Tag: Exploring Second Life 2021

Num Bing-Howlett (Num Bing) and her SL partner, Clifton Howlett, sent me a personal invitation to visit their latest region design, Hidden Bottle, which recently opened.

I’ve previously written about Numb and Cliff’s designs in these pages, and have always enjoyed exploring them, so I took the first opportunity I could to hop over and “have a pike” as people are prone to say in the part of the world I was born in.

For this build, Numb and Cliff have created a little tropical corner of the world given over to pirate legend, as the About Land description notes:

Welcome to Hidden Bottle @ Gin!

Pirates discovered the Gin islands long ago & used it’s hidden location to distil their bootleg Gin. Now we continue on using their same recipe for happiness…sunshine, smiles, & a great gin!

Be careful for the overhead gondola & enjoy your time here at Hidden Bottle…& don’t forget the tonic!

I’m a little surprised the tipple being made wasn’t rum given it’s pirates we’re talking about; perhaps the story is simply something made up by the local to encourage tourists – or maybe the pirates in question had a more refined taste 😉 – and of course, “gin” is entirely in keeping with the region’s designated name – and there is a still awaiting discovery, if you can find it!

The setting primarily comprises a ruggedly handsome pair of islands that rise from the sea, and which if viewed from above look like a hook extending outwards from a blocky wrist.

It might be that, once upon a time the two were joined as one, but time and nature have worn a watery channel between them, a channel now spanned thanks to the hands of Man, a broad wooden platform crossing over the water and that serves as both a home to a small bar and also as a boarding point for the cable car system that runs around and through the islands.

The latter is an impressive ride, rising from the the water-spanning deck to follow the square cliffs of the “wrist” island, its cables supported by tall pylons that lay at first embedded in the rock of the island to lift cable cars up over a corner of the island’s flat head, before dropping their cables back down towards the sea and a neat line of their brethren that march single file out over the shallows of the sea and around the north side of the “hook” island, where they loop the highest peak and then descent by way of gorge and rocky arch to once more join the low-lying deck.

The cars that run along this cableway offer an ideal means to see much of the beauty of the setting, while platforms periodically placed along the route – some of them quite precipitously – offer places to both board and leave the cars and continue exploring on foot.

Mirroring the path of the cable cars, as is oft the way with such systems, are paths that wind up the cliffs and hills of the island, allowing people the means to explore on foot – and as the cars do not reach all the places waiting to be discovered, following them upwards (and back down!) is recommended.

For those who prefer, the southern and eastern curve of the islands cup within them calm waters where swimming or lazing on an outrigger boat might be enjoyed together with resting on the sands. Beneath the waves, for those who care to look / dive, fish and turtles swim whilst above, extending from the cliffs, an events stage offers another lookout point. And for those who fancy exploring more, a grassy route passes under a great arch of rock to reach the north side beach and its own hideaways.

With winding paths meandering over the hilltops, boardwalks and stairways climbing the cliffs to platforms and palm-crowned heights rich with the song of exotic birds as they fly around and through the trees, Hidden Bottle is a delight to explore. Throughout all of this are numerous places to sit and relax and just appreciate the setting and its promise of distant escape and freedom. and, needless to say, present photographers with a wealth of opportunities to exercise their shutters. In fact, you might say, Hidden Bottle / Gin are a perfect tonic if you need a getaway!

My  thanks to Numb for the invite!

SLurl Details

• Hidden Bottle (Gin, rated Adult)

I recently received an invitation from Trill Zapatero (Wynaz) to visit her latest creation, which has just opened to the public.

Operating under the banner Summer Quest @ Four Bridges, it is a two region estate (A Full and a Homestead) that she has spent the last four months working on. Now in the Destination Guide, it is a location that does, without any exaggeration, make for a simply stunning visit.

Those arriving for the first time should be delivered to the main landing point, located on an aerial platform over the estate. It is here that visitors will be able to join the estate’s  Experience – a vital part of the visit, as it will enable seamless teleports between some of the locations within the estate, and this is key to getting to see everything the regions have to offer. It is also at the landing point that visitors can obtain the local teleport HUD, which also works through the experience.

The latter provides access total of 16 destinations within Four Bridges, thus providing a quick means of hopping point-to-point. However, to appreciate the estate fully, I strongly recommend setting time aside and using one of the teleport boards available at the landing point to reach ground level, and then set out on foot.

The setting is that of a mountainous region, the surround encompassing both regions forming a  ring of high mountains while the regions themselves built up using landscaping kits by Alex Bader. This is quite stunning work, providing a high peak within the Homestead region, with with slopes descending into the Full region and rocky arms reaching out to circle a large, crater-like lake.  And believe when I say that these words simply do not do the build any justice whatsoever.

A deep gorge extends outwards from the crater lake, splitting the land open as it runs south, gradually broadening until it passes through a narrow neck spanned by a humpbacked bridge. This bridge forms part of a lowland track that winds around the regions and climbs part-way up into their highlands to offer an extensive route to walk – or ride – around the the setting (those with a wearable horse can wear it, while there are horse rezzers to be found around the route for those otherwise on foot.

Throughout both regions are rope slides, climbs, places to sit both indoors and out, a major slope running down the side of Crazy Fox mountain that looks as if it is ideal for skiing and / or sledding when the snow falls, boats to sit upon or take out on the water, opportunities for swimming and more. Nor is that all – there are adventures to be found both underground and underwater.

The former of these comes in the form of two caves – Dack Cavern and Gwendolyn Cave. These can be reached by both the teleport system HUD or by finding their entrances and walking into them – providing you have accepted the local Experience at the main landing point, that is. Those who have will be teleported to the caverns proper, which occupy platforms over the regions. Of the two cave systems, Gwendolyn is the larger, offering a winding trail underground, complete with further teleport systems back to ground level that will delivered you to different points in the park.

For the underwater aspect to the park, scuba tanks mark points where people can slip underwater and swim among the fish – although currently, you’ll nee your own diving kit; the tanks and goggles provided will provide a link to a Marketplace listing for those who might wish to purchase their own.

What I particularly like about this setting is the walks and the climbs. Trill has gone to great lengths to create an environment that looks and feels natural, right down to the way the trails have logs to hold the dirt in place as they climb / descend slopes and the stone steps along some of the trails sit as if cut into the rocks and the way of flat surfaces of rock have been turned naturally into paths around cliffs. Even the wooden steps and platforms that can be found throughout the mountains and cliffs look and feel right in their construction and placement.

There’s a delightful magic about Four Bridges that makes a visit genuinely worthwhile, and the camp sites, the seats and swings, the cabins, lodges and other buildings scattered around high and low, together with the assorted activities – swimming, riding (horses and rope slides!), walking, diving, caving and exploring will keep visitors truly occupied; while photographers will appreciate the views and opportunities for capturing shots.

SLurl Details

• Summer Quest @ Four Bridges (Four Bridges, rated Moderate)

Occupying a Homestead region and recently opened, Sunvana is a public setting offering visitors a chance for some “sweet summer escape”.  Laid out as a vacation spot, it is the work of Jayce (Jayce Takeda) – with some assistance from Peter (Peterkes Beaton) and Kaelyn Alecto (TheNewKae) – the region is also home to Jayce’s Moment pose brand.

While Sunvana doesn’t enforce teleporting to its landing point, visits are intended to start at the island’s reception and information centre, a domed structure towards the centre of the region. This offers direct teleports to various locations around the region: the art pods, the coffee and tea house, the pool house and pool, the pose store, the peach and the club house. In addition, a further series of teleports provide access to other regions designed by Kaelyn  – It all Starts with a Smile and Soul Deep (which I recently reviewed).

Where you from here is a matter of choice; the teleports offer a quick and easy way around the region, but step outside the reception dome, and steps will take you down to the road for a walk around the island, or up towards the Moments store and a rock causeway leading to a “hideout” sitting on a headland.

The latter overlooks a deep bay cut into the rock by a pair of waterfalls to offer a deep swimming hole complete with a diving platform, a cuddle float and a rope to climb back up out of the water. Seats within the hideout and close by offer plenty of places to sit alone or with friends.

The swimming hole is just one of the numerous eclectic aspects of the region that add to its appeal. For example, those who don’t fancy walking between locations might avail themselves to a number Cube Republic’s excellent rope slides and zip lines to be ridden. Then, to the west, and alongside the Club House are board walks and stone paths set out over the water, watched over by a mix of street lamps and African elephants.

For those who like more traditional summer vacation pursuits, the beach around the east side of the island has places to sit, while the swimming pool offers sun loungers to relax on and floats on which to pass the time whilst floating on the water.

Elsewhere, the art pods present little vignettes that might be seen as 3D art pieces or further places to appreciate and/or sit: a little garden, a cabana with chairs and lights, a Mustang under repair or a little pool (as in the game) room. Off to the south-east, and not mentioned as a teleport destination, is a little place signed as a motel, although it is far cosier than that, with places to both sit and to cuddle.

Below the “motel” and tucked into a little watery tunnel is a rowing boat that can offer a lovers’ tryst, moored out of sight of other eyes.

Unusually for a region of this kind, Sunvana lacks a significant soundscape – the falls generate familiar thunder and there are spots of sound elsewhere, but there is no over-arching sound scape across the region. There are however, numerous (and increasingly familiar) NPC static characters to be found throughout to help add a sense of life to the setting.

Making good use of EEP (use personal lighting to move the Sun around to catch the local rainbow), Sunvana is an engaging place to visit, made more so by the rope slides and teleports (look for the sign board beyond the reception area) to get around, and offers plenty of opportunities for photography.

Slurl Details

• Sunvana (Reikai, rated Moderate)

*80 Days* The Bayou is the latest region design by Camila (Camila Runo). As the name suggests, it’s a region design that takes us down into Louisiana, where a mix of open water, mangroves and a small town that feels like it might have been cut from a corner of New Orleans just across the state line, and dropped neatly into the grasslands here.

The landing point is located on a large waterside pier, against which is docked a paddle steamer of the kind perhaps also more readily associated with the Mississippi – although that was not the only river along which these majestic boats once regularly plied, their great stern wheels thrashing the water.

The unmistakable work of Analyse Dean, the steamer sits with her saloon and card table set as if awaiting fare-paying customers, the perfect backdrop from which to start a visit to the region. And, from the paraphernalia on the wharf, the perfect backdrop for a film crew – a sign even inviting you to sit in the spotlight and take your own picture (or have a friend take it for you).

The wharf joins with a trestle bridge that spans the river on which the steamer sits, suggesting that if she does still make way under her own power, this is one end of any journey she might make. Across the bridge on the south side of the river, lies a muggy, tree-shaded expanse of bayou, cut here and their by water channels. A raised board walk offers a route over the waterlogged land to keep feet dry as it winds its way to a grungy bar sitting among the mangroves.

On the river’s north side, the bridge gives way to a road leading to the little town, passing the obligatory cemetery along the way. This is the place where the main street basks in the late afternoon heat and humidity, overlooked by the balconies of the places of business that line it on either side. Up on one wall, Satchmo plays his horn, while the sounds of his playing echoes along the street from open windows, washing over visitors as they explore places like Maison Devil, with its voodoo overtures, or drop into the quirky Goofy Gator lounge (which has a nice minimalist ambience, but I wasn’t entirely convinced by the green beer!).

To one end of the town sits a small restaurant with streetside dining and dancing, the road beyond it giving way to a dirt track which curves down to a beach looking out over (presumably) the Gulf of Mexico. A second track parallels the route to the beach, just across the car park from the restaurant. However, rather than also leading to the beach, it instead offers a path to the local alligator farm.

Between the town and the river, the land is flat and given over largely to grass and wild flowers, although a third track does point the way to a little pier that juts out into the river. Watched over by a plump pelican, this pier is home to a little motor boat rezzer people can use to putter around on the water – just be wary of the region boundaries when doing so.

The rezzer is one of a number of little interactive elements included in the setting that help bring it to life. Others include opportunities to dance or scrub a car, enjoy a drink or pose for a photo. There are also number places where visitors can sit and pass the time, some of which sit out in the bayou to offers places of solitude for those who want to be on their own, while others are well suited to couples or small groups.

Populated by the static figures that appear to be having their 15 minutes of fame among region designers at the moment – and which do help bring a sense of life to region designs – and rounded-out by a nicely balanced sound scape, *80 Days* The Bayou makes for a photogenic and engaging visit.

With thanks (again!) to Shawn Shakespeare for the pointer.

SLurl Details

• *80 Day* The Bayou (White Widow, rated Moderate)

Kaelyn Alecto (TheNewKae) opened her latest Homestead region design in April 2021. Called Soul Deep, it is once again a richly detailed setting that is both fun to explore and also forms a restful retreat for those so minded to take advantage of its offerings.

Set within a ring of mountains that sit off the region and lie separated from it by a ring of blue water, Soul Deep comprises a main low-lying island around which are a number of small islets and raised promontory. These huddle around it like hatchlings making their first swim upon the calm waters under the watchful eye of their mother.

The landing point sits to the west of the main island, set upon one of Cory Edo’s converted shipping crate. Raised on shout wood and steel legs, this commands a view out over the island’s impressive lake, a body that looks as if it might once have been largely open to the surrounding waters, but time – or the hands and machines of humans – has surrounded  it with slim arms of earth, grass and reeds that gently embrace it so that waterfowl now treat it as a quiet sanctuary.

Running around the inner shore of the banks of this lake is a wooden board walk that offers a gentle walk around the water and leads visitors past various landward points of interest – places to sit out in the Sun or under the shade of trees, decks facing the waters surrounding the island, a little music venue – and the one centre of commerce to be found within the setting.

Clustered to the east, this takes the form of a group of wharves and decks on which sit assorted building that look to be related to the fishing trade – although whether fishing boats still put in alongside is perhaps questionable; the wharves appear to be devoted to rowing boats, and the boatyard seems to now be more the home for a very large shark, rather than a place for building boats…

South of this is one of the regions two uplands, a rocky table with a rather eclectic top – Doors that stand sans any surrounding building or ruins. Falls drop to the water below to one side of this strange monument to bookend one side of the arc of sand that forms a little beach  – one of two gracing the island’s shores. The second beach lies just to the south, facing a curving bay that links the rocky table with the west side of the island, where another upland sits amidst oak and fir.

This looks to have once been a part of the main island, so close are the two, but whether by accident or design, a narrow channel of water now separates them, necessitating the use of bridges to cross from one to the other.

Heavy in foliage thanks to the oak and fir covering it, this is home to an old ruin, whilst the crown of the hill features a place where visitors can literally hang out: a platform extends outward from the crown of the hill. Down below, a kayak is drawn up on the shore close to a little camp site in the lee of the hill. Thanks to the screening of the trees, this entire area feels as if it is deep in the wilderness, despite the proximity of the landing point just across the little channel.

And that’s the charm of Soul Deep: the feeling of openness and the mix of locations and open water that gives it a sense of being much larger than the region in which it sits.

Whether you want to explore the main island or hop over to the outriggers – one with a cosy house upon it, another with the remnants of an old church, a third with a simple deck of which to sit – there really is much to discover and appreciate here, while the boats liberally scattered over the waters (some of which can be driven), offer still more opportunities for discover and / or relaxation.

SLurl Details

• Soul Deep (rated Adult)

Occupying just under a quarter of a Full region that leverages the private region LI bonus, La Garde-Aris is a charming setting created by Aristide Atlass. It offers a little slice of France for people to enjoy and photograph, and which has little twists of humour about it – including in the About Land description.

Drawing inspiration from the coast of Provence, the historical province of south-eastern France and home to the famous city port of Marseille, La Garde-Aris presents a richly detailed setting that presents a small coastal town nestled under high cliffs that has perhaps seen the traditional income brought to it by fishing the local waters to the more lucrative – if possibly as seasonal – tourist trade.

From the smart little beach and waterfront shops through to the market square and the cobbled roads that wind around the buildings and climb the hills to one side of the setting, this is a place brought to life by the local “inhabitants”, static and animated NPCs that can be found throughout, lazing on the beach, exploring the marketplace, shopping, taking a run, and so on.

Some of these characters would appear to be local, but I’d say that most are likely casual visitors, people who have arrived along the road that emerges from a tunnel to one side of the parcel.  This ends at a little car park sitting a short way back from the beach and overlooking a little fisherman’s cove into which a fishing boat is chugging, whilst nest hang to dry on the shore.

The car park itself is witness to the arrival of a young couple clearly here to enjoy some surfing, and a family who have arrived by camper van.  Further down the road, a tour bus has pulled up alongside the bridge leading up to what might be the older part of town, allowing its passengers to explore up there, or head across the road into the bustling square with its open market, shops and little café-restaurant.

The older part of town is dominated by the round tower of an aged fort, a place that offers a good vantage point for looking across the town. Directly below it, on what looks to be a terrace of more recent origin – or perhaps a part of the fort that has been newly dressed with stone, a jazz band plays and visitors can enjoy a dance.

It is here, as well, that some of the humour evident in the setting is apparent – the studio gallery alongside the old fort is called L’art te Chaut, which appears to be a little play on a popular edible variety of thistle which sometimes has the word “French” put in front of it. Close by, the converted chapel offers a rather interesting compendium of book titles –  although I confess it’s the first time I’ve visited a reading room that includes a dance pole…!

Across the length of the town, and facing the fort and the raised buildings alongside it, is a large villa, a stand of cypress trees separating it from the town. Of Tuscan design (well, Provence is bordered by Italy to the east), the villa may look to be private, but is in fact open to the public as well, and is furnished throughout and is named for the local “historical figure”, Chevalier de la Frite, who features in Aristide’s Picks write-up for the town.

Colourful and with a lot going on when it comes to the NPCs, La Garde-Aris is a charming, easy-going visit – although the region as a whole can be occasionally heavy going for those running with things like Shadows enabled in their viewer and a high Draw Distance as a couple of the other parcels on it have a lot going on, textures-wise), so it might be advisable to tone the latter down if you find things a little bumpy.

With thanks to Shawn Shakespeare for the pointer.

 SLurl Details

• La Garde-Aris (Stingray, rated Moderate)