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

Diary 2020 (133) September 20th/21st In Angelique’s shoes (II)

03 Oct 2020 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Diary Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sunday, Spetember 20th, Mistress was prevented from coming inworld during the day. I went visiting a new gallery in the morning, the new DixMix Gallery and spent almost 2 hours there and I wrote the report about it right away in the afternoon (read about the gallery here)

At night I changed into another outfit, that was originally created as a mix and match outfit by Angelique. She must have peeked at me because when Mistress came inworld and Angelique and slave Flo joined us, Angelique was dressed exactly like me. What a suprise! And of course I took a picture of us. slave Flo had had a busy Sunday and asked for a game to wind down. We played skipee as teams again. Just like the night before slave Melissa came inworld while we were playing and she knelt silently at Mistress’ and my feet while we played.

Sept 20th: Diomita and Angelique at home / Mistress Jenny, Angelique and Diomita at Heavy Bondage Club with slave Melissa

slave Flo went to bed and Mistress, Angelique, slave Melissa and I went to Heavy Bondage Club. We read profiles, teased slave Melissa, talked and enjoying being together. Angelique left to bed inbetween. Mistress and I continued teasing slave Meli a bit and left ourself not long after flotime.

Sept 20th: Mistress Jenny and Diomita at home saying good night / Mistress Jenny and Diomita at Heavy Bondage Club with slave Melissa

Monday, September 21st, I was inworld in the late morning, I had seen a picture of a new installation named “A Thousand Windows” at RioSisco Flickr group. RioSisco Productions that are Fred Hamilton (frecoi) and Lotus Mastroianni, the builders of many very exciting sims. The last one was “Summer in the City”, which I visted several times (read here). Long story short, I went there right away and oversaw that Mistress Jenny was inworld. We said hello shortly but she had to leave to tend to her RL. I went to “A Thousand Windows” and really enjoyed my visit there although I had a few interruptions. If you missed it, here is the simploring report .. Simploring 2020 (64) A Thousand Windows.

In the later afternoon I met with Mistress Jenny again. We caught up quickly, then I had to strip and serve Mistress and I got my fix this way. We went to Psi’s realm and later to Heavy Bondage Club and enjoyed being together in particular as Mistress was not inworld at night.

Sept 21st: Mistress Jenny and Diomita at home, at Psi’s realm and at Heavy Bondage Club

I spent the night with Angelique and slave Flo. Angelique was dressed similar to me again. I met her at the house, where she was cleaning, and I helped her so that it was done quickly. slave Flo joined when we were done. We started with two rounds of greedy as I thought slave Melissa would join us but she didn’t appear that night. I went with Angelique and slave Flo to “A Thousand Windows” and further explored it while showing it to them. We found a way to get on the roof top of one building. That provided another view.

Sept 21st: Diomita with Angelique and slave Flo on the roofs of “A Thousand Windows”

After that quick visit we went on a tour through the clubs. We went to Dark Butterfly, BDSM Lifestyle Swingers Club and Mesmerize Dungeon. We chatted and looked good (SM = Stand and Model). Angelique went off to be a bit before flotime and I went off shortly after flotime.

Sept 21st: Diomita with Angelique and slave Flo at Dark Butterfly, BDSM Lifesytle Swingers Club and Mesmerize Dungeon

Simploring 2020 (64a) A thousand Windows – Addendum

22 Sep 2020 Leave a comment

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

After publishing my simploring report about “A Thousand Windows” yesterday (read here), I talked with Fred Hamilton (frecoi) and Lotus Mastroianni about their work. Lotus teased me and told me that I didn’t find the elvator to go up on the roofs. She laughed about her joke. And so did I. Nonetheless, I was tempted to go back to find a way up to the roofs.
I went there again at night and found a way to go up on the roofs … well with a little trick. On one roof I found 2 chairs. And I had a great view from up there … showing how close people live here behind their windows. I didn’t find an elevator though. So if anybody finds the elevator, please let me know.

Impressions of “A Thousand Windows” (7) – above the roofs

Landmark to “A Thousand Windows”
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/You%20and%20me/29/18/1352

Simploring 2020 (64) A Thousand Windows

21 Sep 2020 2 Comments

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

I wasn’t really up for a simploring tour this morning, I just looked up scoop.it SL Desinations to check if there’s something new and interesting. The second newest entry was named “A Thousand Windows” and was just referring to a flickr picture of RioSisco Flickr group. RioSisco Productions that are Fred Hamilton (frecoi) and Lotus Mastroianni, the builders of many very exciting sims. The last one was “Summer in the City”, which I visted several times (read here)

I decided to go there on the spot. The landmark description gives an idea of the intention for this new installation: “There is a huge world out there, but what happens behind all those windows? what lives and worlds are hiding there? How many eyes peer into the fleeting reflections of so many lights? How life is going … obs….try night time“

A Thousand Windows – overview

A Thousand Windows is built in a skybox belonging to an adult reagion. It is made up of just about 5,000 prims. After I landed at “A Thousand Windows” I first zoomed out to get an overiew. I made the overview from several angles so that you can see how the installation is made up. Once again Fred and Lotus used the possibilities of Second Life to create a real urban feeling. They do this by selecting perfect background textures and enhancing them.

Impressions of “A Thousand Windows” (1)

I begin exploring “A Thousand Windows” and was soon lost. Only the ground level and in some areas the 2nd and maybe 3rd level are accessible. There are many entrances, even with stairs, but they are just facade. Mainly your wander around on the ground level and you can look up. But you get really enough to see here!

Impressions of “A Thousand Windows” (2) – The 2 pictures on the left were taken 2 different windlights “midnight” and “midday”

It is a dirty town, waste and garbage tons and dirt is everywhere. Many raceways and advertisings distract your view. There are shops, restaurants, tea houses, barbers, food stores and all what you’d expect in a town. Some of them are accessible, others are just furnished to provide the 3D feeling. The main upside of all thes advertisings is that they offer orientation. Getting lost in all the passages and backyards I went countless times to the same spots … the advertisings gave me a bit of orientation.

Impressions of “A Thousand Windows” (3) – some corners are really not inviting to stay long

“A Thousand Windows” … Well I didn’t count but there might be a thousand windows, at least on the background (I guess a bit less though). The background is not just a texture. Fred and Lotus enhanced it with mesh objects, mainly drying clothes, balconies and awnings. And you find also many windows inside of the town at higher floors of the buildings. A few windows on lower floors are opened and you can look inside. Again these rooms are furnished for the effect but not accessible.

Impressions of “A Thousand Windows” (4) – looking inside

I managed to get beind the facade of one building and to get a view from inside of a flat to the town. That’s funny at least for the picture where you can see me behind the window.

Impressions of “A Thousand Windows” (5)

As mentioned exploring “A Thousand Windows” is mainly done by wandering on the ground level and by looking at all the different stores and details. You get into very dirty backyards, places you wouldn’t feel safe at all (at least I would never go to such places in RL!). But exploring it and seeing all the little details is great fun.

Impressions of “A Thousand Windows” (6)

Of course I also turned the windlight to “midnight” and yes, it does change the experience a lot. I can only recommend to try that. But for taking pictures that provide an impression of what you can see here, the daylight is simply better – for the atmosphere “midnight” is the better choice.

I’m pretty sure that this visit to “A Thousand Windows” was just a first peek at it for me and I will return to it. Once again Fred and Lotus created a masterpiece of creativity. Thank you a lot!

Landmark to A Thousand Windows
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/You%20and%20me/29/18/1352
flickr group
https://www.flickr.com/groups/riosisco/
My pictures of “A Thousand Windows” on flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/188414948@N07/albums/72157716058842368

Simploring 2020 (62) Boulder

14 Sep 2020 1 Comment

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

I had in mind to make a short simploring tour on Sunday, August 23rd. It turned out to become a longer and really great Sunday morning tour. I picked Boulder from scoop.it SL Destinations because the name of the owner caught my attention immediately.

Boulder – overview

Boulder is a moderate full region owned by Vally (Valium Lavender). I saw already several places of Vally. In 2020 I saw Valium Creek (read here) and Valium Sea (read here).
Boulder was (once again) designed by Dandy Warhlol (Terry Fotherington). Boulder is a beautiful photogenic coastal land inspired by the African Penguins of South Africa and intended to bring attention to this endangered species.

Impressions of Boulder (1) – at the landing point

At the landing poit I had a view to the town, named “Simon’s town” and had to decide where to go first. There’s a sign post with 3 directions: Art gallery, Simon’s town and Penguin Colony. I decided to walk to the penguins first. One of their colonies is at the beach not far from the landing point.

Impressions of Boulder (2) – a green oasis above Boulder

At the colony I saw another sign post “Follow the Stairs” and I began walking up the large rock. The higher I got the better was the view over Boulder. Finally I reached a beautiful place for a first break. At the end of the stairs you find several small huts offering beer and coffee admist a green oasis. The place can also be used for small parties.

Impressions of Boulder (3) – the open hole / the waterfalls

I continued my simploring tour walking through a passage in the rock that led to another beautiful spot with a waterfall and a bench to enjoy the view. At one end of this spot it a big sign “Danger – Open Hole”. In Second Life that’s more or less an order to take the risk and I stepped forward to see the hole. But I didn’t see it – instead the stone I was stepping on became instable and I fall down …. finding myself at the foot of a large waterfall. Luckily in Second Life you don’t get injured *winks*. From where I landed I could see the beach through another passage and was back at the penguin colony.

Impressions of Boulder (4) – Blurred views by Fred Hamilton (frecoi) and Lotus Mastroianni at Boulder Art Gallery

I went to the art gallery next. I don’t know if the exhibtion there is permanent or will change. At the time of my visit the gallery presented “Blurred Vibes” by Fred Hamilton (frecoi) and Lotus Mastroianni. I know them both as creators of great places in Second Life. Just recently I saw their sim “Summer in the City” (read here). The exhibtion is not very large but would have been worth a seperate blogpost. Fred and Lotus play with the artistic effect of blurring. Several texts accompany the pictures: “Blurring and focus are powerfl photographic deveices. Not arbitrary, because the theme chosen to focus on, regardless of the apparent irrelevance, makes the observer reflect on its meaning“. I strongly recommend not to miss this great small exhibit.
Remark: Lotus Mastroianni told me that the exhibtion will be available until End of September 2020 …. hence hurry up, if you want to see it.

Impressions of Boulder (5) – whale watching / the lighthosue languet

After my visit of the art gallery I went down to the beach again for another look at the penguins and at a whale which was just jumping out of the sea. And I was not alone watching this spectacle, as there was one of several NPC’s (static non-player characters) spread on the whole sim – a photographer.
From here I could see the lighthouse and I went there next. The lighthouse is at a languet right opposite of the penguin colonies. To get there you either have to walk along the beach and the town or you have to swim. Again I took advantage of the possibilities in Second Life and swam over there. The lighthouse and its surrounding is another beautiful spot at Boulder. I enjoyed another short break at the campfire close to the lighthouse. Several birds are around there and invite to just watch or take more pictures. Next to the lighthouse are a few huts. You can get fresh fish here.

Impressions of Boulder (6) – Simon’s town farmer market and sun beach

Acutally Boulder is two sims in one – one is the nature part with the beaches, the penguins, the waterfall and the languet with the lighthouse, the other part is Simon’s town. A special feature is that two different windlights are used for these parts. The windlight for the nature part is quite natural and couldy while the windlight used for Simon’s town is sunny with a clear deep blue sky. This windlight makes the town look a bit Mediterrean although the penguins live in South Africa. The town itself is really picturesque. I visisted the market and the sun beach on the backside of the town.

Impressions of Boulder (6) – Simon’s town waterfront promenade

The waterfront of Simon’s town offers many places to sit and is a perfect background for pictures. And of course there’s a lot to discover here. I really had fun looking at all the details and took many pictures.

Boulder is really a great sim and I fully enjoyed my Sunday morning immersing into another world. Vally intended to bring attention to the endangered penguis of South Africa, hence my last pictures shall reflect that. At the landing point are two pictures of these penguins and a reference to the “Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds”. You can read more about the foundation here.

Impressions of Boulder (7) – support the preservation of Southern Africa penguins

Thank you Vally for sharing your place publicly and thank you Dandy Warhlol (Terry Fotherington) for another great sim.

Landmark to Boulder
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Boulder/182/131/22
Boulder flickr
https://www.flickr.com/groups/valium/
Vally’s blog
https://www.vallystyle.com/
Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds
https://sanccob.co.za/

Simploring 2020 (51) Summer in the City

30 Jul 2020 4 Comments

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

Once again I found my simploring destination for Thursday, July 23rd, on scoop.it SL Desinations.

Summer in the City was built by Fred Hamilton (frecoi) and Lotus Mastroianni, who call themselves “Riosisco Productions”. It was built on the same parcel where they had erected “A Favela”, which I visted in May (read here) and which is gone now. Back in 2019 I visited their creations HoPe (read here) and Kun-Tei-Ner (read here). And now .. “Summer in the City“.

Summer in the City – overview

The landmark description is short: “At the top of the buildings, the Sun is shining, it’s summer in the city.” There’s also the remark that you can’t access the streets in this installation. Fred and Lotus also write in their note that they were supported by Alexa Maravilla in every of their projects, yet they didn’t reveal in which way.

On scoop.it SL Desinations, I also found a video of Summer in the City. I watched it before visting myself and it is a really nice teaser. The video was made by Randonee Noel and published on flickr here.

Summer in the City consists just of a few blocks of high-rise buidling. The landing is inside of one on a staircase and you have to move upstairs and then to the left to go outside. There you begin your exploring tour using stairs, ramps, old railroads for an elevated train, ladders or blanks – yet no way to enter the street level. But that is intended.

Impressions of Summer in the City (1) – landing and first views

In- and outside is a lot to discover: penthouses and roof terraces, balconies, kitchen gardens, a café, a club, an atelier, several living rooms, and innumerous graffities. Of course you find a basketball court, little corners to exercise with weights or fitness equipments, a big pool, several areas to celebrate, bbq’s and many opportunities to sit and enjoy. There’re countless little details to discover. And all with just 4.600 prims. Chapeau! I made many, many pictures.

Impressions of Summer in the City (2) – the old elevated railroad

Impressions of Summer in the City (3) – kitchen garden / a nice appartment with a perfect home office

Impressions of Summer in the City (4) – the café / view on the party zone on the roofs

Impressions of Summer in the City (5) – the party zone and the club

Impressions of Summer in the City (6) – the atelier / balconies / at the little pool

Impressions of Summer in the City (7) – the penthouse / a secret hideaway garden

Summer in the City is another great installation of Riosisco Productions (Fred Hamilton (frecoi) and Lotus Mastroianni). I had a lot of fun exploring and I might visit again, just to see more details that I missed on this first visit. Thank you very much, Fred and Lotus, for this Summer fun.

Landmark to Summer in the City
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/You%20and%20me/62/28/4050
Randonee Noel’s video on flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/randoneenoel/50135323733
Riosisco Productions flickr
https://www.flickr.com/groups/riosisco/

Simploring 2020 (40) A Favela

03 Jun 2020 1 Comment

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

For my simploring tour on Mady, May 25th, I picked “A Favela” from scoop.it SL Destinations. There were two entries and I picked Maddy Gynoid’s blogpost “Simtipp: A Favela – a place in Rio de Janeiro” (in German) and read it before I went visiting myself.

A Favela was designed and created by Fred Hamilton (frecoi) and Lotus Mastroianni, who call themselves “Riosisco Productions”. Back in 2019 I visited their creations HoPe (read here) and Kun-Tei-Ner (read here). Both sims were very impressing and I do remember them very well. To say it right in the beginning, A Favela is also impressive and is another masterpiece. But this time a real place was the inspiration for A Favela. Although favelas are found in urban areas throughout Brazil, many of the more famous ones exist in Rio.

A Favela – overview

A Favela is build on a skyplatform and only consumes roughly 4,000 prims of an adult full region. You can see the general set-up of the sim in the overview. There is one road that leads up the mountain between the houses. At the beginning and at the end the road vanishes in tunnels. Fred and Lotus added a picture texture of Rio’s favelas with the Christo Redentor statue as background so that A Favela melts into this background.

Impressions of “A Favela” (1)

The visit to A Favela starts at the lowest point next to a tunnel where the road comes from. Often people uses motor bike taxis to go up the hill and you find them right next to the landing point, there’s also a juice bar and around the corner are steep stairs leading through the houses. In that alley you find a shop for cold beer, postcards and drinks as well as a snack stand with Asian food.

Impressions of “A Favela” (2)

Walking up the road there is a lot to discover, simple plastic stools in front of the houses or sofas, some flowers as well as garbage, cats, chicken and even a pig and many other details. The houses are not accessible but nonetheless you see furnished balconies and backyards or small patios in front of the houses.

Impressions of “A Favela” (3)

Another eye catcher are big and colourful paintings on some house walls. All these little details make A Favela that outstanding. You sense the poverity but you also sense a particular form of peace and even happiness.

Impressions of “A Favela” (4)

The infrastructure of the favelas in real life is a big issue, be it power supply or internet, be it gas for cooking or water. When I wrote this simploring report I looked up wikipedia. You find more background information and pictures there and I added one RL picture into this post. It shows the blue water storage tons, that are widely spread in real life as well as at A Favela. I found out about their usage in a travel report. In particular the higher parts of the favela often lack water supply. Therefore people take the opportunity to fill the tanks with water when there is power to operate the pumps. You can also see a total mess of cables on many pictures, they might be legal or illegal, people simply help themself to get power or internet access.

Impressions of “A Favela” (5)

When you visit the higher parts of A Favela you should try to get to the backyards and on the roofs, you find more hidden terraces and places to sit and watch and you have a great view from up there.

Impressions of “A Favela” (6) – upper left is a picture from Rio’s favelas

I enjoyed my visit to A Favela and the little research about the favelas – and I took many pictures again. A Favela is another great place to visit in Second Life and it is another opportunity to visit a place far away without any safety risk, and quick and environmentally sound in addition. Thank you Fred Hamilton (frecoi) and Lotus Mastroianni for providing this project to us all!

Landmark to A Favela
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/You%20and%20me/14/12/2002
flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/groups/riosisco/
Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Favela
Maddy Gynoid’s blogpost “Simtipp: A Favela – a place in Rio de Janeiro” (in German)
http://echtvirtuell.blogspot.com/2020/05/simtipp-favela-place-in-rio-de-janeiro.html

Simploring 2019 (60) Kun-Tei-Ner

01 Jun 2019 3 Comments

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

In April 2019 I visited HoPe, a sunken city, giving us a picture of how the world might look like when humans have left (read Simploring 2019 (49) HoPe). HoPe was designed and created by Fred Hamilton (frecoi) and Lotus Mastroianni. Now Fred and Lotus opened a new place named “Kun-Tei-Ner“. The name sounds Asian but it is a play on the word container.

I came across Kun-Tei-Ner by reading Inara Pey’s blogpost “A water world in Second Life” and of course I had to visit. The landmark description gives an idea what Kun-Tei-Ner is about:
“This is a place years ahead of us with no land. Humans have produced a lot of things…and many things are useless in some years. A city grows up on a huge mountain of containers filled with broken technological stuff, abandoned or fallen from ships.“

Kun-Tei-Ner overview

Consequently the landing point is on a swimming container from where you can enter the artificial container city. I decided to get an overview first and swam to one of the observation ballons a bit aside from the city. I could climb up and had a nice view from up there.

Impressions of Kun-Tei-Ner (1) – around the landing point and view from the balloon

Kun-Tei-Ner is completely built on containers and with containers. The containers are used for living, for storing, for production, as stores, as restaurants, simply for everything. There are several container islands connected by steel bridges. Finding your way through the container jungle is difficult. I mostly followed the little arrows which indicate which way you can take without ending in a blind alley.

Impressions of Kun-Tei-Ner (2)

Several of the containers are furnished, some of them very detailed. There are a lot of possiblities to sit down and enjoy the view or to let your mind wander. And there is really a lot to discover. I spent more than a full hour exploring and I haven’t seen everything. Kun-Tei-Ner is getting it’s power from 3 big windmills and from a solar panels. Humans have rescued some pets, I saw a cat in one container. They rescued some plants and used them to make this water world a little bit green – you see ivy growing at the conatianer walls and some roofs are covered with grass.

Impressions of Kun-Tei-Ner (3)

But there’s still industry. What comes out of the tall smoke stack doesn’t look really healthy. There are pipes and other equipment that look like heavy industry. During my exploring tour I sat down in a pizza restaurant and I visited the food market which is on a seperate container island.

Impressions of Kun-Tei-Ner (4)

What else? Yes, the shark. There’s a huge shark with a nacelle circling over Kun-tei-Ner. I personally think it doesn’t fit as it is a fantasy element and the rest of Kun-Tei-Ner looks as if it could exist. But it can also be a blimp, so let’s assume that. What made me smile is that I saw two seals taking a bath in the sun on a swimming container. The big billboards are also something to have a second look at. One advertises Skype “connecting the world”. There are many little details to discover and I must have missed most of them.

Impressions of Kun-Tei-Ner (5)

Kun-Tei-Ner is a facinating place. It has a message and it is build with with a lot of creativity and love for the detail, it has wit, if offers places to sit and retreat, and it offers the opportunity for many hours of exploring. I did enjoy my visit a lot. Thank you Fred Hamilton (frecoi) and Lotus Mastroianni for providing Kun-Tei-Ner and for sharing it with the public!

According to Inara Pey’s blogpost Kun-Tei-Ner was opened on May 19th and might be available about a month. Hence you might visit better soon.

Landmark to Kun-Tei-Ner
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fallen%20Angel/112/182/23
Flickr group
https://www.flickr.com/groups/kun-tei-ner/
Inara Pey’s blogpost “A water world in Second Life”
https://modemworld.me/2019/05/24/kun-tei-ner-a-water-world-in-second-life/

Simploring 2019 (49) HoPe

23 Apr 2019 4 Comments

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

For my simploring tour on Wednesday, April 10th, I picked HoPe from scoop.it SL Destinations. HoPe is an adult homestead owned by Fred Hamilton (frecoi). According to the two blog posts already published when I visited, also Lotus Mastroianni is owning HoPe. I checked Lotus’ and Fred’s profile but I couldn’t find any hint. What I did check is that many objects at HoPe are owned by Lotus Mastroianni.

Impressions of HoPe (1) – overview and around the landing point

The landmark description consists just of one sentence: “The World wouldn’t die without the Humankind.” HoPe is a sunken city, giving us a picture of how the world might look like when humans have left. All streets are broken, the buildings are ruins, some are in better order, some are fully broken and fallen apart. Trees and bushes grow from every crack, car wrecks block the streets. You need good and waterproof footwear for exploring as you’ll walk through puddles and water and you’ll have to climb over blocks of concrete. It’s an apocalyptic scenario.

Impressions of HoPe (2) – inside a building (upper pictures) / and outside (lower pictures)

There’re some eye catchers and curiosities at HoPe. Right close to the landing point you see a big and broken statue of a boy swimming on the water, some birds sit on it as if they have conquered it. Walking through the streets you see old bill boards, graffiti on the facades and of course a lot of broken windows. I walked inside of some buildings, just trees and bushes are inside, no left over furniture or other objects. In one building the lights were still switched on – I wonder where the power for the lights comes from.

Impressions of HoPe (3) – exploring HoPe (upper pictures) / the plane wreck (lower pictures)

Around the city there once was an elevated highway that it now brocken into pieces, some pieces stick out like after an earthquake. And there’re also cars and trucks on the rests of the elevated highway, just as if there was a sudden catastrophy. Another curiosity is a building shell for what might have become an office building. There’s still a hoarding around it and many building machines which look quite functional. I entered the worksite and walked upstairs. From the higher stories you have a good view over the abandoned city. And there’re many cats, who have taken over the place. It conjured a smile on my face watching them.

Impressions of HoPe (4) – the building shell and the cats

What happened to this city? Was it an earthquake? A tsunami? And how long ago was this catastrophy? According to the vagetation the catastrophy must have been decades ago. Where does the wreck of an airplane came from, that you find in one of the streets? And why is it that the building shell looks that intact? These questions will remain unanswered.
And what does HoPe stand for? For the hope that the world won’t die even without humans? Or for the hope that the mankind will avoid such a catastrophy? Or is it an abbreviation of two terms Ho & Pe? Hotel Peter?

Impressions of HoPe (5)

Anyway, HoPe is a place to explore and discover. It offers an apocalyptic background for photographs and many details to explore. The whole scene together with the sentence “The World wouldn’t die without the Humankind.” gives reason for many thoughts. And last but not least the building shell with the cats is fun.

Thank you Fred Hamilton (frecoi) and Lotus Mastroianni for providing HoPe and for sharing it with the public!

Landmark to HoPe
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Syn%20Isles/204/132/22
HoPe on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/groups/-hope-/