Category: Exploring Second Life

I’ve covered a lot of regions inspired by, or in tribute to, Lewis Carroll’s Alice books. There are several reasons for this; such regions are oft highly imaginative, for example; I also particularly enjoy much of the nonsense and quirkiness with the stories, which helped end a period of literature in which it was believed all children’s stories should be didactic rather than being entertaining, and they are rich in allusions and symbolism. So, when I came across a region with intriguing name Malice in Wonderland, complete with an equally engaging description:

Not quite Wonderland, the place perhaps where Alice gave into her Malice? This destination is a fantasy, sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, wonderland. Swim with mermaids, drink at the Cantina, and avoid the rains of the run-down streets. Secrets abound to explore.

– Malice in Wonderland Destination Guide entry

The work of July Foxglove, Malice in Wonderland more than lives up to the rich and enticing mix of of genres and ideas promised it the description; so much so that while there are clear references to Alice and elements of Carroll’s stories, the region contains so much more, such that a better description for the region might be found in July’s Profile:

Malice’s Wonderland 2.0.

Is it finished? never will be – it’s a work of my madness! Its my second avatar! But with many more attachment slots!

– July Foxglove

What is evident as one starts to explore this world sitting under an astounding night sky is that just as it has been born freely of the imagination, so too does it require an open imagination to fully appreciate all it has to offer. Surrounded by a mountainous region surround into which it blends, Malice in Wonderland is not so much a single setting as it is a series of settings – vignettes and chapters, if you will – containing their own story or stories. Many of these are in plain view and easy to find, others are hidden away and require discovery; all of of it quite marvellous to witness and photograph.

To walk through the region in words would actually be pointless simply because it is genuinely a place that should be experienced first-hand. To help people get around, the region has a Stargate-style system of ring transporters with a list of destinations. Most can be reached on foot and by keeping eyes open for ramps, tunnels, elevators and the like; however, several can only be reached via the teleporter system (such as V’s Apartment, the Tardis, the ballroom, for example), so use of it is recommended during visits (accept the system Experience) if required.

Routes (and, one might say the roots) of exploration commence from the Land Point, as one might expect. Taking the form of a subway station, this offers an obvious exit up to ground level, exiting into the rain-drenched setting of a small town which in turn anchors an interconnected archipelago of island floating overhead. However, check the tunnel mouths either side of of the portrait of Malice at the Landing Zone and you’ll discover why I reference “roots”.

A further way of getting around is using the various zip lines dotted around the settings, so its is worth keeping and eye out for them as well.

Within the ground level space it is possible to find a very steampunk Tea Party, bubbling streams, a winter scene, nightclub, a stunning model of a certain spaceship for which I have a lot of affection (and had me singing about not being able to take the sky from me 🙂 ), an X-Wing whose pilot is liable to see his or her insurance premiums go up, the rain-drenched town, to mention a few of the more obvious points of interest. There’s also a tree house and a deep quarry with another series of secrets awaiting under the surface of the water – possibly best reached via the teleport rings.

Above this, the floating islands offer multiple vignettes (including an actual Stargate), reference to popular fairy tales, a floating bridge leading to a manor house where time can be spent – and where two of the zip lines can be found, one leading down into the quarry while another provides an alternate route to the manor house from the other end of the floating islands.

When exploring, keep an eye out for the smaller vignettes, the use of art (2D and 3D) and the rich mix of genres and ideas. As noted I don’t want to go too much into specifics here, as exploring and encountering really is the best way to fully appreciate all this region has to offer, underground, on the ground and above the ground (can you find Mjölnir, for example? Or Cthulhu? How about Little Red Riding Hood?).  However, there is a slight spawn issue with the mini subs, when you find them, which means they may not allow you to sit &require resetting to Guest mode. Keep an eye out as well for the Stargates (upright and laid flat); touching one  will offer URL listing regions – enter a destination using local chat as “/d [region name]”  – without the quotes – to teleport to the region.

I do recommend using the local environment setting when visit Malice in Wonderland, and also in setting aside as much time as possible to explore – even if you split it over several visits, because it really is the kind of place where just as you think you’ve discovered everything, you find something else.

So enjoy!

SLurl Details

• Malice in Wonderland (Enchanted Woodlands, rated Moderate)

Beloved is the name Anu Papp has given to the latest setting presented on her Homestead region of Poetic Moon. Designed by Dandy Warhlol (Terry Fotherington), the setting is – to me, and for various reasons – potentially one of the best he has produced thus far.

There is a genuine and natural flow to the landscape which is captivating, and the placement of building and structure within it, the form of the island, just draws the eye through it, offering both a photogenic beauty and a sense of tranquillity and wholeness with nature, the industrial elements scattered about notwithstanding.

A creative talent herself, Anu is perhaps best known for founding and leading the Muse Dance Company, however in-world she is also a designer, photographer-artist and builder. These are all talents reflective of her physical life presence and talents, which extend into music, spiritualism, yoga and more, as noted within her Second Life Spotlight article, published in May 2023. All of this is also reflected somewhat within Beloved.

The setting itself forms a rugged temperate island, its coastline mostly cliffs of hardened rock or softer sandstone, the later carved by time and tide into shallow bays or ribbons of low-lying shoreline. Whilst hardly what one might call beachy, the latter offer opportunities to walk alongside the push and pull of the tide, splash through pools of seawater temporarily cut off from the rest of the waters surrounding the island.

This is a place with a high water table of its own – across its rugged back are two large and one smaller bodies of water (one of which carried subtle hints of perhaps being man-made rather than a natural occurrence. It is close to the largest of these bodies of water that the Landing Point is located (although it is not enforced), and it was on arrival that I immediately felt a comforting sense of Deja-vu; despite it being my first visit to the setting, I felt I knew it. As I cammed around, I quickly realised why: with the windswept ruggedness, the large body of water with a trail running alongside it, Beloved bought to mind an old-time favourite those who are long in the tooth (like me) might recall): Roche.

Now, to be clear, there is nothing intrinsically linking the two designs; in fact when taken as a whole, there are utterly different; but the fact that Beloved did bring memories of my multiple visits to Roche between 2012 and 2015 nevertheless gave me a sense of belonging as I started to explore Beloved.  Many of the buildings scattered across Beloved perhaps aided that sense of the familiar with me, again not because of any similarities with Roche, but because they offered a similar sense of space between them, a space visitors can wander and absorb in quite solitude or in company.

Anu has a love for the works of Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, the 3th-century poet, scholar, theologian and mystic; she quotes him in her Profile and with Beloved, she offers part of A Great Wagon, a poem associated with spiritual growth.  In particular, the verses she has selected offer with might be considered a pivotal truth on the journey to spiritual awareness: that we are not human beings sometimes having moments of spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings travelling through a human experience.

In stating this truth, Rūmī, notes that as humans, we function in dualities: beauty and ugliness; truth and and lies; good and bad; black and white; and this duality of mode is the cause of all our conflicts. But as spiritual beings, we should recognise that nothing is either one or the other; that within the void of being, everything flows – there is no black and white to divide us; no sectioning of thoughts or emotions, we are simply one.

This is a concept that can get the grey matter working overtime to try to understand – and in this, Beloved is an ideal place in which to consider Rūmī’s words and the notions of self and oneness. As well as the region’s rugged beauty, there are multiple places to sit in contemplation, listen to the local sounds, to enjoy the ebb and flow of the waters surrounding the island – and the ebb and flow of shared company, if desired. Places where we can – as Rūmī might have put it – see beyond our physical bodies and understand our true essence as beings of the spirit.

In acknowledgement of this, and  – if I might be so presumptuous – I would add to Anu’s use of the poem, I would perhaps offer a further quote:

In the body of the world, they say, there is a soul
and you are that.

But we have ways within each other
that will never be said by anyone.

For those who prefer to focus on the region’s picturesque beauty, there is certainly no disappointment to be had. Dandy’s attention to detail here is superb, with many touches to draw the eye and the camera lens, from the cost interior of the brick cabin by the lake through the egrets gathered above the northern cliffs to the little birds gathered on a powerline  – something which might, except for the absence of a shoebill, put some in mind of a certain Pixar short and thus raise a smile – and more besides.

An engaging and visual setting, ideal for exploration, contemplation and appreciation – kudos to Anu and to Dandy – and my thanks to Susann De Cuir for the hat-tip.

SLurl Details

• Beloved (Poetic Moon, rated Moderate)

Luminara is a Full region lovingly designed by Sedona (Sedona Starchild) to offer the peace and tranquillity of a woodland setting, mixed with touches of whimsy, all of which offer might offer more than first appears to be the case, as the setting’s entry in the Destination Guide hints.

Luminara is a space created with care, where every detail holds a deeper meaning if you’re open to it. You’ll find mirrors, keys, and other interactive elements designed to spark reflection; alongside peaceful surroundings meant to calm the mind. Whether you uncover deeper insights or simply enjoy the beauty of nature, may your time here feel meaningful in its own way.

– Luminara’s Destination Guide description

However, this description barely scratches the depth of meaning one might find within the region, because this a a setting of a very personal nature. It is both a reflection of Sedona’s journey through life and a visualisation of the kind of questions many (all?) of us may ask when all the noise, bustle and distractions of everyday living fade into the background, and we have the time to contemplate is this all I am?

This isn’t just a virtual space; it’s a piece of my heart, filled with the thoughts and questions that have shaped me. Every detail, every message, holds something I’ve discovered along the way.

I want to be honest: part of me created this space to connect, to feel seen, and to share something meaningful with others. There’s a vulnerability in opening up my inner world, and I’ve come to accept that my motivations aren’t always selfless. But my deepest hope is that Luminara offers you something—a moment of reflection, a sense of peace, or even a little inspiration to take with you.

– Sedona Starchild

The Landing Point sits on the west side of the region. Close by is a general information board providing hints about exploring the setting, and also a Greeter which should offer you group membership together with a notecard from Sedona. If these are not offered then touch the mirror sitting alongside the tree above the noticeboard. Standing opposite the footpath is a deck with an over-the-water view and a tree of wisdom “sharing insights inspired by Naval Ravikant”.

The path here runs north-south, with another arm running inland. Which you take is entirely up to you: just be sure to keep an eye out for the mirrors and keys along whichever route you take – and other items and creatures offering themselves as advisors or presenting opportunities of reflection, introspection and / or affirmation.

Whilst contiguous in nature and presenting a  naturally flowing landscape, the region is designed such various locations within it have a sense of privacy and seclusion such that they are both a part of the whole and also apart from it. This is achieved through the use of curtain walls of rock, bodies of water, screens of trees and bushes, and considered use of elevation. EEP settings are also used to offer environments in keeping with aspects of the region – so be sure to have Used Shared Environment checked.

The paths winding through the region will lead you to the majority of the locations to be found within it; however, I’m not going to describe everything the region offers here; a major part of Luminara is that of discovery both in terms of personal discovery through the aforementioned mirrors, keys and advisors, and in terms of the beauty of region itself.

That said, some of the more obvious areas to look out for include the Luminara swamp with its summer house; the open-air theatre, the music deck built over one of the bodies of water and which has sitting alongside it a modern lounge in the form of the Scarlet Creative Hoxton Loft, while the deck itself offers access to a more secret hideaway for those who can find it.

Elsewhere there are follies where couples and individuals might dance, a hilltop retreat, a terraced pool, and places to sit under trees, on the water, alongside the coastline, most of which will be found as one wanders the paths an trails, whilst the Tatra Dance circle holds a particular magic.

Throughout all of this are the touches of detail and whimsy which both bring a smile to the lips and perhaps offer further symbolism. The former might be found on the water, where racoons are enjoying themselves with a little skinny dipping (or is that furry dipping?) whilst taking a trip on a little rowing boat. Elsewhere unicorns add a sense of dream whilst deer, foxes, bear  and rabbits might be found throughout the landscape.

The whimsy comes in many forms, some clearly intended to attract attention and stir the brain cells – such as the White Rabbit; others are more curious, such as the figure rising from the water near the music deck – it is simply seeking Seymour, or indicative of disquieting thoughts  and reflections? You decide.

Finished with a subtle soundscape, Luminara presents an engaging, richly evocative and through-provoking setting with multiple opportunities for discovery and exploration. It is also a place given to evolution as well – and as much about what we put into it as find within it, as Sedona notes. So, ensure your curiosity is engaged with dropping in.

SLurl Details

• Luminara (rated Moderate)

Loch Tredach Inn & Retreat is a Full region leveraging the Land Capacity bonus offered by Linden Lab. It is held by Isabelle Larkspur, who is largely responsible for the region’s design and for most of it being available as a public venue. I caveat things here because most of the north-eastern quarter of the region is given over to a private home and extensive grounds, which means it is both private and the landscape is their own.

Given that this part of the region is a private residence, it will play no further role in this article, other than to note it is possible to accidently wander into the property from the north side of the rest of the region – which is open to the public throughout – without spotting the signs warning of the private property. Should you witness a change in the local environment as you explore the ruins beyond the Aviary, you will know you have crossed the property boundary and at risk of trespass.

But that said, even in respecting the privacy of those living in the region, the rest of the setting offers a lot to see and appreciate, bringing together as it does a mix of wild countryside, mystical locations, romance and opportunities for skating, dancing and simply relaxing. At the time of my visit, the region was dressed for winter, and as it was my first visit, I have no idea if only the seasons change here through the year, or if the majority of the region goes through periodic re-dressing; that’s something I’ll have to find out in the future!

Welcome to the enchanting Loch Tredach Inn and Retreat – a place where romance, vibrancy, and magic come together to create unforgettable memories. Step into a realm where every corner is a canvas waiting to be painted with the hues of love and joy. Capture the essence of the season. Every nook and cranny offers a picturesque backdrop for your lens to capture candid moments, from secluded gardens to the mystical ruins.

– from the Loch Tredach Inn & Retreat Destination Guide entry

The Landing Point sits towards the centre of the region, on the west bank of a frozen lake where snow falls in mist-like sheets, and a pavilion sits out over the frozen water, held up by stout wooden legs oblivious to the cold, and a fire in the hearth awaits the opportunity to warm cold fingers as it provides  further cosiness to the pavilion’s genteel comfort. A somewhat Dwarven-looking Santa stand stands at the pavilion’s  boardwalk, ready to offer skates to those wising to take to the ice.

From here, it is a short walk south and over a bridge spanning the bubbling stream that feed the lake to reach the inn of the setting’s title, its red timbers announcing the promise of warmth and comfort inside. Nestled between the inn and a shoulder of the curtain walls of rock that run from here to the west and then northward along the coast sits another pavilion, this one fully enclosed by tall glass windows and doors, the home of a hot tub ready for use by guests at the inn.

A path from here runs towards the western rocks, and following it gives explorers the choice of crossing another bridge and heading north, or turning south over the snow and into the arms of the cliffs, where a romantic little hideaway overlooks the stream’s high falls, the tumbling waters offering a rainbow to visitors.

Meanwhile, the route north passes steps leading down to snowy shelf of rock with chairs drawn close against a blazing brazier, and onwards to where a folly presents a bookworm’s retreat – although the weather might be a tad cold for wintertime use; just as well, then, that another pavilion stands close by with a fire of its own, and comfortable seating where books might be reasonably carried and read.

Beyond this, the path passes through a rocky hallway to arrive back close to the Landing Point. A round folly stands close by, looking down on the lake as it guards the entrance to the setting’s more mystical elements. Here, trees bend their backs to present an aisled walkway passing between rock wall and gentle slope to arrive at a beautiful venue suitable for a range of events – and which I believe I’m correct in saying is available for hire by those seeking somewhere special for a party or wedding or similar.  Stone steps climb from the terrace overlooking this space to reach a mirror pond surrounded by crystal walls, within which more steps rise upwards through the clouds, presenting if not a stairway to heaven, then certainly one to a floating garden.

Overlooking the main venue with its flagstones serenely floating on the waters beneath and its beckoning ruins, sits the Aviary. Reached either by climbing another stairway rising up to it from the venue space or by climbing the slopes of the hill on which it sits from the Landing Point, the Aviary offers an indoor space suitable for a special events such as a wedding reception or more formal / romantic dance, and includes a terraced space outdoors with seating.

As noted above, it is beyond the Aviary that the land belonging to the private residence commences, so explorers should proceed from it with caution.  This residence can also be reached via the trails on the south side of the island as they cross a high bridge to the east of the in.

Here the boundary between public spaces is more obvious, a pond and fast-flowing stream (which also tumbles its way down to the lake below) marking it for all eyes to see. Prior to reaching the stream, however, the path offers a chance to visit the local café and lighthouse.

With Itan dancing columns throughout, multiple places to sit  – not all of which are mentioned here – plus the general beauty of the setting, Loch Tredach Inn & Retreat makes for an ideal visit.

SLurl Details

• Loch Tredach Inn & Retreat (Tredach, rated Moderate)