Category: Exploring Second Life

Whimberly – click any image for full size

Whimberly, a homestead region designed by Staubi (Engelsstaub), is another location Caitlyn and I were introduced to through Shakespeare (SkinnyNilla). He, along with his partner, Max (Maxie Daviau), has a knack of finding beauty spots in Second Life, and Whimberly is certainly that.

This is another region leaning towards a Mediterranean theme, split into two islands under clouds lit from above by the sun, filtering its light across the landscape. A villa stands atop the single, low hill on the larger of the two islands, neat lines of grape vines arranged around the slopes leading up to it, standing as if marshalled ready to march smartly down the hill to where a dirt track runs between the hill and the region’s landing point.

Whimberly

The track curls gently around the foot of the hill before branching, one arms climbs the gentle slope to the villa, the other following the curve of the coastline. Stone steps also lead up to the villa, passing between the lines of grapes. At the top, on the villa’s outer terrace, fruits are laid out for sale on the outer terrace of the villa, and geese roam. A cart with wine casks and an old pick-up truck add to the suggestion that this is a working estate, but the inner courtyard, with its pool, games room, barbecue and outdoor lounge area, carries a sense that this a more of a holiday location than a working vineyard.

Perhaps it is both; to the north, and on the lowlands beneath the villa, sit a cabin and a flat-roofed building. both offer comfortable, if small, accommodation. Might it be that those on vacation sleep within these, whilst availing themselves of the villa and its facilities for the rest of their needs?

Whimberly

To the east of the villa, and nestled at the foot of the hill on which it sets, is an artist’s studio, occupying the corner of an aged terrace which drops abruptly into the water. Smoke rises from a brazier a short distance away, where sits a small deck, one of several places on the island visitors can relax, a wooden board walk linking it to the studio, while its back sits to the dirt track.

Between the villa’s hill and the arms of the dirt track – the same track which passes by the landing point – sits a field of oilseed rape. It’s not hard to imagine a gentle breeze stirring the seed heads, causing them to dance in unison like ripples across a lake. Follow the track west and north, and it will bring you to one of the “holiday homes”. A short distance from this, across open grass, sits the bridge offering access to the smaller island. This points  a slender finger out over the water, dissected for most of its length by another track which brings visitors to a lone caravan sitting in the shade of one of the region’s scattered trees, and another wooden deck sitting out over the water.

Whimberly

Whimberly is beautifully elegant in its simplicity of presentation. It offers much to explore without leaving the visitor overwhelmed, while the attention to detail means there are a lot of little touches to be discovered and enjoyed, all set beneath a sky crafted to suit the setting and completing the ambience of the region. Should you enjoy a visit, please consider a donation at the landing point to help with the upkeep of the region.

SLurl Details

• Whimberly (Whimberly, rated: Adult)

Devin – click any image for full size

Devin appeared in the Destination Guide Highlights on Friday, January 20th, promising “two sims” of space to explore. Designed by Roy Mildor, Ally Daysleeper and Alienmaus Allen, the description should perhaps read, “two region-wide levels”, but the fact remains that Devin presents Second Life users the opportunity to enjoy two very different environments within the same region.

The ground level presents a rugged, lush terrain, filled with the greenery of grass and trees, surrounded by tall mountains and cut and shaped by water. It could be just about anywhere in the world, edged with a sandy beach, watched over by ancient ruins and the beacon eye of a light house.

Devin

A house sits upon a hill to the north-east; a private residence, it is off-limits to visitors, although the rest of the land remains open to explore. A watery tongue cuts into the land below the house, crossed by two bridges to reach a long island running southwards. Here, horses graze amidst the long grass and an old barn has been converted for the care of motorcycles, a large deck built out over the water close by offering places to sit and cuddle.

A second island sits across the water to the west, stepping-stones offering a relative route to it. More rugged than the others, it rises to a narrow spine with more places to sit and / or cuddle, before dropping to the swathe of beach. North of this, across an old wooden board walk, sits the smallest of the islands, topped by the ruin of a cottage. From here, visitors can circle back to the open land beneath the house.

Devin

Throughout it all are places to sit, or chat or dance while the air is filled with the sounds of nature. This is peaceful haven, offering plenty of scope for photography and relaxation.  When exploring, keep an eye out for the whimsy – like the raccoons by one of the seating areas.

The second landscape can be reached via the teleport signs planted in the ground at various points. Called simply “Devin 2”, it sits high in the sky, and where the ground level is rich in greens, browns and water, this second environment is perhaps more akin to the Sahel Zone of Africa. It is a place of rolling dunes, some of which are covered in a thin but tough mat of grass,  and of scattered trees and a lone watering hole.

Devin

Overlooked on one side by an old shack and the other by an ancient stone tower, the watering hole is the venue of choice for the local wildlife. Elephants bathe, rhinos and giraffe drink, and zebra stand in the shade of trees growing lose by, attentively watched by a pair of jaguars. Across the water from them, a lioness eyes a small herd of Arabian gazelle,  while a crocodile rests in the sun. Slightly further afield, a train of camels marches slowly in from the outlying dunes and sand hills.

Thus it is that Devin 2 presents a mini safari on a sim; a chance to photograph wildlife whilst escaping the rest of the world. A scattering of camp site and wooden building offer those visiting places to watch the animals, while a hot air balloon presents an ideal overhead perch from which to observe all the comings and goings. As with the ground level, everything here is open to exploration, except the camp site sitting over the dunes to the north-east. This is sitting over the private home at ground level, and is security protected.

Devin

Taken together, there are two charming places to visit, either individually or together. Each offers its own serenity and its own attractiveness.

SLurl Details

• Devin (Devin, rated: Moderate)

Once Upon A Fairy Tale – click any image for full size

The last time I visited Cape Juniper, Danni Lyric’s home region which she uses to showcase her landscaping and design skills, was in September 2015. As such, it is a place which periodically changes, and I was drawn back to is after seeing the region featured in a recent Destination Guide highlights under the title Once Upon A Fiary Tale. And if you in any way enjoy fairy tales sweet or grim, or have a penchant for stories involving wizards, elves, dragons and more, it is most assuredly a place you will want to visit and savour.

Once again, Danni – with the assistance of Psy Carnell – has created a unique, eye-catching environment with a lot to explore, see and discover – far more than may first meet the eye. “This year, instead of observing the changing of seasons, [we’ve]  decided to take a nostalgic turn,” Danni explains. “Once Upon A Fairy Tale is a  whimsical fantasy land with scenery inspired by fairy and folk tales of our childhood. You’ll notice as you travel around the different areas that, while nothing is an exact match to any single tale, there are strong hints you will find recognisable.”

Once Upon A Fairy Tale

Visits start ordinarily enough on a path alongside a notice board. A light haze hovers in the air, and a sign post alongside the landing point gives the first hint of just how much there is to find within this realm of folk tales, stories and imaginings. Take the footpath in one direction, and you’ll be led down to a watery oasis where merfolk reside; take it in another and you’ll climb a short hill to where Cinderella’s  magical coach awaits, steeds and carriage yet to hear the strike of the midnight hour. Take it in the third offered direction and you’ll be led inland past wolves and a waterfall and over a ridge to – well, I’ll let you find out for yourselves!

Perhaps the best way to appreciate the beauty and otherworldliness of Once Upon a Fairy Tale is to pump up your draw distance to about 300-310 metes, and carefully cam out, keeping your focus on the land before you. As you do, you’ll see that the paths and lush greenery of your arrival point are surrounded by a mix of pointed green crags, flat-topped tables of rock and islands floating serenely  in the haze, each the home to a scene or setting. These form a ring around the centre of the region, linked back to it by bridges and walkways, whilst not all being connected one to another.

Once Upon A Fairy Tale

Nor does the magic end there. Cam a little further out, and you’ll see that the region and the waters lapping it have been designed so it appears all of the land is floating on a foundation of clouds, the encompassing sea of Linden Water converted into an unending expanse of sky. It’s an extraordinary sight, one given added depth by the waters which tumble from the edge of the land into the “clouds” below.

As Danni notes, this isn’t designed to be a single fairy tale or fantasy setting; it is both an interpretation and an amalgam of stories, such that each island or location might be considered an individual setting with its own tale. But at the same time, when exploring, you cannot escape the fact that the different locations naturally flow one to another, whichever route of exploration you take. As such, there is a feeling of story-like continuity whilst exploring.

Once Upon A Fairy Tale

Then, of course there are the various images and suggestions posed by the scenes one encounters along the way. These will naturally be very individual for each of us: is the wizard Gandalf or one of his brethren, or is he more akin to Dumbledore and wizards of his ilk? Are the dragons from the pages of J.R.R.T or G.R.R.M?

Nor are the scenes restricted to purely western influences; the oriental is represented atop a couple of the islands, complete with Buddha and cushion for those who want to meditate. Elsewhere can be found winged horses (Pegasii?), complete with smithy to look after them, industrious gnomes, fairies and more. Through it all, the attention to detail and the little touches bring this world to life, as do the characters populating it – the gnomes, dwarves, creatures and (especially) the wizard.

Once Upon A Fairy Tale

This is a magical region for children of all ages, and most certainly not one to be missed or avoided.

SLurl Details

• Once Upon a Fairy Tale (Hollandise, Cape Juniper, rated: Moderate)

An Uncertain Destiny – click any image for full size

Caitlyn and I recently had the opportunity to drop in on Mystic, the Full region on which friends  Boudicca Amat and Anthony Westburn have their home. The occasion of our visit was to mark the completion of Bou’s work in redesigning their land, which covers a little under 1/4 of the region and which is now once again open to public visits.

Once called Hestium – which you can read about here and here – the parcel is now called An Uncertain Destiny, and once again it is a tour de force of Boudicca’s creative talent, bringing together several elements into a cohesive whole whilst also demonstrating you don’t actually need an entire region – Full or Homestead – to create something memorable (particularly with the increases in Land Impact allowances).

An Uncertain Destiny

On arrival, visitors find themselves on a small sand and shingle beach surrounded on three sides by a tiered, rocky landscape. The table-topped cliffs and plateaus offer a lush covering of grass, flowers and trees enjoying the summer rain. These various rocky tiers are connected by stairways and paths, offering a number of potential routes for exploration.

Where you go after your arrival is up to you: simply climb the steps up from the beach and let your feet carry you where they will. To the west sits an old castle keep, now converted into a cosy pub on one side and a little library-come-reading room on the other. A staircase from the pub directs people up to a rooftop café where Bou reads from some of some of her favourite books every Tuesday and Thursday between 15:15 and 16:00 SLT.

An Uncertain Destiny

Beyond this, a path winds up between trees and up more steps, promising the way to the land of Far, Far, Away. No Shrek or Fiona to be found here, however. Instead, there is a cosy Scandinavian stuga sit with its back to another cliff, some mystical ruins nearby.

The mystical feel can also be found on the east side of the parcel, beneath the cliffs of Bou and Anthony’s private home – the only part of the parcel not open to public access. Here sits an ancient stone circle reached via a gabled gate. Close by, and occupying the tops of another plateau, sit a formal garden and a hedge maze. I’ll leave you to discover how to reach them – there is more than one route 🙂 .

An Uncertain Destiny

All of this is brought together by a central garden of wild flowers and shrubs, in which a graceful conservatory sits, the little terrace outside its door open to the gently falling rain. For those preferring to sit in the dry, a  s swing bench can be found nestled under a rock shelf close by, warmed by a little fire. Couples might also find a place to sit in the gazebo of the walled garden a slightly longer walk away and overlooking the beach.

Bou has always had an eye for colour, line, composition and detail, and rain – or as we sometimes call it in England, “liquid sunshine” due to its frequency – notwithstanding, an Uncertain Destiny once again proves this in spades. Not only is it a gorgeous design, wonderfully photogenic and delightfully relaxing, it is filled with wonderful little touches which bring it perfectly to life.

SLurl Details

• An Uncertain Destiny (Mystic, rated: Adult)

The Hell’s Heaven 2.0 – click any image for full size

“Stay awhile,” Snoob (SnoobJohnson) and his partner, Mila (Mila Maesar) say in greeting to visitors to their homestead region, The Hell’s Heaven 2.0. “Let  this world  refresh your soul and
melt your worries away …  Explore this cloudy world of changing scenery and enjoy your stay!”

It’s a warm invitation, and there is much to enjoy within the region, which has been beautifully created by Snoob, with touches inspired by Mila to offer photographers and explorers alike with a visual treat – an anyone who has looked at the Flickr group for the region will only be too aware.

The Hell’s Heaven 2.0

This is a land of two distinct parts. To the west sit low-lying marshlands, ankle-deep in water and carpeted in long reeds and grasses through which a water-hugging mist drifts.  Scattered over this lay dilapidated shacks and cabins, their floors flooded and wooden walls slowly rotting, submerged wooden walkways running from nowhere to nowhere outside. Wrecks of cars and pick-ups complete the scenery, together with a couple of rowing boats and the rusting body of an old airboat.

To the east, the land rises abruptly in a series of rocky crags, high ridges and flat-topped plateaus, cutting the land between them into deep gorges, one connected to the next, through which the marshy waters drift and aged trees stand, trunks bent and branches hanging low, like old men needing a cane for support as they watch the passing of time and the world.

The Hell’s Heaven 2.0

Waterlogged paths wind through these grey canyons, leading the way to an old, broken railway line emerging from a boarded tunnel. Overhead, clouds drift across a sky deepening with dusk, their shapes a mix of grey and softly burnished bronze. Between sky and ground, strung across one of the gorges, sits an old chair lift, all but one of the wooden seats fading in the sun, the exception dangling beacon-red beneath the uppermost stretch of taut cable. Do be aware when wandering the canyons, that a private residence lies beyond them in the north-east corner of the lane – please respect privacy there.

A hinterland of rock, reeds, and water, there is a feeling this place has been long abandoned; the cars are rusting, an old fuel pipe and valve leaking oil into the water, adding the glossy touch of alien colours to its surface here and there. But while abandoned, this land is not deserted. Egrets and herons perch here and there, eyes alert for fish – so the waters aren’t that contaminated – while crocodiles rest among the reeds, perhaps also waiting for unwary prey to come a little too close.

The Hell’s Heaven 2.0

The Hell’s Heaven 2.0 – the name a reminder of Snoob’s original The Hell’s Heaven – is very much a place of peace and serenity, with the feeling of decade and passing time adding to its beauty, and not necessarily in a melancholy way. There is a sense of romance to the region, giving it the feel of a setting from an unwritten novel.

Be sure to pay a visit and write your own chapter.

SLurl Details

• The Hell’s Heaven 2.0 (Rainbow Ridge, rated: Moderate)

 

RAG Randt is a content creator and designer who is perhaps best known for his work with MadPea, having worked on many of their games over the years. However, he recently departed the MadPea team to focus on his own work, and as we’ve been friends for several years, having worked closely on a project together, I was delighted to receive an invitation from him to see what he’s been up to within the region he’s been working on for the past few months.

“I’ve been putting together a portfolio site,” he explained as I arrived next to a DC3 sitting at the edge of a long runway, a fitting arrival point for visitors to his island. “Some of it is still under construction, but I’ve opened it to the public.” Called ragVR, the region is a veritable tour-de-force in RAG’s skills as a scripter, creator, builder and environment designer – and makes for a completely engaging visit.

From the airfield landing point, a flight of steps leads visitors to the stunning Art Deco frontage of an elevator tower rising above the sheer cliff face against which it is built. Two kiosks stand before the doors to the tower, one of which invites visitors to click it, thus getting one into the habit of touching similar kiosks across the region to obtain information on the various locations one can visit. The second kiosk provides background information on RAG himself and the region, and should be read.

Summoning the elevator via the button next to the doors will bring the first of many smiles to your face, as the distant sound of the lift clunking and purring into its descent is gradually mixed by music in keeping with the Art Deco look of the tower, which gently grows in volume as the car approaches – as one might naturally expect. When the elevator doors open, so the music naturally increases in volume again, but not painfully so, inviting you to step inside. When you do, you’ll find this is no ordinary elevator. In keeping with the Art Deco look and feel, it retains a skilled (and charming) operator. Touch him to select your destination, and watch him operate the elevator’s control lever.

On arrival at the upper floor, and with the elevator’s music fading behind you as the doors close, you’ll find yourself on the first part of a self-guided tour of the region and RAGs work. This starts with a retrospective of his early 2D work in SL, which built on his experience as an illustrator. Once again, a kiosk offers background notes on the display, together with a comment that while visitors are free to wander around the region whichever way they choose, the recommended route to take the exit to the left, relative to the elevator station, and follow the path.

Winding between trees and bushes, the path will take you by way of hill, dale and building, around and over the region, and the displays of RAG’s work. To list all of them would be to spoil a visit. However, as a few points of note, there are the gacha goods booths with delights such as RAG’s flying pigs (I have one at home 🙂 ), the MadPea centre where sets RAG build for a number of MadPea games are on display, and the model of the school Live And Learn Kenya  / Feed A Smile are building for Kenyan children, and which was the subject of a major MadPea fund-raising drive.

“There will be teleporters to skyboxes as well” RAG informed me, “And models of some of the items I will have on sale.” For those interested in the Horizons community, these items for sale will include two house styles designed to fit in with the theme  – and I’ll hopefully have more on these in a future piece on Horizons. “While the region is primarily aimed at people who need a builder, and who want to see what I can do,” RAG said as we wandered the footpaths of the region, “I hope it is also a fun place for people to visit and discover as well.”

Nor do RAG’s skills end with physical objects, be they furniture, creatures, buildings or machines. The entire region design demonstrates his ability to create and landscape an environment, and select windlight settings to add to the overall ambience. Outside of the flora, vehicles, a handful of rocks and tower crane found in the region, almost everything you encounter, including the footpaths, stairways and cliff rocks, have been built by RAG.

Whether or not you’re looking for someone to execute a custom design or build for you, a visit to ragVR is a demonstration of all that is possible in Second Life from prim (do not miss the Alien Ice Cream!), through landscaping to mesh and scripting. It reminds us that SL can be both an entertaining environment through games and gacha whimsies, and a place which can support physical world activities, such as building a school in Africa.

And if you are looking for a superb brewer of fine mesh, an expert shaper of prims and artisan sculptor of land, then taking a tour a is doubly recommended, as RAG could well be your man. You can contact him about projects and ideas and to discuss rates via IM, notecard or through e-mail (rag-at-ragmedia.com). A website in support of RAG’s work is also in development, and I’ll be adding the URL here once it is up and running.

SLurl Details

• ragVR (Devil’s Moon, rated: Moderate)