches.

As with Namaste, a visit to Kamigami commences on the upper deck of an airliner zapping through the sky. Arrows on the floor direct passengers down to the lower deck and to teleport boards sit nestled in the cabin door lobby. One of these takes visitors to Namaste, the other to Kamigami, where they are delivered to the lower entrance to a metro station – the steps to street level offering the only way forward.

Kamigami, Pandora Resort

Climbing the steps reveals this is not the better part of town; the red-bricked buildings are grimy with age, the streets – although apparently pristine tarmac, possibly washed clean by the falling rain – are lined with piles of rubbish, old oil cans and signs that some attempts are being made at renovation.The metro sign on the wall of the steps suggests we’re in Kyoto, in which case, this might be an older, more outlying part of that city.

More signs, neon and painted boards, hang from walls, extend from posts carrying overhead power lines and are mounted on overhead gantries. Some of these are typically Japanese while others offer a more Chinese lean, and some have a distinctly western look and feel; all of which gives the setting an eclectic look and feel.

Kamigami, Pandora Resort

Most of the builds are admittedly shells, but part of the interest in a visit is finding your way around the streets separating them into blocks, taking in all the little details. I say “most”, because wander far enough and you will find places that are open to avatars to explore, such as the magic shop along one street and, most particularly, in the south-east of the build where a series of covered alleys offer little market stalls, eateries and curio shops.

The largest buildings in the setting are of distinctly European / western design. They sit within formal gardens positioned on the rugged table of rock that raises them above the surrounding town, an aloof position befitting their imposing looks. A narrow cutting in the rock,, marked by stone steps, presents the route up to these two manor-like buildings, both of which appear to be places of learning … or of dark acts.

Kamigami, Pandora Resort

Keep an eye out, as well, for the town’s canal; not because of the water or for boats, but because of its unique display of fish that are literally flying along its course, rather and swimming. These can be seen from the road running alongside part of the canal, or from the old stone bridge spanning it.

As with all of  Lokhe ‘s builds – and as one might expect from my description of him at the top of this piece – Kamigami is eye-catching in its level of detail and touches.  Visually, it is as engaging as Namaste, down on the ground level below it – but in a very different way. There are opportunities for photography among the streets. As such, a visit is once again recommended.

Kamigami, Pandora Resort