Category: Exploring Second Life

I’ve been flying out of Hollywood Airport on-and-off for a good while now, and frequently putting down at Honah Lee field as well, so you’d think I’d be familiar with the majority of Blake Sea and the vicinity. But it wasn’t until a recent flight that I spotted the huge dome of Palomar Observatory on the horizon (how I’d missed it before is probably down to having draw distance turned down to assist flying – or that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!). It immediately went down on my list of places to visit as and when time allowed.

However, plans changed when I received an IM from MarkTwain White extending an invitation for me to pay a visit to the observatory, based on our common interest in astronomy. So I took advantage of another lull in real life and dropped-in on the Honah Lee group of islands (specifically Honah Lee Point), to the south of Blake Sea and had a little bit of an explore.

Now, it has to be said that these islands are steeped in legend, so when you visit, it’s really worthwhile taking time to follow the trails on foot or horseback – you can obtain a horse at the start of the trails – and avail yourself of the signs along the way; they’ll tell you a lot of about the legend, which may well have been handed down over the years until it reached the ears of Peter, Paul and Mary…

The trail leads around the main island, made up of six regions, taking you first south along one side of the central mountain ridge, offering a chance for the traveller to visit a number of famous and sometimes mysterious landmarks along the way.

The first of these is Puff’s Lagoon, where it is thought that large land and sea creatures may once have been seen, far back in ancient times, giving rise to the legend of the magic dragon referred to in song.  Just off the coast of the lagoon is a strange artefact, apparently millenia old, carved in stone, yet strangle unaltered or weathered in the passage of time. Facing out to sea, the Dragon Mother has no identifying tale associated with it and its purpose remains as much a mystery now, as when first discovered; and no-one knows whether it is somehow tied to the legends of the ancient creature said to have once roamed here, or something else entirely…

Further to the south of the island sits the Honah Lee Marine Nursery. Once a major tourist attraction and centre for marine studies, it has over the years become a much smaller facility than in its heyday, and marked by a small church and a wooden pier. Between it and Puff’s Lagoon are a number of places where tourists can rest awhile and watch the boats out on the water – but do be aware that there is also a private house sitting between the lagoon and the nursery.

The nursery is also where the trail divides – you can carry on around the island, or climb up to the plateau above and ride to the observatory. Taking the former option will bring you around to the east side of the island, past a couple more private residences and to Puff’s Meadow, an upland area of long grass again immortalised in song. A gazebo at the headland of the meadow offers a view out over the broad ocean.

Continue reading “Frolics in an autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee” →

Binemist is a homestead region developed by Bine Rodenberger which has been designed to give something of a Nordic coastal feel for visitors: high cliffs, a narrow beach, windswept grasslands, and more. There’s a lot to see and do here, and the entire layout of the island makes it a photographer’s delight.

From the arrival point on the west of the island, visitors can wander the beach  (or grab a bike and take ride), crossing a wooden bridge onto grasslands where sits the ruin of an old industrial-looking building. A track lead on around the east side of the island, where sits a small farm in the south-east corner. If you prefer to stay on the beach, there are views out over the sea, past the tall finger of a light house standing just off the coast, or there is the long climb up the wooden spiral steps to the hill tops, and the single stone church sitting high overhead.

Art plays a prominent, if subtle role here, with a piece by Chica Ghost down at the base of the cliffs on the beach, another by Bryn Oh close to the top of the spiral stairway, and other scattered around and waiting to be found.

There’s a teleport system available as well, cunningly disguised as innocent rocks, flower pots, tree stumps and so on. This can be used to get you around the island, out to the light house (or you can grab a rowing boat for this :)) and up to a couple of sky platforms. One of these is a small skybox, the other a garden with a small cabin to one side, both of which are open to the public as well.

One of the things I love about the island is that there is a juxtaposition of elements which offers up a unique look to the island. The beach and grassland, for example present a modern look and feel – the tall light house, the steel-and-concrete ruins, and so one, while up on the hill stands an old stone church speaking of bygone times. Down on the east side of the island is a comfortable-looking farm with electric lights, while just off the coast from it lies the wreck of an ancient Viking longship, its overall condition suggesting that perhaps it hasn’t been there that long at all, but which clearly speaks of an era long past when compared to the electrical conveniences of the farm. It’s an intriguing, almost eclectic mix, and it works really well.

The 30-minute auto return means that those wanting a location for a photo shoot are well served here when it comes to rezzing accessories. In fact, the entire region is a photographer’s dream; views and angles appear wherever one cams, and the island really does offer itself to extensive playing with windlight and camera options.

For those wanting an intimate setting, the region offers plenty of opportunities for sitting and cuddling, with the skybox and sky garden offering a little more privacy than on the ground. Do keep in mind when visiting that the region is Adult rated, however, and some of the pose system do reflect this!

Binemist is definitely one of those places which has to go on any SL’s explorer’s list of destinations. Whatever you’re looking for when exploring Second Life, you’ll find something here that will more than please your eye, and more than likely bring out the creative urges within the SL  photographer, as there really is a lot worth capturing on film here. For those who like a little romance, or who want to simply sit and let the world go by, you find plenty of opportunities for that as well – and to perhaps have a dance or two.

All-in-all, highly recommended.

Related Links

• Binemist SLurl (Rated: Adult)

I was drawn to take a look at Calico after seeing shots of the place on the LivingSL feed which had been taken by Goizane Serenity. This isn’t my usual haunt in terms of SL explorations, but something in Goizane’s images caught my eye, and I had to go take a look.

This is a dark urban region – with the emphasis very much on the “dark” – I couldn’t see a blessed thing with the local windlight! :). Having read the introductory notes, I opted to switch over to something which would keep up the dark/dramatic feel of the place, but which would also let me take a few snaps.

That you’re in a place overtaken by some local calamity is clear to see when you arrive (when you can see, that is :)); car wrecks litter the road, as do trash, various belongings and, strangely, comic books… Buildings have broken windows; overhead the street lamps glow weakly, and everywhere is a sense of panic. But … where is everybody?

The clues are few and far between. It’s clear that something had caused the people on this strange, forgotten corner of the world to try to leave – and leave in a hurry. It also seems that the authorities tried to stop them. The one road out of town is blocked with heavy concrete blocks and police and military vehicles are much in evidence – including the hulk of a tank, its long barrel pointing ominously back into town.

But of the people who once lived here, the police, the servicemen, the civilians – not a sign. And what happened to the bridge beyond the road block? Ripped asunder, it offers no route to safety; but how did it come to be like this? No storm would cause such damage.

Elsewhere things are equally as strange; there is an odd air of decay about the place, some of it out-of-keeping with things like the modern makes of vehicle found scattered and broken through the town. The buildings are more decrepit than one might expect, and wooden piers seem to be rotting where they stand; even some of the trees look stark and diseased…

Clearly, there are questions to be answered here – and not just with what has happened. Visiting the region, I wasn’t actually sure whether it is intended for future role-play or whether it is meant for photography / machinima. In the end, and having read the About Land notes, I opted for the former, but the place perhaps isn’t ready to go just yet. The notes read:

A long forgotten town on an island, recently discovered after having been abandoned many years ago.  No one knows how the inhabitants vanished or why, only clues that an evacuation gone horribly wrong remain.

The one thing the place is, is very atmospheric; and if you explore it carefully, you’ll realise that everything that is presented here seems to all focus on the church sitting in what amounts to the dead centre of the town… Could this also be a clue….?

For those looking for an alternative venue to explore – and allowing for the fact that it may well become a role-play centre at some point – The Town of Calico is an interesting and dark diversion, which lends itself to the imagination and the creation of backstories.

Footnote: Pey’s Law is a wonderful thing. I IM’d the owner of A town called Calico about the purpose of the region. RL being what it is, our messages passed each other by, and his arrived just after I published this piece. Here’s what he said:

“At the current time it’s more geared towards photography and machinima.  We’re currently in the process of making it into a fully interactive game with roleplay and combat and survival elements. But as of now, it’s roleplay, photography and whatever else your heart desires. The sim itself is still under heavy construction.  It most likely won’t be actually open to the public for another month or two.”

Related Links

• The Town of Calico SLurl (Rated: Adult)
• Calico Game wiki (under construction)
• The Town of Calico on Tumblr
• SL Destinations in this blog

Scribbled Hearts (Flickr)

I was delighted to learn from Ziki that Scribbled Hearts has made a return to Second Life. Formerly on the region of Water Reserve, Scribbled Hearts is back on another Homestead, this one bearing its own name.

It’s fair to say I fell in love with the original when I visited it in October 2012, and I was disappointed to learn it was going away at the end of that year. So on reading that is it now back with us, I had to hurry over and explore.

The new region has much in keeping with the old. It is a quiet rural / coastal setting where water plays a key part, styled by Randi Lenroy. It is the home of *. emm [shop],  which was present in the original, owned by Snowy Melody-Deluxe, and which is this time joined by Little Closet, operated by Noel Ryhann Kennedy-Deluxe. Finally, as also was the case with the original, neither store overwhelms the region, but fit their surroundings perfectly.

Scribbled Hearts (Flickr)

Little Closet occupies a small island in the south-east corner of the region, which is linked to the rest of the land by a partially flooded grass causeway which in turn forms the main teleport point.  *. emm [shop] is across the region, towards the north-west corner, sitting in open grassland.  There is also a cafe on the west side of the main island, surrounded on three sides by water. The rest of the region is a mixture of woodland, water and a small, intimate beach,  all beautifully and naturally presented.

Winding across the main island are a couple of trails, one of which runs from the cafe the other from * emm [shop] before they both meet under the shade of the trees and point the way towards Little Closet. “Trails” is actually probably too strong a term. Looking at the way they wind across the land and under the trees, and considering their raised, cut sides, they look just like dried-up stream beds rather than paths. If that was the intention is laying them, then it’s another clever nod towards Scribbled Hearts’ water-related nature.

Scribbled Hearts (Flickr)

The region  has a custom windlight setting which is absolutely perfect for the landscape, presenting you with a late afternoon, the sun partially hidden by clouds, a slight haze evident through the trees. If you have Firestorm or have installed Vincent Nacon’s clouds, the windlight works really well with the altocumulus clouds. Not that you need be limited to using it; as with the previous designs, this is a place which lends itself to a whole range of lighting options and opportunities, allowing the SL photographer to play to their heart’s content.

There’s a lot worth snapping as well; not only is the landscaping superb, there a lots of lovely touches to be found throughout the region and around the buildings themselves. The cafe is practically a work of art of itself with all the detail put into it, and very photogenic as a result, while Little Closet has a number of nice touches around it, some of which form little vignettes of their own, such as the scene with the taxi and shed.  * emm [shop] offers itself as a part of the rural setting, its barn-like appearance blending will with the open meadow and surrounding trees. And it doesn’t end there – wander around and you’ll come across opportunities to capture a lot of pictures and scenes.

Scribbled Hearts (Flickr)

If walking isn’t particularly your thing, you can pick-up a bicycle from the cafe and use it to get around the islands, although I confess I found the bike a little hard to steer (hardly surprising giving there are no paved surfaces :)).

There is a 3-minute auto return time on the region, so if you are in need of a prop or two for a particular photo, you have a few minutes in which to make use of it.

It is wonderful to see Scribbled Hearts make a return to Second Life, more so given the strong sense of continuity between “new” and “old” for those of us fortunate enough to remember how it looked when hosted on Water Reserve.

Scribbled Hearts (Flickr)

If you’ve never paid a visit to Scribbled Hearts old or new, I cannot recommended it highly enough, whether you’re seeking a new place in which to relax or to explore, or whether you have an itchy camera shutter finger.

For me, the return of Scribbled Hearts came at just the right time. It’s the latter end of the school holidays here, and as per a usual routine, I have a my God-daughter (one of three) for the week. She’s an energetic almost-eight, and it may well be only Monday, but I’m already worn out, so it’s a welcome piece (peace?) of sanity in my world right now :).

Related Links

• Scribbled Hearts (Rated: General)
• My original review from October 2012
• SL Destinations in this blog

I came across Quiet Wilderness, located on the homestead region of Almourol, entirely by chance. Group owned, the About Land tab describes it as “a quiet and peaceful place to relax, sit by the campfire, walk around or take a canoe ride”, and it is quite simply lovely.

You arrive up on a hill – not at the top, but about half-way up – overlooking lowlands on either side, with a river looping lazily through. There are no houses here – not on the ground, at least – and everything other than a fenced crop of wheat is an open wilderness with tall trees, woodlands, open meadows and a number of trails to be followed.

The hill on which you arrive rises to split the region pretty much in two, and  – in keeping with a number of places I’ve visited of late – is itself split by a deep river gorge, this one spanned by a natural stone bridge.

The hill also acts as a natural source for the river, with waterfalls on either side of the rocky hillside tumbling down to feed two small lakes which are in turn connected by the river’s meandering.

To the west is a lush, low-lying woodland, bordering the sea, and which has hints of a wetland area. One branch of the river exits to the sea here, and the shadows between the tall tree trunks provide hiding places for some of the region’s resident wildlife. A cobbled paths wanders into the woods from the north-west shoulder of the hill and branches just under their broad canopy, with one arm leading back out over a wooden bridge to the coastal grasslands, the other winding deeper under the trees and it’s worth following it to find a couple more little landmarks.

Wildlife is very much in evidence across the region, with birds, waterfowl, deer and more – although you might have to again keep your eyes open to see all of it. As well as the wildlife, sheep also graze peacefully, watched over by the resident dogs, Dandy and Chi.

The park-like, natural ambience of the region is enhanced by the placement of a couple of canoe rezzers. These allow you to explore the island from the river, including travelling through the gorge, which has its own waterfalls splashing down from either wall.

If you have music streaming enabled, one thing to watch out for is that the region is split two, parcel-wise, each with it’s own media streaming. Both streams are actually very listenable and suit the environment; they do, however clash a little as you move between the parcels, and it can be a little disconcerting having Johnny Cash telling you his woes where a split second before you were lost in the gentle sounds of a harp.

Don’t let the misty look of some of my shots fool you, either; the region is far from dim or misty. It’s just that the wide open, natural spaces encourage Windlight fiddling rather a lot, and I played around trying to get shots which might evoke and early morning feel (as well as going for late afternoon shots, which I confess in summer / autumn is my favourite time of day).

Once you’re done wandering, there are several places to relax and simply watch the world go by, or the tide ebb and flow. You can float on a raft on one of the lakes, climb up to a tree platform, sit at a campsite or rest at one of several platforms around the hill sides. If the mood takes you, you can sit by the side of the water and play a grand piano. That you’ll be a virtuoso is guaranteed; the piano is from Musical Alchemy, and Persephone Milk includes a superb selection of pieces in her pianos. There are even chairs set out for an appreciative audience…

Whether you travel to Quiet Wilderness on your own or with a friend or two makes no difference, it is a place which can be enjoyed as much shared with others as it can be when on wandering with just your own thoughts for company. And should you want to put the rest of Second Life out of mind for a while and just lose yourself in music and scenery, it could be precisely what the doctor ordered.

Given the nature of the region, rather than simply closing with another photo before the slide show, I’d leave you with a piece by John Schmitt of The Piano Guys, which I think is equally appropriate.

Related Links

• Quiet Wilderness (Rated: Moderate)
• SL Destinations in this blog
• The Piano Guys on YouTube

(view slideshow full-screen)