Category: Exploring Second Life

 Inspired by Northern East Coast or Western European landscapes, with plenty of hide aways to cuddle and relax from the crowd and the noise.

So reads the introduction to Haye Aya’s Homestead Region of The Hamptons, which I recently had the chance to hop over and see, courtesy of the Destination Guide.

For those unfamiliar with the name, “The Hamptons” tends to refer to that part of the eastern end of Long Island, centred on the towns of Southampton and East Hampton. It is regarded as one of the historical summer colonies of the north-eastern United States, and the region has a long history, although it is perhaps most known for its patronage by the wealthy and politically-connected. For example, both sides of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis‘ family resided there, her parents were married in East Hampton, and she was born at Southampton Hospital (although admittedly, this was more by accident; her parents happened to be visiting family in East Hampton from New York at the time of her birth).

However, whilst the may well be little corners of their namesake which caught Haye’s eye, it is important to note that, as per the About Land description, her actual inspiration for the region’s design is much broader; so much so that anyone living along the north-east coast of north-eastern North America or in north-western Europe is going to feel a sense of familiarity about the setting. Certainly, there are no rolling beaches or sandy vistas, nor are there any great houses standing proud over the landscape; instead, The Hamptons offers a natural, somewhat rugged setting with the primary aim of offering people places whether they can spend time as individuals, couples or in small groups, and simply relax.

This it does by minimising the use of buildings within the region, instead focus on walks and trails leading to all the various public spots visitors might discover. Those buildings which are present here primarily form a strange little parade at the landing point, a cobbled area which appears to have become home to an assortment of bric-a-brac down the years, with a old piano, filing cabinets and desk on nodding terms with nearby balloons, an old water channel buoy, plastic chairs and – curiously – a table set for a rather enticing dinner.

A short walk to the north from here will bring visitors to a tall bridge spanning one of the watery gorges which collectively split the setting into an archipelago of high-sides islands. A boardwalk runs along a part of the cliff top by the bridge, providing access to stairs running down to the water’s edge and one of the many cuddle-points: a rowing boat pulled up into the shallows. Another such sitting spot longs out over the sea a little further away from the bridge. Meanwhile, an equally short walk to the south from the landing point will bring visitors to a thicket of hedges cast across the path, together with the yellow stripes of ban-lines marking this end of the island as off-limits to those not invited.

No such restrictions per se lie on the far side of the bridge, where the next island is topped by an old mind tunnel cuts into its heart. Two paths flank the sides of the hill, one leading to what may have once been an outbuilding related to whatever was being hewn out of the mine’s large central chamber, with a further board walk beyond it allowing visitors to reach another space in which to hang out.

The other path around the hill ends at a large trestle extending out over the gorge below, and is the reason for my qualifying this island being free from restrictions to travel. It supports a small greenhouse-come-potting shed, but this and the deck on which it sits are not intended to be reached via the path; instead the way to them is from Haye’s private house / workspace, thus they appear to be an extension to it and not a public space.

The third of the islands in the group offers a largely open, flat top bordered here and there by boardwalks running along its edges. Swings and sofas offer places to sit and pass the time, whilst the southern portion of the island features a little tiered garden and further hangouts, all of it with a lean towards an Oriental touch, something continued on the final and smallest of the islands. This takes the form of a small Japanese style house sitting within a modest, semi-wild garden. Simply furnished, it sits within its own parcel, so not sure if it is intended for a specific use – it does not appear to be restricted in terms of access.

All of which makes for an easy-going visit and opportunities to relax and / or take photos. There are one or two small edges to the place that might be smoothed out, and the use of ban lines rather than a more subtle request for privacy might upset some, but on the whole, a pleasant visit for an afternoon or evening.

SLurl Details

• The Hamptons (rated Moderate)

So, Halloween has now passed, and we’re in the end-of-year headlong rush into winter, snow, sledding and suchlike, pausing briefly along the way at US Thanksgiving before we resume the annual end-of-year surge of wintertime activities. Because this time of year can feel like a whirlwind of Things To Do And To See, it is sometimes good to find the time to take a little breather and decompress – and that’s exactly what the Nom Nom Café Library allows us to do.

Occupying an 8192 square metres parcel towards the western end of Corsica, this is a place which literally stands head-and-shoulders above its surroundings, sitting as it does atop a flat-topped mesa rising some 90 metres above the nearby sea floor. The creation of Spooky Treat, Nom Nom Café Library is a cosy, autumnal (at the time of my visit – not sure if it get redressed with the passing seasons) setting some may recognise from the official Linden Lab June 2023 video demonstrating the upcoming SL Mobile viewer (as shown during the SL20B celebrations).

Between lush green trees, grass, and an abundance of flowers the Nom Nom Cafe Library awaits you. Relax inside with some delicious cake, a book, cats, or cuddle up at one of the various spots surrounding the Cafe. Bring your friends and loved ones over for a night at the campfire or simply enjoy some alone time. A refuge for not only the LGBTQIA+ community but also all allies, created with love. ♥

– Spooky Treat describing Nom Nom Café Library

Given its perch, the best way to reach the café is via SLurl / LM to the landing point, which will drop you onto the path leading up to the café itself. This takes the form of the Nicolina Pavilion by Cory Edo, which Spooky and modded a little to provide a comfortable main café space to the front, the walls to either side carrying a multitude of books which allow the café to more than adequately live up to the “library” part of its name.

A little service area towards the rear of the pavilion separates front from back, the latter providing something of a fireside snug overlooking the grounds behind the café. This view is also shared by a balcony area directly over the snug and reached via a little staircase to one side of the service counter. Within both the snug and on the balcony above, more books await avid readers as they sip their coffee or nibble on some of the treats also available.

Flanking the café to west and east, both close enough to be within easy reach but far enough to offer their own circles of restfulness, sit two outdoors spaces. One, reached via the cobble surrounding the café’s fountain, presents a little storytelling / reading circle  around a warm fire pit, marshmallows ready for roasting. A chalkboard to one side offers the opportunity for a little self-expression; just click on one of the pieces of coloured chalk and start drawing (and click between the colours to change them or click the eraser to wipe the board), and the place is friendly enough to have encouraged a couple of local crabs to forward the waterfront down below the café’s mesa and scale the rocky heights to enjoy a little fireside dance!

To the west, and reached by passing through a little arch arcing between two short walls, is a place of promised mystery: a circle of standing stones, some with hollows cut through them so small torch-like fires might be lit. A table in the middle offers a chance for repast – or it would, barring the fact turkeys and squirrels appear to be availing themselves of the meal; better then, perhaps to retire to the hammock on one side of the circle and partake of the cookies on offer there!

A further path leads outwards from this circle to reach another little round pavilion. It’s roof fitted with glass to ward off any rain that happens by, it encompasses wicker chairs and a sofa, all with plump cushions, being one of a number of additional places awaiting discovery among the trees and grasses covering the mesa’s head. So of these are easy to find, others might actually be easy to miss – so do take time to look around (and up!) carefully during a visit. For those who enjoy a friendly table-top game, the open space between the camp fire circle and the café (complete with its little celebration of Moles) might be just the ticket.

Finished with an accompanying soundscape and rich in the company of pets and critters, the Nom Nom Café Library makes for an engaging and relaxing visit!

SLurl Details

• Nom Nom Café Library (Jolnir, rated General)

Life in the physical world is just a little too hectic; with the house now approaching its 30th birthday (not that I’ve lived in it that long!) the decision was made earlier this year to start overhauling and updating parts of it. You know, the usual stuff: new kitchen and other rooms, interior alterations to make better use of space, bathroom updates, blah, blah, blah. Some – like the installation of a full solar / battery system – have gone well (aside from a few software teething troubles); others have not progressed quite so well, leading to much gnashing of teeth and trying very hard not to teach the cats too many Naughty Words (they are both approaching 15 months of age, so far too young for some of the more colourful metaphors which bless the English language!).

All of which means that there are times (quite a lot of them of late) where the urge to just get any from everything has been overwhelming. Fortunately for me – and anyone feeling the need to escape the day’s demands and just breathe in nature – Ari (Aridis Inaka) has provided an escape to – quite literally – The Middle of Nowhere.

Occupying a Homestead region, this is a setting where the simple pleasures of country walks, feeling tall grass brushing against fingertips as you wander and watching birds wheel overhead and horses roaming free, can be enjoyed. A place which, despite the surrounding sea, gives a sense of gently rolling prairielands only lightly touched by the hand of Man; a setting where (for those who wish) a gentle audio stream flows to further encourage muscles to unknot and thought processes to let go (and I’ll be honest, given it features the likes of Bear McCreary, Danny Elfman, Alexandre Desplat and legends such as Ennio Morricone and Michel Legrand, it really is worth a listen!).

The region’s About Land notes introduce the region as place of horses and sunsets and where light role-play is welcome. It is a description that fits, although there is much in terms of opportunities for photography, relaxation and contemplation that perhaps passes unmentioned. It’s also a place well suited to the quote from Frances Jane van Alstyne’s (aka Franny Crosby), On Hearing a Description of a Prairie Ari offers as a description for the region within her Profile:

It’s a fitting description because the American prairie can often been imagined as a vast ocean as the wind ripples the grasslands (and crops!) growing across them like waves caught in the breath of a sea breeze. More to the point here, perhaps, is that the metaphorical mixing of prairie and sea also helps region and surrounding waters flow together as a unified environment, rather than one simply being bounded on all sides by the other.

To offer a blow-by-blow tour of the region is perhaps an exercise in futility; its very nature – almost completely low-lying and carpeted in tall grasses – means that it offers most of its secrets to visitors from the moment they arrive. Points of interest are easily located, and the setting’s easy beauty sets the feet a-wandering with ease. The only real break in the gentle undulations of the land are to be found to the north, where a curtain of high cliffs rise from a westward and squat table of rock to border the region as they march to the east, the waters tumbling from them giving rise to a shallow channel which in part separates them from the rest of the landscape.

The grasslands are largely given over to the horses roaming them, although here and there the horizon is broken by a tree or by the blocky form of a wooden shack or cabin – or ruin thereof. The trees offer a mix of shade for visitors and horses and places to sit or swing. The shacks and cabins speak to the passage of human occupation, as little as it might have been, what appears to be the detritus of that life remaining within and without some of them – thus offering possible props and ideas for gentle role-play. To one side of the setting and atop a small knoll, sits an aging chapel, a small graveyard in the lee of the knoll. The chapel offers a sanctuary of remembrance to those wishing to avail themselves of it, whiles the open camp site a short walk away presents a place for fireside conviviality.

Simply formed, but clearly put together with an eye for detail (and a little whimsy, giving the wandering / dancing tree!), this is a region which can be easily enjoyed and photographed. If you are looking for a place to which you might escape the demands of life (physical or virtual) and simply gather your breath whilst recharging mental batteries, then you can do little better then dropping into The Middle of Nowhere.

SLurl Details

• The Middle of Nowhere (Moyenne, rated Moderate)

Fate recently called upon me to travel to the Transylvanian town of Bistrița, and from there into the Inner Eastern Carpathian Mountains. It was no ordinary trip, for I was following the footsteps of cleric and solicitor Jonathan Harker, who had travelled there to complete business with a client from the region, only to seemingly disappear and causing much distress to his fiancée,  Mina Murray. 

Or at least, that is how the start of a visit to Castle Dracula: A Gothic Horror Experience might read when written as a journal entry by someone participating in its interactive adventure. The work of long-time resident and content creator, Wanders Nowhere (also famous for Prehistorica), this is an adventure reputedly “14 years in the making”.

How literal that might be, I’ll leave to others to cogitate upon; what I will say is, for anyone who is a fan of Gothic Horror and / or enjoys Bram Stoker’s classic novel, this is an Experience-led adventure which is engaging without being overly taxing, whilst offering a twist on the opening elements from the novel to offer a first-person narrative which takes Harker’s visit to Castle Dracula as the jumping off point for a related tale of an encounter with the Count. 

The adventure begins within a welcome area, reached either via the SLurl above, or by taking the teleport portal from the main Prehistorica lading point. This area contains all the information visitors require in order to enjoy the experience – or participate is a second, also set within the Castle and entitled Carmilla: The Love of the Dead, which can be entered into on payment of L$200 and which offers special rewards for those completing it. I opted to save this for a later option, focusing solely on Castle Dracula. 

I’m not going to trot through all of the info at the welcome area – it offers clear enough notes; suffice it to say you should accept the local shared environment and to have local sounds active. Whether or not you have Shadows enabled is a matter of choice; I actually found things a little too dark with them on.

Once all the notes have been read, the adventure can commence by stepping through the teleport portal to Castle Dracula; just be sure to Agree to the notes which will pop-up in a dialogue box when you attempt to do so, and also accept the local Experience – the latter will enable automatic teleports and also equip you with the necessary progress HUD.

Passing through the portal delivers you to the first of three locations – a train carriage as you sally forth from Bistrița to the village of Vesnic in the mountains, following the invitation of Harker’s mysterious client, Count Dracula. The carriage ride provides a narrative introduction to the adventure (s noted at the top of this article) and also introduces participants to the quest element of the story: locating 16 pages from Harker’s journal, which together might reveal his location – or fate. 

To get participants started, the first page of the journal is located alongside the carriage doors, providing a visual reference of what should be sought when looking for additional pages. When touched, the journal will deliver its page on-screen, allowing it to be read, after which clicking on it will place it on the game HUD, which is also the repository for other papers and notes, etc., found when exploring. Any item in the HUD can be expanded again by clicking on it.

Stepping “out of” the carriage doors on arrival at Vesnic will deliver participants to the garlic-strewn interior of the local hostelry, amusingly called The Stake and Hammer. It is here that the second page of Harker’s journal might be obtained, sitting on a table between arrivals and the exit.

More garlic is to be found outside the tavern, notably in the form of wreaths guarding the doors to local homes and places of business, with great sacks of cloves placed – strategically? – around the square as well. Outside of the church and the tavern, there is not a lot to see here,  but there is a horse-drawn carriage awaiting those wishing to reach the castle. Approaching it will bring a greeting from the driver, and sitting within it will start you on your way to your final destination, by way of a climb up through the mountains. Personal experience may vary here, but I found I needed to use the Camera floater and controls to get my camera out of the bottom of the carriage in order to see anything of the lands through which the ride passes – but I do use a custom camera preset rather than the SL default (and given the scale of things, Castle Dracula does seem to be built in expectation of oversized avatars using the SL default camera position).

It is on your arrival that the fun begins. From being greeted by the Count himself through to attempting to find the remaining 14 pages of Harker’s journal, there is a lot to see and explore – and potentially touch for interactions. There are some very nice touches to be appreciated – such as the count himself, a phantom NPC which is perfectly animated. Through the castle’s many rooms are elements from the novel as well as from other Gothic horror influences (perhaps most notably Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus) to touches of Giger-like neo-Gothic, together with what might be taken as nodes to M.C. Esher and others.

After being shown to your room by a rather chatty Count, you are free to commence your explorations – where they may take you is down to the route you chose on starting, and the branches you take thereafter, so I’m not about to give a room-by-room account. However, entering major locations in the castle – the entrance hall, the library, the ballroom, the Gallery, the Midnight Garden and so on – will be recorded on the HUD map in the form of clickable points you can use to jump between rooms, if necessary. But do take note – these are not the only locations within the Castle; you will need to explore carefully, as some of those which are not recorded on the map may well contain elements of Harker’s journal.

There is no reward to completing the quest per se outside of learning of Harker’s fate and the luxury of reading his journal entries – which follow most of the events found in the novel relating to his time at the case – in the correct order. However, finding all 16 pages will trigger the start of your own fate: will you be able to escape the Castle before the Count finds you (and without simply teleporting away!), or will you find yourself his next victim?

And even then; is it death that awaits you – or will you awaken in the hold of a ship bound for England (a hold in which you may well find yourself able to collect a few little mementos of your time at Castle Dracula before heading home)? Why not pay a visit and find out?

SLurl Details

• Castle Dracula: A Gothic Horror Experience (Fort Nowhere, rated Moderate)

It’s been almost a year since my last visit to Vivian Ewing’s Where Our Journey Begins. At the time of that visit, the region was dressed for winter 2022, and I wanted to catch it before the autumnal setting vanished in favour of something more in keeping with the turn of the year – and in the process adding autumn to my previous posts on the region, I will have now covered all four seasons at the region.

For autumn, Vivian has turned to a palette of hues and colours common to the time of year – yellows, browns, splashes of greens, reds and so on, which extend into the environment settings for the region as well, the sky cast in bronze on the horizons, darkening as it moves overhead before brightening once more, the clouds a patina of orange and yellow, dark underbellies hinting at the prospect of rain.

And the sun took a step back, the leaves lulled themselves to sleep, and autumn was awakened. Immerse yourself in a world full of autumnal colours and peace.

– Where Our Journey Begins, autumn 2023

To the north the lands are raised, curtain walls of cliffs helping to both separate them and bind them with the off-region surround to east and west. A tramway bursts forth from the western cliffs, exiting a tunnel mouth to pass between the tall arms of a grand wrought-iron bridge raised on tall stone-faced plinths as they across the river splitting the land in two from north to south, in the process spanning a shallow valley as it cups the waters in its arms.

Across this bridge – which is joined in spanning the river valley by an equally wide boardwalk on its own row of footings as it forms a pleasant place on which to stroll and watch the activities on the water below – sits a small borough fashioned around a central square. The modern 2- and 3-storey buildings arranged around three sides of the square suggest that this is part of a larger township even whilst it stands alone. The square itself is given over to a very pleasant café with seating indoors our under its broad awning. With the local clock tower standing guard alongside the café and the screen of surrounding trees illuminated by strings of lights winding through their boughs with leave turned to rust, it the square has a certain sense of romance about it.

Facing the café is a brick-built rich providing access to a shoulder of hill sitting above the river. The arch provides access to a path as it meanders around the hilltop, providing a suitable walk for lovers complete with a romantic folly presiding over things at the top of a raised thumb of rock. Those taking the path with find it circles half-way around the folly on its proud seat, then descends down towards the river.

Here the waters appear to have narrowed rapidly after passing beneath the bridge to the north, the ground lush with grass, the water a narrow ribbon running between banks. However, looks can be deceptive – as the slender boardwalk running out from behind a riverside  deck and hot tub quickly reveals. Rather than growing along the eastern bank of the river, the grass in fact marks the presence of a lush, shallow wetland extending out into the main channel of the river, a wetland which continues south, trees rising from its waters and its actual edge marked by a drystone wall as it borders the track running south from the foot of the folly’s hill.

A second narrow boardwalk spans the river towards its southern end, where the lowlands spread outwards to east and west, looking like golden pastures while again actually being a mix of solid ground and wetland under the carpeting of grass. To the west, the lowlands flow past another raised shoulder of land bordered on two of its remaining side by the aforementioned stream (itself crossed by a very sturdy wooden bridge which has seen much use / repair over the years). This triangle of land is home to a small ranch / farm, complete with a horse rezzer for those wishing to take a ride.

Those who do might try their hand at herding the cattle wandering along the local track – or perhaps head south and east to see if they can persuade the cows grazing out on the grass of the lowlands that it is perhaps time to come home! If such an exercise does not appeal, then a walk / ride along the dirt road running east will bring visitors to a low-slung bridge spanning the narrow neck of an inlet cutting into the land. With an old wooden gazebo and a hut-like tent offering places of retreat, this is again perhaps a location for those with a romantic heart.

With a modest farmer’s market (with a touch of quirkiness in it – those staffing the stalls appear to be some of the local deer and squirrel populace!) also sitting along the track leading to the inlet, these is much more to be found along the southern side of the region than might initially appear to be the case. As always, Vivian has certainly created a rich, photogenic setting ripe for exploration and spending time within – so enjoy it before winter steps in!

SLurl Details

• Where Our Journey Begins (Ilha Ipanema, rated Moderate)