Category: Exploring Second Life

In September 2023 I dropped into Shades of Autumn, a homestead region design by Flower Caerndow which she offered for people to visit and photograph. I found it an engaging and autumnal visit, with plenty to appreciate within in (see: Appreciating the Shades of Autumn in Second Life). Earlier in February 2024, Flower opened up her latest region design, Serene Retreat, occupying a Full private region, and given my enjoyment of Shades, I trundled over recently to have a look.

Welcome to a beautiful peaceful retreat and experience the magical beauty of nature. All are welcome to wander and take pictures and find the hidden cuddle spots. 

– Serene Retreat About Land Description

This is a place which very much carries on in the spirit of Shades, whilst presenting an entirely new landscape to explore and photograph.

The landing point sits towards the northern tip of the island, close to where a small gallery of Flower’s own SL photography might be found. Whilst picturesque, the pictures serve a dual purpose: as well as offering views of the region, each is a teleporter which will carry a visit to the location it frames. However, given the overall nature of the island, unless you’re in a hurry to get to someone or somewhere, it’s much better to explore using your pedal extremities.

A short walk downhill from the landing is one of the island’s sandy beaches and (if it is your first port of call on arrival) the first of the region’s little places to sit and / or cuddle. For those who prefer, steps leading up from the cobbles surrounding the gallery in its ruined tower provide a way up the neighbouring hill, where a small tea house sits within a Zen garden watched over by a figure of Buddha.

From here, other paths wind their way over the island, notably to the south and east, passing by a ring of standing stones to reach the highest point within the setting as is sits above steep rocky inclines falling away to the sea. Other paths wend their way through a nearby copse, where crystals, hints of exotic plants and some of the local wildlife might be found, together with further places to sit and pass the time in solitude or with others.

Also to be found on the edge of the Zen garden is a pool of crystal-clear water, home to swans and koi carp, and the birthplace of a stream that runs out to a rocky lip before cascading down to be caught by a rocky pool. From here and tumbling over the coastal rocks, it makes its way out to open waters. A mossy / grassy path slips down the hill alongside this stream and its falls, passing a romantic little snuggle point and what appears to be the last remnants of a building. Below these an old track passes, looking like it might have once passed around a good ideal of the island, but which the sea has been gradually reclaiming in places.

Just below the stone flooring of whatever might have once stood here, whilst also running back from the cart track, is a narrow hollow slumped within the arms of the hill. More crystal and exotic flowers are to be found here, together with the open mouth of a tunnel slipping back under the hill and inviting exploration. However, I’ll leave it to you to find out what lies within its caverns.

The eastern side of the island also offers a second beach reached via two stone-stepped paths running down to it. From here, and past the tepee-like sitting area and a swing, you can scramble up on to the island’s rocky feet and make your way around to the south side. It’s not possible to get all the way around the island at close to sea level, but for those who do follow the hill’s lip, a way down to a southern shingle beach and its little sitting spot can be found. This also allows visitors to continue their walk on around the island close to its edge, and thus come to the stream and hollow mentioned above.

Tranquil, photogenic and sitting under a sky mindful of Stevie Davros’s work (which is not to say it is – just that it reminds me of his work – which is to say it has a sense of realism about it which is attractive), Serene Retreat build on the foundations Flower laid with Shades of Autumn whilst offer its own unique and engaging setting for exploration.

SLurl Details

• Serene Retreat (rated Moderate)

My Second Life café hopping continued recently when I bounced into the Burnt Toast Café and Tavern, occupying some 20,400 sq metres of the Full private region leveraging the land capacity bonus (although at the time of my visit, a portion of the land appeared to be either undeveloped or undergoing redevelopment by the holders and so closed to general access).

Those land holders are Emilly Jaynesford and Lee (lisa5791), and together have created a most pleasing little corner of Second Life, packing a lot into the setting without ever allowing it to feel overcrowded. Rather the reverse, in fact and the trails and paths winding through it between the various locations give a sense of space and openness.

A friendly welcome awaits all at the Burnt Toast Café and Pub! Bring friends or make new ones. Drink coffee in the gazebo or have a pint in the pub!

– Burnt Toast Café and Tavern About Land description

The landing point delivers visitors to the top of a stone stairway leading down and away from the broad terrace on which the tavern stands. This terrace extends outwards from one of the curtail walls of rock separating the setting from the neighbouring parcel and helping to prevent structure, etc., from these intruding into the landscape or skyline. The pub faces out over open waters from which it is separated by two wide wooden decks, the lowermost of which extends out over the shingle shoreline, the pair of the decks offering comfortable seating under parasols and warmed by wrought-iron log-burning fires.

The stone steps descending from the tavern’s terrace to split, one arm reaching down to where a carousel turns on a ground-level terrace also overlooking the shoreline, whilst the second stretches down under a stone arch to grasp the tail of a path which teases the way onwards.

Passing an old clock tower sheltering wooden benches under its eves, the path can be used to reach the café itself as it sits within a wildling garden complete with (wishing?) well and a broad, bed-like platform slung beneath a balloon and ready for chats, cuddles or a taking a short ride. On the far side of this garden, a small cabin sits beside a pond to offer an cosy annex to the café, its porch offering a vantage point for observing the ducks on the quiet waters of the pond and the carp swimming beneath its surface – although closer views of both might be had from the leaf-shaped raft also floating on the water. Those with a keen eye will also likely spot the gazebo hiding under boughs and amidst bushes to one side of the garden as well.

Running in the opposite direction to the café, a remaining branch of the path runs through a stone pergola providing access to the west end of the setting and the large wooden pavilion raised within the walls and gardens of an ancient structure –  perhaps the land remnants of an old abbey or castle – the pavilion offering itself as a larger dance and events space.

Then there is the orangery, tucked alongside the western edge of the café’s garden and separated from the pavilion in its ruins by hefty nub of mossy rock. With wisteria dripping from its rafters and cosy sofas and armchairs occupying its floor, the orangery presents another place into which visitors can retreat and spend time.

Between all of these points, considerable care has gone into shaping a setting rich in the colours of nature as flowers bloom and shrubs blossom, giving the sense that what might have once been a barren, rocky landscape has been tamed by the growth of plants, shrubs and trees, becoming a more welcoming location than it might once have been; a place with the vegetation have in turn become subject to gentle husbandry to encourage their growth without allowing them to run totally wild.

Care has also been taken to try to blend the vegetation with the curtains of rock forming the borders to the land, such that the artificial nature of the latter is at least softened, if not completely obscured, making them far less intrusive than might otherwise be the case, and the setting even more natural in look and feel as a result.

For those who don’t like walking, or wish to quickly hop to a particular point within the grounds, a network of teleport disks is supplied. Again, care has been taken to try to avoid having these stick out too much, but they are easy to find – and they will be needed to reach a further location: the local beach.

Located over on the west side of the region, this presents a cosy beach house raised above soft sands and with a pool and deck to one side. At the time of my visit, the beach was isolated from the rest of the café’s ground by the intervening parcel which may be awaiting (re-)development as mentioned above, thus making the teleport disks the only easy means of reaching it.

All told, Burnt Toast Café and Tavern is an expressive and charming setting with a sense of welcome and an allure that encourages tarrying.

SLurl Details

• Burnt Toast Café and Tavern (Southern Marvel, rated Moderate)

A whimsical café & library built on its own serene lake with lots of areas to explore and relax. The library is stocked with short stories for readers to get lost in. Bring your friends and family or come alone and enjoy a meal, relax with a warm drink, read some books, or just lounge around and take in the scenery. It is all ages and newcomer-friendly!

Having read these words via the Destination Guide, it was back on one of my café hopping expeditions in Second Life for me as I set out to visit the Woodland Café and Library, the work of Sienna Skye (Sienna Foxdale). And as I quickly discovered on arrival, they offer just a hint of what this thoroughly relaxing setting has to offer visitors.

Nestled within the enfolding arms of the Briarwood residential estate, Woodland Café occupies its own Homestead region, and is largely separated from the rest of the estate by the surrounding lake, thus eliminating the risk of accidental incursion into someone’s house or garden. The one route into the estate on foot is presented by two bridges passing by way of one of the small islands sharing the waters close to the café island, making it possible for the local residents pop in.

Those teleporting to the Woodland Café will find themselves delivered to the island on which it stands, arriving roughly equidistant from one of the bridges leading back to the estate, a stone-and-wood pavilion (one of Cory Edo’s always excellent designs) and the path leading up to the café itself. Like me, Sienna  appears to have a fondness for Cory’s designs, as the café is another design from Trompe Loeil, whilst another of the little islands sitting alongside the café is home to Cory’s Jetje vintage caravan.

This little islet can reached via stepping stones spanning the short neck of water between it and the café’s island; just follow the shingle cover shoreline as it curve around the side of the stone pavilion to find it. Warmed by a log fire and lit by lanterns and strings of light, the pavilion presents a comfortable retreat in which to relax or join friends (and strangers!) in quiet conversation whilst partaking of the refreshments offered on the tea trolley.

For those seeking a little more entertainment, a gravel path branches from the foot of the route up to the café proper. Skirting between the flat-topped mushroom of rock on which the café sits and the raised location of the pavilion, to provide access to a wooden deck where people can engage in Greedy Greedy, again warmed by a wood-burning fire and with refreshments taking the form of an espresso machine and frosted cupcakes.

Once up on the rocky “mushroom”, visitors have a choice of taking the wooden steps leading to the café’s balcony and outside seating, or scrambling up a rocky lip to a wild garden area where someone appears to be cultivating mushrooms. Sadly, no places to sit are on offer in the garden, which is a bit of a shame as a blanket and some nibbles to enjoy would make it a nice little place for relaxing as well.

Fortunately, the café makes up for this by offering plenty of places to sit and relax or browse the web (sort-of! 🙂 ). Downstairs the counter with its temptations of drinks and waist-expanding goodies is imaginatively set is if in a woodland glade, the tables and chairs before equally set upon grass-like rugs to enhance the glade-like atmosphere. Mushrooms can also be found here, although there are far more decorative and functional / playful in nature, and Tiny visitors might well appreciate the mushroom fort with its cushions and opportunity to avoid being trodden on by oversized, clodhopping humans!

The upper floor reveals why the café is also a library: interactive bookcases line two walls. When touched these will offer a menu of books, plays and short stories by the likes of Shakespeare, the Brother Grimm, and other available to read on the web, although here they take note card form and the selection is apparently updated weekly (note that these can also be obtained from the bookcase tree trunk outside of the pavilion). The seating on the upper floor is also set out so as to suggest or invite discussions or perhaps a reading circle.

People who desire a little more solitude are also catered for within the setting; a little rowing boat with mixed singles and couples poses is anchored in the lee of the islands, whilst the route towards the rest of the estate passes by a shaded hanging chair overlooking the little model boats sailing on the nearby pond. There is also the tiny island mentioned above, with its caravan and outdoor seating, whilst another rowing boat has been turned into a cosy sofa for those who are willing to seek out its semi-hidden location.

To call this setting delightful would be an understatement; there is a natural blending of charm and nature (including local wildlife) throughout which is thoroughly engaging and photogenic throughout and well worth a visit.

SLurl Details

• Woodland Café and Library (Mistwood forest, rated Moderate)