Category: Reviews

In classical Chinese mythology it was said that immortals dwelt within the Penglai Palace, a place built of gold and silver, surrounded by trees on which jewels grew and within which lay the elixir of life – and thus the goal of explorers sent by Emperor Qin Shi Huang to “recover”. But where, exactly, was this palace?

According to the Shanhai jing (“Classic of Mountains and Seas”), the palace sat atop Mount Penglai, one of three “godly mountains” set within the gulf of the Bohai Sea. However, the Xuanhe fengshi Gaoli tujing (“Illustrated Account of the Embassy to Goryeo in the Xuanhe Era”), Mount Penglai sat on an island “across thousands of league of shallow water” within the Changguo Prefecture, and loosely thought to possibly be the location of modern-day Zhoushan City. Or perhaps Zhoushan Island might have been the point from which those seeking the palace and elixir set off across those many leagues – perhaps as far as Japan, where, according to legend, Xu Fu mistook Mount Fiji to be the fabled mountain of the immortals.

Scholars have debated the likely root of the legendary palace and mountain’s location down the ages, and it has spread its presence to Japan (where it is known as Hōrai), Korea and Vietnam. Fortunately for those of us in Second Life, we don’t have to puzzle mysteries of the Palace; instead we can visit a place that takes its name from the legend. And while it might not be intended as the home of immortals or to location of any marvellous elixir. Rather, it presents a place of tranquil retreat, Tai-Chi, contemplation, Chinese-inspired music and even mixes a little Japanese touch.

Designed by Polees, Peng Lai offers a sense of the legends of Penglai both as a mountainous location as as being on an island, presenting as it does a small complex of buildings surrounded by the peaks of distant mountains as if the rocky islands on which they sit are themselves mountainous peaks, and as if they are built upon rafts of rock floating upon a sea of white cloud. Located within a Mainland parcel of just 2048 sq m, this is an elegant setting, small in size and with a sense of detail that is enticing.

Peng Lai is a fairyland above the clouds, where you can see ancient Chinese art and Taoist culture with architecture, furniture, paintings, decorations of China. You can relax, enjoy music, meditate … and have tea here.

– from the Penglai About Land description

The Landing Point sits as a a literally gateway which, although high in the clouds, is actually the lowest level, a wooden stairway climbing from it to give the impression of ascent further into the heavens, thus presenting the sense of rising into the realm of gods.

At the top of this stairway stands a great carved wheel of stone; a crossroads, if you will on the journey through the setting. To the left as one reaches the stone, a walkway and short set of steps rises to small single-roomed building wherein sits a small curtain-draped shrine facing the door and music and seating to the left and right. Facing this across the rounded stone, and reached via an angled walkway is an open-air railed platform where communal tea might be shared and trees bloom.

The stone wheel offers Tai Chi for up to four, whilst facing the gateway, a  further stairway slopes gently upwards and outwards to where the largest island of rock floats serenely, water tumbling from one side to provide a backdrop to the tea platform. Here stands a grand building, a home to three side-by-side shrines awaiting prayers or meditation, as with the single shrine in the smaller building. Heavy drapes to either side of the shrines, together with lighter curtains help to divide the building into smaller spaces, although these are bereft of furniture, instead offering a shelter place where thoughts might be contemplated in silent pacing along the enclosed corridor.

With trees and shrubs clinging to the rocks to give them both a sense of life and the feeling they are linked – if invisibly – to the surrounding mountains of the enclosing sky sphere, presenting a sense of unity and space as well as that of location. This is further increased by the fact this is a veritable tour de force of work by Deo Rain, Polees’ SL partner.

Deo specialises in historical Chinese architecture,  furnishings décor, and more, and Peng Lai really brings them together and to the fore as to how they might be combined to create a memorable setting, complete with elements from other creators specialising in pieces from the same eras (or close to them) helping to further entice and enhance. Further, those who have Autoplay enabled will be treated to a media track of suitable music playing periodically.

Beautifully presented and with the air of a modern take on a Chinese watercolour painting, Peng Lai is a highly engaging and picturesque visit (with one or two little nods towards the influence Penglai has had on Japanese legends), offering more than the small size of the parcel over which it sits might suggest.

SLurl Details

• Peng Lai (Tyta, rated Moderate)

When exploring Second Life, it is very easy to focus on spaces encompassing entire regions (be they Homestead or Full regions), and at one time there was a perception that holding an entire region was the only way to have the capacity to do something worthwhile. Mesh  – and considered use of the convex physic hull when it comes to basic prim shapes and careful cutting – has helped dispel some of the latter. Even so, it is still very easy to overlook spaces offered for public appreciation simply because the vast majority of public locations do tend to be based on entire regions (or perhaps half or a quarter region).

Hence why I always enjoy discovering little corners of Second Life like Scoglioro, a charming setting put together by Gabriel Oakley (Aaron Barony). Occupying just 5104 sq metres within a Full region, Scoglioro presents an imaginary setting tucked somewhere along Italy’s Amalfi Coast, a little village tucked into a shallow cove the sea once cut into the land prior to retreating once more, leaving behind a space cosily in the arms of surrounding cliffs to offer a protected and somewhat hidden place in which to settle.

I’ve no idea if the beach resort of La Scogliera on that same Italian coast influenced Gabriel in any way. For my part, I prefer to think not; for one thing, La Scogliera seems far more commercialised than this quaint little setting, and for another, Gabriel has imbued his setting with a rich history, which I’ll come to in a moment.

Whilst occupying a small parcel, the sitting is given a sense of place as it appears to sit just off what might be a coastal through route in the form of a major road barrelling out of one tunnel to pass the cobblestone turn-off winding down to the village, before vanishing into the maw of another tunnel.

By doing so, this main road gives the impression that Scoglioro is a place road travellers might easily miss in their rush to get from A to B and back, much to their misfortune, as a turn turn off the road to park on the cobbles would allow them to discover a corner of tranquillity and calm.

The Landing Point for the setting is at the top of this turn-off, the cobble road curling around and down to reach the village, passing by way of an information board as it does so.  It is here, among a series of carefully placed leaflets and pinned pages all worth reading in their own right due to the little twist of life they also give to the setting, visitors can obtain a notecard on the village’s rich history and the local traditions; it’s a card I thoroughly recommend reading, as a lot of care has gone into it, and it further helps bring the setting to life.

The village itself is mostly shells and façade in terms of the buildings, rather than offering a wealth of interiors – but the fact that this is the case matters little (it’s also entirely understandable, given the capacity of the parcel); Scoglioro has more than enough outdoor décor and detail to keep visitors occupied, with the buildings and narrow streets and alleys serve as an excellent backdrop for photography. Boats sit outside of houses, hulls upturned and awaiting the next time they might be rolled down to the water’s edge; the local waterfront bar offers seating in a courtyard behind it and  above the water before it, together with an eclectic mix of meals  – tacos, fish and chips, tapas! – and the opportunity to admire the local street art.

The waterfront is also where  a furnished home can be found, its three floors overlooking the ocean, the taverna right next door, whilst above some of the terracotta tiles of roofs sits a small café, offers an open-air space to relax and chat, the steps leading up to it blending with the surrounding rocks.

The way up to this café passes by a couple of touches that give the setting a curious (and not entirely out of place) touches of Americana in the form of a old tram converted into a diner (albeit one which has seen better days) and a US Mail box (where visitors can drop a note to Gabriel). Further into the village can be found a US-style landline public telephone; again, at first sight it appears slightly anachronistic – but it actually fits the setting well, offering  a twist of interest that keeps the eyes alert for more.

Another interesting twist to the setting can be found underground; here, in what appears to be some form of underpass, one that looks to have been lifted from a more urban setting. It exudes a completely different atmosphere compared to the village, presenting a retreat unique to itself both in content and visually, thanks to the graffiti on the walls – and yet it is not at all jarring in its degree of difference; it just works.

It is also a place hiding a secret; whilst it might be the light leaking around doors at one end of the tunnel, it is in the other direction that the secret might be uncovered, an intimate space for quiet conversations over a glass or two of perfectly aged wine. But I’ll leave it to you to find it.

Small, with plenty of opportunities for photography (with limited opportunities for rezzing props under the local group – but as ever, do pick things up again rather than leaving them for Auto Return to take care of it!), Scoglioro is a charming little visit.

SLurl Details

• Scoglioro (Faithaven, rated Adult)