Category: Reviews

It’s been just four months since my last visit to Reality Escape, the Full private region held by Tripty (triptychlysl). It’s a place I appreciated at the time (as noted in A Reality Escape in Second Life), both for its own beauty and for the way it carried forward themes and elements found in Tripty’s earlier build, Books, Coffee and Chairs, Oh My! which I’d visited in 2023. So when Tripty dropped an invite on me to come visit the latest iteration of the setting, I was only too happy to accept.

Tripty’s region builds are always somewhat personal to her, something made gently clear by a sign waiting to be found within the landscape: WARNING You Are About To Enter Someone Else’s Dream. However, it’s a dream that likely resonates with  anyone visiting the setting, allowing Reality Escape to live up to its name: a place we can all visit and experience a season of escape and indulge in a little dreaming of our own.

As with its previous iteration, this version of Reality Escape once again embraces three comforts I always appreciate: coffee, chairs and books; it also embraces some familiar motifs echoing Tripty’s past builds.

The Landing Point sits to the west of the setting, where wooden decks, complete and partially complete, all standing at the water’s edge with those that are complete offering outdoor seating from the Reality Escape coffee house. From here, the island offers a west-east orientation, with a smaller island to its eastern extent and two very small isles lying just off the coast, one of which lies between Reality Escape and Tripty’s private home and workspace within the adjoining region.

A number of routes of exploration are available from the Landing Point. For example, you can go through the café and the arch of rock beyond it to ravel along the middle of the main island; or you can take the path on the left side of the café as it offers access to paths on the island’s north side and along its coast. Or you can veer to the right of the coffee house and either head down to a small meadow and pond sitting on a little headland, or take another path rising up towards the island’s middle, or follow that path part way up the island and then turn aside to follow the trail and decks offering views and a walks along the southern coast.

What matters here is not the path you take, but the time you take in exploring; while the island might be comparatively small, it is rich in detail, large and small. Some of the obvious locations are sure to attract the eye and camera. One of these are the decks reaching out over the southern waters with their intervening chair bridges, and chair tower and arch – the latter offering a memory of both the setting’s previous iteration and that of Books, Coffee and Chairs, Oh My without imitating either.

Balancing this on the north side of the island is what I think is Reality Escape’s most engaging feature within this iteration. It is here that a slender finger extends out from the island proper, wetlands and shallows at its feet, its sides hanging with ivy and railings along its top marking the route of a path along its back.

Only this is no rocky promontory. Instead, it comprises a series of giant books either stacked up or standing upright or on their edges (allowing their spines to act as the walkway). Thy overlook more giant books floating on the water below, their pages open, together with the words Knowledge Is Power – a valuable admonition is this age where ignorance or falsity are increasingly valued over knowledge, experience and expertise.

With swings and sit points, this promontory is both imaginative and attractive. It is also braced by two more features. To the west of it, and looking like a great flat shelf of rock, lies another giant book its cover festooned with grass and more ivy hanging down from it. Sitting on it is a table set for a tea party and seemingly just missing a certain chap in a hat, a March hare, a dormouse and their guest. To its eastern side, wooden decks and steps descend the cliffs beyond to reach the wetlands whilst offering places to sit of their own.

The smaller details come in many forms and are all-encompassing. From the natural beauty of the setting with its burst of flowers and colour, to the presence of the cats and rabbits keeping an eye on things and the signage to be found scattered around, through the bees busily collecting pollen, these little touch add so much sense of life to the setting. I also liked the little touches of humour, such as the seagull cadging a ride rather than flying himself, or the stone Tibetan monks, one of whom is clutching a curious choice of book…

The little island to the east is neatly linked to the main isle by the hollowed-out trunk of a giant sequoia tree. This bridges the waters between the two, meaning there is no need to get wet feet when moving between them. Small it might be, but with its pond, garden and open-fronted pavilion (where fortune readings can be obtained), it has an attractiveness entirely of its own whilst also fully in keeping with the rest of the setting.

Throughout all of this are multiple places to sit and pass the time. These come in many forms, while most of the chairs in the region offer artistic statements (such as those mentioned above) more than presenting a place to sit. Which is not to say they cannot be sit upon; I enjoyed a latte whilst sitting amidst one chair tower!

As noted, this iteration of Reality Escape might appear small, but it packs a lot into it – more than I’ve described here. As such, I not only suggest you go see it for yourself, but that you allow time to explore all its trails and paths, nooks and crannies and allow the islands and their accompanying sound scape smooth away worries and concerns.

My thanks to Tripty for the invitation to re-visit!

SLurl Details

• Reality Escape, rated Adult

Designed by Miri (SilentChloe), Lost Place of Norbu is located within a Homestead region and offers  a sub-tropical setting which fully lives up to the Tibetan meaning of its name – “jewel”.

The setting is presented as two islands set within an azure sea and sitting just off what appears to be a rugged and wooded coastal headland. The larger of the two islands is partially surrounded by a sandy beach, the sands of which also reach across the intervening shallows to brush against the smaller island.

Defined within its About Land description as a lost place near Taiwan, this adult-rated setting offers a lot to appreciate in a relatively small area (a good portion of the region being given over to sandy shallows); including places to sit and pass the time, assorted wildlife, and a partially hidden location that might easily be missed in a rushed visit.

The Landing Point sits on the north side of the region within the aforementioned shallows and facing the larger of the two islands. In appearance, this island almost has the look of a volcanic uprising about it; a tall peak rising from the sands to sit as a high plateau dominated by a huge headless, one-armed statue which may have once represented Buddha.

Densely canopied with the kind of foliage one might reasonably expect to see somewhere close to Taiwan (itself noted for its sub-topical evergreen forest), the bulk of the this peak – which put me in mind of the sold basalt core of a long-dead volcano – is hidden from the Landing Point by this green canopy, causing the eyes to be drawn to the shoulder of rock extending into the sea on the island’s on its north side and the single-storey wooden building standing upon it.

Reached via a set of stone steps rising from the beach between two lines of bamboo trees, the build mixes places to sit, enjoy Japanese tea or engage in Adult activities, its cool interior.

Behind it, meanwhile, a path arcs around the eastern side of the main peak, travelling through a small Zen garden and under a Torii gate to reach a southern shelf of rock extending out over the southern waters. Another, stone Buddha, small than the one on the island’s peak and semi-clothed in moss, sits within a stream of water running outward across this rock shelf and fed by a waterfall at its inland end, and which drops into the waters below at its outer end. A simple wooden boardwalk crosses this stream, allowing visitors to follow the path onwards, and so circumnavigate the island’s peak and return down the stone steps back to the beach.

As the sands of the beach do not fully encircle the island, it is impossible to use them as a similar means of circumnavigation, but follow them west and then around to the south from the landing point, and you’ll find yourself passing under the shelf of rock where “little Buddha” sits, then onwards to the island’s hidden gem.

Guarded by a mix of tall pagoda-like lamps and a Torii gate, all of which stand ankle-deep in lilies and other greenery happy to grow in the shallows, together with hovering water lily lanterns, sits the Shibari House.

Almost entirely hidden from view from above thanks to the rain forest canopy, the name of this place might sound like it is a centre for Adult activities. However, whilst such activities are possible, unless in actual use during a visit, they and cleverly hidden away, allowing the place to apparently take its name from the artwork mounted on the walls of the open-air rotunda.

Across the sandy shallows and tucked into the south-west corner of the region, the smaller of the two islands is equally as rugged as the larger and well canopied by sub-tropical foliage. A little harder to get around, it offers numerous places both beach-side and up among the rocks of s backbone to sit and pass the time, including an onsen watched over by egrets and with its outer ring of water patrolled by large koi carp.

If the onsen is not to your liking, then there is a waterside gazebo where it is possible to keep an eye on the location’s three elephants. I’m not sure how they found their way here, but they appear to be enjoying wading around in the warm waters, whilst colourful birds circle overhead. Some of the latter appear to appreciate the presence of a Japanese dragon fountain as it dribbles water from a rocky outcrop part-way up the side of the island. It sits close to another little retreat overlooking the Onsen, but I confess I had to resort sitting on the couch within it in order to reach , as I couldn’t find a path up to it.

It is in several of the couches, chairs and sit points in general that the setting’s more adult nature can be found, rather than in anything overtly displayed; thus, there is nothing within Norbu that might offend the sensitive when visiting. Rather, this is a peaceful setting which genuinely offers a lot to see, appreciate and to photograph.

Finished with a (perhaps too) subtle soundscape and presented within an appropriate EEP setting, Norbu offers an engaging fusion of ideas: a sub-tropical island off the coast of Taiwan but with a strong Japanese influence, wandering elephants, and even a little puffin enjoying a little bit of a tropical vacation. As such, it is well-worth the time taken to visit it.

SLurl Details

• Lost Place of Norbu (Ruby Rigid, rated Adult)

Sam Rougefeu, curator of the destinations SL blog, pointed me toward Raven’s Bay, a homestead region held and designed by Lilly Blackwood. Open to the public, it’s and engaging location with a hint of alchemy about it.

An island of mystery and magic. Explore the trails, meet friends at the café, dance on the beach, explore the Paranormal Academy!

– Raven’s Bay About Land

Caught in the onset of autumn, Raven’s Bay is another of those settings that bucks the trend of aligning its design with the northern hemisphere seasons; the golds and oranges present in some of the foliage is matched by the rusty folds of hills and ridges across part of the landscape to create what is largely a tranquil setting.

The Landing Point sits just offshore within a large bay cutting into the landscape from the west, watched over by a tall lighthouse raised on the bay’s northern headland. A short walk along the boardwalk from the landing point sits the squat form of an old castle.

This home to the Raven’s Bay Apothecary and Paranormal Academy, the latter of which appears to offer refreshments – but perhaps these should be treated with caution, given the way the biscuits are decorated and the labelling on the tea pot!

To reach the castle, visitors must cross a ribbon of single-track road. This connects to two further hoops of road as they loop around the northern and southern side of the region, with latter connecting to a spur of track running up to the sandy headland of the bay’s southern side.

These roads make it easy to circumnavigate the setting using either one of the bikes or Segway-style personal transports available from the rezzers outside of the Raven’s Bay Apothecary. For those of a more magical disposition, broomsticks are available for transport as well (not you will be asked to allow the AV Sitter Experience for seamless use of the broomstick).

Following the roads will reveal both the island beauty and its points of interest. The latter include the aforementioned beach, which runs part-way along the region’s southern coast; the statues places along the roadside at various points; the local café (which likely offer more palatable beverages and treats than the arsenic tea and poison biscuits offered elsewhere 🙂 ).

There are also two tree-lined footpaths awaiting discovery. The first is fairly easy to find, extending as it does from the far side of the tunnel running through the castle and visible from the Land Point. It leads to a smaller bay on the east, and the gazebo built out over it. The second runs to one side of the castle (and helpfully signposted “Nowhere”! 🙂 ). It leads to an old chapel and gazebo, the former of which looks like godly worship is no longer its primary aim.

For those who are seeking something spiritual, a place to stop might be at the round ruin on the north side of the region, where Buddha awaits and cushions are set-out for meditation – or for simply passing the time.

With places to sit throughout, together with dancing, the hint of a coastal swamp, Raven’s Bay has a lot to offer visitors and photographers, and is finished with an appropriate sky setting and environment, as well as being rich enriched with a natural soundscape.

In all, a very worthwhile place to visit.

SLurl Details

• Raven’s Bay (Serena Hamilton Isle, rated Moderate)

Following my recent return to The Wylde to catch-up on more recent development there at the request of region holder Jazaar Silvermoon (Jazaar Heartsong) – see: Back to the Wylde and time in a Nightgarden in Second Life –, I received a further invitation from Jazaar to visit another of her Full region designs, that of The Elvenwood.

Occupying a Full private region leveraging the Land Capacity bonus, the region is a seamless blending of what might be seen as four somewhat different settings, all equally available from the Landing Point.

To the west and north-west respectively, lay Delfai and Enoshima, both reached via the same stepping stone path and initial bridge as it spans the gorge separating Delfai from the landing Point. Comprising ruins and a large bathhouse, Delfai carries with it a Greco-Roman styling.

Delfai obviously suggests Delphi and the oracle Pythia, and the ruins appear to be the remnants of a temple in Pythia’s honour – a large statue of the oracle still standing within them, complete with offering on the dais before her. The path from the bridge meanders through a small walled garden area more suggestive of Italian / Roman heritage in order to reach the ruins. From there, steps climb up a short rise to allow the path to make its way on to the bathhouse.

Located just above a large, open-sided pavilion possibly of ancient Greek design, and with a large terrace to one side of the main entrance, the bathhouse perhaps leans more towards a Roman design than Greek. Dancing can be enjoyed on the terrace, and steps lead down the side of the cliff to further remnants of a structure at at the water’s edge as the channel separates Delfai from Elvenwood.

Reached via a bridge spanning the channel between it and Delfai, Enoshima offers – as the name might suggest – a strong Japanese theme. It sits on an island in the north-west corner of the region, with gardens featuring water and Zen elements. Home to two large buildings, one of which offers a quiet, almost meditative retreat, Enoshima is, like Delfai, neatly self-contained and offers a lot to see in its own right, its paths and boardwalks encouraging exploration.

The two largest elements of the setting are Elvendell and the Fairy Forest. Sitting to the south, Elvendell actually encompasses the region’s Landing Point, together with the Elvenwood.

Backed by high hills along part of the region’s southern side, Elvendell is perhaps liable to stir some thoughts of Tolkien and Imladris whilst having its own unique styling. The large house sits above the waters of what is clearly an artificial lake, its halls and rooms offering places to sit while its terraces offer open walks and dancing.

Close by sit a council chamber and stairs providing access to a path rising to the highest point in the region rising to a temple-like structure mixing eleven and classic elements.  Guarded by miniature versions of the Gates of Argonath – the giant statues carved in the likenesses of Isildur and Anárion – this temple sits within its own plateau garden and offers another retreat.

The plateau hides a secret. To find it, look for the gates beyond the council chamber and the wooden pavilion to which they provide access. You should be able to find your way from there. The Elvenwood, meanwhile, lies below the eastern side of the hills of Elvendell, and offers its own routes of exploration. These should be followed carefully, as they also can reveal places otherwise hidden from casual view.

Occupying the north and east of the region the Fairy Forest offers its own mix of beauty and expression, with tall towers rising into the sky, a wizard’s house, gardens and statues, and meandering paths. Again, time should be taken in exploring in order to reveal all the secrets – including how to reach the little island nestled into the south-east corner of the region between both the Fairy Forest and the Elvenwood without resorting to flying or getting your feet wet.

The beauty of this region lies not only in the way it has been built, but in the care Jazaar has taken to ensure that everything flows together naturally and fully, despite the many different (and what otherwise might be considered contradictory elements – Japanese, Greco-Roman, fantasy…) styles within it. This means that rather than being a set of four vignettes in and of themselves, Elvendell/Elvenwood, the Fairy Forest, Enoshima and Delfai very much flow together as a whole. Even the choice of bridge styles to link the different aspects of the region together simply adds to their sense of wholeness.

Finished with both an over-arching EEP setting and the considered use of ambient sounds, Elvenwood really is a visual feast, with far more to see and appreciate than I’ve mentioned here. And if you’re interested in shopping, Jazaar’s can be reached via the teleport disk at the Landing Point.

SLurl Details

• The Elvenwood (Realm of Light, rated Moderate)