http://slurl.com/secondlife/China/150/205/1994

Walk into sublime elegance in Bamboo China.  Who knew that such a limited palette could create such beauty and peace?  I only wish there was some beautiful music to go with the amazing scenery, but just add your own to make this a wonderful experience.  Its quite fun to hang around and meet interesting people.  Hmmm, even as I type this I’ve begun to hear piano music.  Someone has rezzed and is flying…wait for it…a concert grand piano.  Perfect!

Its mainly a scenic sim but one you will definitely want to visit.  I rate this a MUST SEE destination!

While Bamboo is up in the sky, below is a deserted industrial warehouse area.  It’s sprawling and intriguing.  Now curiosity makes me wonder what this space is used for…role-play?  battles?

I open up the “about land” tab and look at the land description.  I read:

Bamboo, Ink, Rice Paper

a quite place for hanging out, afking and/or do random thoughts….

to be closer to youre\s self.

I quite like this description…and plan to do just that.

I see that Aston Leisen is the creator and owner of Bamboo.  I also see from his profile that he has a shop on another sim.  (Note to self, check out Aston’s shop asap.)

TIP 1:  Many scenic sims are built for others to enjoy at the creator’s expense.  They will often discretely display a tip jar to support the sim and to keep it going.  If you enjoy the sim and want to let the owner know you appreciate their contribution to the virtual community, do try to donate something.  Even small amounts help to keep the sim alive.  If there are no shops or rentals then the owner must cover the entire expense and we know it’s not cheap.  So, be kind and give what you can.

Tip 2:  If you find a creator that you admire, dig into their profile.  If you’re lucky then you may discover they have a shop of wonderful things…or at least some favorite picks that can lead you to wonderful things.  Ok, and some will just be lewd, crude, and…well, you know.  Builders…gotta love em!

]]> http://metaverseguide.com/2010/04/20/bamboo-china-walk-into-a-chinese-ink-painting/feed/ 0 barbarellanoel Bamboo - China_001 Bamboo China_015 http://metaverseguide.com/2009/10/07/oubliette/ http://metaverseguide.com/2009/10/07/oubliette/#comments Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:27:39 +0000 barbarellanoel http://metaverseguide.com/?p=839 ]]>

Found!  Gown by Evie’s Closet

Found!  Baby Doll dress by Evie’s Closet

Do you like flat, square sims?  Shops all lined up straight in a row?  Non-landscaped parcels of mish-mash items for sale?  Vendors all lined up in rows and rows on uninteresting walls?  Do ya?  Well then,  DON’T come to Oubliette!  Oubliette is for dreamers, the curious, the dramatic, those who love fine quality goods, and for those who love The Hunt!  Right at this VERY moment there is a terrific hunt going on there called Pieces of You…and I mean a quality item hunt, not a freebie junk give-away.  See the dresses above?  I found those items only moments ago…gorgeous, gorgeous items by Evie’s Closet on Oubliette.  And I’m not finished!  I will NOT leave until I find Saiyge Lotus’ Strange as Angels collection.  I have one earring at the moment and as soon as I post this, I will continue until I own every prim of that collection!  I’m a huge fan of Saiyge Lotus’s shop Balderdash.  Isn’t that a fun name?  I recommend that you visit her shop here and take lots of lindens.  Every time I enter her shop I buy pretty much everything she has that is new since my last visit.  Her items are creative, unique, exquisitely detailed, and simply beautiful.  No, not simply at all.  Neither her designs nor her landscaping and terraforming of the sim are simple.  Complex is the word.  A master’s touch.  That makes this hunt all the more worthwhile…her sim is endlessly surprising and beautiful.  The fact that you get these amazing purple boxes of treasures (12 in all) is icing on the cake!

Saiyge Lotus’ Strange as Angels collection

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Oubliette/180/144/26

To join in the hunt just click on the sign upon entering and rezzing on the sim.  You will need to join the hunt group at a cost of $88L and then each box is $1L for a total expense of $100L.  More than a fair deal!  The gown and dress I’ve already found is easily valued over $1000L.  Not to mention the fun of the hunt!  Take friends to make more of a game out of it…see who can get the whole collection first.  They aren’t easy to find, but wandering the sim and taking in the sights is half the fun.  If you really really can’t find a few boxes, then look in the notecard given when clicking the start board…there are clues in there for locations.

Balderdash keeps good company too.  The other shops on the sim are Winx, Evie’s Closet, and Frippery…all high quality designers and shops worth checking out and they’ve all contributed to the hunt items that you will find.

Well, I must go…got some hunting to do.  Happy hunting to you all!

Tip: There are many Hunts offered in SL.  They vary in quality, but it’s a great thing to participate in.  Join them all if you can…they will lead you to new discoveries and give you a great education on what good products vs. bad products are.  They will also lead you to wonderful and little known sims.  Some of my best discoveries were found this way!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/White%20Taj/124/223/52

When you arrive, you’ll be facing the White Taj which is based on the Taj Mahal.  The Black Taj is a creation of imagination.  Both are architectural wonders.  The palaces are vast and there are many rooms to be explored and hidden places to be found.  Each palace has a dance hall, so grab a date and select a location – or try them both!  Take an airship tour of the sim, or a relaxing rowboat ride. And don’t forget to explore the forest…there are some beautiful places that you’ll want relax in.

]]> http://metaverseguide.com/2009/08/30/black-taj-white-taj/feed/ 0 barbarellanoel White Taj_001 (2) White Taj & Black Taj_001 http://metaverseguide.com/2009/08/26/black-spot/ http://metaverseguide.com/2009/08/26/black-spot/#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:39:07 +0000 barbarellanoel http://metaverseguide.com/?p=744 ]]>

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Black%20Spot/149/164/24

Got a little Captain in you?

Black Spot is a pirate lover’s dream.  Gorgeous and intricately made ships can be found here for purchase as well as other sundries.  But as usual, I prefer sims that don’t overtly hawk items and Black Spot is one of those sims.  It offers some amazing vistas and beautiful water.  Lots of dramatic scenes and mood to be found here.  It begs for exploration, and you will be rewarded if you do.  There are interactive rides and hidden passages leading to…..?  You should find out!  I’m once again awed by another’s creative talents…this time by Lia Woodget, creator of Black Spot.  I really can’t say enough about her amazing creation…other than its on my MUST SEE list!  Hmmm…I fully expect to see Johnnie Depp in full pirate gear any minute now.  Not that that’s a bad thing

TIP: I don’t use photoshop in my pics…mainly because I want you all to see the images as I see them.  But also because I’m photoshop illiterate!  (Anybody wanna school me?)  But I did play with the windlight settings as seen in the pics above.  I was afraid to do this, but I’m over it now.  It won’t mess up your settings!  You can always go back to default.  But if you click world tab on the top of the screen, then environment settings then environment editor, then advanced sky (whew), then at the top in that box find sky presets…just click any or all of those for some amazing tweaks to your screen shots.  It’s lots of fun!  And can really create a mood – spooky, sunny, alien…whatever look you want, you can create it.  Try it and have some fun!

***Note:  It appears that the 100 or so sky presets are only available with the Emerald viewer.  The Linden Lab viewer has presets too, but only about 15 or so.  I gotta say, I’m loving the Emerald viewer.  Lots of fun options and I don’t see any downsides so far.  Here’s the link to download the Emerald viewer if you’d like to try it:

http://modularsystems.sl/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=sections&Itemid=5

There are two parts to download:

1. GreenLife_Proprietary_Pack_Voice-Support-FPS-Boost.exe

2. GreenLifeSetup_1-23-673(Optimized).exe

This was a very painless and problem free download for me.  Best of luck!

***I just found that you can have hundreds of sky presets with the LL viewer.  Just download them from the LL website via Torley’s post:     http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/WindLight_settings

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Immersiva/44/101/21

As I walked closer I read the note

Willow

~

We hid in the tree at night

Or crouch in the foaming brine

Not thinking of the rust

That will mar our metallic shine

~

As the hunters drew close

You left our shelter and drew

The spotlight to your flight

So all they would see is you

~

Caught and dismantled today

I look at your remnants in sorrow

I will curl up in your remaining parts

And turn myself off tomorrow

~Bryn Oh

Immersiva gives me the feeling that I’m only half awake, sleepwalking through a dream.  It is filled with wonderfully created and arranged artistic displays, conjuring sorrow, love, hope, despair, sweetness and melancholy all at once.  Upon arrival, pick up the notecard explaining the settings to best view the sim, and about the Rabbicorn Story.   Bryn Oh has made a world from her heart, expressing a sort of bittersweet tale…leaving me wanting more.  It isn’t the sort of place to rush through.  It isn’t a place to stumble around in with your giggling friends.  It’s a place to go with a contemplative mind, a curious mind, and with your senses heightened to soak it all in.  There are items meant to be interacted with.  Do look at things closely, do have your sounds turned up, and do click when you see your cursor become the pointing hand.  And without a doubt, do go to this sim and immerse yourself…it is a MUST SEE destination.

Learn more about Bryn Oh’s projects here:  http://brynoh.blogspot.com/

Greetings from Barcelona.  Having a great time – wish you were here!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tumotiko%20East/69/136/0

I’ve not been to the real Barcelona, so I can’t say if this sim is similar to the real deal or not, but I can tell you that it’s gorgeous, very well designed, appealing to the eye, and a great place to hang out in general and meet folks.  It’s good if you know a bit of Spanish as there are many Spanish-speaking people around.  It offers a cozy cafe to share a latte with friends or to have a dance.  There are assorted shops and art galleries.  And in addition to the city feel, the edges are beach covered and offer sights to see, boating interactive activities, and more hang out spaces.  The music is a soothing Latin station, good for chatting with friends or dancing.

Here’s a tip…do visit sims that have a majority of non-English speaking residents.  Don’t be afraid!  It’s a wonderful way to experience another culture without a passport or even leaving your home.  There are translation devices easily found in SL, many of them free.  There is a bit of a learning curve, but it’s well worth it.  Its a terrific way to learn a foreign language or practice your rusty skills in a language you are semi-literate in.  I’ve had many non-English speaking friends do this very thing in order to practice their English and I’ve seen them become remarkably proficient by the exercise and rather quickly too!  Overall, it’s a great way to expand your world and your skills while having a great time.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tableau/166/149/133

When you arrive, you will find yourself in a simple blue-walled house with several vendors of interesting objects.  Do take a look.  But whatever you do, do not fail to walk outside the door.  Once you exit, turn around to admire the unique design of the store Rootbeer then, continue to explore the entire sim.  This sim is one of the most unique and fantastic sims I’ve come across in some time.  I can’t simply name shops for you to explore, there are too many whimsical and wonderful things spread throughout the sim in various stores, things so imaginative, silly, creative, and most importantly, fun!  I bought the most useless gadgets here and I love them!  In the pic above I somehow wound up at Club Luna wearing the always chic Extreme Cat Eye Shades from Paper Couture and the RACHELBREAKER SPLOOGEGUN that shoots gobs of pink goo.  Very well made items, not just frilly props…and great for laughs!  After the club, I found an interesting hair shop called Clawtooth by Clawtooth.  I bought a demo hair for Kitten with a Whip at the shop and proceeded to try it on.  But I was confused…stunned.  Something….wasn’t…quite right…

WHY THE HELL AM I SQUATTING ON THE FLOOR???  AND WHY THE HELL AM I WEARING A MOUSTACHE???  AND WTF IS THIS LADY DOING TO ME???!!!

I cam out a bit to soak it all in…

And I roll into a hearty laugh!  The surprise of it, the absurdity, the irreverence….I love it!!!  Check out the cow in the background wearing the tiara.  If the lady didn’t have a drawn on goatee, I’d be kinda ticked…but as it is…I get the joke.  A surprising and eclectic riff on the standard DEMO boxes on other demo hairs by creator Bubbles Clawtooth.  Pretty funny!  Well, as  you can see,  Tableau is full of surprises and silliness, not to mention one-of-a-kind items that you really should check out.  A lot of laughs with your friends can be had on this exploration.  I ended up buying the hair which inspired me to whip out my other recently purchased Carved Flower Cat Eye Glasses by Paper Couture and my Poppies dress by Icing and go totally retro!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/NOAs%20ARK/144/74/21

You know, I don’t think my words can add more than what the pics can.  Gorgeous sim with ambient Japanese music.

This is a MUST SEE destination in Second Life.  It’s been around for a while and is still as amazing as the first time I saw it about two years ago.  Surreal and dreamy…and quite a bit laggy I’m afraid.  But that’s the conundrum of SL.  If it’s great, its popular.  If its popular, its laggy.  Can’t be helped.  But I mention it nonetheless, because it is worth the lag.  It’s also very interactive.  I recommend that you do the tai chi, orbital sleep, and explore as much as you can.  Its also a great place for pics, as you can see.

Orbital Sleep

Tai Chi

Sitting at the bar in what looks like a dance area.  Great dance music!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/LostAngel/104/8/30

The cool factor is soaring high at the LostAngel Industries sim.  I’ve been meaning to check out this place ever since I saw the teasers out in ads a few weeks back.  And it is QUITE a tease!  Check it out for yourself here:

http://lostangelsl.com

Wow, I feel cooler just for having LOOKED at the ad!  Don’t you?  If nothing else, they sure know how to package and sell a product!  I never knew if it was a role-play sim or club, so now I’ve come to check it out myself.  Will it live up to the hype they’ve created?  Upon arrival at the TP site, I find that it is primarily a shop for poses.  Not just a shop, but an entire sim built in a gritty, urban, underground, techno style.  The buildings have rooms of different types of poses spread out allowing you to soak in the atmosphere as you browse.  And there is alot of atmosphere here!  Obviously a high quality build, gorgeous textures, and designed to pique your curiosity and offer some fun.  The poses are high quality pieces of work designed for model shoots, bloggers, or people who want some interesting poses for their personal pics.  It’s alot of fun to try them out and they include many group poses, so bring your friends.  Although the sim looks finished, it looks like there is alot of room for more pose displays to come…so it begs for a return visit in the future.  Overall, I’d say that LostAngel lives up to their hype of being uber-cool, and as a bonus, I’ve got some new poses to try out for the pics for the blog…yay!

Time for a little bit of mischief!

Blogging.  It’s such hard work!  I need a rest…

]]> http://metaverseguide.com/2009/07/15/lostangels-industries/feed/ 2 barbarellanoel LostAngel Industries_004 LostAngel Industries_005 LostAngel Industries_003