Category: Exploring Second Life

One of the difficult aspects of being a chronicler of Second Life is that it is constantly evolving. Not just technically, but also in terms of the ebb and flow of life. Regions arrive, are built, grow, change, are rebuilt, exchanged, and sometimes lost. This means that in documenting one’s own travels, it is sometimes necessary to retrace footsteps just to see what has occurred since a last visit, particularly if that visit was six or more months ago. Many are just as they were, some, sadly, have vanished, quite possibly into memory as they are no more. When the latter occurs, it’s generally noted with sadness and regret. Fortunately, however, not all builds which vanish from their former locations have necessarily gone forever; some have simply relocated.

Such is the case with Taka no Sakura, a wonderful gem of a build I came across in July of 2013. While engaged in one of my periodic walks back across Second Life to see what had changed, I discovered this Edo period Japanese build had indeed vanished from its former home, but rather than having been closed, it had been moved to Midnight Dream and has been completely rebuilt. So it was with a sense of anticipation that I set out to rediscover it.

One of the many points which attracted me to the original build was the way in which it had been composed with a number of focal-points, each with its own attractiveness. all of which drew one in, and which encouraged the artist in me to try to produce images just a little different from those for other destinations. While the “new” Taka no Sakura is of a very different design, it has lost none of that attractiveness; nor has it lost any of the other aspects which drew me so powerfully to the original.

The theme is still that of Edo period Japan, and there are still the little quirks in the build which immediately brought a smile to my lips simply because of their charm – such as the little vendor carts scattered around the region, all fitted with bicycle wheels and rubber tyres, and some hiding propane gas cylinders!

This is a rocky, mountainous landscape, cut through with deep channels of water which surround the island and one of which almost cuts the region in two, forming somthing of a narrow harbour where sits a quayside and commerce area. This is where you arrive on teleporting to the region via search. Paths lead away from this area wind through the region, stone lamps lighting the way as the sun sets, talking you on a journey of exploration, up hill, over dale, and through bamboo forests.

Follow these, and you’ll be taken across bridges to high wall gardens and down to a village sitting nestled between high cliffs. Steps and paths will also show you the way to high temples and an impressive clan house and shoreline hideaways.

Along the way there is much to discover and enjoy; there is an artful attention to detail here and also flashes of a whimsical sense of humour – or quite possibly opportunities for quite serious swordplay which leaves the vanquished quite possibly hanging on for dear life! 🙂

Windlight plays an important role here; the selected preset – Bristol – complements the setting perfectly. so much so that it’s hard to find reason why one would want to fiddle around for alternatives. such is the care with which sky and sim surround have been brought together to create an impressive sense of depth to the region. Not that the region doesn’t lend itself to experimenting, of course; just that it’s worthwhile looking through the camera’s viewfinder using the default and simply tweaking the time of day.

Last time around, my old PC was suffering mightily with graphic issues, leaving me reliant on basic screen captures for images (which also formed a reason for trying to put together images of the region that were just that little bit different). Although I’m not a great believer in trying to get lightning to strike twice (you only tend to end up getting burnt, after all), I couldn’t resist playing with the images I took this time around to try to emulate the look and feel I managed to develop back in July. I hope you’ll forgive me that indulgence!

Related Links

• Taka no Sakura SLurl (Rated: Moderate)
• When your curiosity is piqued in Second Life – July 2013

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Whispering Wind (Flickr) – click any image for full size

In December 2012, I visited Whispering Wind, a Homestead region neatly split between Tab Tatham’s Tatty Soup, and Lindini2 Lane’s L2 Studio. At the time of that visit, I focused more on Tab’s Tatty Soup, and really only made passing mention of L2 Studio.

Now, 12 months on, Tatty Soup is no more, Tab having moved her store to a new location, but L2 Studio is still there, and while winter holds sway over the northern hemisphere in the real world as well as making its presence felt across numerous regions in-world, L2 Studio remains firmly in the grip of a balmy late summer.

Whispering Wind (Flickr)

It’s a delightful region to visit, whether you’re looking for a new place to explore and photograph or simply want to while away a little time. Two houses sit across the length of the parcel from one another, separated by what is perhaps best described as flooded lowlands. Don’t be concerned by the presence of the houses, however; they are not private residences, they are show homes from the L2 Studio range, and visitors are welcome to explore them.

Nestled under the narrow hills which divide the region in two, and located slightly closer to one of the houses than the other, sits the L2 Studio store itself, which has on display vendor board for the L2 Studio range. A cobbled path links the store with the nearer of the two houses, crossing a narrow causeway overlooking water on each side.

Whispering Wind (Flickr)

As well as the houses and studio, there are wooden walkways, beaches, places to sit, wildlife and animals to observe  – in short, more than enough to keep the SL explorer and photographer well occupied as they wander around.

Given the beauty and setting of the parcel, it should come as no surprise that it naturally lends itself to many different windlight presets, and looks marvellous by day or night – taking your time to experiment is the key factor here.

This is likely to be the kind of place that makes the latest improvements to interest list loading (at present available in a release candidate viewer, but up for promotion to LL’s main release viewer “real soon now”) a real joy. The design of the parcel is such that once cached, it’s liable to pop-up in front of you as soon as you make a return visit.

Whispering Wind (Flickr)

If you’re looking for a little break from all the wintertime wonderlands which are very much a part of the grid at this time of year, L2 Studio could be just the tonic. While other regions may have you longing for a warm fire and a big mug of hot chocolate to wrap your hands around, right now L2 Studio will have you wandering in shirt sleeves and perhaps dipping a toe or five into the waters which form a part of the parcel’s charm and character, just so you can feel a little cooler in the summer warmth.

Related Links

•        L2 Studio @ Whispering Wind SLurl (Rated: Moderate)

Winter is coming. At least in the northern hemisphere it is. I know this not so much because the days are getting shorter and colder (although these are both the case), but because today my car went to the garage for its pre-winter check-up. I’m a bit of a Sloane Ranger in that I don’t exactly live in the countryside (although I’m not far off it), but I do drive a 4×4 in the shape of a Land Rover Discovery. It’s a bit of a monster, I know, but I in part got it after my previous car was totalled in a head-on, courtesy of someone deciding going around corners on the wrong side of the road was a good idea. My other reason for getting it was that at the time, spending a good deal of my winter time in the woolly wilds of Northumberland, and having a 4×4 up there in winter really is a good idea.

Anyway, all the talk of winter checks and making sure everything was topped-up, cleaned-up, safe for the rigours of winter driving (ice, frost, snow, slush, salt, etc.), left me feeling I needed a little bit of an early winter wander in SL. There’s obviously going to be a good many regions switching to winter themes over the coming weeks (many already have, I know), so I opted to start my winter travels a little modestly, visiting a region I dropped-in on back in summer, but never actually blogged about.

Small Town Green has been completely redesigned since my initial summertime visit. Most of the region has been sunk to form a deep water bay surrounded by a U-shaped island, with a rocky central islet. While the theme is again winter in look and feel, rather than presenting a contiguous scene, the region is perhaps more of a series of interlinked tableaux, which makes for interesting wandering.

You start at the small town (village?) of the title, which lines a winding road leading away from the railway on the west side of the island and which meanders around to wilder country to the north-east, and the towers of an old stone bridge which looks to have once spanned the mouth of the bay.

Meanwhile, the railway line, running from nowhere to nowhere on the west side of the island, forms a little tableau of its own which links with the town with the snowy hills to the south. Here sits a log cabin, possibly a house or perhaps a hunting lodge, with trees bereft of their leaves climbing up the hills behond in orderly ranks.Wander through the trees and you’ll pass reindeer and come to a small camp at the top which someone has managed to reach in their own 4×4, ready for a spot of snowboarding.

Each of these elements, together with the central island, linked to the rest by two slender rope-and-wood bridges, present the visitor with individual scenes to be enjoyed and photographed, while also leading one on from one to the next, encouraging exploration.

Within each of these scenes are additional stories, each of which is separated from the others and yet part of the whole. In the town, for example, there’s the pizza bar, clearly a takeaway service, sitting at the side of the road with only an old telephone box from the UK to keep it company.  Is the ‘phone box actually where orders for pizza are received? And what’s the story at the cottage at the foot of the hills? Clearly someone is living there – someone with a good taste in literature, given they’re reading F. Scott Fitzgerald. Are they a resident, or someone here for the hunting season? If so, are the reindeer further up the hill really safe?

There are also odd little juxtapositions here as well, such as the old cart, complete with solid wooden wheels from a bygone era of history, slowly hauled down the street by a shaggy ox while shiny new cars sit parked at the roadside.

All told, Small town Green is an ideal location if you’re seeking somewhere that offers a number of unique locations linked by a central theme or series of idea for a photo shoot. It’s also ideal for the SL traveller who is looking for somewhere to simply enjoy a winter’s feel; the region lends itself particularly well to early morning misty settings in windlight, or early evening / night scenes.

I was also going to mention that you should make a point of crossing the bridges to the central islet and taking a peek at the frozen pond there, complete with penguins. On ice skates. Sadly, the penguins vanished at some point during my visit, to be replaced by a couple of ice sculptures.  While they are not quite as wacky as penguins on ice skates, the sculptures and the pond and its seats are still worth a visit.

Related Links

• Small Town Green SLurl (Rated: Moderate)

Asalia House (Flickr) – click any image for full size

Eddie Haskill pointed me towards Asalia House when he blogged about it recently, describing it as “magical”. He’s right.

A Homestead region, Asalia House comprises three islands set in an ocean suggestive of a coral sea. Two of the islands, on the west side of the region, are resplendent in the rich autumnal colours of the northern hemisphere, while eastward, the third is a Moon-like tropical crescent of sand, palm trees and beach bars, all of which offer a strong contrast in theme and look when compared with the other two islands, and yet works with them to create a complete picture.

Asalia House (Flickr)

The entire region is primarily the work of Ryu Asalia, Kyo Asalia and Lonco, with Ryu and Kyo responsible for the look and feel of one of the temperate islands and Lonco the other, and all three sharing in the creation of the sandy islet.

All three islands offer a simple, natural setting which is both ripe for photography and welcoming to visitors who wish to come and sit a while. Ryu and Kyo’s island, to the north-west offers a small café flanked by the towers of a water tank and a windmill, surrounded by trees and with a small seating area outside.

Across the bridge and to the south-west, Lonco’s island offers a more rural scene, with an artist’s caravan and encampment sitting amidst silver birch and other trees in a leafy, grassy glade.

Asalia House (Flickr)

There are delightful touches of whimsy to both islands; a tall “apple picking chair” sits in the water just offshore from one, with a number of apples conveniently suspended on strings from the outstretched branches of a tree; elsewhere sits a giant birdcage precariously balanced on the bank of a small inlet of water over which large soap bubbles float, while between the two islands and alongside the wooden bridge sits a large bottle, inviting passers-by to jump into it, genie-style.

There’s also some lovely attention to detail to be found as well, so it’s worth taking your time when looking around both of the islands, whether you’re exploring or camming for a look-see.

Across the water, the tropical islet is very different, as noted above. Here sits a rough-and-ready beachcomber’s bar and a more upmarket cocktail / coffee bar. Surfboards nuzzle the sand, offering places to sit, and a large tiki-style hammock is suspended between tall palm trees.  Here one can wander the sand, enjoy a drink or two, sit and chat, or dance, or float on the water and forget the rest of the world. For those who get hungry, an enticing table of snacks beckons.

Asalia House (Flickr)

The region comes with its own windlight preset, providing the feel of a hazy morning which suits both the temperate western isles and the eastern tropical island, and which blends perfectly with the default water windlight for the region. Oh, and with regards to the latter, it’s worth taking a look down on the region from overhead (you may need to tweak your sky windlight if you’ve accepted the default) or taking a peek at the world map – you’ll see the entire region is actually heart-shaped under the water, a reflection of a general theme of love and openness which is also carried through the design.

This is a phenomenal setting for the SL photographer, beautifully suited to range of lighting options which could well keep you occupied with the camera for some time. When you’ve finished you explorations, why not pop into Ryu’s cafe and leave a comment in the guest book and perhaps a sign of your appreciation in the tip jar?

Related Links

• Asalia House SLurl (Rated: Moderate)

Earlier in 2013 I happened upon Garden of Eden, an exquisite parcel created by Liara Okiddo.  Just 8192 sq m in size, the parcel was a veritable tour de force of design and presentation, demonstrating just what could be achieved in a small space, given a keen eye and patience.

Garden of Eden is now sadly gone; not because Liara has moved from Second Life, but because she and her partner Lucy have moved to a Homestead region, where they’ve been establishing a new home and new art studio and gallery.

Liara kindly offered me a preview look at Isla Okiddo ahead of the formal opening, and while real life prevented me from being able to take up the offer when first extended, I’m pleased to say that Liara kept the invitation open, and it was my privilege recently to have a tour of the island and spend time photographing it, and I can say hand-on-heart, that it is an incredible build.

As Isla Okiddo is not yet open, I’m not providing a SLurl here; I’m saving that for when I can fully review it. However, those wishing to show their interest in seeing the island Liara has established a unique way for them to do so via another build.

As well as working on Isla Okiddo, Liara has also been developing a small airport. As with Garden of Eden, it is once again a very creative use of space, buildings, and windlight. Should you visit it, I really do recommend you accept the parcel windlight to experience the setting as intended. Liara has put considerable effort in bring the scene together, and the selected windlight really brings the setting to life.

Here you can enjoy a period setting, with a silver Douglas DC-3 sitting on the tarmac in the early morning light, waiting for the inaugural flight to Isla Okiddo. This is to be a first class flight, as the champagne on ice alongside the steps up into the plane demonstrates. Alongside the champers sits a guest book where those wishing to join the flight – registering their interest in seeing Isla Okiddo – can do so.

The airfield offers an excellent location for those wanting something a little different as a backdrop for their photoshoots – just make sure you drop word to Liara about your intent beforehand and make sure she’s OK with things.

I’ll be bringing more news on Isla Okiddo in the future; in the meantime, and rather than my usual Flickr slide show, here’s a little preview video I put together to help whet your appetite.

Related Links

• Scotland – Okiddo airfield SLurl (Rated: Moderate)

I came across Asa Vordun’s Caprice and Easy A entirely by chance, the happy circumstance of flipping through Flickr and bouncing around Second Life. Call it is case of SL serendipity, as I couldn’t have come across both at a better time, thanks to a number of stresses crowding me somewhat of late. Both shooed those worries away and left me smiling.

Caprice is perhaps best defined by the description given in About Land:

Once upon a time in Caprice …a place of whimsy and wonder…beauty and peace…of tales and fairytales…what is real what is imaginary …do you trust what you see…

It’s a beautiful little corner of a Second Life, featuring houses by Kayle Matzerath, who provided the fabulous Lumenaria at the 2013 Fantasy Faire, arranged around a small square and fountain.

When I first visited, Caprice was enjoying a bright autumn, with the leaves on the trees a golden brown, the air crisp and the sun still warm enough for one to forsake a coat when stepping outdoors. Since then, I gather the time as moved on, and winter is gradually encroaching, the trees now denuded of their foliage and snow drifts laying claim to corners and to the sides of roads. Just as well, then, that a café offering coffee and hot chocolate stands on one side of the square, facing another offering filling snacks and warm drinks over on the other side. Or, if one prefers, apples and hot cider can be had from a wooden stall.

This is place where friends can meet and spend time seated around the fountain or at the cafés or – if the weather gets too nippy – inside the delightful library. By day or by night, Caprice offers the warmest of welcomes and its whimsical looks and feel encourage you to tarry and forget the bustle and call of the rest of the grid.

From the arch of the arrival point, looking out over a seafront scene with jetty, lighthouse and sail boat, you can meander along the footpaths and the road which catches the square in a paved lasso, wander past the cafés and the library and cider stand until you come to the arch of a narrow tunnel. Here, beside a sign inviting you to breathe, you might want to slip on a coat before continuing through the tunnel and into Easy A.

Here is a place where winter has truly arrived. Asa has done a fabulous  job in creating a wonderful winter tableau photographers could likely have a lot of fun with – and to really capture the atmosphere, I do suggest you try a night / low lighting level with your time-of-day / windlight.

Cottages by Cory Edo and Van Auster sit by the side of a road which circles a high mesa. As the snow falls, a lone truck rumbles along the street, passing under the roadside lamps, headlights picking out the road ahead – you can see why I said Easy A needs a night-time setting to really be appreciated :).

As with Caprice, the attention to detail here means you’re going to need to keep a sharp eye open to appreciate everything on offer, particularly where the cottages are concerned, each of which offers a place to sit and reflect, or chat. Or if you prefer, you can find your way to the top of the tall pillar of rock, crowned as it is by a ring of fir trees, themselves topped and hung about with lights and which surround a secret place to sit and share while coffee and soup bubble on an open fire.

Both Caprice and Easy A offer a small slice of magic well worth taking the time to visit, particularly if you enjoy taking photos in SL.

I have no idea as to how frequently Asa giver her parcels a make-over, but I have to admit that outside of changing them to suit the seasons, I rather hope they don’t often go through too drastic an overhaul – at least not Caprice, given that Easy A is a little more in keeping with the onset of winter in the northern hemisphere and so may change more dramatically as the year passes. As it is, both offer charm, warmth (despite the weather :)) and individual beauty to the passing traveller. Be sure not to miss either of them!

Related Links

• Caprice / Easy A SLurl (Rated: Moderate)

And as winter is the theme, here’s another piece by Chris de Burgh to mark the time of year.