Tag: Calas Galadhon

The mystery of Calas Galadhon’s MAZE in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

Calas Galadhon MAZE; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrCalas Galadhon MAZE – click any image for full size

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 saw the public opening of the 2018 Calas Galadhon Halloween tour, and once again it is a stunning setting – possibly the best that Tymus Tenk and Truck Meredith and their Calas team have created.

Covering two regions, the Calas Galadhon MAZE is a stunning setting designed to lead visitors on a journey of exploration.

Calas Galadhon MAZE; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrCalas Galadhon MAZE

Decades ago a group of explorers woke to find themselves in the middle of a large seemingly impenetrable Maze … They set-up a base camp with supplies that had been left for them. In time, a group set out to explore what lay beyond and [find] a way out.

They never returned.

The remaining few, when supplies ran out and with no way to gather more, eventually perished. 

– Introduction to Calas Galadon MAZE

Calas Galadhon MAZE; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrCalas Galadhon MAZE

Visitors arrive at the setting in an underground location, where they’ll find the introduction and a few helpful hints. Visits are best enjoyed using the region windlight setting, which is suitably dark, and the adventure begins at ground level. This is reached via an elevator or stairways. From here it is a short walk to the base camp – by way of a station where survival backpacks, torches  and helmets can be obtained for those wanting to get fully into the spirit of exploration and discovery.

I don’t what to go into specifics of the maze itself, that would be to spoil explorations. However, I will say that things are laid out in such a way as to keep visitors engaged for a considerable amount of time – and rightly so. As the notes in the regions indicate, a good place to start is to take the boat ride from close to the base camp.

Calas Galadhon MAZE; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrCalas Galadhon MAZE

This will take you on a journey around the ground-level areas of the regions and present you with the opportunity to see some of the places you’ll be exploring on foot  – and some places you otherwise might not see.

The boat tour follows waterways running through both regions before running explorers to the base camp and the opportunity to start their explorations on foot. A footbridge offer the way to the first part of the maze – which is literally that, a maze running through towering walls and with hidden surprises. It’s not difficult to get through, but it does provide access to the rest of the mysteries that might be found.

Calas Galadhon MAZE; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrCalas Galadhon MAZE

And that’s as far as I’m going to comment on the regions – other than to say that things don’t just exist on the ground. In keeping with past Calas Galadon seasonal designs, there are also places to be explored in the sky as well – and I will say that I found these particularly enjoyable and put together the care and eye for details that made Ty and Truck’s designs engaging and fun to explore.

Calas Galadhon MAZE will remain open throughout October in order to allow people to enjoy the Halloween season at their leisure. There is a lot to see and enjoy, so when planning a visit make sure you allow plenty of time to explore and appreciate – and keep an eye on the Calas blog for details of special events that may be taking place within the regions while they are open.

Calas Galadhon MAZE; Inara Pey, October 2018, on FlickrCalas Galadhon MAZE

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A little (Bento) horse riding at Calas Galadhon in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Out on the Calas horse trails, Caitlyn leading the way

I’m not a horse owner, but riding is something I’ve had the good fortunate to enjoy from time to time, and on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s also something I’ve occasionally enjoyed in Second Life, although I’m now long past the point, land-wise, where keeping a horse in-world makes a lot of sense. So, in the latter regard, my riding enjoyment is restricted to taking the opportunity in those regions where riding options are offered.

One such location is Calas Galadhon Park, which offers for Teegle and Breeder’s Choice horses and, since March of 2017, the Water Horse Bento horse. Although Ty Tenk of Calas dropped me a line about the Bento horses when they were added, we weren’t in a position to try things then, and to be honest, it just slipped my mind). However, the news that there’s a new Coast Trail for horse riding through the Calas regions gave Caitlyn and I just the excuse to hop over and try things out.

The Water Horse Bento horse makes for a very natural feeling ride, while the Coast Trail at Calas still takes you through the redwood forest

The new Coast Trail forms a circular route around several of the Calas regions. It nominally starts at the bridge linking Dimirill Dale to Calas Galadhon, then runs around the lake at Calas Galadhon and up through the redwood forest of Mirromere, before curving around the cliffs of the Misty Mountains and dropping down into the islands of Long Lake. From there it arcs down through Belegear, touches the Grey Havens, and so returns to Dimrill Dale. Along the way, it offers some stunning views over the Calas park lands and waters.

As we were commencing our ride further south, at the Bento horse giver in Glanduin, (another horse giver can be found at Mirromere), Caitlyn and I opted to start our ride from there – and do things “backwards”, looping up through Dimrill Dale to Belegear, and then swinging through Long Lake and down through the Misty Mountains and Mirromere, to reach Calas Galadhon.

The Coast Ride takes you through the wilds of Calas Galadhon Park, and past some of its picturesque landmarks, such as the Greek Village, a reminder of “old Armenelos”

The Water Horse giver is easy to use, with the instructions clearly visible on the sign. Follow them, and you really can’t go wrong. The supplied horse is provided as a temp attachment (so nothing in your inventory), and is a demo version with about an hour’s duration, after which it will be removed / deleted. As it is a demo version, I can’t offer a comprehensive review  of it here; but what I can say is that as a Bento extension to the avatar skeleton, the horse handles very naturally (just remember to turn off your AO!), and you do get the four motion speeds – walk, trot, canter and gallop. Given the lay of the land at Calas, there are plenty of opportunities to try all of them.

Being a demo with an hour’s duration, the horse provided by the giver isn’t as fully featured as the actual Water Horse Bento horses, so I can’t offer a review here. What I can say, however, is that it is more than enough to give you a basic feel for riding the horse, and to demonstrate just how well the horse works as an extension to your avatar. You do get the four speed options – walk, trot, canter and gallop, and the Calas trails provide plenty of places where each can be tired.

Trotting across a bridge

The trails through Calas are a joy to ride – whichever horse system you have / use – and are fairly clearly signposted throughout. As the newest, the  Coast Trail is beautifully picturesque, particularly if you tackle it clockwise, as we did. To do this, follow the track up from the horse giver and through the farm and across the covered bridge. Then follow the trail under the rock arch, and then bear left before the next bridge, following the water’s edge westwards towards the Grey Heavens, and over the marshes to Belegear’s slender peninsula.

Going around the trail this way really opens out the park’s fabulous beauty from the start, leaving the lakeside buildings of Calas Galadhon itself until last, where a well-deserved drink can be had. The hour-long duration of the demo Water Horse means there is plenty of time to take the trail without having to unduly hurry.

Resting in the saddle near the cliffs of the Misty Mountains

I’ve always enjoyed Calas Galadhon, whether on horseback or foot, and the new Coast Trail is a delight, bringing home the natural beauty of the parklands, whether riding a Bento horse or any other horse type available from the rezzers in the regions (and if you’re a member of the Calas group, yo can always hop along and ride your own, if you haven’t already).

My only regret with our little foray is that as my video software still isn’t playing nice with the viewer at times, leaving me unable to record our meanderings. Fortunately, Ty made this point moot, having produced his own video highlighting both the Water Horse Bento horse and the riding trails of Calas. So I’ll leave you with that instead 🙂 .

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All Calas Galadhon regions are rated Moderate.

Visiting spooky Neverland in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Neverland - Calas Galadhon Halloween
Neverland – Calas Galadhon Halloween

Once again we are entering the twilight months of the year when the celebrations start to stack up: Halloween, Thanksgiving for Canada and America, Christmas and then the New Year. With so much going on, and themed regions popping up across Second Life, a real highlight of this time of year is a visit to the Calas Galadhon themed builds.

Every October and December, Ty Tenk and Truck Meredith bring us fabulous themed builds under the Calas Galadhon name, which allow Second Life users to fully enjoy both Halloween scares and Christmas good cheer. And this year, we have something very special: not one, but two regions offering a spook-tacular visit for Halloween.

Neverland - Calas Galadhon Halloween
Neverland – Calas Galadhon Halloween

Neverland takes its name from J. M. Barrie‘s Peter Pan and gives it a decidedly dark twist. Yes, there are pirates, Lost Boys, fairies and mermaids, but so too are there spiders, alien-esque jungles, imps, and creepy caves, all wrapped up in a journey of discovery. Spread across the full and Homestead sims of Esgaroth and Erebor – the names continuing the Tolkien tradition of naming Calas regions – Neverland is a place to be experienced, not written about; but you will need time to do so, as there is a lot to discover – more than might first appear to be the case – and an expansive tour aboard an elven boat to enjoy.

As is common with Ty and Truck’s builds, the landing point offers plenty of advice to get you started, and the information boards should be read. You can pick up a torch here as well, which may prove useful in your explorations, and the boat tour is sited alongside the boards. Whether you take the tour first or come back later is up to you – but I do recommend you do take it at some point during a visit, as it will reveal sights and places you might otherwise miss.

Neverland - Calas Galadhon Halloween
Neverland – Calas Galadhon Halloween

Travelling on foot takes you through the Pirate Cavern – complete with the steady tick-tick-ticking of a clock, the shadowy form of an enormous crocodile close by – and then through a dimly-lit tunnel where creepy-crawlies lurk, before pointing the way towards the jungle. Your goal here is to find the Portal, the gateway to the Calas Galadhon Halloween events pavilion (where a whole range of entertainment will be taking place throughout October). Signposts will help you along the way, be sure not to miss the other locations the signs direct you towards, be they up winding paths or ladders, over bridges or across fields of rustling grass. And don’t miss the tunnels under the Lost Boy’s camp (and the Lost Boys themselves aren’t quite what you might expect!

There are numerous places throughout Neverland where you can simply sit and catch your breath: camp fires can be found on the edges of gorges, nestled under rocky overhangs or close to the mouths of shallow caves, benches and seats at the sides of pools or under faery canopies. Ty and Truck’s impish humour is also awaiting discovery, while the Mermaid Grotto and the alien gardens surrounding it offer a burst of colour and light in the midst of the darkness and mist.

Neverland - Calas Galadhon Halloween
Neverland – Calas Galadhon Halloween

While instructions on how best to enjoy the build are available at the landing point, I will re-state some of them, and add one or two of my own. If you take the “journey cloths”, with their Cthulhu-like images, keep in mind you may well hop past places to visit – and when taking the boat tour, keep an eye our for clues to places that might otherwise escape a visit on foot later. Do make sure you have local sounds enabled with exploring (there’s also a carefully selected audio stream), and keep an eye out for ladders and bridges and stairs; not all of them may at first be obvious, and some lead to interesting little spots, such as up in the temple ruins.

If you run the viewer with shadows enabled, you may want to flick them off when exploring, otherwise the performance hit can be pretty heavy. The lighting in the region is such that disabling them won’t spoil the visual ambience (just keep Advanced Lighting Model enabled), and should you need shadows for photography, you can always flick them on and then set them back to None when done.

Neverland - Calas Galadhon Halloween
Neverland – Calas Galadhon Halloween

All told, Neverland is another marvellous gift to Second Life residents from Ty and Truck, one in which it a possible to spend an enjoyable hour or two exploring and discovering the various routes around and through the regions. It is very much a destination one which should be on the list of places to visit for anyone who enjoys Halloween – and do please consider a donation towards both the regions and Calas Galadhon as a whole when you drop in.

News on events at Neverland can be found on the Calas Galadhon Park blog, and the regions will be open through until the end of October, after which they will be closed to be made-over for the Calas Christmas theme.

Neverland - Calas Galadhon Halloween
Neverland – Calas Galadhon Halloween

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Earth Day and Lindens at Calas Galadhon, April 22

Posted on by Inara Pey

Calas Galadhon; Inara Pey, Feb 2016, on Flickr Calas Galadhon – click any image for full size

Update April 20th: Xiola has now blogged on this get-together.

Friday April 22nd marks Earth Day, when events are held all over the world in support of  environmental protection.

First held in 1970, Earth Day is now  marked in 193 countries around the world, and coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network. This year, Earth Day will also be marked by the formal signing of the Paris Agreement on climate change, negotiated earlier in the year, is due to be signed by 120 nations.Earth-Day

I’ve had my little birds flitting around Second Life, and I’ve heard from one of them that to mark Earth Day in-world, the Lab is planning another Meet the Lindens event for Friday, April 22nd.

The get-together will take place, I understand from around 10:00 through until noon SLT at the marvellous Calas Galadhon Park.

For those who haven’t visited Calas Galadhon, it is a stunning vision of the outdoors, covering 10 regions, and as such is the ideal location in which to get together with staff from the Lab (and perhaps a few Moles). I understand – although this is subject to confirmation – the main Calas landing point will be used for the meet-up.

There hasn’t been an official blog post on the meet-up as yet, but I understand that Xiola will be producing one in the near future – so keep an eye on the official blog for the latest on the meet-up. I’ll be updating this article once Xiola has posted 🙂 .

Calas Galadhon; Inara Pey, Feb 2016, on Flickr Calas Galadhon

Travel to OZ and celebrate Oz in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
OZ Nightclub
OZ Nightclub, Armenelos, Calas Galadhon

OZ Night Club, floating in the sky over Calas Galadhon park,  is one of the most popular romantic music venues in SL. Music in the high art deco-styled night club is from the late 20s, 30s, early 40s with more recent jazz, pop and occasional country to round things off nicely.

Now into is fourth year, OZ has just had something of a revamp, and to celebrate the new look Ty Tenk, Truck Meredith, Kerena, Alicia and Romie are throwing open the doors for a special Wizard of Oz celebration night on Friday, March 4th from 19:00 SLT!

Featuring the music of HammerFLA Magic, the Wizard of Oz Ball invites one and all to come in costume, and the Calas team can’t wait to see everyone. Not only is there music and dancing, there’s also opportunities for photos on the yellow brick road!. Simply step out on the terrace and find your way to the platform with a great OZ backdrop and poses for couples, singles, and groups!

OZ Nightclub
OZ Nightclub, Armenelos, Calas Galadhon

So – don your ruby slippers and click on the SLurl below.

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Calas Galadhon re-opens in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

Calas Galadhon; Inara Pey, February 2016, on Flickr Calas Galadhon – Gulf of Lune (click any image for full size)

Monday, February 1st marks the official re-opening of Calas Galadhon Park after the New Year’s break the park’s owners, Ty Tenk and Truck Meredith, traditionally take following what is a hectic three months for them between October and December each year. Although truth be told,  “break” is perhaps not the right word, because while the parkland may well be closed, Ty and Truck, together with Rmoie and Kerena, are rarely putting their feet up – they’re generally hard at work making changes and tweaks, and generally preparing for the new season.

For those unfamiliar with Calas Galadhon, it is one of the largest, longest-running privately held parks in Second Life, open to everyone to enjoy and offering a marvellous range of attractions and events throughout the year. The park is completely non-residential, and supported entirely by donations and out of Ty and Truck’s own pockets. And it is, in a word, beautiful.- and you can find out more through the park’s website.

Calas Galadhon; Inara Pey, February 2016, on Flickr Calas Galadhon – new landscaping at the Main St. garden

Running an endeavour as big as Calas isn’t easy, and over the years there have been changes; some have been brought about by the economic climate, others for personal reasons.

The latter has played a part in Calas Galadhon’s new look for 2016, as Ty recently explained in a blog post. In sort, two of the southern regions of the park, Eryn Vorn and South Farthing have been “retired”, reducing the park to 10 regions. Glanduin had also been selected for retirement, but in the end, neither Ty nor Truck could bear to see it go, and so its pastoral setting has remained.

Calas Galadhon; Inara Pey, February 2016, on Flickr Calas Galadhon – the view along the revised coastline from Dimrill Dale towards Glanduin

This loss of Eryn Vorn and South Farthing means the southern coastline of Calas Galadhon has changed, and I confess I’ll miss winter walks through the deep snows of both, looking out over the narrow channel of water to the tall mountains of the region surrounds. but, in contrast, the broad bay which now replaces the two regions offers its own beauty and opportunities for photographs.

Other changes in the park, I understand, include some changes to Dimrill Dale, new landscaping for the Main St garden next to the Victorian Pavilion, a new Gallery Wine Bar and an updated balloon tour system. And of course, the favourites remain: horse riding, boating, kayaking, hiking, climbing, and discovering all the secrets of Calas Galadhon, spread right across the parklands.

Calas Galadhon; Inara Pey, February 2016, on Flickr Calas Galadhon – the pavilion

Music and live events will also be taking place throughout 2016 at both OZ Nightclub and the Dolphin Café. In fact, music it will very much be a part of the re-opening week, with Reggie Sunset performing at The Dolphin Café from 19:00 SLT on Monday, February 1st, and OZ Nightclub hosting HammerFLA Magic on Friday, February 5th, 2016 from 19:00 SLT, and Samm Qendra on Sunday, February 7th, 2016, again from 19:00 SLT.

Calas Galadhon; Inara Pey, March 2015, on Flickr Calas Galadhon  – Armenelos

I’ve always loved Calas Galadhon. Ty, Truck Romie and Kerena between them produce a marvellous environment we can all enjoy. What makes it especially enjoyable for me this year is that I’ll be able to share the pleasure in discovering Calas for the first time all over again, as it is somewhere Caitlyn has yet to see in all its glory.

So, once again, thank you, Ty and Truck for your generosity in giving us so much to enjoy.

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