Tag: Pususaari

I think I’m on record as saying – quite possibly repeatedly (!) – that one of the places in Second Life I really enjoy visiting with each of its iterations is that of Pususaari, the Full region held and designed by Lu and Leelou Von Perkele (Lu Carrillo and LeeLou Graves respectively).

In the time Leelou and Lu have been offering their region designs to public exploration – the majority of which I think I’ve managed to cover in these pages – it has been an absolute pleasure to witness the growth of their creativity and vision from a Homestead to Full region, each design building on the last to offer something truly exceptional in Second Life.

Which brings me to 2026’s Pususaari – Where Autumn Awaits: a setting which is – and without any hyperbole – utterly magnificent.

This is a setting which brings everything so perfectly together to offer a vision of autumn (or fall, if you must 🙂 ) – from the Shared Environment through the rich mix of landscaping and the wildlife awaiting discovery through to all the marvellous details, large and small – such that once you’ve arrived, it is hard to want to leave.

A quiet romantic island between golden woods and wild shores, filled with hidden paths, little cafés, animals and places made for lovers, dreamers, explorers and photographers.

– Pususaari – Where Autumn Awaits, About Land description

The Landing Point sits to the south-east of the region and is located in what the Destination Guide entry refers to as a fishing village but which struck me as more of an old-style coastal trading post which has now given itself over to a number of small businesses.

It is here where visitors can spend time at the PusPus Café or visiting the souvenir shop (again selling the genuinely excellent packs of Pususaari cats, otters and puffins – all of which can be found around the setting, helping to bring it to life) or the art gallery.

There is also a small rental office to be found here, offering four sky-based rentals for those who do wish to make the region their home; although all four were reserved at the time of my visit.

Where visitors go from here is simply a matter of picking a direction. Alongside the village / trading post is a small farm where the harvest gathering is in full swing and the cattle and horses are watching over their young.

The rest of the region stretches out to the north and west and is a place I’m torn between writing about and simply saying, “Go! Visit! See for yourselves!”, as words just aren’t enough to describe its beauty.

So as a compromise, I will note that wandering offer the opportunity to visit the beach to the south with the wetlands beyond, both of which are watched over by the solitary figure of a lighthouse.

Inland, meanwhile, is a large lake sitting below the northern and western highlands, the latter of which are climbed by broad stone steps whilst the lake is fed a further body of water splitting itself between this and dropping to the coast on east side of the region while also in turn sitting below the region’s highest table of land.

Wooded and with further pools of water and streams, these highlands run almost the east-west length of the region, an old cart trail marking a good part the way. At their eastern end and sitting at the edge of sheer cliffs, is an ancient henge which offers a most unusual form of dancing and hides a secret beneath – but I’ll leave it to you to discover these, together with the way into the latter 🙂 .

What I will draw attention to is the sheer natural beauty of the setting and the wildlife. Throughout all of its iterations, Pususaari has always been a place of huge natural beauty, but this iteration is really special in both regards.

Simply put, there is not a single view of Where Autumn Awaits which is not genuinely photogenic in and of itself, no need for avatars or props; the beauty of the region offers focus enough. The placement of birds, waterfowl and wildlife has been carefully considered to present a wide range of vignettes to suggest for photography (some of which extend to the cats mentioned above as well, which pop up at various points as well), and I more than found myself getting caught-up with these!

Most noticeable in terms of the wildlife is the presence of wolves and their cubs – one of the latest creations by Lu and Leelou – which are just gorgeous, and their groupings as pack creatures is a delight to discover. Keep an eye out, as well, for Bart and Bertta and their little one – you’ll know them when you see them.

Whilst it is easy to get lost in the beauty of the inland areas of the region, don’t forget the coastal areas, particularly around the north-east side of the setting beyond the local church, and around the base of the cliffs backing the wetlands beyond the beach.

But here I’m going to shut up and repeat my urging: Pususaari – Where Autumn Awaits really should be seen first-hand rather than written about. So do be sure to visit before autumn turns to winter and Pususaari possibly changes to match the colder months.

 

SLurl Details

• Pususaari – Where Autumn Awaits (Bisous Island, rated Moderate)

Over the years there have been places within Second Life that have called me back to them again and again, either to write about or simply to enjoy. Currently, one of my favourite places where I find I can do both is Pususaari, the Full region held and designed by Lu and Leelou Von Perkele (Lu Carrillo and LeeLou Graves respectively).

Since it first appeared in SL as a Homestead region design, Pususaari has always been a place of beauty and romance, changing with the seasons but always remaining true to its core.

Pususaari is a peaceful island made for wanderers, photographers, dreamers, and curious hearts. Since 2025, it has been a place to explore soft meadows, quiet beaches, animals, hidden corners, old stones, cosy places, and little scenes waiting to become your next story. Come alone, with a friend, or someone special — slow down, look closer, and feel at home.

– Pususaari’s Destination Guide entry

For this iteration, Pususaari takes the form of a rugged island with a Mediterranean touch to its architecture. With beaches to the south to particularly catch the Sun and split by a sheer-walled headland, the island sits under a perfect EEP setting (so viewing the region under its Shared Environment is highly recommended).

The Landing Point sits on a wide terrace overlooking the broader of the two southern beaches. It shares the terrace with a large villa serving as a patisserie-come-office-come art gallery (upper floor). There is plenty of outdoor seating on the terrace, whilst steps to one side climb up to the island’s main plateau and the farm occupying its west side.

Steps also sit on the other side of the villa, these descending to a flat, paved shoulder of the island, home to the Tipsy Crane tavern (a very appropriate reference to other parts of the island, as will become clear) and the Pususaari store. The latter offers three very reasonably-priced collections of animals: otters (14 in the pack), cats (again, 14 to a pack) and puffins (17 to a pack).

All of the packs are offered with both Blinn-Phong and PBR materials and are copy / modify. When exploring the island it is possible to come across the cats and otters and get a real appreciation for how delightful and well-made they are.

From the terrace serving the inn and souvenir store two further sets of steps, one to the southern side of the beach, the other to the beach as it runs up the eastern side of the island toward the northern cliffs.

While there is open ground to be reached beyond the souvenir shop, the best way to reach the uplands of the region is either by following the east beach to where aged steps start to climb up the slopes of the escarpment, or take the steps from the main terrace up to the farm and the go onwards from there.

The farm points westwards and is small, but still has a field for dairy cattle and two for growing crops – corn, in this case. Beyond the fields, the land opens up into a wide paddock, home to horses and donkeys, a swing in the shade of a large oak tree offering a place to sit.

The main part of the plateau uplands is given over to a large and quite eye-catching body of water bounded by a sweeping arc of grass and wildflowers running from the farm and around the east side of the water.

This lake-sized body has been made into a summer home by red-crowned cranes (hence the reference in the inn’s name), which are happy to share the water with the local otters (and vice-versa). Humans are welcome as well, as there is a cosy little waterside open-fronted shack to one side of the water. Just behind this more steps climb up to the highest point on the island, crowned by standing stones.

The north side of the water forms a shallow arc of waterfalls dropping away to the lowlands. This lowland area is again quite spectacular and can be reached by following – you guessed  🙂 – steps leading down from the horse paddock.

The waterfalls have created a further pool of water where more cranes and their young might be found, and which is largely separated from the sea by a wide sweep of land where tough grasses and flowers grow and trees brave what must be at times be rough weather, going by the one that has fallen. There are several places to sit tucked away here, including one among local seals.

The waters from the falls find their way to the sea via a narrow channel they have forced over time, including through an out-thrust of rock which now forms a high arch under which the waters pass. As they do so, they also pass an old fortification, now deserted save for a lone piano within, as it sits facing the sea.

Further falls drop away from the highland lake, these facing due north and separated from the others. Headlands on either side of them mean the sea below is potentially a deadly mix of eddies and powerful undercurrents as the tide and waters from the falls mix.

Throughout all of this there are multiple places to sit, high and low. They encompass a large beach house on the eastern sands together with a pergola dipping its toes into the tide; another pergola sitting right at the end of the headland separating the two southern beaches; and another summer house on the smaller and more isolated of these two southern stretches of sand. Oh, and the latter can be reached by following the tunnels carved through the intervening headland (and which also connect to the northern lowlands).

As well as places to sit – singles and couples poses liberally mixed throughout – there are also wooden signs dotted around offering the chance to dance. And, of course there are the Pususaari cats. They are quietly spread throughout the island, keeping an eye on all that is going on (even if one does appear to be more interested in the ducklings swimming in the inland waters and carefully remaining outside the reach of swiping paws!).

As I’ve noted, Pususaari has become an established favourite of mine, and with each iteration, Lu and Leelou continue to produce the most remarkable locations to visit. Long may it continue!

Slurl Details

• Pususaari (Bisous Island, rated Moderate)

I’ve had a something of a rough couple of weeks, the result of which has been very little time in-world, other than parking myself at the occasional user group meeting and trying to keep up with “routine” posts here. So, as things have decided to improve, I decided to ease back into blogging visits and bits by returning to a location that has been a recent favourite for me: Pususaari.

To be honest, I didn’t arrive at this decision all on my own, my friend Cube Republic poked me with the news that the region had once more been reworked by holders Lu and Leelou Von Perkele (Lu Carrillo and LeeLou Graves respectively), and this served to encourage me to hop over and have a look around once more.

This marks my third visit to the setting, which carries the name Pususaari – Where spring feels gentle, the others having been in April 2025 and again in December 2025. With those visits – as with this one – I could not help be feel at home within the region.

Romantic island for dates and quiet moments. Soft light and gentle nature invite you to relax, wander and connect. Discover a cosy café, hidden seating spot, open verandas, beaches, animals and a unique lighthouse landmark watching over the shore.

– Pususaari About Land Description

The cosy café and lighthouse of the About Land description face each other across the gentle, sandy sweep of a shallow bay on the south side of the region. The café forms the region’s Landing Point on the eastern side of the bay, whilst the lighthouse stands at its western extent.

The latter appears to have been decommissioned some time ago; the lantern is off and the glass of the light room is heavy with grime and dirt to the point of being opaque. Now the only illumination the lighthouse seems to provide is that of a hand-held lamp. This sits on a round table on the lighthouse gallery, a wooden chair alongside it offering a perfect look-out point, although getting up to them appears to require a bit of a jump!

The bay and is guardian lighthouse and café are in turn overlooked by an artist’s studio/ retreat sitting up on one of the island’s wooded peaks. It can be reached by walking inland from the café, passing through a gap in the fence backing the beach and then climbing the lower slopes of the peak to where a wooden stairway and deck provide access to the upper slopes and the studio.

Inland, the region is split into two by an east-to-west flowing channel crossed by two bridges. The first of these is reached via an easy walk through a low-lying meadow beyond the slope leading up to the artist’s studio. On the north side of the water channel, this bridge is watched over by a working windmill.

The latter forms a part on a small homestead farm on the north side of the setting, joining with a Tuscan-style farmhouse and outbuildings bordering another sweep of meadowland, horses cattle, horses, pigs and chickens making up the livestock being tended.

The farmhouse is ideally placed to overlook the beach running along the north coast of the region, a waterside summer gazebo offering a retreat of the hard work of the day on the beach, while an outdoor dining space complete with pizza oven offers a further corner of delight for the farm owners and their family.

The western end of the north beach cuts a little more deeply into the land, and sandy walk leads inland and up to the second bridge across the region’s water channel. This provides access to the back of the wooded hill where the artist’s studio is located.

A steep grassy climb runs up over the hill, allowing explorers to make their way back to the studio. An easier walk around the shoulder of the hill offers a path to an old shack on the coast, the deck of which has long since claimed by the load seal population, whilst the interior offers a further retreat for romantics.

A couple of wrecked boats suggest the waters around the island can be a little capricious in their treatment of passing vessels while at the same time offering further points of interest to those exploring the region – and, in the case of one of the boats – for the local pelicans!

All of the above leaves a lot unsaid about this iteration of Pususaari – the level of detail to be found throughout, the mix of local waterfowl, the many places to sir and pass the time alone or in company – and, of course, plenty of opportunities for photography.

So – why not go see for yourself?

SLurl Details

• Pususaari – Where spring feels gentle (Bisous, rated Moderate)

My first and – at least until a few days before writing this piece – only visit to Pususaari, the Homestead region setting designed by Lu and Leelou Von Perkele (Lu Carrillo and LeeLou Graves respectively) for 2025 was made back in April, just as spring was about to burst forth. It was a location that immediately struck a chord in me, and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring it back then, as I noted in Pususaari: romance and kisses in Second Life.

Well, the year has clearly rolled on by since then, and 2026 is not that far off. As a result, much of Second Life turning to winter settings and wintery things to do, in keeping with the northern hemisphere – including Pususaari. Given this, I felt it was time for me to make a return visit and take in how the region has been transformed into an entirely natural wintertime setting.

Enjoy winter on Pususaari.

Glide on the frozen lake, drift over white hills, or ride through snow. Warm up at the café, slip under the northern lights with your date, and let the night soften around you

Maybe you’ll be the one to find the butterflies?

– Pususaari’s winter 2025 About Land description

The first thing that struck me on my arrival – alongside the sheer beauty of the setting – was the manner the landscape, whilst different in form and content, echoed in part the rugged handsomeness that had marked Pususaari when I first visited in April, albeit it this iteration of the setting only having a single rocky highland over which Nature has thrown a blanket of snow.

The Landing Point faces this highland area from across the region. It sits on a large deck reaching out over the icy waters from a snow-covered beach. The home of a little café, the deck offers a striking view to the north across the island and west towards the revolving eye of light as it is cast around by the lamp of a tall lighthouse.

Sitting between the beach and the highlands is a broad meadow, again somewhat mindful of the April 2025 iteration of the setting. Within it, horses and donkeys roam through tall grass. Across it, and sheltered in part by the lee of a large table of rock extending southwards from the setting’s higher slopes, sits a barn in which the local chickens and turkeys are wisely avoiding the snow.

The well alongside this barn offers a rapid ascent up to the snowy peaks, being an Experience-driven teleport. Clicking on it and accepting the local Experience will play the teleport animation and deliver you to the local Office up on the hills. The sign is one of a number scattered across the setting offering opportunities to do things – teleport, dance, obtain skates for use on the local frozen pond, rez a sled, and so on.

The sled (and skis) can be obtained from the little office on the hill, the western slope of which is ideal for getting back down to the lowlands when using them (or indeed, for walking up to the office). Whilst there is a slope to the east of the office, using it for sledding or skiing might be inadvisable, given both the gorge barring a part of the way down and the fact that were the slope does descend to the lowlands, it does so steeply and ends abruptly in the waters of a cold stream dropping down from the lower plateau.

For romantics, there is a little hideaway sitting on this plateau as it reaches south towards the meadow, and which can be reached easily enough by walking part-way down the eastern slope of the peak – or by turning off as you climb up the western slope. This little cabin is one of several places waiting to be found around Pususaari which offer nice little retreats. Some are easily spotted when wandering, others might need a little more work to find, such as the little greenhouse converted into a cosy cliff-top nook.

It is these little locations, each one neatly furnished and offering its own particular attractiveness to visitors, which make wandering the setting on foot more than worthwhile. As is reading the various signs scattered about the landscape, not just because they might offer opportunities for activities, but because one in particular will help guide you to the butterflies mentioned in the setting’s About Land description. I’m not going to tell you where this is; suffice it to say that the butterflies reside in a little suggestion of warmer, snow-free months, thus reminding us that even in the depths of winter, summer is not that far away.

With skating available on the large frozen lake, a mix of wildlife that suggests this is very definitely a northern hemisphere sub-Arctic / Arctic location, all caught under the snow / star spangled sky with a rippling aurora, Pususaari – Where winter comes to rest is an engaging and peaceful wintertime setting.

SLurl Details

• Pususaari (Bisous Island, rated Moderate)

Recently added to the Second Life Destination Guide is a Homestead region setting by SL couple Lu and Leelou Von Perkele (Lu Carrillo and LeeLou Graves respectively). Called simply Pususaari, its engaging description was enough to have me hopping over to take a look:

Pususaari is a little island made for kisses and quiet smiles. Wander through meadows, chase the sunset, whisper secrets by the sea, get lost in a moment, discover, cuddle, or dance under open skies. For lovers, dreamers, and quiet explorers.

– Pususaari Destination Guide entry.

I have no idea as to the inspiration behind the setting – whether it simply draws its name from Pususaari (roughly “Pusus island”) on lake Puruvesi, Findland, or has been so-named in memory of a visit to that tiny island, or the similarities in the naming of both islands is just coincidental.

On the one hand, Lu’s physical-world time zone suggests he might hail from Finland and thus aware of the physical world location, and there is something of a similarly between the two islands in as much as they both have their greatest length running along a south-east / north-west line. However, whether there is any strand of a link between the two is rendered largely immaterial by the rugged beauty and sense of peace to be found within Pususaari in Second Life.

It is towards the south-eastern end of the island that the Landing Point is to be found. It sits on a deck built out over the coastal waters and alongside the island’s southern headland. The latter rises behind the café occupying a good portion of the deck, perhaps offering it shelter from any harsher weather that may pass over the island. A broad arc of beach stretches north and west, its southern extent not quite reaching out to the deck and the café,  so a wander along a raised boardwalk is required to reach the sands with dry feet.

From this beach, the island might be split into six distinct area suitable for exploration. Directly east of the boardwalk steps, the sands lap at the foot of a grassy slope deeply scored by water run-off channels rises to the top of the southern headland’s large plateau. It thus offers a way up over the plateau to the eastern shoreline or, for those fancying a further climb, up the summit-topping lighthouse sitting at the tallest part of the island.

Separated from this plateau by a deep cut of an inlet lies another east coat highland area. Rivalling the lighthouse summit in terms of its highest point, it is reached by leaving the beach and striking out across the meadow that forms the central lowlands of the island.

The path upwards here is via another grassy slope with signs of heavy rain water run-off over the years, and which reaches up between two bony shoulders of rock to reach a rough path. This winds through a wooded area atop the hills before it splits, one arm dropping down to the north-east coast occupied by a cosy little holiday shack, the other pointing to a further grassy climb running up to the spine of these uplands, forming the route up to the high tree.

Across the meadow to the west, the land is equally divided, stony, rocky lowlands to the south sitting under two further shoulders of rock. Water drops from one of these shoulders to a pool of water below, while atop the other, and reached via a further sleep slope between them, sits a large windmill. Finally, to the north across the meadow to the north is a further ribbon of beach running from the north-eastern highlands to the lee of those to the west, where a Tuscan-style villa sitting within their lee.

Throughout all of these areas are places to sit an spend time, be it within little shacks hugging the east coast, wooden chairs sitting on the rough-and-tumble lowlands beneath the waterfalls, little spots on the beaches or up up among the hills or in and around the villa and / or the café. All of them present a variety of views and encourage visitors to stay and let the time pass without worry, with some requiring a bit of a climb – as with the bench under the gnarled tree mentioned above, or the ruined clock tower sitting high above the villa; all of them offer their own destination within the various parts of the landscape.

Rich in detail large and small, indoors and out – including local animal life (wild and domesticated), Pususaari  lives up to its description fully: a place caught under an ideal shared environment, offering plenty of opportunities for photography, romance and simply wandering pleasure; even the default region name – Bisous – is perfect.

SLurl Details

• Pususaari (Bisous, rated Moderate)