Tag: Exploring Second Life 2018

Bay of Dreams – click any image for full size

Bay of Dreams is the Full region home of Valor Poses Mainstore and Photo Sim, operated by Keegan Kavenagh (AlexCassidy1), and designed on his behalf by inertia (Caridee Sparta) of Neverfar fame. This latter point alone should have anyone seasoned SL travellers adding Bay of Dreams to their list of places to visit, whether or not they are on the look-out for poses; as with Neverfar (about which you can read more here), the region is an eye-catching and involved design.

No landing point is set within the region, but a good place to start explorations is in the courtyard before the main store, tucked into the south-east corner. A large church style gate stands guard over the store area, separating it from the rest of the region, large gates ready to be opened or closed as required. A teleport board sits just beyond this, offering a choice of 10 destinations for those keen to start seeing the sights. These destinations include both the ground-level store and its skyborne Adult annex – a minor niggle here being there wasn’t (at the time of our visit at least) a TP point to easily get back to ground level from the latter. Also, as the board only delivers you to a location, we’d suggest it is actully better just to use shanks’ pony from the get-go, and explore on foot.

Bay of Dreams

Veer left from the teleport board, and the route takes you through the ruins of a stone-built structure shouldered on either side by blocks of unhewn rock. Two arches stand at the end of the ruins, one offering a path down to a beach watched over by great trees with trunks bent with age to where a board walk cross shallow water to a smaller island. The other arch offers a path to where two old houses stand  above the beach, each reached by its own steps cut into the living rock. Both appear abandoned, and a rough, grassy path arcs between them, passing round a little copse of trees standing between them.

The larger of these two houses sits with its back to a deep gorge cutting south-to-north through the land, a sandbar at its southern extreme preventing the sea from completely splitting the region. A wreck of an old plane lies on the sandbar, and a path from the smaller of the two abandoned houses offers a route over the rocks above the edge of the gorge to where a set of steps drop down to the beach and ‘plane wreck. Alternatively, a wooden bridge spans the gorge from behind the larger of the two houses, linking it with the broad, stepped plateau on the far side. Here, past the windmill and tree house, up the wooden steps and with a little scrambling over rocks, you might find yourself at the front door of the largest house on the island, looking imperiously down at the rest of the scene.

Bay of Dreams

A second bridge, wide and gated two-thirds of the way along its length, spans another watery charm splitting the land. It offers the way to a grassy shoulder of rock where visitors can either opt to go by way of log bridges down to a secluded beach and beach house, or use a switch back path cut into the rock to descend to where the wrecked aeroplane awaits.

The smaller island to the north-west and mentioned earlier, appears to have once been a centre of commerce. A lighthouse and a huge warehouse rise from the rocky base of the island, vying with one another to be the tallest. Old wharves extend out into the waters from their feet, and two old trawlers are moored in the shallows. But whatever went on here has long since ceased: the buildings are decaying slowly, the wharves falling apart, the waters beneath them fast becoming choked and overgrown with grass and weeds, while falling trunks of great fir trees now pin the old boats under their weight.

Bay of Dreams

Whether the trees fell due to age, or were cut down might be a matter for debate. However, there is plenty of evidence for them having been brought low by storm and wind to be found elsewhere, while the heavily bent trunks of other trees suggests this is a place subject to extremes in wind, further suggesting it is the elements which are responsible for the damage.

With its rugged outlook, scattering of houses, store and old fishing centre, Bay of Dreams is a visual treat. For those who would like to tarry a while, there are numerous places to sit – indoors and out – to be found, and for photographers, rezzing rights can be enjoyed on joining the local group, although you might want to twiddle with Windlights.  Our thanks to Shakespeare and Max for pointing it out to us!

SLurl Details

• Valor Poses Mainstore and Photo Sim (Bay of Dreams, rated: Adult)

Cuivieenen – click any image for full size

Cuivieenen is the name given to a fabulously rural Homestead region designed and presented to Second Life users by Personal Jesus (Alexynophus). We were pointed towards it by Shakespeare and Max (TY, again!), and recently spent a pleasant evening wandering along its roads and paths, discovering its little nooks and crannies and spending time sitting and enjoying the scenery.

The landing point sits just off the region’s centre, just outside an old stone chapel. Where you go from here is – at first glance – a matter of following the unsurfaced roads running through the region, north-to-south, and winding westwards. By just keeping to these roads offers visitors a lot to see: the chapel surrounded by a small farm: cattle, chickens and sheep roam immediately outside of its walls, the wrought iron fence that might once have set it apart from their wanderings having long since have fallen or been removed over the years. And old barn sits behind it, while the role of pastor appears to been given over to a scarecrow, watching over his flock.

Cuivieenen

Turf-roofed cottages sit facing the chapel on two sides from across the roads, dry-stone walls guard the roads, while to the west what might be an old quarry awaits discovery. With each of the cottages being furnished, the exceptional care taken with the landscaping elements, this alone means Cuivieenen offers a lot to see – but keeping to the roads and just hopping into the cottages will reveal everything. For example, walk eastwards past two of the cottages to where the land drops rocky shoulders to the waters below, and you’ll find a path descending to a wooden board walk, which in turn offers a way to a small island  topped by a folly with a special welcome waiting inside.

Make your way around the coastline, and you’ll find other places to explore – the cinder beach to the north, the shallow and deep inlets to the south-east and the south, each of which offers a further eclectic feel to the region, be it through the Norse long-boat, or the Gothic alcove and ancient standing stones (with their retinue of cormorants).

Cuivieenen

Between these, up among the rocks are little places for couples to enjoy: a blanket and pillows spread under a tree, and old cart also with blankets spread in its bed; the ruin of an old boat converted into a shaded rest point on a cinder beach, the canoe floating on the waters of the quarry, or the motorboat moored at the foot of a set of iron stairs descending the northern cliffs. More cosy spots for sitting / cuddling can be found inside the region’s old barn, the ruins of a lighthouse and in the cottages – all of which adds a certain intimacy to any shared visit.

A nice touch with Cuivieenen is the way in which it has been blended with part of a sim surround. This very much gives the impression the region is something like a headland, that beyond the mountain behind it lies more land awaiting discovery. When you bring all of this together – the use of the sim surround, the overall care shown in the region’s design and the attention to detail evident in everything, large and small – Cuivieenen emerges as a place with a huge amount of depth. Although – and I say this cheekily and not as a critique – I had to agree with Caitlyn when she noted the landscape naturally leant itself to a cave or two for explorers to find.

Cuivieenen

One of the things I do when visiting a region is try to imagine where in the physical world it might be. In the case of Cuivieenen, I could not help but be put in mind of Iceland: the rugged landscape, cinder / lava like soil, sparse tree coverage – even the turf-roofed cottages – all put me in mind of various parts of Iceland I’ve been fortunate enough to visit, most notably the Myvatn region.

But howsoever you regard Cuivieenen in relation to physical world locations, its own beauty and design mean it not a place to be missed when region hopping across Second Life.

Cuivieenen

SLurl Details

• Cuivieenen (Hermosa Beach, rated: Adult)

With the 2018 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXIII Olympic Winter Games running from February 8th through until February 25th, 2018 at Pyeongchang County, South Korea, a tweet from fellow SL traveller and writer, Erik Mondrian reminded me that Second Life also has its own winter sports venue in the form of six regions centred on Chamonix City on the Full region of Cross Check. It’s a place I last visited back in 2014, so the current games  and Erik’s tweet put me in the mind to hop back and have another look, and see what may have changed.

Chamonix City  – a reference to the location of the first Winter Olympics Games, held in 1924 – encompasses two of the six regions of this winter sports venue – Cross Check and Neutral Zone. They are bracketed by Breakaway to the west and Off Sides to the east, with Empty Net and Blueliner to the north and south respectively. Within these regions, the facilities on offer are extensive, and can be found both on the ground and up in the air. The city itself is dominated by two huge ice hockey arenas – the Brooks Arena on Blueliner, and the impressive Cleary arena, which straddles the northern part of Cross Check and most of Empty Net. Home to the Chamonix Pandas, Cleary arena also offers 10-pin bowling on the lobby area and one of a number of teleport stations which can be used to hop around the facilities scattered across the six regions.  This includes a direct TP to Brooks Area – although the walk across town is pleasant enough, or there is a subway option, with stations just outside of both arenas.

Directly behind Brooks Arena is the main curling hall, with four ends available for players. To be honest, some instructions would not go amiss – for example: is actually possible to sweep, and if so, how? However, game play is pretty much as per the physical world game – trying to slide your team’s stones as close as possible to the centre of the house, whilst also seeking to block / eliminate your opposition’s stones. When playing, make sure you wear at least one of the coloured brooms from the free pack available at the top house of each end – order of play is based on who is wearing the broom matching the colour (red or yellow) of the first stone to appear before the hacks (chocks). Clicking on the hacks will position the player and place them in Mouselook, then it is a case of taking aim (use the crosshairs HUD if required), then press and hold the left mouse button to deliver the stone – the longer you hold the button, the more momentum is delivered to the stone, and players should be wary of delivering too much momentum and carrying their stones out-of-bounds.

A faster pace of event can be found in the sky over Breakaway, where the speed skating arena resides.   Slip into a suitably aerodynamic suit, don your skates and then click on one of the speed skating rezzers located around the rink to get started. For those who prefer, there’s an indoor speed skating rink right next door to the outdoor arena. This is smaller and tighter, and requires a certain amount of skill to get around.

Breakaway is also the home of the ski jump and alpine ski run for those who love sports skiing. Comprehensive instructions are given for the ski jump, and skis are available from the rezzer at the back of the jump’ s start. Sadly, the alpine ski rezzer appeared to be out of commission during our visit, so reacquainting myself with that run wasn’t possible.

Offsides, meanwhile, is the home of the snowboarding and bob-sleigh runs. However, at the time of our visit, while the rezzers (boots and board) worked OK for the former, the rezzer for the bob-sleigh also appeared to be out-of-action.

At the time of my 2014 visit, there was a practice area in the sky over Neutral Zone, which included a figure skating rink. Since then, things have changed and this sky area is now the home of a go karting track, speedway circle and a Warbugs flying area, offering a set of alternatives to the winter fun across the rest of the regions. I’m not sure if this means the practice area and figure skating rink have been relocated – but I did have (an admittedly fast) hop around and attempt to find them, with no joy – and none of the teleport boards I found and tired led me to them.

A collaborative build, led I believe, by Kacey Rossini, Chamonix City provides a venue rich in winter scenery containing a lot of sports activities which can be enjoyed as a pert of a shared visit, with options as well for exploring the little town centre, having fun flying Warbugs or simply riding the cable cars.

SLurl Details

• Chamonix City (Cross Check, rated: General, as are all six regions)

Soul2Soul River – click any image for full size

In January, MiaRiche Resident dropped me a line inviting Caitlyn and I to visit Soul2Soul River, a public / private homestead region designed and operated by Minnie Blanco (Minnie Atlass). It’s actually one of two Homestead regions Minnie has landscaped and offers for both public visits and private rentals, the other being Soul2Soul Bay.  Both are inspired by part of Minnie’s native England – and as such, have a particular attraction for Caitlyn and I.

Minnie describes Soul2Soul River as a reflection of the Thames River – although those unfamiliar with the full length of Old Father Thames may not recognise this at first glance, the Thames being popularly associated with London more than anywhere else. However, as the longest river rising and flowing entirely through England, it has many faces, its youngest being in Cotswolds district of Gloucestershire where the Thames rises – and it is this which forms the inspiration for Soul2Soul River.

Soul2Soul River

Given that Second Life regions are relatively small, representing a decent stretch of a river running through them isn’t easy without introducing a lot of twists and turns – and potentially reducing the width of the river itself, making it less of a focus. Minnie has sought to avoid this by dividing the region into four parts split by water. This way, when exploring, one can get the feeling of looking and walking along three stretches of a single river.

A visit starts at a small village landing point which might be referred to as “classically Cotswold”. Thatched cottages sit alongside a countryside pub, overlooking a stretch of river guarded by willows and bordered by reeds and flowers. A bridge spans the water to where a footpath runs around the south side of the land, offering a riverbank walk which loops back to a path cutting over the hill to the far side, and another bridge linking to the western side of the region – which is home to one of the rental properties, so please keep privacy in mind if you cross the bridge.

Soul2Soul River

A second path runs along the riverbank on the far side of the river to the village, offering views back towards the bridge and pub. It’s open to the public, but be aware that again it does run around to rental properties. Further retails are scattered along river banks, all positioned so that they can enjoy a degree of privacy from one another, and with enough room between them to offer space to explore.

Soul2Soul Bay takes its inspiration from the Cornish coastline, offering a little beach bay and a village – which again forms the landing point, complete with old chapel on the hill. A track runs down the hill from the village to the beach front and the sweeping curve of the bay’s C. The sand here offers a route around the region, passing the scattered rental properties.

Soul2Soul Bay

Getting around on foot is easy, but for those who prefer, there is a bicycle rezzer opposite the post office (rentals office) allowing visitors to take a ride around the region’s public areas. There are also several places to sit and rest from walking or riding, including on a number of rowing boats moored in the bay and deck chairs in the sand.

Visiting both Soul2Soul regions, I admit to being a little more attracted to Soul2Soul River – but this is primarily because I have an affinity for the Cotswolds, and really enjoyed the views along the river.  The truth is both Soul2SoulRiver and Soul2Soul Bay are picturesque and make for a relaxing visit. Those looking for a home within themed regions might also find them well worth a visit, while photographers will find both regions attractive to their cameras.

Soul2Soul Bay

SLurl Details

• Soul2Soul River (Glazed, rated: Moderate)
• Soul2Soul Bay (Isle of Love, rated: Moderate)

Sanctuary – click any image for full size

I don’t often get the chance to write about the mainland – a fault that is mine; so I was delighted when we had the opportunity to explore Sanctuary, a beautifully presented stretch of coastline in the continent of Satori, designed by Roxi Firanelli with help from her best friend (and Second Life photographer),  Darth Kline (ropedick). Spanning a stretch of land across two regions –  Afanasyev and Rideau – it is a photographer’s delight and a place rich in detail for explorers.

In looks, a good portion of Sanctuary has the feel of a careworn coastal town, possibly along America’s gulf coast. The buildings are old, slightly run-down, the roads unpaved and overlooking a bay dotted with sandbanks, one of which has the wreck of a coaster aground on it; a wreck so old, nature is gradually having its way.

Sanctuary

There’s no set landing point for visitors, so I’ve arbitrarily selected the parking lot above the bay. From here, visitors can look down on an old board walk which has clearly seen better days and is home to three old houseboats, one of which has been converted to a eatery, and another is now home to a bar.  Across the road from the parking lot sit a little huddle a businesses, all of which have seen better days, the largest of which is a used car lot and auto repair centre.

These businesses are filled with detail which help to further bring sanctuary to life. Going by the car being repaired at the auto centre and bicycles outside the cafe, they still seem to be drawing in business as well.  However, they are bookended – if not overshadowed – by the two structures which perhaps best encompass  the broader status of this little corner of the world: a boarded-up motel, and a tumble-down, overgrown funfair and public swimming pool. These clearly speak to the place which has perhaps seen better times.

Sanctuary

Across the water sits a small, rugged island, home to a working dock and wharf on its north and island-facing side (the southern side of the island appear to be privately owned) with trawlers tied-up alongside. The channel running between the island and the mainland looks to have once been swampland; there’s evidence of old tree having been cut down to clear the water, although some swamp cypress still grow on either side of the slowly-passing water while signs give notice of snakes and alligators. For the most part, these may not be easy to spot – with one exception: a cheerful (and whimsical) ‘gator is more content with standing on an ageing wooden pier playing a banjo than with floating log-like in the water. If you spot him, do consider leaving him a tip for his efforts!

Follow the old road up towards the abandoned motel and you’ll find a choice of routes to take: a grassy track down between the motel and its sign, leading to where the board walk below the rod comes to an end; or you can stick to the old road and following it as it switchbacks inland, offering an walk that eventually loops back towards to the coast; or you can turn off the road just past the old motel and take the aged stone steps climbing up into the hills behind Sanctuary’s southern waterfront.

Sanctuary

All three route can bring you by turn, gorge and bridge to an abandoned farm sitting above the motel, buildings long deserted, equipment left behind, unwanted. However, take the grassy trail down from the road to where the broad walk ends, and as well as the path leading up to the farm, you’ll discover a stony trail curled past the old, converted machinery house sitting on its own pontoon. This trail will- for the keen-eyed – offer a way to where a set of steps are cut into the rock which offer a path north into Sanctuary’s northern end, in the region or Rideau.

“Roxi decided we needed a change there,” Darth informed me during our visit. “So please excuse the untidiness!”

In turn, the rebuilding work barely intrudes on a visit – but it was worthwhile knowing it was going on, as it definitely marked Sanctuary as a place to be revisited soon. As it is, the northern half of the build couldn’t be be more different to the southern end. Climb up through the rocks and follow the path through the narrow clefts and you’ll be brought to a place which – for me at least – brought out strong memories of Sri Lanka.

Sanctuary

Down on the waterfront sits a copy of Eliza Wierwright’s Patron house: a open-sided villa which powerfully echoes Sri Lankan resorts designs in look and layout. Up the hill, behind this villa, tiered walls hide stairs that lead up into the high rocks, to where more clefts and steps cut and climb – the entire walk up from the beach putting me in mind of the Boulder Garden Hotel, Kalawana, Sri Lanka. The upper end of this walk is were work is being carried out, so I’m not going to reference more of it here – but will be back to see what Roxi and Darth produce there.

I genuinely cannot praise Sanctuary enough; it’s an outstanding design, rich in detail and full of contrasts, with the southern end of the landscape suggestive of America’s gulf coastal regions, as noted, but also containing little twists and touches  – such as the tuk-tuk vans – which might place it elsewhere. The tuk-tuks also provide a nice hook to the more tropical / Indo-Asian feel of the northern end of the land.

Sanctuary

Undoubtedly well worth visiting and taking the time to explore carefully. My thanks to both Roxi and Darth for taking the time to chat, as well. Do keep an eye out for the more … unusual .. details of setting as well, which I’ve pointed not mentioned here, but which add a little edge to the scene.

SLurl Details

• Sanctuary (Afanasyev, rated: Moderate)

Realm Of Light – click any image for full size

Annie Brightstar led us to take a visit to Realm Of Light, a Full region designed by Varielle and Tai (Taionia). Described as a “medieval/fantasy sim”, I’d definitely place it as the latter more than the former; it has a delightfully elven / fae feel to it with more than enough fantasy touches to mark it in that direction rather than medieval.

The landing point immediately evokes the fantasy feel, offering a faery circle, trees with windowed trunks lit from within and clearly the homes of the little folk dancing around the landing point on gossamer wings. Four paths offer routes of departure from the ring – three meandering through the tall trees, the third a bridge over one of the region’s rivers. Which you take is entirely up to you – and guaranteed, if I might paraphrase Tolkien, to bring you a place to which you may not have been going, but where your presence is welcomed.

Realm Of Light

Travel east along one of the paths, and you’ll quickly come to another stream, bridged by interlocking tree trunks, the greensward beyond offering a place to sit and relax – or float- among exotic and colourful plants and fungi. South of this, and sitting on a tiny island separated from the rest of the region by narrow channels, is a great tree supporting a wooden platform on which is built the most marvellous windmill-come-house. At ground level and in the shade of the tree, is a smaller cottage – but be warned! The dragon guarding both is not there purely for show; this little island is a private residence, so please be respectful and avoid trespassing.

Take the path to the north, and it will take you – by way of another bridge – to a garden and elven pavilion. The garden a place of fountains, cuddle spots, a teleport to a floating meditation island. It is dominated by a great mallorn-like tree, a passage cut through its trunk, great lanterns hanging from its boughs and a platformed house held within its crown.

Realm Of Light

Go south from the landing point, and the path will branch and fork, bringing you to a number of places – what might be an alchemist’s retreat, an ancient walled garden, a mystical tree cave and another greensward ending at a fae waystone circle.

A stone bridge near to the waystone circle offers a way across a narrow river gorge to where elven tree houses sit within the woods, stone paths and steps running between them, the grasses in their shade home to deer and rabbits. The tree houses are connected by bridges spanning the gaps between their ornate platforms, allowing easy passage from one to the next and back without the need to descend to ground level. North-west of the tree houses sits another island, reached by two bridges; again be aware that the properties here are available for rent and may be occupied – so please resist the temptation to enter them.

Realm Of Light

All of this is just scratching the surface of this region. Along the rivers – and overhead – one might find more dragons; to the north-east lies ship wrecks and a mermaid cove with places underwater to explore. Unicorns are to be found among the trees, while translucent butterflies flutter over plants and toadstools. Keep an eye out for the tiny houses and towers scattered around, and the fae folk who flutter about or are engaged in different activities.

Realm Of Light could perhaps benefit from a more appealing windlight, but as most photographers tend to use their own, this isn’t a drawback – but I do encourage experimenting with options when visiting; this is a place which really comes into its own under many sunlight settings. As it is, Realm Of Light makes for an engaging visit and offers plenty of opportunities for photography and exploration.

Realm Of Light

SLurl Details

• Realm Of Light (Realm of Light, rated: Moderate)