Category: Reviews

Noire’leans – click any image for full size

There’s a certain bayou feel to Noire’leans, and the name itself tends to put you in mind of Mississippi, if not Louisiana. Reader Maddie (MadisonRaelynn) suggested I add it to my itinerary of places to visit, and as Maddie has suggested a number of places to me, all of which I’ve enjoyed visiting, I was only to happy to add Noire’leans to the list.

Truth be told, Caitlyn and I actually first dropped into the region back at the end of February. However, I was hesitant to blog about it right away, as it is not intended as a public region per se. Rather, it’s a residential island, one that has been lovingly put together by Kas Torkelsonn (Kasia Kenin) and MadZ Levane (Magdaleine Demonista); so I wanted to ensure they were comfortable with the region being written about.

Noire’leans

As it turned out, the way had been prepared for me. “Maddie did say she was going to mention us to you,” Kasia informed me when I approached her about blogging the region. “We have been  preparing for this day and are totally open to this being a place to  explore. MadZ and I are working on the last remaining  undeveloped area to make it more inviting to guests who want to stroll,  linger, and take photos.”

Given this is a residential region, it should come as no surprise that the landing point is alongside the rental shingle, sitting on a small dock where visitors can rez a pedalo and explore the region via its various waterways. For those who prefer dry land, there are tracks, paths and bridges to guide them around the island.

Noire’leans – click any image for full size

The bayou feel is immediately apparent: the winding waterways crossed by wooden bridges, tall trees growing from mushy, reedy banks, wooden houses sitting back from the water or over it on slits, all presided over by a sky which could be taken to be a late pre-dusk afternoon, filled with the croak of frogs chirp of cicadas and buzz of dragonflies. The only thing indicating you are not in the bayou perhaps being the high peaks of the surrounding mountains.

Properties here are of varying sizes and forms, but all are in keeping with the general theme of the region and stand within their own parcels. “We have installed security in the residences  and made the scan range minimal,” Kasia told me. “So if anyone wants to visit, they  literally have to be on the porch of the house before they get a  warning.” This means that straying onto a property whilst exploring won’t get you told off by a security system, but you will be given a reminder that the houses are private residences should you try to enter.

Noire’leans – click any image for full size

As well as the residential homes, Noire’leans presents a central park area, a small beach, a café where refreshments can be had after wandering (or padding) around the region. With a design that’s immersive and which ensures tenants have a good sense of privacy without feeling cut off from one another, the region is also photogenic and welcoming to visitors.

Thank you, again, Maddie, for dropping me the details of another gem!

SLurl Details

• Noire’leans (Rated: Adult)

NOELIA Island – click any image for full size

NOELIA Island, designed by Ida Carlberg and her partner, Lyshco, is a beautiful Mediterranean themed homestead region, offering visitors the opportunity to “dance, date, romance or cuddle in the romantic spots, take a fun boat ride, relax on the beach, take photos or meditate near the Buddha”.

Divided into three islands, the largest of which hunches high rocky shoulders to the east and south, encompassing land which rolls down to a low-lying coast to face two smaller islands on the north side of the region. One of these thrusts a rugged head up from its covering of sand and grass, while the other offers a low-lying atoll-like beach reached via a board walk spanning the water.

NOELIA Island

The largest island, which also encompasses the landing point, features a Tuscany style villa sitting up on a high plateau. Sheltered by sun beached rocks, and reached by a winding stair of stone steps, the villa oversees a terraced vineyard to one side, overlooking one of the two smaller islands and served by an aged stone stairway. The walls supporting the steps of the vineyard appear to be similarly aged, alike the steps, suggesting that perhaps they were once part of a much older structure hugging the slope.

Below the villa, snuggled back against the lowest level of rock, and sitting between it and the channel separating the island from its companions, is the terrace arrival point, offering a shaded place for visitors to sit. From here, dusty, sun-dried tracks lead the way around the island, a nearby sign pointing the way to various points of interest, such as the beaches across the water, a little walled garden close by, the main climb to the villa, and more.

NOELIA Island

There is a lot to explore on the main island, including a footpath and wooden walkway which takes visitors around the south and east sides of the island, hugging the backs of the rocky peaks to a narrow beach in the south-east corner of the region. While for those that follow the path around below the vineyards from the landing point, there’s a cave system waiting to be explored and a high hanging bridge spanning the water to the more rocky of the smaller islands.

This second island is a place of meditation, on which can be found the figure of Buddha mentioned in the region’s description, just down from the cliff top retreat which sits alongside the bridge. Wisdom is on offer here as well, from a standing stone close to Buddha, as is a meditative music stream for those who wish to listen.

The remaining island with the low beach, is a place of entertainment, again with its own music stream. A stage here is set out for music and dancing, while and tiki hut is one of several places where people can sit and relax.

NOELIA Island

With boats also available for getting across the water, a fabulous ambient sound scape and plenty of opportunities for sitting and cuddling,  NOELIA Island makes for a very relaxing visit, offering a charming environment which has been beautifully put together by Ida and Lyshco. It’s also highly photogenic and begging to be filmed – and I hope to return in the near future to record a short machinima, subject to permission being given.

Should you enjoy your visit as much as I did mine, please consider making a donation towards the upkeep of the region at the landing point.

SLurl Dand Website Links

• NOELIA Island (Rated: Moderate)
• NOELIA website