Category: Exploring Second Life

Hors du Temps – click any image for full size

Update: Hors du Temps has closed and the host region under private ownership. SLurls have therefore been removed from this article.

Hors du Temps (“Out of Time”) is the latest region design by Rose Ulrik (Rose Siabonne), who has previously designed La Clef des Champs (see here and here), and like that design, it makes for an absorbing visit with a lot awaiting discovery.

The region is divided into a group of islands: a large primary island with a mix of low-lying land and rugged tables of rock.  Containing the (unenforced) landing point on its west side, it is surrounded by three smaller islands, one of which has two private residences atop it, and another that may potentially be up for renting.

Hors du Temps

The landing point sits on the sands of the low-lying part of the main island, sharing the location with a sheltered open market complete with a game of boules, while a little shack and an old children’s playground sit close by. Beyond the market, the land rises to a grassy plateau, a path winding up its side. A large wooden house sits on the plateau, inviting exploration – but do take note there are a couple of rental posts sitting behind it, so it might be available for rent as a private residence, so caution should perhaps be exercised when approaching it.

To the south, the land also becomes more rugged with fingers and tables of granite-like rock rising above the sands. Paths offer a way through and up this part of the island, giving multiple opportunities for exploration and photography – and there is a lot to see. Away to the north-east is a headland looking towards the island with private homes. It also offers a house: Marcthur Goosson’s always attractive Ma Maison cottage, a build I’ve often been tempted by whenever I’ve seen it. This blends nicely into the surrounding rocks, and sits above a small beach. Whether this might also be available for rent is hard to say, but with the outdoor bric-a-brac in the courtyard, it makes an ideal subject for photography.

Hors du Temps

When making your way to the cottage, keep your eyes open for the paths awaiting your feet. One climbs the south-west plateau to where an artist’s studio sits tucked away, a further beach sitting below it. This is reached by a separate path, one that runs past a stone bridge providing access to the second of the outlying islands. With its glass conservatories, winding paths and climbs, and places to sit and spend time, this is perhaps my favourite part of the region – although we had to admit defeat in trying to find a way down to the beach, short of jumping off the arch of rock above it!

The final island – excluding the small islet topped by a lighthouse that lies off the west coast – sits to the south-west and is reached via a wooden footbridge crossing the shallows between it and the main island. Once again, it is a rocky uprising with a small beach. It is also home to another house that may or may not be available for rent – so again, do take care whilst exploring.

Hors du Temps

This is also a place with one or two little surprises. Alongside the landing point, for example, sits a teleport disk. Touching this will present you with two destinations: BDSM and Fairy Garden. The former is pretty much as the name implies – a place for BDSM activities presented as a tasteful, low-key club occupying a penthouse-like setting overlooking the Manhattan skyline.

The second destination – Fairy Garden – is a skybound garden that, while smaller in size, offers a similar charm to Lauren Bentham’s Storybrooke Gardens (itself the subject of three past articles in the blog dating from 2014, 2015 and 2017). It’s another place to escape to and which cannot fail to bring a smile to a visitor’s face with its whimsy.

Hors du Temps

Nor is the disk the only teleport point. Tucked away in the region is a Stargate and DHD from Stargate SG-1 and its offshoots. However, I’ll leave this to you to find when visiting – it shouldn’t be too hard!

Like Clef des Champs before it, Hors du Temps makes for an enticing visit. With rowing boats moored just off-shore, numerous places to sit both on the beach and inland, a rich sound scape and lots of detail with plants, statues and wildlife (and cats!) scattered throughout, there is more than enough to keep those dropping in engaged in their explorations.

Hors du Temps

Our thanks – once again – to Shawn Shakespeare for the tip-off.

Killary

Update: Killary has closed, and the host region offered for rent to private tenants. SLurls have therefore been removed from this article.

Back in April, Miro Collas pointed us in the direction of Killary, a homestead region design by Morena Tully,  and which is inspired by the “only fjord in Ireland”, Killary inlet (or harbour), on the Connemara coast of Galway, Ireland.

Those who know Connemara know it to be a place of rugged beauty with many places to captivate the eye and the heart. Lying to the northern end of Connemara, Killary sits on the border between the counties of Galway and Mayo, and is an incredibly striking location, a deep, glacial valley that now forms an inlet served by the likes of the Erriff, Bundorragha and Bunanakee rivers.

Killary

For her design, Morena encapsulates Killary’s winding mix of hills and water-filled inlet in a rugged design that is striking in its simplicity and desolated nature. In doing so, she perfectly captures the way in which the region’s inspiration faces off against the wild and capricious Atlantic, which can be prone to throwing wind, rain and storm at Ireland as she looks westward, giving parts of her coastline a hardened look; a large of tough grass and shrubs where trees have to brace themselves against incoming storms.

The look of the region is such that its naked bleakness perfectly frames Morena’s aim for the region, which she describes as:

Simple, minimalist, easy. Clear thoughts seem to happen with just land, water, and sky. Sometimes it’s OK for a place to be just a place.

Killary

This is a place that really needs no description. Rather it is a place to be experienced – a place to come to when quiet solitude is what you require. While the design might be minimalist, with its scattered trees and sheep, and the stone buildings and ruins that give the region a sense of age, there are places scattered throughout the landscape that encourage visitors to sit and stay awhile, whether they are in the company of friends or simply spending time with their thoughts.

Which direction you take from the landing point is entirely up to you; as it is positions on the northern (“inland”) end of the inlet cutting into the region, going east or west will take you along either of the two arms of the U-like landscape. Either route has points of interest, be it the high hill crowned by the circle of a broken wall, or east to where the ruins of a small church sit and a lean-two offers shelter for the island’s sheep.

Killary

However, you will want tread both routes, simply because they invite exploration. Also, when you do so, you might discover the wooden treasure chests scattered across the land. Each of these is guarded by a simple riddle. Left click to read the riddle and supply your answer. If your answer is correct, each chest will open and offer you a gift. If your answer is incorrect – you can try again 🙂 .

Morena notes this may be her last region design. While I don’t remember visiting any of her past designs, Killary demonstrates I’ve probably been missing out; so I hope I’ll have to opportunity to see more of her work in the future.

Killary

aZiLe – click any image for full size

We were directed towards aZiLe by Shakespeare, who dropped a landmark over to me recently. Occupying the bulk of a Full region (a corner parcel to the south-east is a separate private residence), it is a multi-faceted environment predominantly designed by Zoé (zoeliah), with assistance from Boro Moretto (boromir22) – within additional elements I’ll get to – that is a little hard to define.

With its mix of public and private residential units, the region might at first seem to be your typical rental estate – but to view it as such would be a mistake. The region also has an Adult rating and a D/s leaning – but to view it as a D/s role-play environment would also be a mistake.  There is also a strong arts flavour to the setting that offers a further twist of curiosity to it.

aZiLe – click any image for full size

Perhaps the easiest way to define aZiLe is to quote region holder Boro:

We wanted to create a space for relaxation in a welcoming setting of beach and holidays. The design is by Zoé, our architect and gardener whose design you will be able to appreciate by touring the sim. It is incidentally a residential space. If you would to live here, contact Zoé for parcel availability, and she will build your house on the beach in the spirit of the region.

aZiLe is above all a friendly space with freedom and a little note of madness because we like lightness and humour. And this offbeat touch gives the people who live here their group name: zinzins. We have no rules, except for common sense and courtesy between adults.

aZiLe – click any image for full size

To describe the setting would be a little self-defeating; it is unique enough to deserve to be seen for itself. While “beach and holidays” might be suggestive of sands, surf, palm trees and shady parasols, this is most assuredly not aZiLe. Instead, the region has a certain “shabby chic” run-down look to it that is quite captivating.

The landing point sits just off-centre within the region, looking out over a small beach that has something of the appearance of a holiday setting – albeit it a possible low-cost one. The sand flows down to a small bay where inflatables sit on the water and flamingos strut under the umbrella of trees and palms while a bar sits on one shore, offering a place to sit and relax.

aZiLe – click any image for full size

Beyond this, gravel paths, steps and walks wind among an eclectic mix of building, some stone and or brick, many wood; some old, some new. Not all of the building – particularly those near the coast – are private residences, but others are open and sit as galleries or spaces where light D/s role-play might take place – such as the church. Although again, this is not a place in any way devoted to D/s and / or RP.

aZiLe is not a D/s sim and at the same time, some of us are D/s lovers. Since we established we’re a crazy tribe, we’ve decided to try to combine a friendly sim, welcoming everybody, with a spicier side, that we want present, but discreet. We are quite normal people; we need to relax and breathe and laugh. We found the D/s world of SL to be a little too heavy for our taste. The constant need to have rules, the hierarchy, the eternal question “To RP or not RP”… We don’t fit in that mould. We love the exchange. But as conversations, not discussions. We like the idea that SL is like RL. One evening we’ll act light and stupid, or will go dancing, or will simply cuddle. But the other evening we might get deeper.

aZiLe – click any image for full size

The art to be found within the region is as broad as the setting itself: sculptures by CioTToLiNa Xue and Mistero Hifeng share space with pieces by Bryn Oh while hippos and giraffe stand within the waters and open spaces. Off to the north-east of the region, there sits on a sandy headland the Gallery Pinot Gris. It stands like a giant bunker and offers a circular display space featuring the art of Rob Barber (Rob Steenhorst in the physical world).

Eclectic and fascinating, aZile is a step outside the more “usual” public region, and well worth the time taken to explore it. For those who take photographs, there’s also a Fickr group where they can be submitted.

aZiLe – click any image for full size

SLurl Details

• aZiLe (Satotage, rated: adult)

City of Solace – click any image for full size

Sitting just off Wellington Road as it arcs around the southern bulk of Jeogeot, sandwiched between Route 9 and 10 sits the City of Solace, a region-wide, futuristic city design by Jean K. Smit (jeankyn) and of Bill R. Smit (BlackBlade Smit). It’s an interestingly curious place, easily accessible by road, and with a direct teleport set to deliver people to the main rental office high overhead.

From this latter comment, it should be obvious that this is a location offering rentals – both residential and commercial; however, it is also a place open to visitors, and where casual role-play is potentially encouraged, the Destination Guide description noting:

Solace. A city of wonder, mystery, and amazing vistas. The City of Solace could be considered a city of tomorrow, today. Futuristic architectures, places to see and visit, things to see and do. In accordance to the city, there is also a space installation to explore, named S.O.A.R. Rentable habitation pods, access to starships, etc. There is lots to do for avid role-players.

City of Solace

At the time of our visit, a number of the city units had been rented, so some care is perhaps in order when exploring at ground level. This is reached via a teleport booth outside of the rental office, should you arrive there first. This gives access to three ground level locations: a nightclub, the city’s motor centre (which also supports Get The Freight Out), and the SmitCo headquarters.

The majority of the ground-level city is laid out along a network of enclosed roads which in turn provide access to both Wellington Road as noted above, and with the airport at Annyong to the north-west. Thus those driving through the Mainland or flying over it can pay a visit to the city if they wish.

City of Solace

The residential units appear to be of two sizes, single floor and split level, while local businesses occupy some of the high-rise buildings. There was no sign of role-play when I dropped in; but given the city appears in the Destination Guide’s Recently Added category, and elements of the supporting infrastructure – such as a promised web site – still appear to be under construction, this is perhaps not surprising as the city is still building is residents and businesses. Or perhaps role-play is more focused on the space station.

Located in the sky, the space station is officially called the Solace Orbital platform for Astromineralogy and Research (SOAR). It is reached via a separate teleport system to the main pods, being based on Stargate SG-1 style ring systems. One of these can be found just outside the rental office, lying within a grassy dimple. Another can be found at ground level in a circle of trees towards the south-eat corner of the city, just below the turn-off from  Wellington Road that’s marked by the tall Blue Star truck stop and travel centre sign.

City of Solace

SOAR is a large facility offering both research and residential opportunities. In fact, with its docking facilities, a mid-level public deck, that sandwiches habitation pods between itself and the biodome of the uppermost level, where visitors arrive when using the ring system teleport. One might be tempted to comment it is “a port of call – home away from home – a place of commerce and research…”, even if it isn’t big enough for a quarter million humans and aliens….

The multiple decks of the station are connected by a central elevator system, and while some areas are devoid of content, the public deck offers a bar and a cafeteria area looking out over the docks and their varied visiting spacecraft. The outer sections of the station feature restricted access and contain the main administrative offices and research facilities. Again, usage at the time of our visit appeared light, but this may grow over time as people discover the city and the station.

City of Solace

Overall, there could perhaps be a few more public spaces – the apartments feel a little cramped in their vertical stacking in the city – but overall, City of Solace and SOAR is an interesting – if unexpected – find whilst motoring through Jeogeot. It’s also a place that offers an interesting potential backdrop for photography.

SLurl Details

• City of Solace (Tieut, rated Moderate)