Simploring 2021 (7) Valium SL – MARFA

16 Feb 2021 Leave a comment

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

For my simploring tour on Tuesday, January 26th, I picked Valium SL – MARFA from scoop.it SL Destinations. The entry led to an entry of Susann Decuir “Neueröffnung: Valium SL- MARFA (Moderat)” (the post is in German). It attracted my immediate attention because of several issues: Firstly I visited often places created and/or owned by Vally Lavender (Valium Lavender), secondly Fred Hamilton, Lotus Mastroianni and Sofie Janic built the sim, and thirdly the published picture reminded me of “Kun-Tei-Ner”, another place that was built by Fred Hamilton (frecoi) and Lotus Mastroianni (read here).

In addition I visited Marfa, Texas, already in Second Life back in 2017 (read here) and had done some research.
Marfa was founded in the early 1880s as a railroad water stop. The town was named “Marfa” at the suggestion of the wife of a railroad executive. The Marfa Army Airfield served as a training facility for several thousand pilots during World War II. It was closed 1945. Marfa has a population of about 2,000 people, hence it is really small.

Impressions of Marfa, Texas (source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marfa,_Texas)

Today, Marfa is a tourist destination and a major center for Minimalist art. Attractions include Building 98, the Chinati Foundation, artisan shops, historical architecture, a classic Texas town square, modern art installments, art galleries, and the Marfa lights. The city is also 37 miles (60 km) from Prada Marfa, a pop art exhibit, which might be the most photographed and visited site in Marfa. The area around Marfa is known as a cultural center for contemporary artists and artisans. In 1971, minimalist artist Donald Judd moved to Marfa from New York City. Since Judd’s death in 1994, two foundations have worked to maintain his legacy: the Chinati Foundation and Judd Foundation. Every year the Chinati Foundation holds an open house event where artists, collectors, and enthusiasts come from around the world to visit Marfa’s art (Source: wikipedia).

As mentioned above Valium SL – MARFA is built on a full moderate region owned by by Vally Lavender (Valium Lavender). Fred Hamilton, Lotus Mastroiani und Sofie Janic have rebuilt Marfa quite realisitc. You recognize the buildings, the art and the weiredness of this place in Texas, art in the middle of nothing. No wonder that many people visit it nowadays.

Valium SL – MARFA: Bird eye view and orientation map

The landing is admist the town center next to the fire department. If you zoom out, you can see how in the middle of nothing Marfa is located. Close to the landing point is a Motel, a garage and a gas station. And right across the street is one of the largest buildings, the “Empty Chair Gallery”. I visited the gallery first before further exploring Valium SL – MARFA.

Impressions of Valium SL – MARFA (1): around the landing

In the Empty Chair Gallery Vally showcases pictures that she had collected. All pictures are about empty chairs: “I felt that the ’empty chair’ in most cases created the emotion of being lonely, sad, or waiting, and wanting from the observer. They seemed to ask the same question over again and that is “Do you feel what I am feeling about my empty chair?” And often time the chairs instilled a sense of happiness, knowing perhaps, that soon someone would occupy their empty chair.”
The pictures exhibited right now at the Empty Chair Gallery are from Adam Cayden, Cecilia Nansen, D e F o e, Duna Gant, GlitterPrincess Destiny, Key Monk, Loegan Magic, Powder Grau, Samyi Basevi, Sander Sunborne, Shawn Shakespeare, Sunset Theas and Venicio Armin,

Impressions of Valium SL – MARFA (2): The Empty Chair Gallery

After visiting the gallery, I first explored the little town. There’s a lot to discover and I didn’t see all. Close to the residential area is a nice flower store and I saw an antiques store, both decorated with love for details. The largest building in town is the countyhouse. It was built fitting the original building in Marfa, Tx.

Impressions of Valium SL – MARFA (3): countyhouse, flower store, antiques store

In the residential area you find several house, some of them were still empty duing my visit but that might have changed in the meanwhile. Between two houses closer to the town I found a nice little court to sit and enjoy. Also quite close to thre residentail area is Thor’s Café & Bar. I recommend that you have a look inside. The decoration is outstanding. I think these little details make Valium SL – MARFA so particular. For example you find a wardrobe in the form of a cactus.

Impressions of Valium SL – MARFA (4): Residential area and Thor’s Café & Bar

The visitors and I assume in particular those who visit the Marfa Lights Festial live in a seperate camp in containers, in tents and caravans. In the center of the site is an event area. really amazing is the the gate to the site has exactly the same form and symbol as in real life. The containers did remind me of “Kun-Tei-Ner” (read here). I didn’t have the time to go into every tent or container but they are furnished and I bet there’s also a lot to see. If you get hungry after all what is to see at Valium SL – MARFA you can take a break at the bbq stand right next between the camp and the Lights building.

Impressions of Valium SL – MARFA (5): containers, tents and caravans and the bbq stand

The “Lights-Building” is another landmark of Marfa, Tx. in RL. It has a pertciluar egg form and daylight just comes through a small gap in the ceiling. The entrance and the exit are built in a waythat avoids any light coming it. Marfa is renown for its art. And you find it spreaded around the town. There’s the renown Prafa store, a care on a concrete box, a large board showing James Dean (I think at least) next to a scaffold in the middle of nothing

Impressions of Valium SL – MARFA (6): Lights building, Prafa and other art

And finally there is art spread on ranch land, many boxes and cubes made of concrete, iglus, and inbetween grazing cattle, quite weired.

Impressions of Valium SL – MARFA (7): Art and cattle, the railroad

I was impressed of my first visit. Fred Hamilton (frecoi), Lotus Mastroiani, Sofie Janic and Vally Lavender (Valium Lavender) created a really outstanding place. I enjoyrd seeing Marfa, Tx. again. In these days and age where you can only travel virtually it was a feast for me. A big thank you to all who were and are involved in realizing Valium SL – MARFA.

Landmark to Valium SL – MARFA
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ValiumSL/179/131/59
Valium group flickr page
https://www.flickr.com/groups/valium/
Vally Lavender (Valium Lavender)’s flickr page
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vally-lavender/
Susann Decuir “Neueröffnung: Valium SL- MARFA (Moderat)”
https://mein-zweites-leben.blogspot.com/2021/01/neueroeffnung-valiumsl-marfa-moderat.html

Simploring 2021 (6) Club Queen Thea

07 Feb 2021 2 Comments

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

When I was at Puerto Esclava with Mistress Jenny on Friday, January 22nd, I saw Thea Papp there. She wore the tag “Queen”. Mistress and I always feel blessed when Goddesses, Queens, Princesses and other royals are around us. In Second Life it is easy to become a royal, you just need a tag *winks*. I had spoken to Thea Papp almost a year before we saw her at Puerto Esclava again that afternoon and she had been nice. I read her profile again and came across “Club Queen Thea” there: “Female, male, submissive, lesbian, Mistress, Master, slave, shemale, sissy, slut, bi, straight, gay, femdom, dance, cuddle, hangout, latex, … Drama, discrimination or any other disturbing behavior shall not be tolerated. The group is free.“

After Mistresss had left for dinner I decided to have a quick look at “Club Queen Thea“. The club is located on a sky platform and consists of a very luxurious club building, and open air play area, an event dome and a large pony play area. It is located in a full region, of course an adult region. The region is owned by Thea Papp. I was about to start exploring when Thea came to her place and she was nice again and gave me a tour and explained her concept to me.

Club Queen Thea – bird eye views and orientation map

Diomita Maurer: Is that your private place?
Thea Papp: No, I have an entire private sim downstairs for my own, this is just a skybox. I do this for fun, not for business or so
Diomita Maurer: Is your sim publicly accessible?
Thea Papp: No but i can invite people of course. This place is of course open for everyone, I wanted to make a place with no rules except being polite and respecting others. I did find too many clubs are imposing silly rules.
Diomita Maurer: That is true
Thea Papp: And sometimes more people sometimes less people, but I’m happy. Most people are very open and polite, I do not mind gender also, not even it is a human, a cat or whatever. A lot of sissies, shemales and so on come here, but also females and males. I try to talk with everyone and I almost know every member myself. I find personal contact better then standing like a plant somewhere in a club.
Diomita Maurer: We call them S&M clubs, Stand&Model. So I’m allowed to use the gear here anytime?
Thea Papp: Sure, a lot are often naked here also, I do not mind that.
Diomita Maurer: Do you have regular events?
Thea Papp: We have parties sometimes, but not every week or so

Thea showed me the really large pony area. There’s all you need to exercise with your pony and of course there’re also stalls. Thea showed me the event dome. It is furnished with style and looks really good. The black panels at the walls have sex animations. I can imagine that you could have quite some kinky parties in there! Thea told me that some come here to talk, others for dancing and still others just for fucking *winks*. At the entrance you can grab a free collar, which is rather unique as it has the logo of the club engraved.

Impressions of the event dome at Club Queen Thea

We went to the “Club Queen Thea” next. Again the building convinces with its style in- and outside. Most furniture inside is rlv enhanced, but you can also just play chess or drink coffee there. Of course you find also some thrones there. I really liked the Club.

Impressions of the Club Queen Thea

What else is there? A nice outdoor play area with some more rlv enhanced objects, like a billard table, a table tennis, a bondage rack, a jail cell, a shower….
Thea Papp: A shower to wash cum away. Well you need to provide it. Some can’t go home with cum on their body :-))
The jail cell is quite exclusively for Thea’s particular guest as only she has the keys to lock it. Again even the jail cell had style.

Impressions of the outdoor play are at Club Queen Thea

I should mention once again that the membership in the “Club Thea Queen” is free. And the place is really worth a visit and if the people are as nice and polite as Thea is, it might be even more worth visiting. Yet, don’t get fooled, Thea herself is strict and demanding and she doesn’t mince her words.
Thea invited me to see her private place. It is even larger and her personal villa is large and luxurious. Some of Thea’s staff was present, she seems to have some to support her. Well, a queen should have many staff, shouldn’t she?
Her private sim has quite cosy corners as well as places for worship.

But back to the public “Club Queen Thea“. I enjoyed my visit a lot. If you look for some kinky fun with style, give it a try. Thank you for the tour, Queen Thea!

Landmark to Club Queen Thea
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Queendom/140/150/3509

Simploring 2021 (5) Kidaka Resort, Hotel & Eco Lodges

22 Jan 2021 Leave a comment

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

For my simploring tour on Tuesday, January 5th, I picked “Kidaka Resort, Hotel & Eco Lodges” from scoop.it SL Destinations. The entry led to a website about virtual hotels, namely hotels in Second Life. It is called “The SL Hotel Inspector“. The creator, Dirk Lemon, loves to travel in his real life – but as many of us can’t travel due to the current pandemic. Instead he travels in Second Life, just like it do. Dirk’s passion is to inspect hotels – and Kidaka Resort is one of these hotels he reviewed.

What attracted me was to travel it Africa again. I never was on this continent so far, just in Second Life. Maybe that’s one reason I like to travel to Africa virtually. The second reason is, that there are not many places in SL with this theme.

Kidaka Resort – overview and orientation map

The Kidaka Resort is a adult homestead owned by Del-ka Aedilis (karport). The landmark description summarizes the sim as “a place to spend your holiday, date or honeymoon. African wildlife & the luxury of a hotel suite: restaurant, spa, jacuzzi, pool, travel, resort, lodge, glamping, sex, first class, rental, romantic, trip, beach, privacy, photogenic, tent, motel, safari“

Impressions of Kidaka Resort (1) – Entering the hotel

As seen on the orientation map, the Kidaka Resort Hotel is the main building on the sim. Besides this building there are some lodges/houses mostly located at the coast or beach. You can rent these lodges from 100L – 300L per day.
The landing is right in front of the Hotel and I got welcomed by a receptionist (a bot): “Welcome Diomita! Please feel free to look around. Some areas are only for guests of the hotel complex. If you would like to rent a room, lodge or tent, you will find all available rental units on our website or at the rental kiosk in the reception. Please teleport to the respective unit using the Booking Kiosk, our website or the teleport door at the Main Lodge (located next to the Lounge Bar). You need to pay directly at the rental panel in the unit. Do not forget to accept the group invite after you have paid and wear the group tag everytime you are on the sim. If you want to explore the sim, just follow the hiking sign outside the main lodge!“

Impressions of Kidaka Resort (2) – Around the hotel

I explored the hotel first and it is quite neat and has the flair I’d expect. There’s a bar, a restaurant with in- and outdoor seating, a large pool and the whole scenery is built to provide the look and feel of a luxury hotel in Africa. There are some static non-player characters (NPCs) to liven up the scenery in the hotel – who wants to be alone in a bar?

Impressions of Kidaka Resort (3) – The wildlife

What’s outstanding is the rest of the sim, pure savanna and wildlife. And you can see and watch the animals from very close by and they won’t bite! Some of the animals are animated and it is really fun to watch them. What did I see? Elephants, lions, gnus, flamingos, zebras, giraffes, an ape, a parrot…

Impressions of Kidaka Resort (4) – The wildlife

The lodges are nice, offer privacy and a far enough from each other so that none will be disturbed by neighbors. They are protected with a security system forcing non-guests to leave within 2 minutes. Hence I could only sneak in shortly.

Impressions of Kidaka Resort (5) – Diomita enjoying

The Kidaka Resort is a great place for photographers, it is perfect for a short virtual trip into another world, and it is a nice hideaway for a night or more. I enjoyed exploring – and once again I was surprised by SL’s variety.
Del-ka Aedilis (karport), the owner of Kidaka Resort, has also a shop and sells building and stuff for roleplay. You can check that out at his store on it’s website.
Thank you Del-Ka for providing the Kidaka Resort and the public space there. I had a great short trip.

Landmark to the Kidaka Resort
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Moyenne/101/218/29
The Kidaka Resort – website
https://kidakaresort.wixsite.com/home
The SL Hotel Inspector about the Kidaka Resort
https://virtualhotels.online/blog/review-the-kidaka-resort-
Del-ka Aedilis store website
https://delkaaedilis.wordpress.com/

Simploring 2021 (4) White Binemust

18 Jan 2021 Leave a comment

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

For my simploring tour on Saturday, January 2nd, I picked White Binemust from scoop.it SL Destinations. The entry led me to post from Maddy Gynoid “Simtipp: White Binemust – (Winter 2020)” (in German). After reading the post I had to see White Binemust. I haven’t been to Binemust for quite a while. I visited the sim in 2016 (read here) and a revisit is on my list of things to do as I read that it has changed a lot.
White Binemust is part of Binemust, a full adult region owned and built by Biné Rodenberg.
Biné Rodenberger has a seperate Winter installation on a platform every year. I saw the installation of 2017/2018 (read here).

White Binemust – overview and orientation map

For 2020/2021 Biné has built something very different to the Winter installations that I saw so far in Second Life. Her Winter village is embedded a high mountain area. The sim surround is really large and the village is small inbetween the mountains. When you visit you have a great view on the mountains and feel like being there – and that’s something we miss these days. But in SL we can make short trips to dream destinations!

Impressions of White Binemust (1) – The village embedded in the mountains / at the landing point

As you can see on the overview White Binemust has two levels. The landing is in the forest on the higher level. A trail leads you to a chapel, that is really picturesque settled at one edge of the forest. Here you encounter two of the nice oddities that Biné has added to her White Binemust: One is a steampunk dragon flying circles around the Chapel, the other is a greenhouse used for a Christmas model train.

Impressions of White Binemust (2) – The chapel, the steampunk dragon, the greenhouse with the Christmas train

White Binemust is a little village with just a few houses, some of them are small, some of them are large and at least one is an architectual gem in my opinion. After visiting the chapel I saw the Christmas tree farm and a larger and a small house in the forest. At the larger house you can stroke a deer that lies there in the snow. The smaller house is the prove that no house is too small for a Christmas tree. The tree fills the house.

Impressions of White Binemust (3) – The Christmas tree farm, a large and a small house in the forest

At the edge of the forest is a modern house that stands out by its architecture. It is built above an artificial waterfall and has two levels. The house has large windows and from the rooms you have a great view to the mountains.

Impressions of White Binemust (4) – The modern house overlooking the mountains

I left the forest and went down to the second level of White Binemust where you find a cattle farm and three more houses. The house close to the cattle farm is a large American style lodge. It was open and I went inside. It is furnished like all houses at White Binemust. What caught my eye most inside is the Christmas decoration placed on a cupboard.

Impressions of White Binemust (5) The cattle farm and the lodge

The house next to the lodge is comparably small yet it looks really comfy inside and is also decorated very nice. There’s a steampunk Christmas tree inside that can be switched on and off. Maddy has a picture of this “tree” in his blogpost and you can also switch the tree on and off in his post (!). Well done, Maddy.

Impressions of White Binemust (6) The small house with the steampunk tree, the A-house

I finally visited the A-house at the other end of the lower level. The bedroom on the 2nd floor offers great view on the mountains. Image to wake up looking into such a panorama!
In front of the A-house is another oddity that made me smile: a snowman holding a bottle of desinfectant “Sanitize your hands”.
Appropos oddity. If you go to the edge of the lower level, you can see the wreck of an old Viking ship down in the valley.

Thank you Biné for this great installation. I enjoyed my visit a lot!

Landmark to White Binemust
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Binemust/138/140/890
Maddy Gynoid’s “Simtipp: White Binemust – (Winter 2020)”
https://echtvirtuell.blogspot.com/2020/12/simtipp-white-binemust-winter-2020.html
Binemust Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/groups/binemust/pool/
Biné Rodenberger’s blog
http://bine.se/

Simploring 2021 (3) Snoweeta

16 Jan 2021 Leave a comment

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

For my simploring tour on New Year’s Day I picked Snoweeta from scoop.it SL Destinations. Snoweeta is a general homestead owned and designed by Kaja Ashland. She wrote in the landmark description: “An endless winter walk over the vast cloud-covered fields in Skåne can look empty and devoid. But when you look around closely, the snowy scene has many stories to tell…“

Snoweeta – overview and orientation map

And yes, already at the landing point you are in an almost endless Winter landscape. The landing is at a farm track leading to a house that you can barely see from the landing, but the trees on both sides of the track lead your view to the house. When you look around the second time you see a bit more details. There’s a high cell tower somewhere on the horizon, a large single tree admist the endless snow covered fields, a broken tractor also in the middle of nothing on the field, a truck with a snow plough right behind of you, a long road leading to Ystad and Simrishamn, a police car standing on the road side, there’s an hot air ballon hoovering and there’s a little hill close to the house.

Impression of Snoweeta (1) – the tractor, the boar tree, the cell tower

Before I started my simploring tour, I read Kaja Ashland’s profile. There she wrote a bit more about her sim:
“Snoweeta, a Swedish (Skåne) winter painting you can walk around in, welcome to explore. See my Picks for more info.
An endless winter walk over the vast cloud-covered fields in Skåne can look empty and devoid. But when you look around closely, the snowy scene has many stories to tell. Who got stuck with the tractor? Is it safe to walk close to the wild boars? Was a crime committed here? When are the Christmas dinner guests arriving to the magnificent table and who are they? Will you manage to walk over the muddy fields up to the hill and the warming fire? Will you visit Skåne, Swedens richest agricultural region, in a magical winter sleep?
Bring boots, warm clothes, and your camera. Welcome to the winter in Skåne, Sweden.“

Impression of Snoweeta (2) – a walk from the main road to the house

I looked up Skåne in Wikipedia. Skåne County (Swedish: Skåne län) is the southernmost county of Sweden. It covers around 3% of Sweden’s total area, while its population of 1.3 million comprises 13% of Sweden’s total population. Ystad and Simrishamn are towns in Skåne.

Impression of Snoweeta (3) – the house, decorated for the season

Back to Snoweeta. The endless snow covered fields enforces you to look at the details and of course you ask yourself the questions that Kaja brought up in her profile text about Snoweeta. Why? Why is the police car standing on the roadside? Why is the tractor admist the fields?
You will have to answer that questions for yourself, you can spin your own little story about every detail. It is fun to let your mind wander and spin stories.

Impression of Snoweeta (4) – at the hill & pond

But Snoweeta has more to offer. There are the many deatils in the house, that is lovely decorated for the season. There’s the hill and the pond that offers great backgrounds for pictures. There are some animals in the little forest on the hill, like an owl. You can sit down at the campfire or start ice-fishing on the frozen pond. You can watch the scenery from a balloon (just “sit” on it) or you can use one of the small balloons close to the campfire to explore Snoweeta leviating.

Impression of Snoweeta (5) – at the hill & pond

Snoweeta impresses by it’s simplicity – and by the beauty that comes with the simplicity. The eye can focus on the details even more and better. Thank you for creating Snoweeta and for sharing it publicly, Kaja. I enjoyed my visit.

Landmark to Snoweeta
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Noweeta/50/146/3502

Simploring 2021 (2) The Isles of Ice

11 Jan 2021 Leave a comment

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

For my simploring tour on Wednesday, December 16th, I picked “The Isles of Ice” from scoop.it SL Destinations. From what I could find out “The Isles of Ice” exists at least since 2014 and is owned by Linden Lab itself. Annie Brightstar (anniebrightstar) listed on her scoop.it SL Destinations the Linden Department of Public Works (LDPW) Moles Crazy Mole, Sylvan Mole, Squishy Mole, Silent Mole, Naughty Mole as builders and creators ot “The Isles of Ice“.

“The Isles of Ice” consist of 5(!) full regions (Aerodyne, Byrd, Periscope, Crankshaft, Vernier) with 20000 prims each, but the only a few of the total 100,000 are actually used. They are all built in a row and I was not able to make a full overview map for orientation. Hence I splitted the overview.

The Isles of Ice – bird’s eye view on orientation view

The landing in this icy environment is close to the see next to a penguin colony. They are lovely. The lighthouse caught my eye first and I went there. I walked up to the observation deck from where I had a nice view over “The Isles of Ice“.

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (1) – around the landing point / the lighthouse

The most impressive building is next to the landing point as well. I first thought it was a power plant. But it must be something else. What is it? I have no idea. At the entrance is a huge “Ice Roboter”, inside are a few control screens from surveillance cameras of different spots of “The Isles of Ice“. And the machines inside? I have no idea. Outside of the central plant are some crytals ..is that a stock to be processed in the central plant?

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (2) – the central plant

The landmark description did not reveal the purpose of the central plant but there’s a hint what “The Isles of Ice” was built for: “The hangout, headquarters, and laboratory for the people working on Magellan’s plan to save the world!“

I looked into all buildings near to the landpoint. One seems to be used for a control center, another is built to park the vehicles of the employees. In the control center I found a blue print “Anti Mind Control Project” – and one building seems to be kind of a laboratory with strange equipment and a cage with an animal? inside.

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (3) – the control center

I continued my simploring tour walking over the “crystal bridge” to the huge center iglu. Here I found some information and a background story. The iglu is named “The Ice Hub”. In the center is the start point for a scavenger hunt – Magellan’s Grid Scavenger Hunt.

“Hello my brave adventurer. Your help is sorely needed. I received an urgent message from my dear friend Tyra. She was investigating missing crystals from Linden Realms when she discovered Mole people, (Not to be confused with our own beloved LDPW moles, who are quite a different kettle of worms), hauling crystals underground! I too have seen this for myself! So strange as the Mole people are normally so shy and un-aggressive. It seems as if they are being controlled by an evil mole named Dr Talpa. I first saw him in the tunnels under Nova Albion. Do not for any minute, underestimate this mole! He is highly intelligent and highly dangerous! Approach him with caution!

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (4) – the vehicle garage, the laboratory building

After some preliminary investigations, we discovered that the evil Dr Talpa has been stealing crystals from the Linden Realms, to power a machine which will place Rock Monsters under his control. The machine hasn’t been perfected yet, but when it is, Doctor Talpa’s Boulder Beasts will erupt from below the terrain and take over Second Life!
The Moles seem to be under some sort of spell. We think they are being mind controlled. I have been testing my theory in my laboratory on The Isles of Ice, and I am trying to make an anti Mind Control Machine in the hopes of foiling Dr Talpa’s evil plan. So far I have made two special hats that seem to resist the mind control effects. My first prototype was the Tin Foil Hat, and a more advanced version is the Suckerfish Hat. Wearing one of these hats seems to resist the mind control effects.
We need your help, brave adventurer. We need you to collect the parts we need from around the grid to help construct our Anti Mind Control Machine, free the Mole people, and stop the evil Dr Talpa from his plans of total grid domination and destruction of Second Life as we know it!

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (5) – inside of the laboratory

For now I have established a base of my own for the creation of this defense, and for the gathering of brave volunteers on the Isles of Ice. I have some theories to where the parts we need are located. To help you in your journey I have created snow globe teleports, located in the server room and I have also made a HUD with some clues to guide you on your travels
Proceed with caution!“

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (6) – The Ice Hub

On the second floor of the “The Ice Hub” is a detailed instruction for the hunt. I didn’t look into that too but continues simploring. I came across another ice roboter and explored a a builing that is obviously used to meet and socialize.

Impressions of “Isles of Ice” (7) – The Event/Meeting building

“The Isles of Ice” provide a great background for taking pictures and it is it inspiring to see the different builings. A lot of creativity has gone into them. I had fun simploring “The Isles of Ice” although I didn’t understand all. My thanks go to the involved LDPW-Moles and to Linden Lab.

Landmark to “The Isles of Ice”
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Byrd/34/103/30

Simploring 2021 (1) The Isle of Elar – Still Memories

08 Jan 2021 Leave a comment

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

For my simploring tour on Saturday, December 26th 2020, I picked “The Isle of Elar – Still Memories” from scoop.it SL Destinations. The landmark profile is quite fitting and sums up perfectly what it is about: “Elar is a woodland themed sim depicting natural beauty all around you, Here you can explore, be romantic, spend time with friends, or take creative photos!“

The Isle of Elar – Still Memories: overview and orientation map

“The Isle of Elar” is a full adult region. It is group owned. From Maddy Gynoid’s post “Simtipp: The Isle of Elar – Still Memories” I learned that The Isle of Elar was designed and is owned by Shayn Mackenzie.

Impressions of The Isle of Elar – Still Memories (1) – Landing pier, Welcome hut, Residential home, Diomita simploring

The landing point is on a pier with a sailing yacht. Right next the landing point is a little welcome Christmas hut and several boards. I got welcomed by a bot: “Welcome to Elar. Our Sim is designed for exploring, romance and photography. We may be an adult sim, but we ask that you refrain from sex while visiting. Artistic nudity is allowed Suggestions welcome. All prims will be auto returned after 2 hours.“

You can explore the sim on foot or rezz a horse right next to the landing. I rezzed a horse, rode a bit but then continued my simploring tour on foot. There’s a long trail leading to the center of the island.

Impressions of The Isle of Elar – Still Memories (2) – Chess park, Waterfall, Meditation cave

The Isle of Elar is coined by its many waterfalls that make great backgrounds for pictures. And there are really countless places to sit and cuddle and to enjoy the beauty of this virtual paradies. There’s a residential house and a park with a chess board not far from the landing point.

Impressions of The Isle of Elar – Still Memories (3) – The elevator

One outstanding feature is the wooden elevator quite in the center of the island. A bot explains how to use it: “Hey You!! If ya need the elevator., just stand on it and click it to go up. If ya don’t see it, click this wheel thingy here to get it to come down…..Ya that’s it!!!!”
I went up and found another little paradise overlooking the island – and again places to just enjoy.

Impressions of The Isle of Elar – Still Memories (4) – Cathedral ruins, Christmas tree shop, Beach, Waterfall

On the ground level, right opposed to the elevator is a passage to a meditation cave, a place to take a little break.
What else? There’s a Christmas tree shop, there’re the ruins of a cathedral, there’re trails from which you get great views on the waterfalls, there’s a nice large beach and …. places to sit and enjoy.

Impressions of The Isle of Elar – Still Memories (5) – a small collection of the many selfies I made enjoying my visit

The Isle of Elar is just a great place to enjoy the nature and take a little time-out. I enjoyed my visit a lot. Thank you Shayn for creating it and for sharing it with the public!

Landmark to The Isle of Elar – Still Memories
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Elar%20Imerra/143/232/22
flickr page for The Isle of Elar – Still Memories
https://www.flickr.com/groups/14782016@N22/
Maddy Gynoid’s blogpost “Simtipp: The Isle of Elar – Still Memories”
https://echtvirtuell.blogspot.com/2020/11/simtipp-isle-of-elar-still-memories.html

Simploring 2020 (85) Walsh County in Winter

26 Dec 2020 Leave a comment

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

For my simploring tour on Saturday, December 13th, I picked “Walsh County” once again, when I saw a pciture of it on scoop.it SL Destinations.

Impressions from my revisit to Walsh County in Winter (1)

Walsh County is a general homestead owned by Randonee Noel. I visited the first time in August 2020 Read my simploring report here. Randonee told me that the sim will change according to the season. I missed Autumn and the harvest. Now it is Winter. And Winter is cold and  hard at Walsh County. At the landing in the middle of nowhere on highway 17 you can grab a notecard by clicking on the highway sign. The notecard provides some information:

“Up near the Canadian border glaciers have leveled the earth to where you can see that it’s curved. The winds move across the landscape interrupted only by the lines of trees planted there to interfere.
Agriculture is the cornerstone and the crops are gold. There are fewer than 9 people here for every square mile, but most will share a cup of coffee and a smile if you’re polite.
Welcome to Walsh County, North Dakota.”

Impressions from my revisit to Walsh County in Winter (2)

Walsh County is not a fiction. Walsh County lies on the east side of North Dakota and has a population of about 10,000 people. You can read more about it on wikipedia here. Also the highway 17 is not a fiction. It is 139 miles in length and its alignment was established in 1939 (see wikipedia here).

Altough everyhting is covered with snow and although Wash County is quite glat, I did recognize it immediately. I walked along the lonesome road watching the aurora beorealis at the horizon. Almost at the end of the street was car, an old Fiat, with a Christmas tree on its roof. To my surprise the keys were in and I got into the car and drove back the way I came from. But the road ends at a road wirk site, so I had to get out. Hence the car might now still stand three *winks*

Impressions from my revisit to Walsh County in Winter (3)

There’s not that much to do, just get the atmosphere sink in. It is a great, realistic place. By the one tree, where the ducks where swimming in a litte pond during summer, is a campfire now so that you can warm up up. And on the only small hill is a sledge rezzer – of course I tried that.

Walsh County in Winter

Nothing else to write here …. just a great place for taking pictures or to wind down.
Thank you Randonee Noel, for creating this fantasic sim and for sharing it publicly.

Landmark to Walsh County
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Campton/48/52/23
My first visit to Walsh County “Simploring 2020 (69) Walsh County”
https://themaurers.me/2020/10/16/simploring-2020-69-walsh-county/
Walsh County on flickr
https://www.flickr.com/groups/randomlyspiffy/

Simploring 2020 (84) Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland

17 Dec 2020 Leave a comment

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

For my simploring tour on Saturday, November 28th, actually on the first Advent weekend, I was up for some Winter and seasonal fun. I remember that I visited “Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland” last year (read here) and that the owner, Milly Sharple, had told me that she designs her Winter Wonderland every year. And yes, it was open and a lovely experience once again.

“Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland” – Overview and orientation map

Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland is a moderate homestead owned and designed by Milly Sharple, an artist and photographer in real life. Mills is from the UK in real life and has always enjoyed art and artistic expression. I visited her galleries Fractal Insanity and Fractal Factory (read here). Milly is in Second Life since 2008 and was perhaps one of the pioneers in introducing fractal art to Second Life. And as mentioned above, she also likes building and creates this yearly Winter Wonderworld.

Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland is tagged with “Christmas, winter, snow, holidays, frost, dancing, ice-skating, exploring, forests, caves, ruins, photography and more!” in the landmark description and it really is the fun that these tags promise it to be. But most of all it is just a beautiful place with countless romantic hangouts, places to dance, to have fun and just to enjoy yourself or some time with a friend or loved one.

Impressions of “Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland” (1) – around the landing point

The landing is in front of a Christmas hut. If you look around a carousel, an ice rink, snow, snow, snow, a round hut with a piano and places to sit, a smaller residential house and a large residential house up on a hill.

I visited the larger residential house first and was impressed about it’s in and outside, very neat and stylish. Inside it is spacious andfurnished with love for the detail. Everything is prepared for the Christmas dinner, just lovely.

Impressions of “Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland” (2) – the large residential house in- and outside

I visited the ice rink and the bar behind it, then I saw the snowglobe and had a look. The snowglobe is a perfect place to make pictures and I made a few of myself. I noted that I should take Mistress here for a picture.

Impressions of “Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland” (3) – the bar and the snowglobe

I continued my simploring tour through Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland by walking up to the high plateau with the Cathedral ruins. Once again you can stop by in a Cafe on your way. The Cahtedral is another great place for taking pictures and for spending a romantic hour. Actually during my visit a couple was enjoying this place, hence I didn’t disturb them (I hope).

Impressions of “Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland” (4) – the cafe and the cathedral ruins

On the other corner of the sim is a hill with the opportunity to rezz a sledge and to drive downhill. Of course I tried that out!

Impressions of “Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland” (5) – sledge riding and the gazebo

I had a look at the gazebo, a lovely place to dance. Everywhere on the sim you find animals, be it deers, squirrels, an ice bear or doves. Close to the sledges is a small forest with an old castle in the center. The castle is not furnished. Outside are three tall rocks that are connected by suspension walking bridges. You can get up on the first rock by walking up a steep trail. At the end of the second supsension bridge you get rewarded with a nice view over the Winter wonderland and can relay in an small hut.

Impressions of “Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland” (6) – the castle, bridges and the outlook hut

My last stop for this first visit was the Ice Wonderland, that is also quite close to the landing point. It is a hll with several bizarre caves, ice rocks and fanatsy flowers in many colours, all shining and glowing in different colours, opportunities to sit and watch included. I admit that I lost my way out of the caves and had to walk back and forth to find my way out again.

Impressions of “Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland” (7) – Diomita and the ice bear / in the Ice Wonderland

Again Milly succeeded to create a perfect Winter Wonderland. I enjoyed my visit a lot and will come back during the season. Thank you very much for your work and for sharing Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland with the Sl community, Milly!

Landmark to Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Peace%20Angel/130/202/25

Simploring 2020 (84) Calas Galadhon’s – A Christmas Dream

15 Dec 2020 Leave a comment

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

Yesterday, Monday December 14th, I visited Calas Galadhon’s – A Christmas Dream together with Mistress Jenny, Angelique and Flo (more about that in an upcoming diary post). The visit to Calas Galadhon’s Christmas sim has become a regular part of our run-up to Christmas and we always enjoy it. And in my personal opinion, Tymus Tenk and Truck Meredith did a great job again.  Although the Christmas installation spreads over “only” one region this year, there’s all we are used to enjoy, the sleigh tour, the ballon ride, the ice rink and the big Christmas pavilion.

Calas Galadhon’s – A Christmas Dream (1)

Please remember to take off not necessary scripts from your avatar, the script limit for entering is 100 but everything less helps even more to enhance the experience of us all. There’s nothing to add but some pictures – Enjoy your visit!

Calas Galadhon’s – A Christmas Dream (2)

Calas Galadhon’s – A Christmas Dream (3)

Thank you Ty and Truck and all other involved people for you great work providing some joy and normality in these strange days,

Landmark to A Christmas Dream main landing point
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sincere%20Estates/178/167/253

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries