Category: Exploring Second Life

For her latest region design based on a physical world location, Jade Koltai offers a personal take on the scenic beauty of Lake Bled, Slovenia.

Located close to the Julian Alps, Lake Bled has a long history, with links to Christianity, cults, healing, and – in more modern times – recreation and sport (it has been the location for the world rowing championships no fewer than four times).

Perhaps most famously, the lake with its forested surroundings is best known for Blejski otok (Bled Island), the home of a church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. Dating from the 17th century, the church was a pilgrimage location, and includes Gothic frescos dating to the 15th century.

With her Lake Bled, Jade offers many of the highlights of its physical world namesake – the surrounding mountains, the forests and sense of peace – and, most obviously, the island and church – but take things in places in a slightly different direction to offer a location that carries with it an element of mystery mixed with the natural beauty.

The Landing Point is located on the expansive deck of a lakeside cabin now converted into a cosy café-come-rest-stop. With plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, the café offers its own alternatives to the culinary speciality of the Lake Bled region, kremna rezina (or kremšnita), in the form of a range of pastries and other delights.

The waterside length of the cafe’s deck offers a command view of the setting’s island and the shadowy form of the church thereon, but no actual way to reach the island directly.

For that, visitors should strike out southwards from the café, following the edge of the lake around to where a small wooden jetty offs boats to rez. These can be used to cross to the island and church, or to putter around on the water and perhaps visit the rafts floating out between the island and the lake’s southern shore.

Placing the boat rezzer a short distance away from the café encourages exploration, and it s possible to completely circumnavigate the lake by either setting off to the south towards the jetty, or heading north and following the steps and trail in that direction.

Which route you take is a matter of choice; neither direction out from the café holds any particular advantage (unless heading out on one of the boats is your particular aim!). As the route do circle the lake, effectively forming a single path around it, you will pass pass by or through all the points of interest along the lake’s shores, including a raised platform with its burning brazier offering an artificially elevated view over the lake; the little cabin tucked into a corner of the the setting and a peaceful hideaway; the paved overlook above the lake that is slightly suggestive of the remains of an ancient road, and more besides.

Given the limited space within a region, Jade’s Lake Bled offers a different take on the island church to its physical world namesake. While the latter offers a number of buildings as well as the church and its separate bell tower, the majority with whitewashed walls and tidy red-titled roofs, Jade’s small island presents a single chapel standing at the head of steps rising from the single small dock.

With its darkened walls, and seemingly abandoned interior coupled with the overgrown nature of the little island, the church offers that sense of mystery I noted, bringing a possible narrative twist to the setting: why was the chapel set here? Why is it now deserted? Is it a place of romance or something else? The crows gathered on the island perhaps add to the mystery present on the island, their dark plumage certainly a contrast to the more gaily-coloured birds to be found around the shores of the lake.

When visiting, I do recommend using the local environment settings. Whilst these place the Sun to west, suggesting that the day is ending, the fact that mist is in places hugging the waters of the lake and drifting through the grasslands at its edge conversely give a feeling of an early morning, and that time of day between first light and the Sun actually taking a peek over the horizon. It further adds to the romance of the setting, as well as that sense of mystery one might feel when visiting, the church and its island rising as silhouettes from the waters of the lake, guarded on either side by the tall peaks of the haze-softened mountains.

In all, and as ever with Jade’s work, a beautiful and evocative setting; definitely not one to be missed.

SLurl Details

• Lake Bled (Overland Hills, rated Moderate)

Designed by Philippe Brora (brutal), the Lost Swamp is a Homestead Region recently added to the Destination Guide, where its description attracted my attention as a place to visit and explore.

Surrounded by off-region mountains caught in a distant mist when seen using the region’s default environment settings, it presents a rugged setting rising from east to west; one in which water has played a role in its formation.

Lost Swamp is a quiet and atmospheric destination where misty waters and whispering trees create a backdrop for reflection and photography. Visitors can explore its calm paths and find inspiration in its timeless setting.

– from Lost Swamp’s Destination Guide description

The Landing Point sits on the eastern extent of the region, atop a small dock with a motor launch alongside. The latter gives the impression that those teleporting in have in fact just arrived aboard the old but functional boat. Close by is the mouth of a narrow river, exiting the land after flowing outwards from the uplands to the west.

A large tree house sits across the river. It is not the only structure on the island, but it is the largest and best-kept, the others looking a little more careworn in nature. Open to the public, the house sits close to the tower of an old brick-built lighthouse which has seen better days – although exactly what has befallen it is open to visitors to consider for themselves.

Both sit on the edge of the swamplands which presumably give the setting its name. These lie to the north side of the region, between the river and the open waters surrounding it, although neither appears to feed into it.

Mist-wreathed, home to mangroves, swamp pines and dead and rotting vegetation, the swamp is the populated by crows, bats, snakes and vultures. An aging shack and barn clearly suffering from the swamp’s damp air sit within it, but again, who might live here is up to the imagination to decide.

South of the river the land is partially flooded; channels of water cutting it into small islands sufficiently high above the waters so as to be dry rather than swampy, but perhaps damp enough to cause the corn here to rot as it grows (or perhaps it has simply been abandoned).

Bridges and wooden walkways offer the means to cross the various channels, making for multiple routs of exploration, including the boat shack on the southern coast. The latter has again seen better days, but is again open to the public.

To the west, the uplands are rugged, the home of high waterfalls and largely naked in terms of flora. The northern hills are home to stairs rising to a plateau where more ruined and makeshift buildings stand. These offer table-top games and the area appears to be a possible events space – with the latter promised as “coming soon”.

Southwards, and hidden by surrounding hills and cliffs, lies something of a secret heart to the setting – but I’ll let you find that in a visit of your own and determine what its story might be.

With multiple places to sit scattered throughout the region, coupled with enough to encourage the imagination to start conjuring possible backstories for the setting, the Lost Swamp offer a lot to see and plenty of opportunities for photography.

SLurl Details

• Lost Swamp (Glimpse of Eternity, rated Adult)

To the English-speaking world, Bruchtal might not be immediately recognisable when it comes to references to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien – perhaps most notably in The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. However, German aficionados of Tolkien’s mythology will likely immediately recognise it as a reference to Imladris – or Karningul in Westron, the common tongue of Middle Earth. Also known as Rivendell, it is the location of the House of Elrond Half-elven.

Within Second Life, it is the name Sharon Neiro has selected for his utterly stunning personal adaptation of the mythical lands of Eriador (and beyond) within Middle Earth, and which encompasses the Shire and Rivendell.

And when I say stunning, I really do mean exactly that; Tolkien world has oft be reproduced or used as inspiration within Second Life, and as someone with a deep love of all of Tolkien’s work and world-building, I’ve enjoyed many of them down the years.

However, Bruchtal is perhaps the most captivating for its sheer beauty and for the skill and love evident in the way this single Full region has been beautifully sculpted to present two vastly different aspects of Middle Earth separated by many leagues, within a single location whilst allowing both to maintain its own unique identity and offering a sense of genuine journey from one to the other.

Immerse yourself in the magic of Bruchtal, hidden among high mountains, surrounded by deep forests and the gentle sound of mighty waterfalls. Stroll across romantic meadows in the valley, past colourful flower fields and along clear streams. Let your soul unwind to the music of the Elves and find peace beneath ancient trees – or at the riverbanks, embraced by the one you love. Discover the Shire, celebrate with the Hobbits, and enjoy its joyful, romantic charm. Follow the old paths to the Wood Elves, explore their mysterious tree houses, or wander through the deep, enchanted forests.  

– Bruchtal Destination Guide entry

The Landing Point sits on a sky platform high above the region. It offers a choice of destinations – the setting itself, a trip to the J&S and Ink’n’Shape stores and teleports to Pususaari (which I last visited in April 2025) and TheNest: Sunbird (which I also last visited in April 2025).  These are all reached by touching the requisite mirror teleport – which will also require the acceptance of the Sauvagess Experience by Walton Wainwright (the creator of the teleport mirrors), if you have not previously done so.

Touching the mirror for Bruchtal will deliver you to one of the elven halls of Rivendell. This offers information relating to Tolkien’s mythology. For those not familiar with the likes of The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, the board can make for a useful read.

Beyond this hall lies an interpretation of Rivendell which appears to draw particular inspiration from Peter Jackson’s vision for the House of Elrond. It hugs the step sides of the dell within which it lays, trees climbing the steep slopes to either side and waterfalls dropping from on high. With the region surround of high peaks suggesting the lofty heights of the Misty Mountains and the region EEP setting adding a particular beauty to the setting, it is hard not to believe you haven’t been transported to Middle Earth.

Across the dell, and reached via a winding path, a choice of trails wind downwards. One offers the way to the floor of the valley. This is a place of serenity and natural beauty and offering multiple places to sit and pass the time.

The second path continues on down the side of the valley before crossing one of the outward flowing streams and entering The Shire. Here the path winds through a Hobbit village. Whether you opt to see this as Hobbiton itself or not, is up to you; certainly, there is a large Hobbit house on a hill and, below it a field set out for what might be A Long-Expected Party – and towards which a cart and horse is making its way, carrying a certain grey-cloaked wizard…

Beyond the village and the party meadow, the track continues, passing through a pastoral setting and under a stone arch hung with lanterns. As it does so, it takes us further into Middle Earth and to the realm of the Sindarin, the wood elves. Here, among the woods, the great Mallorn trees rise, stairs rising around them to open-sided talans, open for people to visits (as are the Hobbit holes from the village). More places to sit and pass the time can also be found down on the ground and under the shade of the trees.

All of this just scratches the surface of the region – there is much to discover and appreciate. Gandalf, for example, is not the only notable Tolkien character waiting to be found; Galadriel waits (for Frodo?) before her mirror; Elrond stands high up on one of the Talans, whilst his daughter Arwen stands somewhat pensively within Rivendell. Further rounding-out the region is an audio stream featuring arrangements of Howard Shore’s music from the movies, together with pieces by Enya (who, of course, wrote May It Be).

In all, a genuinely engaging, rich setting, beautifully put together and executed – and more than worth spending time exploring.

SLurl Details

• Bruchtal – land of the Elves (Star Light, rated Moderate)

Yoyo Collas is back with another Homestead region design he has called Sunkiss, a late summer / early autumn setting described thus by Yoyo:

Summer has lost its strength, the air is warm, the wind is gentle, the rustling of the leaves announces the change of seasons. Sunkiss offers peace, adventure, and a connection to nature—perfect for those eager to explore.

– Sunkiss About Land description.

Presented as an island with a north-south orientation, the setting features a wide swath of beach to the west, backed by grassy slopes rising to form the backbone to the island their eastern side a rugged line of cliffs dropping back to the open waters.

It’s a simple but effective design, the simplicity of approach making it a welcoming environment with a sense of peace and opportunities for relaxation and sharing.

A single house occupies the setting, sitting with its back to the cliffs towards the island’s north-eastern extent. With a roof insulated by turf and mounting solar panels, it is open to the public and offers a commanding view out over the beach to the west.

An old motorboat sits up on keel blocks alongside of the house, although how it might be safely lowered down the steep slope to the beach below is entirely open to question. Fortunately it appears that when the tide comes in, it does so over a fair amount of the beach – as evidenced by the fishing boat moored to a floating buoy but itself stranded high on the sand as if deposited there by a retreating tide -, so getting the motorboat from the foot of the hill and into the water might not be too hard a job.

The beach extends practically the full length of the island, offering several places to sit as it does so. A houseboat sits mired in the sand at its southern end, again open to the public and perhaps best noted for the cats that appear to have claimed it as their residence. Only one of these feline “owners” appears to be showing some interest in the episode of The Twilight Zone being shown on TV (1961’s It’s a Good Life, which also marked actor Bill Mumy’s second appearance in that series), which is a shame, as it is widely regarded as one of the series best segments.

The main house on the island appears to be an attempt at a degree of self-sufficiency. As well as the solar panels on the roof, energy appears to also be provided by way of a wind turbine located on the island’s southern headland.

This is reached by way of a meandering path-come-trail running along the island’s spine. Along the way, the path passes a semi-rundown barn with further signs of self-sufficiency: chickens watched over by a cockerel, together with goats, while sheep graze on the nearby scrub grass.

The path is not the only route of exploration around and across the island, as it is entirely open to simple wandering. Throughout all of this are many places to sit and pass the time. There’s also a rich soundscape to help bring the setting to life, while birds and small animals add their own touches to the island.

In all – and as one would expect from Yoyo – an engaging visit, rich in detail.

SLurl Details

• Sunkiss (rated Moderate)

Hailing from the UK, Sylvia Sable is the creator of Moonless Designs landscaping, and who demonstrates her creativity and artistry in this regard  through her Full region. Called Fern & Fable, the region is described by Sylvia thus:

Fern & Fable is a public space I rebuild whenever the mood takes me, each time opening a new chapter with its own theme and story. From a fantasy realm, to the dust of an apocalypse.

– Sylvia Sable

For the current iteration, the region presents Bramblewood, a setting which is at its core inspired by the landscape, towns and villages found in northern England, but which it is not unfair to say incorporates influences and aspects far beyond England’s green and pleasant land – if I might use the words of William Blake.

Once upon a time, in the northern reaches of the UK, there were villages bound by stone walls and iron railings, their strength tested by war and time. Cotton mills that once thundered with industry have been re-purposed into gentler spaces, and winding walking trails now weave through fields and hills where locals and visitors find their peace. Here milkmen set bottles by the door before dawn, farms breathe life into the land, and the pub’s hearth glows with welcome at day’s end. Bramblewood is my telling of that story – a Northern UK Village inspired setting where history lingers in every wall and lane.

-Sylvia Sable

The reason I suggest the setting draws – intentionally or otherwise – on other physical world locations is for several reasons.
Take the mountainous region surround for example; whilst the north of England does have the Pennines, the mountains surrounding Bramblewood are perhaps taller and more rugged than might be found along England’s backbone and for me, brought to mind Scotland’s Grampians. Similarly, parts of the built-up area of the setting and some of the low-lying areas perhaps have hints of North America and Europe.

However, this should not be taken as a negative critique of the region’s design; there are practical reasons why some aspects might well suggest places further afield than England’s northern counties. If nothing else, apart from iconic “British” elements such as the old red Post Office telephone boxes and the familiar red columns of Post Office letter (mail) box, thatched cottages, things that are quintessentially “England village” in tone and look are far outnumbered by other items sold through the Marketplace and in-world, thus some mixing is entirely natural. More to the point, the mixing of elements and styles give Bramblewood a further sense of being a special place in time and space.

The setting takes up roughly two-thirds of the region, with an open body of water to the south. The land is further split between a larger and smaller land mass, the latter sitting to the west, a tongue of land connecting it to the larger area. This western area pays homage to the north of England’s heritage as the cradle of the industrial revolution, being the home of large factory / warehouse buildings, the entire area updated as an event space.

The eastern end of the island is home to the main village / town setting. This again mixes elements, some of which are to be found in English country villages – dry stone walls, the aforementioned telephone and letter boxes, a cottage and local pub (with a further outdoor event space). Other elements perhaps lean more towards the United States (road signs, pumpkins for Halloween), which as noted, give the village and unique look and feel.

The middle of the setting is given offer to a open space of natural beauty, richly wooded and with paths and trails meandering through it, a stream tumbling down from the hills, waterfalls serving a river, camp sites, fishing spaces and plenty of opportunities for exploration and photography.

It is within this parkland that the Landing Point is located, presenting the richest opportunity for exploration and discovery. And discovery is the best way to appreciate both the beauty of Fern & Fable – Bramblewood and Sylvia’s design skills- so why not pay a visit yourself?

SLurl Details

• Fern & Fable – Bramblewood (Karmic Wonder, rated Adult)

I discovered Goddess Temple by way of the Destination Guide, and was immediately intrigued by its description. Occupying one quarter of a Full private region leveraging the Land Capacity Bonus available to such regions, it is a genuinely magical setting created by Sharon Edwyn, offering a virtual journey into a realm of physical world mythology.

A sanctuary of stillness and mystery, where one may reflect, find serenity, and awaken the spirit. A temple consecrated to the goddess Hekate.

– Goddess Temple Destination Guide description

More generally spelt as Hecate (HEK-ə-tee), the name belongs to one of the more multifaceted deities in Greek mythology; a figure associated with the Moon, the underworld; with magic, mystical arts and witchcraft, and whose name was invoked for a range of reasons, such as healing, protection, and divination. Her roots span ancient Greece, Egypt and Caria, as well as both the Titan and Olympian pantheons, Hecate having originally been a Titan prior to their downfall at the hands of the Olympians, who then allowed her to retain her powers and position.

Further, her influence also encompassed the Roman civilisation, and she even featured in post-Christian writings of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, in which she was seen as (among other things) the Mother of Angels, and she was frequently worshipped with offering of food at crossroads where she was said to dwell as a protector of thresholds.

Goddess Temple most notably reflects Hecate as the goddess of magic and mysteries; protector of households, thresholds and crossroads; keeper of wisdom and her links to the underworld. What’s more, it does so quite marvellously through the core temple space, which is quite magnificent, and which I’ll come to in a moment or two, as the rest of the setting is equally as visually engaging.

Before continuing, however, this is a setting which should be visited using the local Shared Environment and with local sounds enabled. A PBR-enabled viewer is also highly recommended. The Landing Point is located towards the southern side of the setting. It sits upon a junction of path which, whilst not a crossroads, is still highly appropriate to Hecate’s aforementioned role as protector of crossroads.

An information giver stands alongside the Landing Point, and I recommend touching it to receive more information on the setting and to be clear on the rules. Of the three paths offered to those arriving, one appears to lead to the entrance to Sharon’s private residence in the adjoining parcel (no trespassing please!), although a right turn at the door will lead visitors to a terrace with a view out over the waters beyond the region to an off-region surround.

A second path, pointing north and guarded at either end by two pairs of triple-headed street lamps (a subtle reference to Hecate often being depicted as triple-bodied, perhaps?), sits another terrace overlooking a large pool of water fed by water falling from on high on its far side.

Like the costal terrace, this offers places to sit, whilst a statue of Persephone, the goddess of spring and the queen of the underworld kneels in the middle of the pool, the waters of which escape to the west, dropping to the sea by way of a rocky, fast-flowing stream. Beyond Persephone, and just visible through the curtain of water from the high falls, is the first hint of the secrets awaiting discovery.

However, to reaches these secrets, it is necessary to travel west along the third arm of the footpath and through the arch of a great stone portal wrapped in trailing vines and lightly fingered by the boughs of the trees pressing close to it. Here the path becomes more of a trail and the trees multiply in number as they continue to cast a green and brown canopy over much of the landscape, the ground of which is lush in shrubs, grasses and flowers whilst lanterns hang from boughs to provide gentle illumination.

Within this part of the setting there is much to be discovered. There is a partially ruined pavilion offering a place to sit and perhaps read (or cuddle!) and enjoy tea from a copper samovar; then there is the remnants of a temple to Aphrodite, again with places to sit;  whilst within a clearing within a ring of trees and ancient columns can be found a place of ritual.

But it is the path leading to the entrance to the temple of Hecate which offers the way to greatest surprise / reward for visitors. Watched over by a statue of the Three Charities (or Graces, if you prefer), and passing by way of a bridge over the stream tumbling down from the central pool, this path leads to the unassuming entrance to what appears to be a cave with another columned stone portal standing before it.

This cave proves to be a tunnel with a paved floor wet with what may be water formed from condensation rather than by any water flowing or dripping through the rock. Lit by torches mounted on the rough rock walls, the tunnel reveals itself beautifully a little at a time (if you are running with Shadows enabled).

The appearance of the Temple of Hecate is itself a literal revelation as you round a corner, its full, stunning beauty suddenly laid out before you without warning. Its astonishing beauty is literally breath-taking, and folds into it subtle references to Hecate’s manifold roles. Tall bookcases in the main chamber of the temple, complete with a reading table before them speak to her role as a goddess of wisdom, while the runes within the pages of the book mounted in the reading table suggests magic / mysticism.

Meanwhile the flooded floor of the temple’s inner chamber not only points towards a statue of Hecate, it offers a reminder of the Underworld’s River Styx and thus Hecate’s own links to that realm. In addition, the use of torches and fire bowls reflect Hecate’s role of illumination and guidance through darkness.

Whilst the statue might not reflect the three-body form in which Hecate is often – but not always – depicted (the three forms reference her ability to see the past, present and future), it does include a pair of dogs. The latter were seen as both her loyal companions within the Underworld and as symbols of her links to the nocturnal and the mysterious. That the statue is set against the slowly swirling backdrop of a spiral galaxy appears to echo Hecate’s celestial place and being.

There is more to see within this main temple – and more to explore with the tunnels, including the marvellous retreat hidden behind the waterfall mentioned above and dominated by a painting of Hecate; but I’ve leave you to discover the beauty of that room for yourself.

A genuine tour de force of creativity and design, and offering plenty to see – and learn: look for the information boards to find information on the likes of Hecate and Aphrodite – Goddess Temple is an absolute jewel within Second Life.

SLurl Details

• Goddess Temple (Highland Park, rated Adult)