Travels

Lost Island – Bastet’s Paradise


Often I use the Destination Guide to see what is new in SL, and today one of the highlights on my dashboard caught enough attention to TP over and have a look: The Lost Island.

Now, I also saw a comment added in the DG’s entry (one can share, comment, like and all that via Facebook), by someone NOT recommending it as the place was to their experience very tiny due to use of ‘surround sim’ elements.
Lost Island - I

It is true that the ‘surround sim’ elements are used ON the sim, and since one cannot actually walk or be on those, it does make the actual explorable site somewhat smaller, but by no means did it gave me the impression it was tiny. In fact, I found it a tasteful and lovely decorated landscaped jungle – with a hint of fantasy/magic.
Lost Island - II

It has some great detailed spots and there is room for a romantic dance, via the intan dance poles. I ran into some elephants, and fell from a bridge (duh) and I certainly recommend a visit to this lush green forest!
Lost Island - III

 

[Norderney] – A smile is the beginning of Peace


[Norderney] - IV

After I saw several gorgeous images on Flickr, taken on [Norderney], I decided to tp over and explore this new, to me, destination. It is owned by Jacky McPherson and she did a wonderful job in landscaping and decorating! What a peaceful, lovely place this is! Whether you enjoy walking around, sitting on the small but gorgeous beach, taking pictures or hang out….this place has it all, and Jacky shows: less is more.

[Norderney] - I

[Norderney] - II

I have a weak spot for rural sims like this and know I will for sure become a regular visitor..and you should too! My pictures do not do the place justice, it is way better in ‘the pixel’!
[Norderney] - III

 

Sunny Fields


Sunny Fields is, besides the mainstore of =TBM= where you can purchase planes and monorails,  an airport and open to all with rezzing enabled so you can try out your aircraft and feel all free like a bird. And stuff.

I have a thing for airports, maybe because I have had so many flights the past years and I live close by  Amsterdam Airport….plane-spotting just never bores me in both lives. Operating an aircraft is however not my thing…That’s okay, there is business class for that, right?

Sunny Fields is also very photogenic, with wide views and not so many buildings and subtle landscaping – giving it the feeling of space and air. Lovely! And since you can rezz, it is also nice if you wish to use poseballs or other props for a photoshoot on location!

Sunny Fields - I Sunny Fields - II Sunny Fields - III Sunny Fields - IV

Oh, yes..I admit..I tried it, once again. With my Lindy Plane. And this is why I shouldn’t:

Sunny Fields - V

Kavala Bay


This morning, while hiding in my office from the heat (yups, I am a real basement dweller) outside I was travelling around in SL and ended up in a desert of all places. One would have thought I was more in the mood for Iceland or something Arctic but hey…it’s Second Life!

Kavala Bay, is not really a sandy desert but rather a flooded one. It has lots of Camels, some elephants, a temple-like building and a tent. And some sand here and there. Not really a lot to do, but a wonderful place to take pictures – specially when you like to play with the reflection of the water.
Next to the temple is a teleporter – alas..only for groupmembers. So I cheated a bit and flew up, to discover a wonderful building in the sky, filled with floating lanterns!

Trolling the Camels…

Up in the sky

Surrounded by lanterns

 

 

Mondays are srs bsns


Today I was in Amsterdam, the centre, for work. Not my favourite city, but oh well..sometimes one has no choice! It inspired me though, to go take a look in the Amsterdam in Second Life, which exists since 2004! It’s a nice replica and I have to admit it was kind of funny to see the bridges and canals I cursed at this morning while searching for a place to park my car for over 40 mins,  completely empty!

♥ Hair: Wasabi Pills – Taleen in Flaming Cherry (mesh)
♥ Blouse: Maitreya – Silk Neck Tie Blouse in Pure (mesh)
♥ Skirt: Maitreya – Anais Skirt in Polka Red (mesh)
♥ Boots: Lelutka – Ren in Brick (mesh)
♥ Gloves: The Secret Store – Fine Gloves in Cherry
♥ Handbag: The Secret Store – Girly Briefcase in Cherry

 

Mount Rushmore


In 1999 I made a wonderful road trip in the USA, from Colorado via Utah to Montana and I-don’t-know-how-many states. I have fond memories of Yellowstone NP, what an amazing place.

Also, since we were driving along and it was not a fully planned trip, at some point decided it would be cool to see Mount Rushmore. Knowing it only from books and television, we thought it would be worthwhile a day driving to South Dakota. The trip was – as I recall – quite boring. Something with endless wastelands, rain and horrible (country – gah!!) music on all radio stations. Anyway, we got there and even found a motel near the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, so we had a good sleep and got up early to see the four Presidents carved out in the mountains.
Heh. My first reaction was – and my apologies if I offend my USA readers – “Uh, I thought it was huge. It is small! We have been tricked all those years on tv and in the books!”. I found it disappointing.

So far my RL experience with Mount Rushmore (been there, done that and yes I even got the t-shirt!).

In Second Life you can also visit this Memorial! No days long driving and no rainy wastelands, but just a teleport away! Yay!
Also, it looks big! Huge! Just how I always imagined it would be!

Actually I find it pretty cool to visit a place in SL that I have seen in RL as well, comparison is not always fair, and yes…I really like this place, it is well made and gives a nice idea of the real one. Click here for a SLURL to Mount Rushmore in Second life and enjoy :).

Second Life Railroad – Do the locomotion


Last night Ratt and I tried to spar some, but were obviously both not in the right mood.

We needed to get out a bit, so I showed him my new home on the mainland and when we went for a walk on the Linden Road we discovered Spangle Station, really nearby my house! Spangle Station is one of the stations in the Second Life Rail Road (SLRR) tracks and Ratt happened to have a nice train in his inventory (of course, who doesn’t?!). He rezzed it and off we went, for a nice trip over the Mainland by train. I must say I was pleasantly surprised and it was a lovely evening. We drove for about 2 hours and meanwhile had some chats and enjoyed the view! I never knew how cool this was…..!

From the wiki: The Second Life Railroad ( SLRR ) runs over more than 80 Regions on the Heterocera Atoll (Northern) Continent. More than 20 Regions have branch lines extended out from the Heterocera Main line. Branch lines include the Maritime Line, the North Coast Line, the Mountain Line and the North Line. Track-laying and maintenance are provided by Michael Linden and the Linden Department of Public works LDPW.

Spangle Station

The occasional lag and simborder-crossings were not too bad. We both crashed once, for me no big deal but Ratt as Operator of the train had to literally run and hop on the train to get back in, when he got back online – which was actually quite hilarious and I had to laugh so loud it gave me the hiccups (sorry Ratt!)! On two sims the train went faster than my hair..meh I almost had a deja vu of my hair ending up between my legs (2007, anyone?) but all in all it was great and I can certainly recommend this trip.

Pit stop at Foxglove Station

We did the North Coast Branch Line and another piece, for more information the Wiki on SLRR is great, it includes all stations, maps and lines and some background information. On most stations you can rezz a free train!