Category: Reviews

Furillen (Flickr) – click any image for full size

Furillen, Serene Footman’s homestead region has been on my radar for a while, having been labelled as “under construction” the first time I dropped in during November. This past weekend offered an opportunity to make a revisit to see how things are progressing, so Caitlyn and I headed over to look around.

The region is named for – and modelled after – a small island off the north-east coast of Sweden’s largest island, Gotland. During the 20th century, Furillen was a centre for limestone quarrying, but in 1970 it was taken over by the Swedish military to become the location for two air defence radar installations, the quarries being abandoned as a result. With the military presence now largely gone from the island, it has, since 2000, it has been the location for a minimalist hotel and conference centre owned by photographer and entrepreneur Jonas Hellström.

Furillen (Flickr)

Serene Footman takes these elements from the original Furillen and brings them in-world to present, in keeping with  Hellström’s approach to his hotel, a minimalist design shrouded in the bleak skies and heavy snows of midwinter, which is quite starling and captivating in its desolate beauty.

Explore the island and you find not only the squat, angular lines of the hotel, but also other landmarks from the original, including the remnants of the old limestone quarries, complete with rusting heavy equipment, traces of the former military presence, and some other quite unexpected sights.

Furillen (Flickr)

There is also a touch of the surreal to the design as well, something I particularly felt on seeing the door marked “Exit” in the south-east corner of the region, separated from the island by a stretch of cold water, and apparently beyond reach. This, with the presence of the Peatonville Asylum’s Queen of Denial put me in mind of the final lines of The Eagles’ Hotel California. Whether this is intended or not, I’ve no idea; although to me the echo of the lines didn’t seem to be entirely out-of-place.

Which is not to say Furillen is in any way sinister; far from it. As I’ve already noted, there is something remarkable in its desolate look. It is hard not to be drawn in to the rugged beauty of the landscape and the functional, stark lines of the buildings here. It’s an attraction that is very hard to leave behind, as I’ve discovered for myself, having bounced back a number of times throughout the weekend and since.

Furillen (Flickr)

Serene Footman plans to keep Furillen going for as long as there is an interest in visiting the region, and has indicated he’ll be adding to it and changing things as the mood takes. So, if you do visit and find yourself as captivated as I, do please consider leaving a donation at one of the tip jars to help towards running costs. And to fully experience the region, do take time to listen to the accompanying music stream, which adds further depth to the region as one explores.

SLurl Details

• Furillen (Rated: Moderate)

Frisland (Flickr) – click any image for full size

It’s been a while – a year in fact – since my last visit to Frisland, the region Charlie Namiboo, Anna Barzane and Frislanda “Fris” Ferraris created while imagining what the mystical land for which it is named might look like, if it were to actually exist. however, a note from the team announcing the region has once again put on its winter coat for the end of the year prompted me to suggest to Caitlyn we jump across and take a look.

The region takes its name from the “phantom island” which started to appear on maps as a place in the North Atlantic from around the 1550s onwards, and continued to do so for at least the next 100 years, although its position was prone to movement. Some maps would place it south-west of Iceland, others closer to the Faroes off the coast of Britain, while still others depicted as a part of a chain of islands extending from the Labrador coast almost as far as Scotland. It even appeared on maps produced in the 18th century, when it was thought to be the southern part of Greenland, separated from the rest by an ocean strait.

Frisland (Flickr)

Given the island’s imagined location, it is only right that winter should come to Frisland in second Life and bring with it a full blanket of snow and coats of wind-blown frost on the trees. The tracks around the island are still visible, even with the ruts filled with snow, and the local animals appear to be accepting the turn of the weather with equanimity, while the locals appear to have retreated indoors.

As this was Caitlyn’s first trip to Frisland, we wandered along the paths – gracefully ignoring the sleds sitting waiting for use; neither of us was particular sure our driving skills would be suited to careering down a hill and possibly into innocent bystanders! – and found our way past the horses and up onto the higher grounds before making our way down to a riverside fireplace for a warming snuggle and chat.

Frisland (Flickr)

While the passing of the year is marked on Frisland, the overall layout of the island remains constant. As such, there is an obvious familiarity the returned visitor feels on arrival; one that carried with it the warm assurance that this is a place we know and where we can feel at home. At the same time, Frisland offers those new to it with plenty to see and enjoy.

For my part, I found that a year away was really to long a period of time, while Caitlyn said she found Frisland to be a warm place, despite the snow on the ground and overcast skies! so i think it safe to say Frisland is firmly back on the roster for regular outings for us!

Frisland (Flickr)

SLurl Details

• Frisland (Rated: Moderate)

Everlong (Flickr) – click any image for full size

ARNICAR India creates beautiful water-themed regions which can mix the natural and the surreal in a perfect blend to produce a lasting memory of a place that’s easy on the eye, heart and mind and where the soul can find peace. Her latest creation, Everlong, is no exception in this.

The landing point features a small stage, the backdrop to which extols visitors to Celebrate (the moments of your) Life, as a little troupe of rabbits perform ballet on bleachers close by, and a piano and cello await their players.

Everlong (Flickr)

As the sun sets to the west, it falls across a series of small vignettes lying across the ankle-deep water, awaiting exploration. The central, and largest of these features a ruined house with bric-a-brac and mementos within, a huge gnarled tree standing over it and seating amidst the wet grass outside.

Follow the stepping stones through the garden wall and a little yard awaits, Christmas trees partially decorated. Here is another little sitting area, the chairs arranged on an unflooded stone floor, while a watery avenue leads onward between silver birches, to where Bryn Oh’s Milkdrop sits, and a little further beyond her, a boat suspended beneath balloons awaits.
Everlong (Flickr)

Balloons are something of a theme here; head west and a little north from the ruined house and you’ll find a snowy set of islets amidst more silver birch, connected by a wooden bridge suspended under three hot air balloons, while a little balloon cart sits nearby.

Despite the minimal approach, there is a lot to see within Everlong, and not all of it on the ground – keep an eye out for the ladder to discover another winter’s scene, where you’ll find more to see and places to sit on your own or in the company of another. And don’t miss a ride on the horses or the photo booth behind the house ruins, which offers amusement of its own.

Everlong (Flickr)

As with ARNICAR’s Imagination, which I wrote about here and here, Everlong presents a water focused peaceful setting, beautiful minimal in approach, yet offering a lot to captivate the eye and camera. Not a placed to be missed by the keen Second life explorer.

SLurl Details

• Everlong (Rated: Moderate)