Tag: Exploring SL Archives

“Come at once, if convenient…” such was the start of a summons sent by Sherlock Holmes to Dr. John Watson in A Study in Scarlet, and much later in a Study in Pink from the outstanding BBC re-imagining of Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous coupling, Sherlock. It was also, as it happened, the quote I opted to use when writing about a simply outstanding Second Life recreation of 221B Baker Street from that TV series, back in April 2015.

As I noted at the time, the recreation of the flat, by Darius Godric who is very much a Sherlock aficionado, was nothing short of marvellous. The attention to detail was superb, with lots of wonderful touches directly from the various cases  – notably those of the first season – making it a veritable treasure-trove for fans of Sherlock and Holmes in general.  So when Darius dropped me a line over Easter to let me know he’d been working on the flat, and invited me to drop by to have a look at the results, I was only too happy to do so!

From the outside, not a lot has change (but the it wouldn’t, would it? Baker Street is hardly likely to undergo radical change 🙂 ). Speedy’s is still there, offering patrons breakfast, lunch and pasta, and alongside it is the entrance to apartment 221B, with the hallway leading to Mrs. Hudson’s kitchen and the stairs going up to the flat itself.

It is here that the attention to detail really comes into play. In my original piece, I mentioned touches such as the  bullet-scared flock wallpaper from The Great Game (“I’m BORED!” *BANG*), the pink valise from A Study in Pink, references to St. Bart’s Hospital used in The Reichenbach Fall, as well as a direct reference to that case; the riding crop from either A Study in Pink or possibly A Scandal in Belgravia and more besides.

Now to these has been added much more. Walk through the kitchen (which has some subtle changes, but retains the famous head-in-fridge and chemistry set), and you can visit Holmes’ bedroom, as seen in A Scandal in Belgravia, complete with Jack-and-Jill access to the bathroom, and a framed periodic table of elements on the wall.

Meanwhile, in the living room, the pink valise has been moved to one side, making room beside the dining table for John Watson’s laptop, complete with its significant 1895 visitor count. On the table itself, joining the page of ciphers alluding to the episode The Blind Banker, now sits a page on which has been scrawled U.M.Q.R.A (The Hounds of Baskerville), together with blueprints for the ultra-modern house belonging to Charles Augustus Magnussen (His Last Vow – and in fact Swinhay House in Gloucestershire).

Nor does it end there. Also on the table are a couple of very clever references: a map of Europe and Russia with the submarine blueprints which were the focus of Doyle’s 1908 story, The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans. Thus we have a neat reference to the Sherlock episode The Great Game (which involved the Bruce-Partington Project) by way of Doyle’s original tale. There are more such touches to be found – but I don’t want to spoil things by listing everything, as discovering them is far more fun.

Back in April 2015 I wrote “Anyone who has enjoyed Sherlock’s three (thus far) seasons via the BBC (and their world-wide partners) is going to love the version of 221B Baker Street Darius has created in Second Life; it really is a marvel to visit. The many touches within it will have fans of the show smiling happily (I know I was).” This still holds true now, and it’s a delight to see how Darius has both updated 221B Baker Street and offers links to the original adventures taken by Holmes and Watson, thus very much keeping the magic alive.

If you are a Holmes / Sherlock fan and you haven’t visited already, I cannot urge you strongly enough to hail a cab and head over. The address, should you need it, is below 🙂 .

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221B Baker Street – Sherlock Holmes (Rated: Moderate)

[G]aio – click any image for full size

There are some extraordinary lovely regions popping up across Second Life right now, several of which I’ve been fortunate to visit recently, and I’m adding. [G]aio (Italian: cheerful, happy) to the list.

The work of cambiamento Radikal, [G]aio is a homestead region nestled between tall green mountains, presenting the feeling of being a small cluster of islands sitting on a lake and caught in a perennial summer’s morning, the sky yellowed by a slowly rising sun gradually hauling its way up over the eastern peaks.

[G]aio

The largest of the islands offers  a Tuscan farmhouse sitting to the south-west, the outhouses of which present games rooms and the chance to enjoy a little wine. Those who prefer can dance out in the courtyard (touch the sign next to the house for poseballs), or they can sit and sip wine and watch the sheep drinking at the water trough alongside a small coral. The latter is home to a saddled horse awaiting anyone who might want to ride him.

Outside the farm buildings, a stone path leads the way along a tongue of land running east, past grapes growing on the vine and corn on the cob, to a children’s play area. Beyond this, the tongue of land continues east then north to arrive small headland crowned with a copse of tall fir trees through which sunlight slants.

[G]aio

A rope bridge connects this headland with the second largest island as it sits cupped in the arms of the first. A rutted track undulated across this island, under the boughs of trees and between thick hedges. Two stone bridges, hopping to a much smaller island offer the way back to the farm, leading visitors past a magical faery ring in the process.

[G]aio may not appear to be as extensive as other region designs, but this doesn’t make it any less endearing. There is a beautifully rural feeling to it, perfectly underlined by a gentle ambient sound scape. It is also a place which naturally lends itself to photography under a range of windlight settings (there are also poses available, and rezzing is set with a 60-minutes return time).

[G]aio

For those who simply want to spend time together, snuggling, exploring or dancing, [G]aio is equally the ideal destination, offering plenty of opportunity for all three, with cambiamento a convivial host (we spent a good part of my most recent visit in conversation). Should you enjoy your visit to {G]aio, do please consider making a donation towards the region’s upkeep (via the courtyard water trough).

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• [G]aio (Rated:  Moderate)

Nusquam – click any image for full size

Nusquam (latin: “nowhere”) is an atmospheric homestead region designed by Randi Lenroy, and which is currently featured in the Destination Guide Highlights for the week ending March 18th, 2016.

The name for the region becomes evident on arrival: the setting echoes the looks and feel of so many remote coastal regions to be found around the world – Canada, America, Europe, Australia, South America, New Zealand, it could well be anywhere. And so, because of all these echoes, it is in fact, nowhere other than where our imaginations decide to set it as we wander its rugged and open spaces.

Nusquam

The Landing point is located in the north-easy corner of the region, within a barn spanning an old railway line. The tracks run from north-west to south-west, running along the eastern seaboard before rising to run back westwards along the south side of the region,  coming to an abrupt end at the ruins of a trestle bridge. This in turn suggests that the region was once connected to somewhere, further inviting our imaginations to extend or create a setting for the region.

Within the arms of this sweeping, undulating track – which frankly, has seen better days and was doubtless abandoned following the loss of the bridge to Wherever, is open farmland. This is neatly dissected into two fields by a dirt track pointing the way to an old workshop and barn, complete with a makeshift pier, the possible home for two fishing boats lying offshore.

Nusquam

A lighthouse sits atop the highest point on the land, occupying a rocky shoulder in the south-east of the island. The spur of the railway line sweeps by outside, just the other side of a cement wall, to continue out along a  finger of rock, open sea on one side, narrow watery channel on the other, on its way to the bridge to (or is that from?) nowhere.

The lighthouse, barn and workshop are the only structures on the land, although it is clear this is still a place of work: hay bales are neatly rolled, a tractor has been working in one of the fields, whilst someone has been using another in an attempt to shift a fallen tree. Whether the latter came down by accident or design is hard to tell, but the way the telegraph poles are angled as they run beside the old train line suggests this place can suffer from high winds at times, so perhaps age and the weather took its toll on the tree.

Nusquam

Horses roam one of the fields, their sleek coats suggesting they are well cared-for, adding a further sign of long-term habitation here, and giving the visitor more hints by which they can weave a tale of their own about the place. East of the railway tracks, the unsurfaced road continues, passing a small parking lot bearing a sign promising fried chicken and gasoline further inland.

An overgrown board walk winds its way from this to barn landing point, while the road quietly dips under the lapping waves on the east side of the island, again suggesting this is a place that was one somewhere – or at least linked to somewhere. now a young apple tree rises slowly from what’s left of the track, a silent sentinel warning the onward progress is perhaps not advisable.

Nusquam

With it’s rugged, looks and open spaces, complemented by a subtle sound scape which is more noticeable along the coastline than further inland,  and presided over by a dusky windlight which plays beautifully with lighting as you cam around, Nusquam presents the perfect  destination for whenever you feel like you’d like to go Nowhere.

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• Nusquam (Rated: Moderate)

Follow Your Bliss – click any image for full size

For those seeking a little escape from the rush of life and a chance to recall memories of summer holidays long ago, a visit to Follow Your Bliss might be just the ticket. This homestead region is the vision of Elizabeth (ElizabethNantes) with assistance from Omkara (kazu Koray), and it is an absolute delight to visit, explore and photograph.

Resembling an archipelago, the region offers a chain islands surrounding a shallow, sandy-bottomed bay. Of varying sizes, the islands are protected on their northern flank by a natural rocky breakwater against which waves crash, the remaining compass points offering relatively unobstructed access to the sea.

Follow Your Bliss

Directly behind the breakwater, and curving gently around the north and east sides of the region, is a chain of mostly low-lying islands linked one to another by a series of bridges. These present a sunny walk through knee-high grass, over warm beaches and across the bridges to reach either a final low-lying sand bar, or in an eastwards turn and across the sturdiest of the bridges, access to the largest and tallest of the islands.

Each of the islands offers something of its own to occupy visitors: places to cuddle, places to sit and while away the time watching the tide or in conversation, swings on which to have a little fun, shady sports and shacks and cabins in which to escape the light of the sun. Two of the latter sit upon the largest of the islands, a twisting climb of stone steps linking them. One is a two-storey cement structure at the foot of the island’s main hill, the other a wood framed atelier perched on the top of the hill, with commanding views all around.

Follow Your Bliss

The atelier in particular attracted me, not only because it is a design I like, but also because of the beautiful map of Sir Lanka (then Ceylon), dating from the 1690s and the period of the Dutch Governorate. With north to the left and east at the top, the map makes for an interesting view of the island, the names the Dutch offered for places I’ve been fortunate enough to visits as exotic as their Sinhalese equivalents: Anurodgburro (Anuradhapura). Trinkinmaly (Trincomalee), Battacilow (Batticaloa), and so on.

In order to reach the remaining islands in the group, visitors have a choice: swim, take one of the rezzable paddle boats available from the dock near the landing point, or join the local group and avail themselves of one of the group motorboats. Flying is also an option – but to do so isn’t really in keeping with the spirit of exploration.

Follow Your Bliss

These islands, to the west of the region, between them offer more places to relax, including a charming little café and a touch of the oriental. In all, Follow Your bliss is aptly named; exploring the islands, it is easy, even natural, to leave worries and cares behind and simply enjoy the carefree bliss offered by the region, and all under an almost tropical sky.

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• Follow Your Bliss (Rated: Moderate)

 

The Trace – click any image for full size

Kylie Jaxxon recently invited Caitlyn and I to visit the latest iteration of her homestead region The Trace (aka The Trace too), which recently re-opened following a further joint make-over by Kylie and Elvira Kytori (also the owner of White Dunes Estate rentals). As I’ve always enjoyed both Kylie’s and Elivra’s work, it was an invitation I was delighted to accept, and to introduce Caitlyn to The Trace.

The new design, as I commented to Ziki Questi, who was also visiting when Caitlyn and I hopped over, is perhaps the finest in the series of The Trace builds to date. Beautifully scenic, with open vistas at every turn, it is simply a joy to spend time there either wandering or, as Caitlyn and I have done, simply snuggling in one of the many  lookout points, and watch the world roll by.

The Trace

Two rocky shouldered islands make up the current design, one curved and pointing like an arrowhead to the north-west, the second more rounded and sheltered by the arms of the first, lying to the south-east. Between them runs a rocky channel of sea water spanned by the arches of a single bridge made of cut stone. Each island is also distinguished by its flora; the more northerly of the two is topped by long grasses and yellow wild flowers, while the more southerly island is rich in lilac wild flowers, given it the feel of heathland.

A number of houses and cabins at scattered across the islands, giving the impression that this is perhaps a vacation retreat; a place to come to and forget the stresses of every day life. Perhaps these islands are reached via a day trip out from a mainland which hides just over the horizon; far enough away to give the illusion of escape whilst here, but close enough to make a visit convenient.

The Trace

Board walks lead the visitor across the north island, winding through the grass and flowers to the beaches at either end of the island’s curve. Across the solid span of the bridge, a cobbled road leads up to the top of the island, lilac flowers encroaching upon it, and to one of the flat-topped cabins.

An old lighthouse tower stand guard at the south-westerly edge of the rounded island, waves breaking against the rocks at its feet. Follow the slope down from the cabin towards the lighthouse, and you’ll discover a wooden walkway running around the island’s rugged coastline to a broad expanse of beach, which can also be reached overland from the top of the hill. Across the beach, a small wooden bridge and deck spans the watery channel separating the beaches of the two islands and connecting them – at least at low tide.

The Trace

As noted at the top of this article, this iteration of The Trace is perhaps the most eye-catching in the series, all of which I’ve enjoyed visiting and exploring. Matched by a perfect ambient sound scape, a windlight which reduces colours to perfect soft tones and colours, and plenty of opportunities for photography and for just sitting and relaxing. certainly, it has already drawn Caitlyn and I back to it more than once – and it may well have the same impact on you.

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• The Trace Too (Rated: Moderate)

Ironwood Hills – click any image for full size

Ironwood Hills, designed by Cyrus Knight (josman2088) and Jestyr Knight (Zeke Jestyr), is perhaps not the neighbourhood we’d ideally like to pick to live. When I last visited, the town appeared to be deserted, caught within a forever twilight of swirling mist and rains, thrall to the soulful wailing of forgotten sirens.

Now occupying a new location, the story of Ironwood Hills continues – and the darkness shrouding it has not lifted; and as with the last build, this is a design which makes superb use of space, creating the feeling that the region is much larger than the supplied 65,536 square metres.

Ironwood Hills

It is also a place where anyone who visited the last instalment of the town will, on arrival, feel an immediate sense of déjà vu. This may be a different location and the sirens may no longer be audible, but it is clearly part of the same town. Rain still falls from the heavy sky, lightning flickers, and the down town streets still offer the last vestiges of working electric lights amidst the decay. Here, however, water flooded the streets and alleys, perhaps the result of the same disaster that inundated the fairgrounds of the older Ironwood Hills build.

The flood presents the visitor with a problem. How to explore the streets without having to wade through the water and perhaps risk injury? Fortunately, the answer is supplied by a rowing boat sitting by the arrival point, allowing us to make our way around the ruined streets, past guttering street lights and the wrecks of cars and trucks; the broken windows of stores in places staring back at us like empty eye sockets.

Ironwood Hills

With careful navigation, it is possible to reach a route up to drier land, a route which will carry you past a church. But this  may not be a the place for spiritual restoration as one might expect. Carved stone figures, faces hidden under the hoods of their robes stand menacing guard at the church gates, while alongside the entrance a sign offers Ready or Not, Jesus Is Coming more in threat than in promise of salvation.

Beyond the church, the road continues upwards, climbing to a plateau sitting just above the roof tops of the down town area. Here, behind a protective wooden palisade, sits a cliff side residential area.  Beyond the houses nestled here, the rooftops of the taller down town buildings show more signs of habitation: a makeshift hospital here, a bar and still there, little huts, the gaps of alleyways separating them bridge by wooden planks while ladders connect roofs at different heights.

Ironwood Hills

But where are the survivors now? To find that out, you must make your way between the houses and follow the road and it winds further up into the hills, the way getting darker, the warnings more grim as you progress. I’m not going to say any more here, because to do so would spoil the element of discovery.

Suffice it to say that there is as much to seen below ground here as there is above, and that the coiled snake of tunnels that leads you beneath the hills perhaps stands as a metaphor for the twisting descent into darkness taken by those who once survived here.

Ironwood Hills

All told, this is another superb design by Cyrus  and Jestyr, one that adds a further chapter to the dark legend of Ironwood Hills. If you like your explorations of Second Life to have something of an edge to them, this is definitely a place to visit; and if you have enjoyed the town in its earlier incarnation, then this latest chapter is certain to be one you will not want to miss.

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• Ironwood Hills (Rated: Moderate)