Chandra House, Samia

Tags

Chandra House, Heterocera, Samia, Sandgrass Road, Second Life, The Atoll

Very recently I found a new-to-me parcel called Chandra House, just off Sandgrass Road on the Atoll. I would have passed it by as a private place but for the large welcome sign near the road. There were vehicle rezzers near the entrance; I saw a bike rezzer and near the large home is a dandelion to fly with.

There are numerous areas to hang out all over the parcel which turned out to be much larger than it first appeared. The SLurl reads: “Welcome to Chandra House & Beach 18+ – Naturists welcome, Samia. Moderate”.

The doors of the large house opened as I walked by but I chose to explore the outdoors instead.

I really liked the nature sounds which were different in each area. You can hear the wind in the field where the horses are. The standing ones can be ridden.  I have my own horse I enjoy riding and these were new to me, “R^ Vehicle Wandering Riding Hourse- Bronze”, so I set out to explore further on horseback.

I hadn’t planned on exploring. While sitting at Neumoegen looking at land sales on the map I accidentally teleported into an abandoned field, walked to the road which I idly strolled down while in IMs.

Some of the descriptions change for the different areas, such as:”Welcome – Mature Area 18+ – Nudity Welcome
Respect a Must
Marina Club, Horse Riding, Beaches, & More”.

There are rezzers for sailboats, jet skis and bumper boats.

Taking snapshots from horseback wasn’t easy enough so I dismounted in a grove of falling coconuts. It was still in this area when I was ready to log so I rode it back to the stables.

There are some underwater places.

There’s a large party place.  “Welcome to Club Samia Marina- Adult 18 + Nudity Optional”.

There’s some Private Land, a Wiccan area, which is well marked near this part of the beach.

The Meditation Station is on a separate 480 sq m above the beach. When you press the piece above the portraits, near the top, chants of “Om Namah Siviaya” begin.  Or there’s a radio for Trance/Chill/Ambient music.

The land description here reads: “Through the portals of silence the healing sun of wisdom and peace will shine upon you.”

The Enginehouse, Pavonia

Tags

Heterocera, mainland, Pavonia, Sabre, Second Life, The Atoll, virtual trains, virtual worlds

High on a hillside on the Atoll stands an old enginehouse close to the sim border between Sabre and Pavonia.  The Route 6 Rez Zone in Sabre is here for vehicle rezzing.

I don’t recall seeing vehicles on the High Mountain Road; I like it for riding on horseback or walking. It is reasonably easy-going until a covered wall which has some holes I’ve needed to teleport out of.

Near the Enginehouse is a rusted, old vehicle which with the magic of pixels continues to produce steam.

A peek inside the Enginehouse.

There are a couple of privately owned cabins in the immediate area which appear welcoming to travelers.

On the other side of the Enginehouse is Pavonia station where you won’t have to wait too long for a train.

Or you can sit for a while if that is enjoyable in your Second Life.

The Chair Conservatory ~ Sedge

Tags

Heterocera, machinima, Second Life, Sedge, The Chair Conservatory, virtual exhbition

The Chair Conservatory, an exhibition on a sky platform in Sedge on the Atoll continent, has been used as a set for a music video.  The chair project grew out of a casual conversation about inventory, collections and creative expression being the right of everyone who so wished.

Simply, chairs from a couple of inventories were rezzed and settings were made to show them. It was amusing and fun to work on.

A Sitting Party had been planned for what turned out to be a difficult week in the U.S. after a harsh and draining season. Some of us carried on.

Avatars were encouraged to wear costumes and snap photos.

A project like this is something almost anyone can do, not requiring a lot of time and hours and hours of learning software.

Some people have lots of lamps. Some collect animals.

Auto return was turned off for a while and avatars rezzed favorite and/or silly chairs.

I made a 4:07 slideshow of the Sitting Party.

The Chair Conservatory is still open with sets changing from time to time. The public are welcome; photography and filming encouraged.

Blessed Thanksgiving

Tags

Heterocera, life, Second Life, Thanksgiving, The Atoll, Trainwatchers Station

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving if you celebrate it and a blessed day if you do not. Today’s photos were taken at Trainwatcher’s Station, a 512 plot on the Atoll, which exhibits a wonderful spirit that can still be found on the mainland.

From the land description: “For stranded train travelers. To rest, eat, read, wash up and hang your clothes to dry.”

Trainwatchers Station is in Taeniatum at the location of the previous Trainwatchers Cafe.

In the real world, we’re supposed to have freedom of speech here in the US. That’s one of the reasons people publicly air their lists of grievances. Most of us are becoming aware that things need to change; many of us have known for decades. 

Having endured long term injustices and intense, relentless suffering or simply being ignored too often and too long, it’s challenging for many to temper their speech.

Every which way I turn, there’s someone on social media or in the news who doesn’t know me as an individual, who would likely never have a care or thought about me, who is including me in some blanket statement about people of my gender, race, nationality, generation, sexual orientation, spiritual outlook, “social class”, education level, general political outlook and ability, etc.

After a while it becomes an annoying, saddening, slimy, droning background static.I have been treated badly and unfairly by all sorts of people. For me personally, most of it has been about my mystery illness which is mostly due to pesticides, heavy metals, viruses and trauma. We live in a world where if someone hasn’t experienced something, it doesn’t exist. It’s so easy to make judgments about someone’s character when there are unknown reasons for apparent behaviors.My approach is to not deny what is happening, to take responsibility as best I can, to live my life as though it matters, to work for societal and cultural change and to regard and treat others with respect and kindness. I tend to walk away when someone right in front of me doesn’t see or hear me as an individual, won’t get their face out of their electronics or their head out of their ass or obliviously stumbles through their life in a bubble. I don’t know what brought them to that point and I don’t have the energy to work at it.

Second Life ~ where you can bathe while washing your clothes and wave at passing train riders or empty trains.

In our virtual world, when I’m feeling well enough, I like to keep an open mind about people. I have met some lovely avatars here as well as some boors, perverts, emotional vampires, spiritual zombies and those who have no concept of equal footing and sharing. I strive to avoid being unkind and to walk away quickly; I don’t know why and how the human behind the avatar has arrived at that point.

I continue to mostly enjoy SL as a creative outlet no matter how many arrogant, stuck-up, snobby, disparaging, condescending avatars sling around words like “less than stellar, mediocre, monstrosity and the like. I have no intention of slinking away and hiding my learning and experimentation.

Creativity isn’t only for real life professional artists, people with art degrees, people with high end computers, those who work in the tech industry and those who are (at the moment) physically, mentally, emotionally and financially somewhat whole and stable.

Circumstances can change rapidly. A person or one of their loved ones can reach the threshold of their personal rain-barrel effect on this poisoned planet.  Again, whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, have a blessed day. Keep smiling when you can, keep making stuff and sharing it and please be kind and patient.

Edwardston Station Gallery ~ Hillside, Cayuga

Tags

baker Bloch, Edwardston Station Gallery, Heterocera, Second Life, Sunklands blog

During each of my several visits to Edwardston Station Gallery, different collages have stood out for me. Perhaps they were new but it’s more likely I overlooked them. There’s a lot to see here, years of work. It’s become a gallery I like to go in person to with friends whose intelligent opinions I’ve come to value. On this visit I went with a friend wearing the avatar from Bufje’s Ephemeral at LEA 10.  I’m unable to explain or critique any symbolism or meaning in these collages. Art isn’t about that for me, anyway.  I do recognize that much imagination has gone into these. My approach here is to take in the colors and composition from a distance and then examine the pieces more closely to see what they are made up of.The artist of these works is baker Bloch, whose blog, Sunklands, I’ve been following for years.  My home is within walking distance of his Collagesity in Minoa. The landing point is set. It looks like you’re standing on thin air but all is well. Just walk towards the building and down the stairs to the left.  The newest of these series is on the top floor. Everyone I’ve shown the gallery to finds at least a few pieces they are quite taken with. The collages are for sale and modifiable to fit your spaces.  There’s also some statistical information for those who enjoy that sort of thing. The gallery had previously used all the available prims so I will be watching the space.The collage on the left of the picture was selected for the November/December exhibit at Wanderlust Bench Art Park. It isn’t for sale there; you can get the LM to Edwardston Station Gallery from the poster on the Cafe side as well as from this post.

And do visit the gallery when you can.

“Another Haunted House”, Leafroller

Tags

Halloween, Heterocera, Laserskater, Second Life, Veyot

Halloween is almost here. Many avatars on the mainland decorate their places which can be visited by the public. One such place, Another Haunted House, is a castle near the tracks in Leafroller on The Atoll. 

There are activities like bobbing for apples and scenes to take photos in your Halloween costumes. I was told the best animations at the dinner table are for couples. You can see how I’m enjoying the conversation from my dinner companion above.When you land on the platform, you can walk to the end and an arrow will show you where to sit to get a menu of options for the tree animations.

From the land description: “Our castle is ready for Halloween. Beware! Ghosts, blood, and a guillotine, with gifts to find and a lovely dinner too. Be sure to try all the animations and TP up to the 2nd and 3rd floors.”

The castle has been through several changes and will likely change again after Halloween.

Another Haunted House was put together by Veyot and Laserskater.

Blynn’s Home ~ Halloween

Tags

Blynn's Home, Halloween, Heterocera, Minoa, Robin Loop

Just off Robin Loop on the Atoll is Blynn’s Home in Minoa. The G rated destination shows the humorous side of Halloween and there wasn’t a bloody corpse in sight when I visited.

The land description seems to stay the same year round; the home changes seasonally.

“Welcome to my house- open to everyone – swim, piano, readable books in library, battle picotto, billiards game (2nd floor front porch); click phone by front door for pizza delivery; microwave for popcorn; PG fun only please”

The music stream is haunting and there several places to sit and chat. There are books to click on delivering stories to local chat and animations and activities.

Out in the yard is a small army of animated creatures. And inside are many collections of interesting objects.

Blynn Heron also has a couple of gacha resale places across the road, looking in the direction from off this porch. One is right on the road, the other is in a beautiful blue building set back a bit. Be careful going from one to another; there’s a building between them with a security orb set for 3 seconds.

Almost every area of the house has something amusing or interesting, even on the roof.

 

Shoshin

Tags

Heterocera, mainland, Shoshin, Zoe Foodiboo

The Shoshin Cafe and Shoshin Collectibles are charming places, each in a different location. The Cafe, the larger of the two, is a sweet place to hang out. The land description states: “A little cafe along Route 2 on Heterocera. We host events for readers, journaling junkies & yoga lovers.” Shoshin Cafe was established less than two months ago. There’s no scheduled yoga at this time; drop-ins are welcome whenever. The journaling sessions are about half an hour, again, everyone’s welcome to drop in anytime. Journaling can be drawing, doodling or writing. (Even working on a blog post; who’s to know?) The meeting times are M – Thu at 7:30 p.m. SLT.

There’s a small group if you want to be kept in the loop of prompts and announcements. Just like I’m not a meme girl when it comes to blogging, I don’t care for writing prompts and have learned they are optional here. It’s a great way to get some writing done and feel less solitary about it. Kaipo and Bona, the dogs, are very friendly and respond to commands. There are a few virtual critters hanging around the area too.The Cafe owner, Zoe Foodiboo, is also a librarian in 1920’s Berlin. I first met her at the meditation center at Refugium which I wrote a little about in my Norgaard Village post of over a year ago. Shoshin has been photographed for blogs at least twice before, here and here. There’s a lookout point with a view of the sea across the road. A handy cigarette vending machine is available close by. At another location, off Route 3, Serpentata,  is Shoshin Collectibles. “A locally-owned shop selling gently used items.”

It’s well maintained. a 544 area with 146 LI allowance, the collectibles being replenished promptly when there’s room.

Norgaard Village

Tags

Heterocera, mainland, Norgaard Village

I had a delightful visit to Norgaard Village a few days ago. I should say “nights ago” because I couldn’t sleep and went exploring after midnight.

I’d been by the place recently when I rezzed a train and traveled the SLRR on the east coast of Heterocera until it dumped me out on the tracks and disappeared. Not liking to be anywhere I’m not welcome I tromped down the tracks without venturing off them while admiring the views. It’s one of the way better looking mainland areas.Then a few days later I saw a blog post about the Norgaard Village Train Station going up. And there was a SLurl!

I’ve been enjoying Abinoam Norgaard’s Journal for a while now. There are lots of virtual travel blogs online and some include posts about the mainland; I find his very well written and it holds my interest, not only for info on places I might like to see but it’s a very readable record for the future.I found his blog on my favorite go-to place these days Second Life Destinations curated by Ann Owiti. No longer do I fear that I’ll miss out since I don’t do social media. I simply don’t have time to wade through everything. She does an excellent curation with scoops from flickr, wordpress, blogspot and the destination guide.

There are reasons I don’t have a blogroll on my page and I find it difficult to follow blogspot. I have a few bookmarked in a state of disorganization. Occasionally I go through the blogrolls of others which can take time. Some people don’t blog for a while or they write a few personal posts amongst the travel ones. (When I want to read those I page back through the entries. All that clicking. Ann Owiti’s Scoop Its have made my experience so much better! I enjoyed strolling around the village. I’d read there’s a meditation centre here and a cafe-gallery. The meditations are in a way different time zone than I’m in. As I said this is in a good looking area but also care has been taken to shield the property from things the neighbors might rez. I found the place to be delightful and was pleased to see some great POST buildings.My human had to go AFK for a while so I jumped up here to enjoy the view and keep from being underfoot of the livestock. Having been in a loner sort of mood I was a little startled to find people about. A meditation had just been completed and I got to spend a pleasant time in the cafe with Abinoam and friends. I was reminded there are many good people in virtual worlds and I felt welcome and included.I was also reminded that it’s worthwhile to check out different times to be inworld. This is a place I’ll return to again.