Category: Reviews

Located in Manipur, north-eastern India, and close to the town of Moirang is the remarkable Loktak (“stream end”) Lake. Covering between 250 km² and 500 km² in area (depending on the season), the lake is freshwater in nature and referred to as a “pulsating” lake after the way in which is surface area expands and contracts as a result of the region’s rainy / dry seasons.

What makes this lake particularly famous are the phumdi scattered across it. Looking like islands of various sizes, these Phumdi are in fact floating masses of vegetation, soil and organic matter in different stages of decay, ranging in size from the very small to the largest, which covers an area of 40 km². Located the south-east shore of the lake, this massive phumdi is the home of the Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world’s only floating national park and wildlife reserve.

The lake is a richly biodiverse body of water, with 57 species of waterbirds and another 14 species of wetland associated birds being recorded within its bounds and 425 species of animals, comprising 249 vertebrates (including the brow-antlered deer Cervus eldi eldi, or sangai, which had been thought to be extinct, and for which (in part) the Keibul Lamjao National Park was established).

Further, the lake is also home to 176 species invertebrates and some 233 species of aquatic macrophytes (vascular plants that have adapted to live in aquatic environments), whilst the annual fish yield from its waters is said to be 1,500 tonnes, with a variety of fish species introduced to the lake to assist with the natural capture fishing “industry” of the region. It is also a centre of hydropower generation and irrigation, water from it feeding into wetlands used for paddies, with water from the lake also used to provide drinking water for the nearby hamlets and towns.

The latter aspects of its use has all placed considerable pressure on the lake, another factor in it being designated a wetland of international importance. In particular, issues of over-irrigation and deforestation are an increasing theat. Also, given its location, the lake has become a destination for tourism, with two of the phumdi being largely devoted to tourist facilities, including the Sendra Tourist Home.

However, it is the lake as a beauty spot and home to local flora, fauna and natural living, which is celebrated in a build in Second Life. Designed by Iska (Sablina) on behalf of region holder Sominel Edelman (who also worked on the setting), Loktak Lake occupies a Full region, and showcases some of Som’s products in the form of the region surround and an upcoming new product, the Weather Dome.

In this, the surround beautifully encapsulates the region, with off-region elements continuing the theme of phumdi stretching out across the waters of the lake towards the distant hills, with the region itself offering two large islands and smaller phumdi awaiting exploration. A further layer of natural beauty has been added through the use of the Weather Dome and EEP settings which allow for not only a 24-hour day / night cycle, but also changing weather.

During one of my visits, for example, – the one in which the photos here were taken – the setting was in the middle of Manipur’s monsoon season; rain fell, the clouds roiled over heavy, and one felt the need to seek shelter within the huts and cabins.

From the landing point sitting towards the south-west of the region, it is possible to explore on foot. A bridge links two islands one to the other, one end of it forming the actual landing point and the southern end of the smaller, finger-like region. From here is it possible to descend stone steps and make one’s way around some of the phumdi, or follow the track around the larger island. Both offer their own attractions, from bars to houseboats to romantic-leaning retreats where time might be passed – so exploration is more than warranted.

In places, bridges connect to islands a little further afield whilst elsewhere a little wading might be required (I didn’t note any boats available for rowing / boat rezzers, but I may well have missed them). Throughout all of this are many more places to sit and appreciate the sitting and watch the local wildlife (including several SL breeds of deer representing the local sangai) and waterfowl.

With flora carefully chosen to fit with the climate of the region’s physical-world namesake, and with numerous details to be found throughout, Loktak Lake is a beautifully conceived and executed setting ideal for exploration, appreciation and photography.

Thoroughly recommended.

SLurl Details

• Loktak Lake (Landscapes Showcase, rated Moderate)

With November on the horizon and the start of National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo – or NAN-oh-RY-moh) I received an invitation from long-time acquaintance in Second Life, Lizzie Gudkov, to pop over to Milk Wood, the home of Virtual Writers, as they gear-up for their new event for November each year, Moxie Madness.

Virtual Writers is an on-line community of writers, originally founded in 2007. The group is committed to showcasing both experienced and emerging writers in a range of interactive and immersive environments around the globe. Milk Wood provides a focal point for the group’s activities, offering an environment which writers can come together to share in the writing experience, socialise, have fun together and – if they wish – find a virtual home.

We offer a space for all writers at all stages, within a digital medium. This unique place allows the user to more fully develop their characters and settings, meet other likeminded individuals, share experiences, and learn and grow as writers.

We know the challenges writers face because we’ve each had similar roadblocks. Many of us have had expert help along the way and want to pay it forward. We learn from each other and share our expertise gladly. Whether you’re an experienced writer or just starting out, there’s a place for you at Virtual Writers.

– from virtualwriters.org

Occupying a Full private region leveraging the Land Capacity bonus, Milk Wood has been crafted by Harriet Gausman to provide a gorgeous setting in which to stir the creative juices whilst escaping the distractions of the physical world. It is a place Inspired by the BBC-commissioned radio drama Under Milk Wood, by Dylan Thomas, a play itself deeply interwoven with Dylan’s short life, and his passing away in 1953 whilst on a tour of the United States with the play (which he was still revising at the time,  having roots reaching back into the early 1930s and the very start of his writing career whilst still in his late teens.

Within the region is a mix of public and private spaces – the latter being a range of rental cottages, beachfront cabin, houses and the like – stirred together without obvious boundaries in places, which can make exploration a little difficult for the casual visitor. So if you are visiting out of curiosity, then please bear this in mind as regards wandering into someone’s personal space.

That said, the blending of both public and private fits the region well, given its primary intent to bring writers together to allow them to share time and experiences, engage in a shared experience of writing and reading – and as noted, provide a home for those wishing to rent one.

Milkwood Activities and Events

Events within the region include (all times SLT):

500 Word Snatch

• Monday-Sunday, 08:00 at the Forest Coffee Bar.
• Sunday, 12:00 noon at Book Island

The 500 word snatch is a popular way of breaking down a large writing project – such as a novel – into much small, easily-digested bites by scheduling a specific time each day to write 500 words. Nor does the snatch have to be related to a single work; the challenge can be used for many different writing forms, such as outlining ideas, drafting a blog post, writing poetry, producing a short story, and so on.

Poem-a-Day (PAD)

• April, 08:00 daily

To coincide with National Poetry Month. Write a poem every day for the month of April.

Moxie Madness

• November (all 30 days)

The group’s  new challenge in respect of NaNoWriMo: write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. As a part of this Moxie (standing for Month of Xtra Inspiration & Effort) provide a wealth of support for those participating in NaNoWriMo with daily write-ins, resources, and a selection of workshops/seminars from successful authors.

Details of sessions, workshops and events associated with Moxie Madness are available via the Moxie Madness information boards (such as found at the Forest Coffee Bar).

Camp Moxie

• April and July at the Milk Wood Camp Site

A more relaxed version of the November novel writing event. Sessions are held in both April and July, with writing challenges with word-counts of between 5,000 and 25,000 for any type of writing project. The time can also be used to edit your Moxie manuscript from November, plan for coming Moxie Madness or delve into research.

I’ve attended Milk Wood poetry readings, daily dashes, and the intense annual NaNoWriMo event in November. Milk Wood provides a forum for interacting with other writers, both newbies and published professionals, and a place to promote books and literary events. It’s possible to join a writing circle and set your avatar to work at a computer while you type away on a real world project. There’s always someone to offer encouragement, sympathy or advice when you hit a snag or need a break

Poet and author Patricia Averbach (via virtualwriters.org)

It’s fair to say (having sat-in on a 500 Word Snatch – even if this blog post did run to more than that as I was writing it at the time!) events at Milk Wood are well-attended and the folk are friendly and easy-going. Therefore if you are a writer of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or a blogger or diarist, and so on, and haven’t dropped into Milk Wood, I would genuinely recommend doing so.

In terms of exploration, the majority – but not all – of the rentals are located around the region’s coastline, with most of the public spaces – the Forest Coffee Bar, the Boho Bean Coffee Shack, the Fiesta Bar and Dance Floor, the Milk Wood Camp Site, and the Milk Wood Drive-In – located within the western half of the region, and reachable one to the next on foot without fear of colliding with someone’s home; only the Stone Circle, on the north side of the region is very close to any rentals. To ease getting around, there in an in-region teleport system, together with a local Experience to help with hopping around.

Whilst not primarily intended for the purposes of photography, the region is nevertheless beautifully designed and landscapes and offers a relaxing environment with some public spaces in which to sit and pass the time  / think about what to write next in addition to the group’s various events.

SLurl and Information

• Forest Coffee Bar (Milk Wood, rated Moderate)
• Virtual Writers website
• NaNoWriMo website
• National Poetry Month website