Category: Reviews

Jilin Estates, June 2019 – click any image for full size

Jilin is the name of one of the provinces of north-east China that borders North Korea, whilst also sharing a border with Russia. It is a region rich in minerals (a total of 136) including gas, coal, iron, nickel, molybdenum, graphite, gypsum, gold and silver, and has China’s largest reserves of shale oil. As well as this, it is the garden of traditional Chinese medicine resources, with approximately 27,000 kinds of wild plants and 9,000 kinds of medicinal herbs.

A rugged place, with four major mountain ranges, Jilin is a richly diverse place. It also lends its name to a new, visually stunning residential Full region within Second Life operating under the title Jilin Estates. It’s a place that offers a considered balance between private rental properties and public spaces that are open to visitors to explore – a group joining fee of L$250 additionally gives visitors rezzing rights, if they desire.

Jilin Estates, June 2019

The work of Li Zhu (JamaicasianBaby) and Jin Zhu (KidDreamz), the region offers, in the words of the website, “pre-landscaped private residential and community residential spaces, where tenants can enjoy scenic views from all angles of their respective homes.”

The majority of the residential spaces are places around the outside of the region, each to its own island space offering views out over the ocean. In addition there are three “community cabins” offering smaller rental space, but which are more integrated with the public / community areas of the region. What is interesting about the rentals is the eclectic mix of houses that are supplied; there is no central theme, instead the houses ranging from a Tuscan villa through to converted industrial units going by way of wooden homes in what might be considered “traditional” looks and far more modern units of wood or cement construction.

Jilin Estates, June 2019

All of this makes for an interesting layout and visually appealing appearance those seeking a new Second Life home within a private estate might find appealing. The various style of home also make for an interesting and varied backdrop for photography. However, it is the public spaces that potentially offer greater interest to those who enjoy exploring second Life.

These occupy the large central land mass of the region, together with a couple of the outlying islands. With two large tables of rock rising from low-lying cinder-tracked roads and a rocky coastline, the primary landmass is rich in detail and finely laid out with much to discover and photograph. The landing point sits in the shadow of one of the rocky plateaus, a little garden / picnic space looking east to where the some of the private homes straddle their various islands.

Jilin Estates, June 2019

A track winds through the area, bordering the landing point as it does so. This connects to the trails leading up to the cliff-top tables, and to the other points of interest: the garage and “secret garden”, the old docks, a bridge spanning the water to one of the “community cabins” and the walled garden of a second “community cabin”.

A third rental place sits at the top of one of the rock plateaus, while the second plateau is home to one of the region’s public events spaces: a space for music and dancing. Reached via a winding rocky path, this rises above the community “games cabin” and open-air theatre space to the north. These are linked one to another via wooden platforms, one of which offers a public seating area, and via a rope bridge that spans a narrow channel of water to the region’s beach lounge and dining space.

Jilin Estates, June 2019

The latter is an impressive structure that sits astride a rocky waterway than tumbles to the sea channel, and which has an infinity pool fronting its ocean view. These public spots are the focus of special events within the region – DJ party nights up on the high plateau, movie nights at the cosy theatre and karaoke at the games cabin. In addition, the public spaces are available for hire with private events – contact the owners through the website for details.

Whether or not you’re looking for somewhere different to live in Second Life, or are looking for somewhere new to explore and photograph as part of your SL travels, Jilin Estates is an eye-catching, photogenic and enjoyable place in which to send time and explore (and there is more to discover than I’ve directly mentioned here: take the Games Mountain and the secret fishing spot for example). One that is as richly diverse as its Chinese namesake.

Jilin Estates, June 2019

Our thanks to Miro Collas for the tip-off and SLurl.

SLurl Details

• Jilin Estates (Peony, rated Moderate)

 

Cherishville, June 2019 – click any image for full size

When reader Miro Collas asked if we’d ever visited Cherishville, I was a little surprised to look back through my SL travelogue and see that the last time I wrote about Lam Erin’s region design had been back in November 2017, when things had been deep in the grip of winter. Snow lay deep on the ground and roof-tops while trees lay frosted in white, and visitors needed to he wrapped up against the cold.

A lot has changed since then. Our return to Cherishville in June 2019 not only took us to a new region design, but a new simulator location as well, that of Villa Baldeney. Sitting beneath a somewhat glowering sky when seen in the default windlight, the setting is as far removed from the winter of my last Cherishville write-up as it is possible to get, the design we visited positively tropical in its presentation.

Cherishville, June 2019

There is no defined  / enforced landing point, so I’m arbitrarily using one to deliver those following it to a stretch of old road lying on the region’s east side. This offers a route from nowhere to nowhere, bordered on one side by a row of commercial properties almost shanty in their shabby looks, and on the other by a bay that cuts deeply into the region via a narrow neck of water. The road ends at this neck, dipping gracefully down to the blue waters to offer a convenient ramp boats might be drawn up to keep them out of the tide that must pass back and forth.

The commercial properties along the road vary between bars and places to buy spirits – that latter a popular draw for vacationers, it would seem – and the odd place to eat. All of them have the look and feel of having once seen better days, albeit perhaps a long time ago; now they look out over the old road, itself little more than a pedestrian thoroughfare, despite the motor vehicles at its southern end, and out over the bay.

Cherishville, June 2019

This southern end of the road offers access to  a broad swath of sand that curves gently west and north to hold the bay within its arm, facing the wash of tide from the south whilst home to undisciplined ranks of palm trees that offer moments of shade cast across the fine sands. A path is staked out along part of this beach, running at right-angles to the old road, but such a formal marking of route is hardly necessary; perhaps some local resident here was trying to offer a little sense of order.

Dropped onto the beach, and facing the open seas to the south are a couple of building which are again perhaps a little way past their prime. One presents a swimming pool beneath its raised wooden roof, the other appears to be a holiday home complete with a pool of its own. Balancing these on the inward curve of the bay is a fishing shack which, together with the small trawler sitting in the shallow waters, suggests some see this island as a place of work and not a vacation destination.

Cherishville, June 2019

Walking the route from street along the sands tends to offer the suggestion that this is a place that, while clearly within the tropics, is perhaps located somewhere in the Caribbean. The western elements just seem to push it in that direction. But then, follow the sand as it turns northwards and passing a strange little A-frame structure sitting out on a small sandy headland along the way, and perceptions are challenged.

To the north, the sand abruptly ends, and rocky slopes rise upwards, cliffs forming around three sides. This is topped by a single-roomed building with an infinity pool alongside looking to the west. With an aged statue of Buddha out on the grass, this aspect of the island presents a strongly Asian feel to it, with thoughts turning away from the Caribbean and perhaps more towards Thailand.

Cherishville, June 2019

There are some rough elements within the build – the odd floating palm tree or boat floating over the water than on it and the lighthouse for the region is oddly canted – but overall, there is plenty here that the visitor can enjoy and photograph within the setting, making time spent their worthwhile. For those so-minded, there are also some poses to be found for photography – a couple leaning against the sea wall above the bay, a walking hand-in-hand pose for those leasing the local bar, while bicycles can be obtained from a couple of rezzer racks for those who fancy taking a ride around the island. As always, photographs are welcome at the Cherishville Flickr group.

SLurl Details

• Cherishville (Villa Bladeney, rated Moderate)

Sweet Paradise, June 2019 – click any image for full size

Update: This parcel is no longer open to public access, and SLurls have therefore been removed from this article.

Sweet Paradise to the Darks sounds a rather unusual name to for a location in Second Life; at least until you realise it references a private home that has been opened to public visits – the Darks in this case being Anita Dark (Anita Khaos) and Kiara Dark (kiaraslet).

Occupying a 8192 sq m parcel, Sweet Paradise is one of those settings I like finding / exploring (although in this case, it’s the latter, as I was pointed to the parcel by reader Morgana Carter); the kind of place that demonstrates you don’t need an entire region in which to create a space that can be both home and somewhere for others to visit.

Sweet Paradise, June 2019

Embracing a tropical island feel, this is a location that’s easy to explore, and even easier to while away the time within. A large, two-storey houseboat dominates the setting, the little patio to one side of it forming the landing point. The lower deck of the houseboat is filled with bric-a-brac, much of it focused on art, the clutter giving the place something of a bohemian feel.

A short walk along sandy grass, the path marked by large rocks and the fenced-in form of a VW Beetle that’s clearly not going anywhere soon, will bring visitors to a large, cement-sides beach house that continues the arty / bohemian feel, presenting a study-like environment again filled with the kind of cosy clutter that marks a space – be it a single room or an entire building  –  as a home.

Sweet Paradise, June 2019

Oriented north-to south, the parcel has a westward beach looking out over the open sea, the view it provides shared by both the veranda of the beach house and the little patio fronting the houseboat. Nor are these the only places from which to enjoy the view. An old rowing boat vies for the attention of visitors (with singles and couples / friends poses) together with a couple of rattan loungers under the shade of parasols, while to the north end of the parcel sits an old camper trailer. This sits within a curve of beach and might possibly be the home of a surfer, but is currently the abode of a Siamese cat who is enjoying the sunshine and a nap.

A mix of trees are scattered across the landscape help to both break it up and screen the various buildings and locations one from the next, helping to present a sense a privacy along the parcel’s sandy ribbon. Together with the rocks breaking up the shoreline they also help give the parcel more of an island-like feel, on the east side of which lays another beach house, this one shaded by palm trees that also cast their cooling influence over another waterside nook visitors can enjoy as a box kite flies overhead.

Sweet Paradise, June 2019

Small but beautifully landscaped and with a eye for detail, Sweet Paradise makes for an pleasing, homely visit. There are numerous places for people to simply relax, and  / or take photos. It’s the kind of place that can easily fulfil the greeting given in the About Land description: where people can make a lot of happy moments.

Simply perfect!