Category: Reviews

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)