Category: Exploring Second Life

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.

In April 2013, I visited the Isle of Myrth, a full region which is both home to the Noble Family and which is also generously open to the public for visits and photography.

At the time of my first visit, the Noble Family were celebrating the works of Beatrix Potter, and the isle contained many touches that reflected her writings. Now the seasons have moved on, winter is sitting on our shoulders in the northern hemisphere, and the Isle of Myrth has been reworked to represent scenes from New England in the autumn (or should I say fall?).

The change in look and feel couldn’t be more apparent, although there are familiar touches for anyone who visited the region back in April. The lighthouse is still there, for example, acting as both the arrival point and (I think) the gallery for a photo contest, of which more shortly.

Step outside of the lighthouse, and you’ll find yourself on a small promontory, the island before you, covered in what might best be described as coastal mist which tends to hide more than it reveals, and which – to me at least – undersells the beauty of the island to the newly arrived.

In this, I admit to being biased. Autumn in New England has for me always conjured-up images  of crisp autumn days where trees are burdened with leaves Irish Setter red, ready to flutter down and blanket the ground under crystal blue skies, or where the lowering clouds tint the horizon and a soft rain makes us think of the colder days to come, and recall the warmer days that have passed.

However, windlight issues can be quickly rectified to suit one’s taste, and certainly aren’t an impediment to the willing explorer. And once taken care of, the island offers more than enough to compensate for spending a few minutes fiddling with your viewer while switching between windlight options. As with all of the Noble Family’s work, there is mush here that is worth taking the time to explore and more than enough to keep happy snappers snapping.

From the lighthouse, you can stroll across a golden beach, then follow a stream inland to a small land-locked lake, complete with boathouse, an old parish church sitting across the water, long converted into a place to shelter from the fall rain and sit and chat with friends.

Paths and wooden walkways wind through, over and around the isle, offering the visitor many different routes by which it can be explored. Whether you opt to follow the paths up and around the old church and over assorted bridges and crossing to reach the hilltop playground, or take the steeper climb up to the old barn, or decide follow another meandering stream back to the coast and from there up to the old race track, is entirely up to you. Whichever way you roam, you’re likely going to want to keep your eyes peeled and camera ready.

While exploring, do please be aware that as mentioned above, although the region is open to the public, it is also home to the members of the Noble Family, with their house and gardens located towards the north-west corner. So do please respect their privacy when wandering close to the house.

The photo contest kicks-off on November 15th and runs through until 12:00 noon SLT on November 30th. Details are actually scant, but I assume entries are to be made via the Noble Flickr Group, and winning entries will be displayed in-world at the Noble lighthouse.

All told, this is another delightful re-working of a region which has rightly had a long line of fans and visitors. If you’ve not visited Isle of Myrth in a while – or never at all – I can only urge you to don your coat and grab a hat and go enjoy New England scenes in the fall. I doubt you’ll be disappointed. And having managed to include a line for a song I like in the body of this article, I’ll leave you to enjoy the song in full.

Related Links

• {Noble} New England  SLurl (Rated: Moderate)
• A Noble Isle and Beatrix Potter – April 2013
• Noble Family Flickr Group

It’s no secret that I love water-themed regions, so when I was nudged about Imagination, it immediately went on my list of places to see. As it happened, I delayed my original plans to blog about it as I saw Ziki had done so; truth be told, I had intended to leave it a little while longer before spending time there, but temptation got the better of me.

The region has been designed by ARNICAR India, and it is a perfect haven for those wanting to escape the trials of the world or who are looking for a place to soothe their tired minds. Predominantly water, the region has a number of small islands scattered across it and, in one case, floating over it.

Each presents its own vignette or tableau; a story begun, but awaiting the presence of others to continue it. Wandering between them, you’re invited to participate, whether be sitting down in one of the many chairs scattered across the islands, or by creating your own story for the scenes you pass through.

That you are welcome to imagine and create is clear from the description of the region, which comes in the form of a quote by George Bernard Shaw:

Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.

This is a truly lovely place, one that wraps itself around you, comforting you, offering you warmth and peace; a place to rest and to listen to the sounds of the sea breaking against distant rocks, and soft chirping of crickets, the gentle croaking of frogs and the splash and murmur of water under wooden piers and against stone causeways.

There are some lovely touches that further enhance the region’s look and allure, and as such, it is worthwhile taking your time while exploring, as some will doubtless raise a smile once discovered.

For those who tire of walking there is a rowing boat which can be used to navigate between the islands or, for the really adventurous, a pair of flying, pedal-powered chairs. And when you’re done exploring, there are plenty of places to relax and let the rest of the world hurry on with its business without you, and simply let the peaceful waters flow.

Related Links

• Imagination SLurl (Rated: Moderate)

Cupcake (Flickr)

Walking down the
Cobbled street
Jeans & T-shirt
And silk black flats
Upon my feet
With the sunshine
On my shoulders
And the smell of pastries
In the air

Cupcake (Flickr)

Sitting in the corner
Of a small cafe
Enjoying bread and camembert
While listening to
La Vie En Rose
Play somewhere
Somewhere far away

Cupcake (Flickr)

Watching people
Passing by
Til the day
Has turned to night
The cobbled street
Now paved in
Silver light
With the light from lamp posts
Tall as trees
Reflecting on the surface
Of the river Seine

Cupcake (Flickr)

Walking neath
Blue velvet skies
On my way to
Buy some pink champagne
I’ll return then
To my balcony
In the hotel
Named after George the fifth
And there I’ll sit and watch the stars

Cupcake (Flickr)

I’ll dream my life away
And send a wish into the void
To a far off shooting star
That one day
Life will bring me back
To this heaven
To the city that stole my heart

“Paris” by Natasha Wright. Images from Cupcake (Rated: Moderate)

I’ve been a little behind things of late due to a project elsewhere taking up a large portion of my time and RL in general being somewhat awkward in its scheduling of things. So there are a few SL Destinations pending a write-up, including another Halloween theme or two which may or may or now seen the light of day. If they don’t my apologies to the creators concerned, both for my failure to get them blogged and because when I do make it in-world, I get totally distracted.

For the latter, you can blame Honour :). You see, I love castles; a good deal of my time has been spent travelling around England and Scotland visiting castles and the ruins of castles, so when Honour blogs about a castle I’ve not seen in SL, then that was it as far as the day’s plans were concerned; I was off to see for myself.

And Tudor Rose, with its castle, cathedral and waterfront, is certainly worth seeing. It has been developed by Amas Veritas (ppeapod) on behalf of region owner Elizabeth I (Elizabetth Chester), and the Whiteraven group. About Land provides the background to the region:

The setting is north of London along the Thames River to a castle that has been occupied by King and Queens alike for over 900 years, the Elizabeth castle.

This beautiful kingdom is a stage for councils, state ceremonies, summit politics, important feasts and Renaissance dances rich in culture.  A place where Queen Elizabeth I takes respite from the hectic life of court in London in this country retreat.

I admit that I wasn’t aware that the Thames ran north from London, nor did I realise the lands north of that great city were quite so hilly (the region has a near-mountainous surround on all sides); but this really is nit-picking on my part. What we’re presented with here is plenty to appreciate, enjoy and photograph.

Tudor Rose can be split into a number of distinct areas. The castle itself sits on an island on the north-east side of the region. To the west and south of it lies a small waterfront town, dominated by the huge bulk of a cathedral . Here can be found an inn, a quayside with two ships alongside and a slipway where a third vessel is under construction, its hull looking ready to be tar-sealed. Together the castle the cathedral with its entourage of houses and places of business make up the focal points to the region.

The cathedral is imposing. While built on lower ground to the castle, the spires atop its towers almost match the highest spire on the castle itself. Both the castle and cathedral are open to exploration, although in the case of the former, you may well want to take care if Her Majesty is in residence. Period costume does not appear to be a requirement for visitors, but I’m sure it would be appreciated.

Beyond the cathedral, moving southwards between it and the woodland separating it from a river, one can find the remaining features in the region. First are the jousting butts, heralding the days of chivalry, and which appear to be in frequent use. Make your way through the trees south-east from here and you’ll find a small church. From her, a path leads the way to a bridge crossing a stream, and which in turn brings you to a mystical dance circle, shrouded in mist and overlooked by a tall, round tower.

I’m not sure how much role-play goes on here; during my visit there were a good few people in period costume, but no-one accosted me for wearing modern clothing, and I didn’t come across any note card / rules giver either on my arrival or in my travels around the region.  Certainly, the opportunities for role-play would appear to be many; be it of a courtly persuasion within the castle itself, possibly involving Queen Elizabeth and her courtiers, or out jousting or perhaps (and possibly more mysteriously) at the open-air dance circle, where the rolling mist and surrounding gnarled trees suggest something of a dark nature may well be acted-out here at certain times of the year. There’s even a hint of the Arthurian within the castle.

There are a couple of slight incongruities with the architecture within the region in that both the castle and the cathedral have elements which are suggestive of them belonging more in a European landscape than perhaps having once sat close to London. However, as with my earlier quibble, this is a little bit of nit-picking; as a fantasy / role-play region, Tudor Rose has much which is welcoming, and the design lends itself to allowing several different activities or scenarios to be acted-out simultaneously.

For those looking for a period region offering opportunities to meet others interested in the Tudor history of England or similarly role-play, or if you’re simply looking for somewhere new to visit and photograph, Tudor Rose may well be worth adding to your list of places to visit.

Related Links

• Tudor Rose SLurl (Rated: General)

I’ve received a number of suggestions for places to visit and blog about. Some have come from people who have enjoyed visiting the places they recommend, some have come as an invitation from the creators to pay a visit.

As I’ve mentioned before, all such requests / suggestions are always welcome. I can’t honestly say everything will end up being blogged about (I might fall under a bus before I get to a sim!), and I certainly can’t say how quickly I might get to a particular region, but I will take a look at all the suggestions that come in, and hopefully work my way through blog posts on them.

A couple of suggestions which came my way recently were as a result of people picking-up on my own love of the orient, as reflected in blog posts such those for the Moonlight Teahouse,  Taka no Sakura and Kusanagi. Coincidentally, while the suggestions came from different directions, they were both pointing to combat-themed regions. I wasn’t sure which one to visit first, so it came down to a coin toss.

Nagare is the home of the Blue Lotus Clan and occupies one-quarter of Southern Marvel. The work of Lila Aquacade and Ryansilver Philipp (Ryuan), it is a dojo for the Blue Lotus Clan who use the C:si combat system, and in addition to a combat and training centres, it’s a home, a garden and a meeting-place.

The main combat areas are up in the sky – a teleport system offers access to them – while the ground level has been beautifully and richly landscaped. Here you’ll find a temple, a training area, walks, a small beach for relaxation and even a seafront club house with modern DJ equipment and room to dance.

From the arrival point, you can cross a bridge over a stream to a  training area, or take a short walk to a walled house with its own local rainstorm in the garden. Inside, a warm cup of tea awaits, as does a game of Ban-soguroku (or Shuanglu, as the Chinese originally called it), a form of Backgammon.

A path leading away from the arrival point, following the stream as it tumbles down to the sea, leads you past a temple to the waterfront. Here sits an old oriental house-boat, which clearly isn’t going anywhere given the tree growing out of the middle of it, and a small restaurant facing the sea and offering a filling meal for those seeking sustenance after a morning’s training.

The beach is just across another bridge next to the restaurant. Here people can let their hair down, forget the disciplines of the day and relax around the open fire or listen to music in the beach house.

Nagare really is beautifully put together, and given the majority of the arena space is up in the sky (all the better to avoid the lag), there’s little chance of accidentally walking into a combat / training sessions and making a nuisance of yourself. For those who get particularly bitten by the oriental bug, the Tsunami Japanese/Chinese Creations store is right next door, where you can pick-up a few things to decorate your own land.

Nagare is well worth the visit, particularly if you have a katana and fancy a little combat as well as pleasing walk in inviting surroundings. In the meantime, and as it’s been a while, here’s another piece from The Piano Guys I’ve been listening to of late, and which fits the oriental theme, given the setting.

Related Links

• Nagare SLurl (Rated: Moderate)