Simploring 2019 (18) Strict Venus Femdom SSC

17 Feb 2019 1 Comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , ,

On Tuesday, January 29th, I got an invitation from Ally (ally259) for a guided tour to Strict Venus Femdom SSC, the sim she’s currently living in. Ally gave Angelique and me a comprehensive tour of 30 minutes, quite quick as there’s a lot to see! Upon landing you may join the Strict Venus group and you can grab a folder with rules, the landmark and a notecard with details about Strict Venus Femdom SSC. I used most of the provided text for my short teaser sim report.

Strict Venus Femdom SSC – overview

Strict Venus is a safe, sane and consensual Femdom sim, still going strong since 2011 and dedicated to being the friendly face of Female Domination. The land underwent an extensive rebuild in 2019 which was strongly inspired by Italian architecture to offer some truly stunning, picturesque views.

The heart of the land is the “Lounge” where Ladies and subs can sit/kneel (delete as applicable) and enjoy intelligent conversation and amusing banter that’s kept on the right side of respectful with light moderation from a dedicated staff. Close to the lounge is the Strict Venus “Bar” where visitors can enjoy a few drinks, some raucous behaviour and maybe even a lap dance.

Strict Venus Femdom SSC – owls and blimp (left pictures) / Longue (upper right) and Event area (lower right)

In the South West corner there is an intimate “Restaurant” where couples can enjoy some quiet time together.
Toward the North West of the land is a dedicated “Games” area. Many different games are available where Ladies can attempt to beat the subs, and, should a sub win, many areas where Ladies can actually beat the subs as a reminder to be more careful in future.

The land includes many attractive, secluded “Terraces” for Ladies and subs to spend some private time together and there is also an upper level featuring three beautiful, well equipped cabins where couples can enjoy each others intimate… company (select “Dungeon” in the sun & moon disc teleporters on the ground).
And as you are on the sun & moon teleporter why not enjoy a visit the amazing “Planetarium” couples dance area in the sky…and outer space!

Strict Venus Femdom SSC – Solarium (upper left), Games (upper Right), Gazebo (lower left) and Restaurant (lower right)

Canoes, carts or two-seater flying owls are available for Ladies who would like an effortless tour of the land, just ask a passing sub or call up a volunteer from the sub board.
On the middle Thursday of each month there is a sponsored party on the large dance terrace to the South of the land with an xploder giving out great prizes for all the participants. Also there will be surprise events like: auctions, photo contests and such.

Check our blog: http://strictvenus.blogspot.com/ and read and follow the rules.
Kika Yongho & the Strict Venus Staff

Strict Venus Femdom SSC – Impression of the Grotto

As mentioned in the text, there’s a teleporter net that is useful to travel quickly around. You also need it to get to the “Dungeon” cabins and to the Planetarium. Ally’s favourite is the underwater grotto, that you can see using a canoe. It is really outstanding and a more rare feature. Strict Venus Femdom SSC offers an enjoyable environment for people who are into female domination, it’s sunny and romantic, a place to enjoy. Fitting to this concept the “Dungeon” is not in a dark cellar but in open cabin – and black is not the predomination colour.

Strict Venus Femdom SSC – Dungeon cabins (left), Planetarium (upper right), Landing area (lower right)

Thank you, Kika Yongho for providing this sim to the interested public. I know the effort behind such sims to keep them running and to maintain an active community. I hope you and the staff can enjoy it for many more years to come.

Landmark to Strict Venus Femdom SSC
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Strict%20Venus/147/166/32
Landmark to Strict Venus Femdom SSC blog
http://strictvenus.blogspot.com/

Simploring 2019 (17) Chesapeake Bay

15 Feb 2019 3 Comments

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , ,

“Forget me not, is all I ask.” is inscripted on the grave slab of Effie L. Wilson, who was born Jan. 16th, 1880 and died Oct. 12th, 1893 on Holland Island which is located the Cheseapeake Bay. She just became 13 years old. Holland Island itself is mostly sunken, just some sandbanks are left and might vanish soon as well as hundreds of other islands did in the Chesapeake Bay.

Stephen White, a waterman and Methodist Minster, fought more than 15 years trying to save Holland island and the last house remaining of once 60 houses which were inhabitated by more than 400 people in the 19th century. He lost this fight. The last house sunk in 2010. But he did succeed in one thing: Effie L. Wilson isn’t forgotten.

Holland Island in the Chesapeake Bay – real and virtual

This and other stories around the many sunken islands inspired Serene Footman and Jade Koltai to re-erect not only Holland Island in the state shortly before the last house was swallowed by the sea.
Serene and Jade also added a lighthouse from Sharps Island which still peeks out of the water while Sharps Island itself sank in 1960, somewhat earlier than Holland Island. And they added a popular hotel that was built on the island and sank with it.

Sharps Island in the Chesapeake Bay – real and virtual

Serene Footman published a very interesting and instructive article about the sunken islands in the Chesapeake Bay and the stories behind his’ and Jade’s newest installation “Chesapeake Bay” (read “The Islands that Disappeared” on Serene’s website furillen.org). There’re many pictures of today and from the past alongside some videos for example about Stephen White and his futile fight to save the last house of Holland Island.

Impressions of Chesapeake Bay in Second Life (1)

I strongly recommend to read and watch the Videos first before you visit “Chesapeake Bay” in Second Life. Knowing the background and some of the stories, the many lifes lived on these sunken islands lets you feel the magic of this place in the virtual world of Second Life.

Impressions of Chesapeake Bay in Second Life (2)

Of course there’s more to explore and discover at Chesapeake Bay. Besides the historical buildings and structures there’re plenty of places to sit, mediate, chat or just enjoy the environment and the rich wildlife. Colonies of birds are living on what’s left of the Islands.

Impressions of Chesapeake Bay in Second Life (3)

For me it was particular to visit Chesapeake Bay in Second Life, as I was in the area in the 1990ies and in the 2010ies – not aware of all of this. Serene and Jade’s transformations of particular places in the physical world into the virtual world of Second Life truely enrich my expierence. Thank you Serene and Jade!

Landmark to Chesapeake Bay
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Epsilon/191/179/21
Information and background provided by Serene Footman “The Islands that Disappeared”
https://furillen.org/2019/02/09/the-islands-that-disappeared/
Serene Footman’s website
http://www.furillen.org/

Simploring 2019 (16) Drawn Town by Cica Ghost

13 Feb 2019 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , ,

I got an invitation by Cica Ghost to visit her newest installation “Drawn Town“. This time Cica provided the quote “In the beginning it was all black and white.” by Maureen O’Hara to the visitors.

Drawn Town by Cica Ghost – Landing and entering the town

Drawn Town looks exactly as you would expect by the title – drawn, a town drawn with chalk on a blackboard …. in the beginning it was all black and white. The visitors are like blurs of colour on the blackboard as are some of “Cica-ish” people looking out from some of the window. The town is quite large and surrounded by fields of flowers which again have the “Cica-Style”. There’s once again a vehicle you can sit in and drive aroud with when exploring the town.

Impressions of Drawn Town by Cica Ghost (1)

The little details in Cica’s installations do make me smile always. For example the vehicle’s exhaust pipe produces little stars instead of smoke, as do the chimneys of the houses. There’s a larger court with a cafe in the center where you can sit and watch the visitors or cam around to discover the details of Drawn Town.

Impressions of Drawn Town by Cica Ghost (2)

In Cica’s last installation Lullaby (read here) I missed a hidden cat. In Drawn Town there are many of them straying through the streets of on the rooftops of the town. Although almost everything is in black and white Drawn Town conveyed Cica’s style to me already when I entered it. The landing is in a skybox with a whole through which you can see the town laying under you and you have to jump into the fun.

Diomita at Drawn Town by Cica Ghost

As always I enjoyed my visit a lot and left Drawn Town with a smile. Thank you Cica!

Landmark to Drawn Town by Cica Ghost
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Koro/114/236/77

Dio’s 11th year in Second Life Feb 11th, 2019 – Part II

12 Feb 2019 1 Comment

by diomitamaurer in about family members, anniversary blog entries, Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Yesterday, I had my my 11th anniversary of joining Second Life.
It has become a tradition for me to write a longer blog post on the occasion of my rezzdays, to have a look back on the last year and to realize the changes in my Second Life as well as the things that didn’t change. Yesterday, I published Part I of my anniversary entry and talked about my closer family and the changes in my family. Today’s part 2 is about my simploring tours and other highlights of my 11th year.

Let me start with my simploring tours, and there were many! I admire the creativity of artists in this virtual world, I visited galleries like DaphneArts, La Masion D’Aneli, Diotima, Niflheimer Art Gallery, the Alphalune Creations gallery of Berry Richez, the VOIR gallery and lately the gallery of Gem Preiz. I explored 8 installations and 2 exhibtions of Cica Ghost, who always conjures a smile in my face. I attended several light shows of Mario2 Helstein.
I also saw and reported about quite some installations that were supported by the Linden Endowment for the Arts (LEA) like Gem Preiz’ Demiurge, The Labyrinth Experience or Light thoughts 4 and many more. In the meanwhile I know a little bit of the art scene in Second Life and I am looking forward with curiosity to my 11th year in SL and the art I’ll see.

Gem Preiz’ Demiurge – opened until End of June 2018

Lullaby by Cica Ghost – overview and Cica’s snail

I found many cosy and lovely sims where people buildt their own dreamworld, peaceful and picturesque. You don’t need many prims or a large place for it, Sweet Paradise of the Darks and Cake are examples for that. Most of these dreamworlds were homesteads: Maison de L’amitié, Wild Edge, Season of Joy, Hinansho, Glenrosa, Winter Moon, Adele, Baileys Norge, The Silent Mind, Chochou … just to name a few. In these sims I spent relaxing hours and enjoyed the views and the peace.
Some were really particular. I want to mention the Zany Zen Railway, a tiny, almost cute railroad crossing several sims. Zimminyville did impress me too with it’s two so different parts, the lovely picturesque town and the moon colony. And just rescently I visited The VR Planetarium Dome, not only an instructive place, but offering great views and also lot’s of fun.

Impressions of Zimminyville (5) – the pyramid, gateway to Zimminyville moon colony

The VR Planetarium Dome – Space Station Resort (1) – Landing and entering the capsule

Then there were the sims that have a real background, where a place in the physical world was build in Second Life. This way I got a picture, an idea of the real places and my visit gave reason to do a little bit of research. The Beguinage of Bruges (in Belgium) was one of these impressing places and I spent some time learning about this place in the real world.
I never heard about the Isle of May, Achill Island, Black Bayou Lake or Rummu – now I have the feeling that I’ve been there already, not only because I read about these places and saw pictures but I got a 3-dimensional impression in Second Life.
Outstanding was also the visit of the Chateau of Clagny, a place which doesn’t exsist anymore. In Second Life it came back to existence.

Impressions of the Beguinage of Bruges in Second Life at Dagger Bay (2)

I also discovered many places related to my kinky side, to BDSM. That’s another dream you can live in Second Life and I do. Unfortunately some of these places don’t stay long like the Knot Society, Club Fem, Silent Manor or Mastering the Zen.
I discovered Meadow Rose, a perfect combination of a dreamworld, cosy and picturesque but also with it’s kinky corners. I was also impressed by The Citadel, a combination of art and kink. We visited the Tentacles, a park which was created by our friend Starbright Wingtips. We also visited the Steampunk prison of her.

Mastering the Zen – Diomita enjoying bondage at the top Level of the tower

Impressions of Meadow Rose (2) – beautiful views

Thank you all for building, for creating and for sharing your dreams with the rest of the community. And please apologize if I did not mention all of my tours, it were simply too many. I did really enjoy all of my simploring tours!

What else happened in this 11th year?
Again way more than I expected before reading back my own blog. And way more than I can summarize in this blog entry. We had several 10th anniversaries: Kitty’s 10th collaring, Jenny’s 10th rezzday, Jenny’s 10th collaring, Mistress Jenny’s and my 10th wedding anniversary. We also had 2 weddings at our sim, held in the chapel that was once errected by Danii Szydlowska.
Angelique performed at the Little Princess Ballet Academy Show in February 2018. She also spent a lot of time “working” as a maid at the Hilltop Manor located in The Apostasy. Angelique spent a short time serving at Sainte Agathe Castle. And together with slave Flo Angelique “worked” at the Paradise Finishing School.

LPBA Dancing through Time – Angelique Maurer (pictures by Starry)

slave Flo and AnneWanne were our twin drones and provided a lot of fun for us, mixing them up as Flo drone and Drone Flo. Later we had quite some time where our slaves were Rubber Rocket Dolls. Trying to tempt people touching the rocket boobs and getting Rubber Rocket Dolls themselves when the rockets hit them, was fun.
Our slave kelly was rented out for more than 2 weeks to Antony (antonygift) and made some new and exciting experiences away from her owners.

Mistress Jenny became more and more the (not secret) decider in the background as my submission to her got deeper and deeper. My red lights, when she takes full control were very intense, in particular as my submissive feelings got stronger each time. This way my green lights were highlights for me in this 11th year and I look forward to those Mistress will grant to me in my 12th year. Mistress Jenny now got a mesh head too, it was my present to her for her 10th rezzday in March 2018. She’s just adorable in every way!

Mistress Jenny Maurer with her new mesh head in March 2018 (left) and November 2018 (right)

We also still enjoy bondage in all forms. We tried out new racks and new toys like the serious plug pear or the serious nipple rings. The slaves, in particular slave kelly, made some incisive experiences with the pear.

May 7th: slave kelly leashed by the serious plug at Lochme

I continued creating one “Enjoying Bondage” picture per month, that always also highlighted the activities of the according month.
Last but not least we had our great Friday night parties every Friday. We think that it might be the longest regular weekly party in whole Second Life with a duration of more than 11 years. Virgo is still our dj every week and we enjoy starting our weekends dancing and chatting amoung friends. Thank you, Virgo!

Enjoying Bondage December 2018 – varied fun: Mistress Jenny, Ehesklavin Diomita, slave Flo, Jenny sitting on slave slut cecy, “piggy” slave kelly, Jenny suspended in a hogtie (above slave kelly), Diomita sitting on slave kelly, Jenny suspended upside down, slave Gwen and Angelique (from left to right)

October 27th at the Friday Night Halloween Party: Virgo Babii, Angelique Maurer, Florence Riddler, Baroness Capelo

Mistress Jenny and I as well as the core members of our little family are embedded in a great community of friends, we know some of them way over a decade now, some for several years and some are new friends of ours. Even if not mentioned by name in this anniversary blog post, these friends do mean a lot to me. SL is first of all about people and it’s you all who make my and our SL what it is: Still going strong, still enjoyable and still exciting! It was a great 11th year in Second Life and I look forward to the 12th!
Love from Diomita
xoxoxoxox

Simploring 2019 (15) Greenwich Forest and The Otherworld

09 Feb 2019 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , ,

Once again I picked a destination from scoop.it SL Destinations “Silent Town: The Otherworld”. The landmark description was intriguing although more fitting to the Halloween season: “Welcome to Secondlife’s ‘Otherworld’. Bringing a new meaning to the word “horror” in SL. Created for fans and by Silent Hill and video game fans.”
It turned out that this was not one of my usual simploring tours ….

Arriving at Silent Town: The Otherworld

When I arrived, I had to accept experiences and I explored the place where I landed. It was dark and foggy. The environment noise was a bit scary and I couldn’t see far. I looked at the map, that hang right next to a bus stop, but that didn’t really help me. Hence I began to explore walking along the street very carefully. And woooosh …. I was teleported to another street … ok. The scene I saw was not really scaring, but for sure no place you’d like to be in reality. A wrecked car was burning right next to me.
I continued my tour passing a dead body behind garbage tons and an wrecked ambulance. Around the corner was the fire department – but the fire truck, which just had left the department, was broken too.
I walked in … and suddently was surrounded by scary creatures who came closer to me, first 2 of them, then 4, then 6 …. they all wore hoover texts “100”, which indicated that they are part of a game experience.
At this point, I thought I’d get more information and looked up the profile of one of the creators (or the creator?) of “Silent Town: The Otherworld“, Jiho Eli Slayer Tempest (shirotempest):
“Jiho is Leader of Mehael/Tempest Family, Oracle/builder of EVUN and Silent Team of Greenwich Forest and the Otherworld.“

Impressions of Silent Town: The Otherworld

In Jiho’s picks I found at least some Information:

Greenwich Forest and The Otherworld 

You’ve never visited most terrifying sim in SL until you visit here. Enjoy eerie atmospheres and bone-chlling scenes in SL’s forest of Greenwich and the otherworld.. Your characters ‘end of the road’, re-created for the fans and by the fans. For visit ‘the Otherworld’, you first must complete your journey through forest. Direct landmark into town has been removed!

Ok, the place I’ve been has no information about it as it is the 2nd part of a journey. Hence I won’t publish it’s landmark here, but the starting point at Greenwich Forest. And that is where I went next.
Upon landing I got a full background story for this game. Actually it is a quest, an adventure game, built within the environment of SL and using its possibilities. And yes, it is a horror quest *winks*. Here’s the background story:

Troubled Past

Something is calling you home. There’s the unbearable feeling that there’s something you must do. Or someone you must see… Lingering… waiting… You’ve made a decision to return to your childhood town, Silent Hill. You don’t have a lot of memories of this town. In fact, all you can remember is that the people who lived there began to act strangely and weren’t themselves. It was as if a disease was spreading throughout the town that showed no symptoms other than psychological issues.

Disturbed by the sudden changes taking place there, your parents decided Silent Hill was no longer a suitable place to raise a child. Weeks later, they moved out of that town. Your life onwards was fairly decent, minus a few hurtles and bumps. Your father suffered a heart attack not even a year later after moving. For years you grew up with your mother, widowed and somewhere in the countryside of Louisiana. Life was peaceful. Money was a little hard to come by and you became the bread winner of your small family. Your mother passed away of natural causes, but before her death she began giving you small hints of family secrets you have yet to know about. As time progressed, other rumors and stories began cropping up from locals in your neighborhood. This began to spark your interest and you became intrigued with your mysterious past. And let’s not forget the most suppressing reality of it all; re-occurring dreams of someone calling for you. “What’s taking you so long?” a voice in the dark shadows would call out, screeching something long and heavy against the ground as it followed close behind him.
It’s a cool night in fall. You take a drive down a familiar route. After your car’s engine fails to start back up at the pit stop, you stumble upon a small entrance way leading into the forest of Greenwich. The fog is thick and coats the mountains and shores of Toluca Lake. Just across the lake from beyond the parking lot, you can faintly make out the tops of buildings of that familiar town that was once your home. Returning to gaze at your surroundings, you notice that you’re suddenly cut off from all ends of the highway. The path which lay ahead of your car is closed off and the bridge which you previously had traveled across only fifteen minutes prior, is strangely no longer accessible. Or for better words… destroyed.

Arriving at Greenwich Forest

“What’s going on?”
With growing curiosity about the townspeople and the inability to find help elsewhere, you can’t help but approach the broken hole in the fence which lay ahead of you. From there, your journey begins.

And there are rules which you can and have to read when you start your way to Greenwich Forest. You also get a HUD, that attaches itself when experiences are accepted. There are more objects, you’ll have to find, for example Robbie Rabbit dolls, which will provide notes of which you have form a sentence. At some point you will also need weapons, provided by the sim, in order to survive.

I made my way to The Otherworld skipping the forest and explored the subway and some of the canalisation. You can save your location at certain points: “Since the experience is so big, it can take hours to explore everything. Most red glowing “seals” have landmarks. Once you’ve found one, click the texts on these screens to save your point and return later…“

At Silent Hill – the lower right picture shows a seal to take landmarks, if you want to interrupt the adventure

My simploring time was up and I finished my simploring tour to Greenwich Forest and The Otherworld. If you like horror and quests, Greenwich Forest and The Otherworld might provide many hours of fun – and if not, then just visit to take some pictures of the dirty urban environment, it makes a great background.
Thank you Jiho Eli Slayer Tempest (shirotempest) and the whole team for providing this horror adventure.

Lndmark to Greenwich Forest and The Otherworld
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Apocalypse/192/225/30

Simploring 2019 (14) Oxygen by Terrygold

07 Feb 2019 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , ,

I visited Terrygold’s newest exhibition and installation “Oxygen” following Inara Peys’s blog post about it “Terrygold’s Oxygen in Second Life“. The exhibition and the installation is shown at Solo Arte, the art place of Melania (melaniabis) and Terrygold.

At the landing you can grab a notecard with the background story that accompanies Terrygold’s exhibition in the rooms adjacent to the landing. There’re recommended settings for your viewer for your visit and I used them, althogh my picture became a bit dark with it, but that’s intended.

Oxygen by Terrygold – impressions of the exhibition (1)

The story itself is quite sad and touching. It deals as the name implies with oxygene. In a not so far future a woman grows up wearing an oxygene mask permanently because of the polluted air. The mask is an ongoing torture, the sounds of her own breathing making it hard to blind out her misery. Just once a week she gets relief for an hour she may spend in a greenhouse.

Oxygen by Terrygold – impressions of the exhibition (2)

As you wander through the exhibtion you read the story, you see the pictures that express the never ending longing for relief, the yearning for a natural and healthy environment. And you hear the sounds of the breathing. In the end, when you passed the last room and picture you hear the last heartbeat and silence, finally silence.

Oxygen by Terrygold – impressions of the underground

Leaving the exhibition you walk up stairs, reach a large corridor with oxygene tanks and come to an old underground station and finally when you walk up from the underground station with the station name “Rebirth” you reach the surface, a town named “Oxygen“. It’s dark and abandoned, a ghost town. Nature has conquered it back, ivy, trees and gras slowly overgrowing walls. The roads with the rusty car wracks still witness the life that has been here before. And if you walk inside the houses, there’s still furniture, pictures on the walls, signs of the life that was here before.

Oxygen by Terrygold – impressions of the ghost town

Oxygen by Terrygold is an impressive piece of art with a strong message like “Rusted Farm” was, the installation of Terrygold that I visited last year (read here) and that dealt with industrial farming and pollution. I recommend a visit to Oxygen and I hope that Terrygold’s message is heard. Thank you for your art and for this installtion, Terrygold!

Landmark to Oxygen
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Casvian%20Caye/33/85/2997
Inara Pey’s blog post “Terrygold’s Oxygen in Second Life”
https://modemworld.me/2019/01/25/terrygolds-oxygen-in-second-life/

Simploring 2019 (13) A way of life

04 Feb 2019 1 Comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , ,

I looked up scoop.it SL Destinations and came across a blog entry of Inara Pey “A Way of Life in Second Life“, in which she reported about her visit to a sim named “a way of life“.

“a way of life” – overview

“a way of life” is a homestead owned by Elyjia Baxton. She also created Tavana Island, an island that I visited back in 2017 (read here). The landmark description just contains the link to the flickr group  but in Elyjia’s profile I found a text about “a way of life“, which is quite fitting:
“Discover a landscape of rustic nature with farms and paths, places to walk, green landscapes, bordered by a beach. A quiet, soothing place with many perfect places for photography“

Impressions of “a way of life” (1)

“a way of life” consists of several islands of which some are connected by bridges or rocks, to get to some others, you’ll have to swim. The landing point is on the terrace of the only residential house at “a way of life“. It overlooks the sea from one side. The house itself is built in a Mediterrean style and it is only sparsely furnished (yet?). From there I began to explore “a way of life“.

Impressions of “a way of life” (2)

I visited the chapel, the windmill and the barn. Wherever you turn your view to, “a way of life” is beautiful in it’s rural simplicity and peace. I liked in particular the natural pond and the pier where you can sit and simply enjoy the quietness.

Impressions of “a way of life” (3)

The lighthouse is on a seperate island and a lot of birds are flying around it. You could take a rest in the gazebo, in which you’ll also find a telescope. The area around the cabin and the nearby beach offer additional cosy places to enjoy the environment or, like I did, for taking pictures.

Impressions of “a way of life” (4)

There’s not much I can write about “a way of life“. It is a perfectly made dream of a place to be, peaceful and natural, rural with it’s own charme. I enjoyed my visit and the views a lot.

Thank you Elyjia for sharing your place with the public!

Landmark to “a way of life”
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hrodas%20Fen/152/96/29
Flickr group of “a way of life”
https://www.flickr.com/groups/4552400@N20/
Inara Pey’s blogpost “A Way of Life in Second Life”
https://modemworld.me/2019/01/21/a-way-of-life-in-second-life/

Simploring 2019 (12) 6 artists at La Maison d’Aneli

01 Feb 2019 5 Comments

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

I got the invitation to visit the newest exhibition at La Maison d’Aneli, that opened January 23rd and features the art of: Therese Carfagno, Eupalinos Ugajin, Nabrej Aabye, Betty Tureaud, Tubal Amiot and Xirana Oximoxi.

I started my visit at the room that was filled with Betty Tureaud art. It is one piece, four persons stand in a circle around a hoovering couple. The persons or statues are made of coloured glas, each has a different colour, the couple being pink. Around the scene 8 cubes are placed in a circle and on the inner side of the cubes you see the faces of other coloured persons looking at the scene in the center. The whole scene is in a full dark room and once you enter there’s no other light than what is reflected of the persons and the cubes. It’s quite impressing to walk around and to step into the scene. I’ll refrain from interpreting *winks*
Betty Tureaud is from Denmark, she’s a builder and light and space artist in Second Life. I came across her art before at ArtSpace UTSA in 2016 (read here) and in August 2018 when I visited her isntallation “The Art Game” (read here)

Xirana Oximoxi (Nuria Vives)’s exhibition at La Maison d’Aneli shows a series of nine women artists of 16th – 19th centuries centering the attention to the difficulties they had to deal with to be recognised as professional artists. Each of the female artists has her own little corner. Stylised men are looking at the exhibited pictures and are discussing, you see their comments like in a comic strip, the ceiling hanging full of other bubbles. To some extent the comments seem to be funny nowadys, but on the second glance they left me very pensively.
Xiarna Oximoxi (Nuria Vives) is a Catalan artist: “My works reflect my concerns and my different moods. They are based on my experiences and express a personal sensitivity nourished by impressions from the external world and my internal world.” Nuria her an own website http://nuriavives.com/ and an own blog http://nuriavvives.wordpress.com/

Nabrej Aabye is a digital artist. His work ranges from simple illustration, photography, video, design, digital painting, typography and to mixed art. At La Maison d’Aneli you’ll get an impression of the variety of his art, that is not dominated at all by one style. The two boule balls and the sci-fi skeleton of a dinosaur show examples of his 3D art.

Therese Carfagno is Second Life for 12 years now and took pictures within SL for many years. Lately she’s more interested in pictures of real life. In her exhibition at La Maison d’Aneli she shows a series of pictures of Nancy, “a very kind and beautiful girl who’s very at ease in front of the camera.” There’re also a few abstracts. You’ll have to interpret them yourself as even Therese can’t explain what it is – nor can I.


Tubal Amiot’s usual name is Aïcha according to something in her real name. Like Therese Carfagno she’s also in Second for almost 12 years now. She says about herself, that other people find her being eccentric. For her SL is a place to do what she doesn’t do in real life. She’s first of all a poet and writer. Tubal makes paintings with softwares, sometimes 3 for one painting. The work exhibited at La Maison d’Aneli reaches from naive art to adult art, from scuptures to comics, from abstract to garphical pictures. And it’s really colourful!

Eupalinos Ugajin is also in Second Life for more than 10 years. Inara Pey has visited Eupalinos Ugajin’s “Avaloir” and writes in her blogpost Eupalinos Ugajin’s Avaloir in Second Life: “Those familiar with Eupa’s work will know that it covers a broad canvas, often containing humour, whimsy, a little self-deprecation, which can be mixed with social commentary, imaginative projection worth of the likes of Gilliam, and an artistic flair that can quite captivate the eye and mind.”
The room created by Eupalinos Ugajin at La Maison d’Aneli show several 2D and 3D pieces of art and a quote on the floor that is faded in and out at different spots and that describes the combining element of the exhibited pieces:
“…we now have 3D and the apologists say it is more realer than real. Do we need that? Shouldn’t we be putting our energies into something more worthwhile? The human imagination is surely the most amazing thing in the universe. We do not want virtual reality we want virtual unreality. We cannot replicate reality – ahy are we asting our time trying?…” (Peter Greenaway)

Once again Aneli Abeyante has put together an impressive exhibtion showing the broad variety of art in Second Life at La Maison d’Aneli. I did enjoy my visit and can only recommend that you’ll have a look at it. Thank you Aneli and thank you Therese Carfagno, Eupalinos Ugajin, Nabrej Aabye, Betty Tureaud, Tubal Amiot and Xirana Oximoxi.

Landmark to La Maison d’Aneli
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Holland/43/41/21

Simploring 2019 (11) The VR Planetarium Dome – Space Station Resort

30 Jan 2019 1 Comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , ,

For my simploring tour on January 17th/19th I picked “The VR Planetarium Dome – Space Station Resort” from scoop.it SL Destinations.  What caught my attention is that The VR Planetarium exsists since 2008(!) in Second Life and that I never heard about it before. And even Annie Oh (anniebrightstar)’s scoop.it SL Destinations just has one entry listed. The VR Planetarium Dome – Space Station Resort is owned by Ambrosius (andoni merlin).

The VR Planetarium Dome – Space Station Resort (1) – Landing and entering the capsule

The landmark led me to a small plattform just below of a huge turning spiral. Zooming out, I could see The VR Planetarium Dome below. The impression is that the dome and the attached steel construction are held in its hoovering position by the turning spiral. Stairs lead down to the top of the dome and further down to the attached construction. I went down to the top of the dome first. There’s a box, where you can grab a key card:
“Find the key-card in a folder of your inventory and add it. The key-card attaches as HUD to open the doors in the asteroid. If you are wearing the score HUD, the key-card will also load your points at the main door of the asteroid.”
Ok, for whatever this is necessary, I took the key card and went down to the construction. I peeked inside of the dome. It looked very interesting. I saw planets inside and changing backgrounds but postponed a visit and entered a capsule instead that I reached by climbing up a few stairs. I first didn’t realize that I entered the capsule of a rocket. I got 3 destionations offered: Asteroid Base, Asteroid Up and
Earth Repository. I selected Asteroid Base ….

Space Capsule 2: No-return point!!!
Space Capsule Call: COUNTDOWN 10…KEEP CLEAR!
Space Capsule 2 whispers: Systems GO, Autopilot is on command.
Space Capsule Call: Ignition
Space Capsule 2: Lift Off

And then I began my space flight, which ended tragically. The rocket stage separation failed…

Space Capsule 2: Proceeding to rocket stage separation
Second Life: You died and have been teleported to your home location

Ups …. I was home again. What was that? Did I forget wearing the key card that I got? Do I have to join a group? Ok, another try. I went back and entered the capsule again, wearing the key card on a HUD. Later I found out, that you don’t need the key card for a successful flight. I might have been a pure accident. Anyway, my 2nd space flight was successful and I landed at the Asteroid Base.

The VR Planetarium Dome – Space Station Resort (2) – Asteroid Base

Space Capsule 2: No-return point!!!
Space Capsule Call: COUNTDOWN 10…KEEP CLEAR!
Space Capsule 2 whispers: Systems GO, Autopilot is on command.
Space Capsule Call: Ignition
Space Capsule 2: Lift Off
Space Capsule 2: Proceeding to rocket stage separation
Space Capsule 2: Rocket stage separation complete
Space Capsule 2: Engines off, you are into orbit.
Space Capsule 2: Destination set to Asteroid Base.
Proceeding to a routine verification…
Stand by for a new communication in 1 minute, over.
Space Capsule 2: We are about to enter the asteroid’s gravitational field. Initializing protocol for landing.
Space Capsule 2: Approaching maneuver to Asteroid Base
Space Capsule 2: ARRIVED!

Hint: Once you arrived you have to get out of the capsule quickly, otherwise you’ll return to The VR Planetarium Dome with the capsule.

The Asteroid base is a steel construction attached to the asteroid. There’s a screen with pictures of the starry sky, constellations, nebulas together with explanatory texts. There’s also a sci-fi bar and a lock to enter the asteroid. Next to the lock is another box, where you can grab a space suit, another HUD for collection points, weapons. I also saw a score list. At this point you need the before mentioned key card to opperate the lock: First click the key card, then the lock – et voila! I didn’t wear the HUD nor the space suit or any weapons. Behind the lock you enter into a spiral tube and I walked inside. My exploartion once again ended quickly. I was attacked by aliens and soon “died” once again and was returned home.

This seems to be fun! I need doing it another time again wearing the according gear and weapons. Later I found the follwoing description: “This is not a game, it’s a challenge to your Second Life skills. There are no rules, use what you know, wear what you have, it’s not cheating if you just follow a few instructions.”

The VR Planetarium Dome – Space Station Resort (3) – Asteroid Up

My next journey led me to the Asteroid Up. This time you get inside of the asteroid where you can walk around a huge vessel of hot magma. The way around the vessel ends a lock where you need the key card once again – and enter the tube with the aliens this time from the other side. Luckily I didn’t meet any aliens enterting from here, but at some point the tube is blocked when you enter from this side.

The VR Planetarium Dome – Space Station Resort (4) – Earth Repository

I then selected Earth Repository for my last space flight. This flight passes the asteroid and leads to a sphere hoovering above a huge tube. Inside of the sphere you can sit down on a platform and watch videos like in and 3D video dome. I had a rollercoaster drive – impressive and very well made as it feels as if you’re sitting on the train. There are more 3D videos but I just saw the rollercoaster.
Besides sitting down and watching 3D videos you can also walk through a spiral tube down to the tube below of the sphere. I did that and I dared to jump down into the tube and landed in sea of green glibber. Touching a red dot at the wall the sea suddenly opened and I fall further down and ended in the hot magma of the asteriod. Incredibly, I didn’t die *winks*

The VR Planetarium Dome – Space Station Resort (5) – Earth Repository, the fall through the tube

Last but not least, I explored The VR Planetarium Dome. At the entry you find some explanatory pictures about Second Life. There are also teleporters to the Asteroid and the Earth Repository – but taking the rocket is way more fun!

The VR Planetarium Dome – Space Station Resort (6) – Entering the dome

The VR Planetarium Dome is a huge sphere, where you can take a seat and watch the space. The projected pictures are taken from the NASA/JPL/ESA/Hubble. Again, this is very impressive and for someone who likes taking pictures like myself …. WOW

The VR Planetarium Dome – Space Station Resort (7) – Impressions of inside of the dome

To sum it up: I had a very entertaining visit to The VR Planetarium Dome – Space Station Resort. And I haven’t really explored all of it. Fighting the aliens or watching more 3D videos, watching more pictures of the space with all the explanatory texts, or sitting longer in The VR Planetarium Dome could provide many many hours of fun. You can even dance in The VR Planetarium Dome with the space as a background and enjoy the fitting space music. It is a fantastic place to visit in Second Life.

Thank you so much Ambrosius (andoni merlin) for providing this gem for all of us! I did enjoy my visit a lot and might come back for a longer visit, if I find the time for it.

Landmark to The VR Planetarium Dome – Space Station Resort
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Zebria/38/42/2564

Simploring 2019 (10) Gem Preiz Fractal Art Gallery

23 Jan 2019 1 Comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , ,

I came across Gem Preiz and his fractal art in 2017 and I follow his exhibitions and art ever since. Now I got an invitation from Gem to visit his “Gem Preiz Fractal Art Gallery“

Gem Preiz Fractal Art Gallery is located in a huge sci-fi building complex. When you arrive you’re overwhelmed by the dimensions. I didn’t count the exhibited pictures but there’re for sure more than 100. Gem’s greeter welcomed me: “Welcome to my Fractal Art Gallery. Enjoy the visit. Use stairs, teleport signs, flight or double-click to reach the various floors“

Right next to where you arrive is a board where you can grab a notecard about Gem and about all is exhibtions in Second Life since 2012.
Gem Preiz “is educated in science and mathematics and is fond of anything related to Nature, Cosmos and Earth, from astronomy to geology. The world of fractals is, in the same way, ruled by Mathematics functions which, as Physics do in Nature, enable to create objects which features repeat themselves at every scale. There lies his passion for fractals: create thanks to the power and pureness of the Mathematical concept, images the complexity of which can suggest Nature beings, objects or sceneries.”

Gem Preiz Fractal Art Gallery provides an overview of Gem’s work. His fractals reach from sci-fi towns and objects to colourful fantasy elements, from spirals to structures reminding of jewels. Some of the pictures are really huge and fill a whole wall. You can interactively change these large pictures and display others.

Gem Preiz Fractal Art Gallery has also some quite closed rooms dedicated to a single theme but most of the gallery is in one open and lightflooded room. You can explore the various levels either on foot using stairs of you can use teleporters. One of teleporters brings you to the terrace of the building and zooming out you get an impression of the complex. It didn’t surprise me that Gem created a facinating building that is a piece of art itself and contains elements of his former work.

I enjoyed visiting Gem Preiz Fractal Art Gallery. It is intriguing to look at the fractals and to try to find the Underlying mathematic function. Despite the spirals I never succeed to find it. If you don’t know Gem Preiz’ fractal art yet, the gallery provides a great introduction and overview about fractals. And if you know Gem Preiz’ art already, you will visit his gallery most probably anyway – like I did. Thank you, Gem!

Landmark to Gem Preiz Fractal Art Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Morag/122/183/3910

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