Category: Exploring Second Life

The McFly Project, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

I’ve visited Oyster Bay, the demonstration region for Lick Sim Designs, several times; however, for various reasons I’ve never managed to actually blog about it. So when I saw Sera Bellic, Lick’s proprietor and chief designer, had once again re-worked the region, and this time with something of a science fiction leaning, I decided to put matters right and not only visit and take photos, but this time actually write about my time there.

Like all of Sera’s designs, The McFly Project is a marvellously photogenic, immersive environment which once again demonstrates her talent for region design. It’s also a place very much of two parts, although they are intertwined, perhaps in ways beyond that suggested by the region’s Destination Guide description: Step into the past and explore what once was, and find your way to the future.

The McFly Project, July 2015 (Flickr)

“That past” comes in the form of an old fun fair, a place gradually being reclaimed by nature. The big top tent is fading, the Ferris wheel and carousels are broken and overgrown,  signs are fading while weeds are taking over the ticket booth. Everywhere you look, it is clear that nature is slowly reclaiming everything.

Or almost everything; overhead, humming quietly are a number of automated drones. They appear to be keeping an eye on things, roaming back and forth slowly, sometimes circling, sometimes dipping towards the ground before rising again, their presence the first hint of the more sci-fi nature of this place.

The McFly Project, July 2015 (Flickr)

From the big top, a dirt path (with helpful arrows) will lead you through the dilapidated fairground to the distant cliffs.  Here sits the entrance to a cave leading underground, guarded by an R2 unit in as much a distressed condition as the fun fair.

The cave will take you underground and to caverns deep and – well, if not exactly dungeons old, then certainly to places that should be explored fully, and which build up more of the sci-fi side of the region’s design. Follow directions here carefully to make sure you get to see everything – especially when finding your way back out.

Assuming you follow the right path (it’s not hard 🙂 ), you’ll arrive at the future: a watery environment complete with fantastic structures, bordered by a greensward to one side, and overlooked by cliff side houses as more of the automated drones hover and flit overhead.

The McFly Project, July 2015 (Flickr)

One of the buildings here will likely be familiar to any sci-fi fan who has seen 2013’s Oblivion, although it occupies a position very different to that seen in the film. Small platforms dot the water while teleport pads offer one means of getting around, boat rezzers another.

While The McFly Project’s description suggests you are visiting times past and times future (hence the name: think Marty McFly), there is nevertheless a narrative running through the design, starting at the big top and finishing at this idyllic-looking waterside living.

For me, that narrative, complete with distant echoes of Oblivion throughout, suggested that far from being a vision of the future, the seemingly perfect high tech environment, protected by high cliffs and tumbling waterfalls, is actually “the present” for those living there. The fun fair, meanwhile, is a part of their past, shattered by some kind of catastrophe which may even now present a threat, perhaps physical or perhaps biological. Why else would there be drones patrolling and monitoring it, and why else would there be a weapons cache in the caverns, and decontamination units both there and on the platform where one emerges from that subterranean world?

The McFly Project, July 2015 (Flickr)

The McFly Project is offered with recommended windlight settings, and I do suggest adopting the one for the trip through the caverns to “the future”, as it is ideal for both settings.  Also make sure you have local sounds on, and do take the time to touch things as you explore; the region is awash with interactive elements literally from the moment you arrive (click the silver star on landing point platform), together with numerous places to sit and rest.

Sera tends to change the region’s design every 2 – 3 months; so as The McFly Project has only recently opened, it is liable to be around for a while yet. Even so, I wouldn’t put of playing a visit too long, just in case; if you love exploring region builds, this isn’t one to miss.

SLurl Details

• The McFly Project (Rated: Moderate)

Timeless Memories, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

Timeless Memories, the homestead region held by Elvira Kytori, captivated me the first time I visited it back at the start of 2015. Since then, the region has undergone a redesign to match the season here in the northern hemisphere and prompting me to make a re-visit.

In its current iteration, the region draws its inspiration and name from coastline at Tropea, southern Italy, and the monastery of Santa Maria dell’isola. In doing so, it presents another quite stunning landscape which is highly photogenic as well as offering some charming locations in which to relax.

Timeless Memories, July 2015 (Flickr)

The 7th century monastery may be absent from the scene, but the coral cliffs upon which it sits have been recreated, offering a high perch on which sits one of the delightful Italian-style villas designed by iBi (8f8). This is reached from the beach, itself reached from the landing point via a short walk along a charming, palm-shaded terrazzo hugging the foot of the south-east side of the cliffs.

This offers plenty of opportunity for relaxation: sun loungers, seats shaded by parasols with a kiosk offering refreshing gelato close to hand. Meanwhile, the golden sands of the beach stretch their way around the south side of the island, offering superb views out over the open sea. Look westward, and you’ll spy a float-plane heading towards a gentle splashdown just off the coast, perhaps bringing new visitors to the island (and the temptation to stand up on the cliffs of the villa and call out, “The plane, boss! The plane!” while waving towards its arrival 🙂 ). That said, the pilot had better keep an eye on the water below, as it is the playground of orcas and dolphins.

Timeless Memories, July 2015 (Flickr)

The villa is reached by a flight of stone steps snaking up the side of the cliffs, guarded in places by stone walls which appear to be quite aged. Together with the columns also to be found on the climb, the walls suggest that perhaps the stairs and one time gave access to something much older than the villa which now occupies the grassy plateau just below the island’s peak.

Here there is more on offer to please the eye; the villa itself is a work of art, and beautifully decorated with rustic charm both inside and in the stone-flagged courtyard around which it is built. Behind the house is a garden area with a stone swimming pool surrounded by cobbles, the flower borders to one side being watered by a gently rotating sprinkler. However, if you opt for a swim, do take note that the pool is already occupied by a couple of little chaps!

Timeless Memories, July 2015 (Flickr)

Such is the design of the island that is it hard to pull oneself away from it; the terazzo and beach offer plenty of places to relax in the sun (Jodi and I spent a couple of hours lounging  and chatting, lost in the surroundings), while the villa offers a cool retreat for those who might want to escape to the shade.

When I first wrote about Timeless Memories, the About Land notes indicated that it might not survive. I’m glad this has turned out not to be the case; with this second build, Elvira has provided yet another utterly captivating design, and I have no hesitation in recommending you visit and see for yourself. And please, when doing so, do consider tipping the laptop at the landing point and help Elvira to keep Timeless Memories alive so that we can all continue to enjoy it.

Timeless Memories, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

And as it is a romantic location with an Italian theme, I’m going to bow out with Matt Monro’s One Days Like These, a song I love quite apart from its links to a certain 1969 film; and who wouldn’t, given Mr. Monro’s silken voice?

SLurl Details

• Timeless Memories (Rated: Moderate)

Baby’s Ear, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

Baby’s Ear is the name of Neva Crystall’s latest region design in Second Life – and it is an absolute must see.

Comprising two islands, Baby’s Ear is a treasure to behold; a place which is at once unique to Second Life, yet at the same time the various elements within it can resonate with the visitor in such a way that a slight feeling of deja-vu is felt; a feeling that perhaps there is somewhere like this in the physical world that we might have visited.

Baby’s Ear, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

The larger of the two islands brings together a number of motifs, which stand both individually and as a collective whole. The farm sitting atop the central plateau could easily have been lifted for half a hundred arable landscapes; similarly, the low-lying beach carries echoes of seaside holidays and children running across the warm sands, while the fisherman’s quay with fish hanging from a rack as they dry ready to be salted and boxed, gives rise to images of working wharves and fishing folk.

Taken together, the various elements flow one to another, presenting the feeling that this is the island home of an extended family, who enjoy a fair degree of self-sufficiency – and who have time to relax and spend time with the children. The farm, fishing shack and beach are all linked via wooden walkways and steps, bringing them neatly together as a unified environment, a feeling enhanced by the spread of children’s climbing frames between farmyard and beach and the sheep that freely roam the land.

Baby’s Ear, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

Only the little cottage nestled between the rocks of the plateau and the placid waters gives a sense of separation; it stands apart from the rest of the beach, reached by a wooden causeway,, while a separate step of stairs connect it with the farm above, suggesting that it is perhaps more for the use of guests than family.

Self-sufficiency is much in evidence. The sheep offer meat and wool; there are fish in the sea, a crop growing in the fields, apples and lemons ripening in the orchards, and a line of bee hives hint at the sweetness of honey. Even the electrical power appears to be provided naturally: a tall windmill harvests the wind passing over the island, as do three turbines, blades slowing revolving as they share the smaller island with a brick-built lighthouse.

Baby’s Ear, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

There are interesting contrasts here as well. A decrepit  station wagon sits on a cinder track along with an old motorbike and odds and ends which appear to have been removed from other vehicles and perhaps even a garage, going by the air pump. These and the telegraph poles running along one side of the island suggest that perhaps it might be part of a larger island or coastal community, and it has been left to our imaginations to fill-in the blanks (just as I prefer to think of the wild grass in the field as a crop, rather than just wild grass).

The imagination is perhaps encouraged to think in these terms by the cinder track, which winds its way down from the plateau, skirting the base of the main island before turning sharply and plunging into the sea. It’s almost as if there is a causeway there beneath the water, waiting only for the tide to recede so it might be revealed and beckon us to follow it wherever it might lead.

Baby’s Ear, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

This is truly another marvellous build from Neva, and one most definitely worth seeing – but if you’re planning to visit, keep in mind that it may only be here for a short time. I understand that  having opened on the 10th July, 2015, Baby’s Ear will only remain open for a two-week period.

Given that it may well be a transient setting in Second Life, I took the opportunity of my visit to film another music video, although my Space Navigator (again) got a tad bit upset.

SLurl Details

• Baby’s Ear (Rated: Adult)

 

Crystal Gardens Estates, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

I first visited Crystal Gardens Estates in February 2015, so it might seem a little odd writing about it again so soon. However, the region, operated by Sandi and Mikal Beaumont, has undergone a complete redesign, and  this being the case, I was naturally drawn back to take a look.

As with my original visit, the region is divided into a set of islands, with the landing point located on the largest. Here sits a stepped pair of terraces, the uppermost of which presents a live performance stage and dance floor, while the lower features a small market space dominated by a beautiful, materials-enabled pavilion by iBi (8f8), and a view over the water to the islands on the east side of the region.

Crystal Gardens Estates, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

Head south from here, and you’ll find yourself following a track that will take you over a little bridge across a stream flowing down for a waterfall-fed pool, and into a garden space. A brick path leads the way around the garden, taking you to places to sit and relax indoors or out, and the opportunity to climb to a hilltop ruin.

On the north side of the music area sits a Tuscan style villa, with courtyard pool. A boat rezzer fronts this, next to the little wooden dock and offers speedboats for getting around the rest of the region, including getting to the beach themed island in the north-west corner. This is linked by a wooden pier to Ilyra Chardin’s art garden and gallery.

Crystal Gardens Estates, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

The garden space displays the works from a number of artists, including Ilyra herself, all under the shade of trees and ready to be admired from cobbled paths. Behind this, to the east is a wooded space leading to Ilyra’s private home. Follow the cobbles southwards, however, and you’ll cross the main drive and arrive at a wooden bridge leading to Ilyra’s indoor gallery space, showcasing more of her own work. A wooden platform built in the trees to the side of the gallery building offers a place to rest and enjoy the ambience of the place.

The remaining island, to the south-east, presents a very different look and feel: that of a run-down urban area, designed by photographer and musician Dimi (DimiVan Ludwig), and the home to his Dimi’s Digital Designs. With a “gentleman’s club”, boxing ring, the environment here might be to everyone’s liking looks-wise, but the attention to detail is complete, and when set with the region’s default windlight, offers plenty of photographic opportunities, as well as providing another live music venue in the form of Dimi’s The Alley.

Crystal Gardens Estates, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

I did have a couple of minor niggles during my visit; the landscaping around the Tuscan villa seems a tad rough, and the speedboat rezzer needs a little tweaking to ensure the boats rez on the water. But I emphasise these are minor grumbles, and could easily be down to the redesign perhaps still being a work-in-progress. As it is, Crystal Gardens Estates continues to offer an interesting set of places to visit and explore, with lots of opportunities for photography, as well as the attraction of live music. For my part, I continue to be drawn by Ilyra’s gallery space, and the opportunity to wander the estate as a whole, snapshot floater at the ready.

 Related Links

• Crystal Garden Estates SLurl (Rated: Adult)

Pandora box of Dreams, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

Note: this vision of Pandora Box of Dreams has closed. 

I first visited  Lokhe Angel Verlack’s (Jackson Verlack) Pandora Box of Dreams when it was, I believe, in its second iteration, back in April 2015. Located on Lokhe’s homestead region of Diamond Bay, Paradora Box of Dreams tends to undergo a change every two or three months, each time presenting an environment where dreams and contemplation are encouraged.

I did actually manage to visit the region during its third dream iteration – the River Dream – but didn’t actually get to blog about it;  so I’ll refer you to Ziki’s post on that. Dream 004 has now arrived in the region, and the Del Mar Dream is precisely what I need right now, despite not generally being a “beachy ” person: a tropical paradise.

Pandora box of Dreams, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

Del Mar Dream presents an idyllic Pacific island, laying far from the ocean trade routes, nestled in the arms of a larger (off sim) island which provides shelter from the rest of the world. Here can be found a place of rugged beauty and soft, coral sand beaches shaded by palm trees. Little beach shacks are scattered across the island, offering places to sit and relax, either on your own with a friend or two, and simply chat or let your thoughts escape. Hammocks also sit out in the sun or under the shade of the palms, offering the opportunity to catch a tan or drift in sleep,

For the more energetic among us, a careful climb up the rocks forming the spine of the island will  bring you to a graceful stone bridge by Alex Bader, and access to a tiki-style platform on the highest point on the island, where it sits suspended from palm trees; an ideal place of rest / look-out. Alongside the bridge, and for the cost of joining the Pandora box of Dreams group (L$50), you can grab a hang glider and drift around the island on the wind.

Pandora box of Dreams, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

Down on the beaches on either side of the hilltop can be found diving boards (to the east) and a jetski rezzer (to the west). I’m not entirely sure the of watery engines would be appreciated by all of the island’s visitors, which might explain why, although I could get a jetski to rez, it resolutely refused my efforts to let me drive it off the rezzer and out into the bay!

The bay also offers opportunities for wading and swimming – although I do urge a degree of caution: there are puffer fish and jellyfish to be found among the rocks and shallows. Leopard sharks hug the sandy bottom further out, but present no threat to swimmers, preferring their usual diet of  clams, spoon worms, crabs, shrimp, fish, and fish eggs. Instead, they’re content to swim among the rays there.

Pandora box of Dreams, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

Local sounds can add further ambience to a visit as well, with the beach towards the west end of the island in particular presenting sounds of vacations and holidays which might stir a daydream or two. The audio stream is also suitably appropriate for the environment, and I spent a contented couple of hours relaxing on a lido out on the water, sipping a cocktail while listening to the music and steering my camera around the island remotely (flycams is such a time saver!).

As I mentioned towards the top of this piece, I’m not much of one for beach holidays – I love to explore places and wander across sandy beaches to see what might be beyond the next rise or around the headland, rather than sit and soaking up the sun. Nevertheless, the Del Mar Dream iteration of Paradora Box of dreams did – again as noted – have me simply lazing and enjoying. While it bears little resemblance to them, it did bring thoughts of some of my favourite tropical coastal areas to mind; particularly the north-east side of Sri Lanka around Batticaloa, with its white sands and wildlife.

Pandora box of Dreams, July 2015 (Flickr) – click any image for full size

All told, a lovely iteration in Lokhe’s Dream sequences for the region, and one I really enjoyed visiting. As things do tend to change periodically, if you would like to visit this tropical paradise, I’d suggest you not leave it too long before doing so. And you might find that once you’ve done so, the beach and waters might well call you back again before Lokhe crafts something new to be enjoyed.

SLurl Details

• Pandora Box of Dreams (Rated: Moderate)