Exploring Second life

Author: Sam Rougefeu

Blade Runner Gigerpunk, Hera’s Metal Made Flesh

A busy street, in a rain-drenched Blade Runner Gigerpunk

Hera (zee9) has almost a cult following in Second Life as the creator of astonishingly detailed, highly textured builds, especially science fantasy ones, and they are also notoriously short lived. So when word spread that a new build was on the grid, I did not hesitate to rush over.

Street scene at Blade Runner, Gigerpunk

Gigerpunk and Transformation

The new build, Blade Runner Gigerpunk, draws together two powerful creative influences, the rain soaked neon world of Blade Runner and the unsettling biomechanical vision of the late H R Giger. Hera describes this fusion as Gigerpunk, a term she has used before. Back in 2023 she combined Venesha, her dark, vampire filled re imagining of Venice, with Giger inspired textures. This feels like a natural continuation of that exploration.

Dispensing machines – Blade Runner, Gigerpunk

This time it is Blade Runner itself that has undergone the transformation. While many familiar elements from Hera’s earlier Blade Runner builds remain, including the Snake Pit, the noodle bar, and the Tyrell inspired interior, this version feels very different. It is darker and more oppressive, with a distinctly sinister edge. Metal and surface textures dominate, giving the impression that the city has grown rather than been built.

Inside the Tyrell building – Blade Runner, Gigerpunk

A Biomechanical City – Blade Runner Gigerpunk

The region is a Homestead, which in Second Life means strict limits, just 5000 prims to work with. Knowing that makes what has been achieved here even more impressive. The build is centred around a crossroads, a compressed slice of city life dense with detail and atmosphere. Almost everything has been re textured, and the surfaces themselves become the main attraction. Walls, signs, vehicles, and street furniture feel organic, as though they have been absorbed into a living system.

Hera notes that this project required creating hundreds of new textures and, unusually for her, building much of the mesh from scratch. It shows. This is Blade Runner seen through a biomechanical lens, where nothing feels inert or decorative.

conceptual art lines the walls of the skybox

Landing Area and Backstory

The landing point is a skybox, and here Hera has added several pieces of conceptual art used in re imagining Blade Runner. These images are fascinating in their own right and well worth examining. Along one wall, scrolling text provides a backstory to the world you are about to enter, framing the experience that follows.

μηχανική (mēkhanikē) = “mechanics / the art of machines”

Early in the 21st Century, GIGERTRONICS advanced human evolution into the biomechanical phase, a fusion of engineered flesh and living machine, known as the Biomechanoid.

In the Biomechanical Age, death was no longer the horror.
The horror was to die un transformed.

ADAPT. ENHANCE. EVOLVE.
Metal Made Flesh.

When you are ready, take the teleport on the same wall as the moving text. There is also a notecard here with further background information.

conceptual art lines the walls of the skybox

Sound, Light, and Discovery

Be sure to enable the shared environment and turn your sound up, as both lighting and sound add a great deal to the atmosphere. For those who enjoy regional music, Hera has included a stream that suits the setting beautifully. Take your time to explore. Try the doors, click on objects, and pause to look closely. There is much to discover, and plenty to photograph.

Blade Runner, Gigerpunk – attention paid to decor

Here for a Short While

Hera’s builds are famously short lived, and this one may only exist for a week or two. That sense of impermanence feels fitting. This is not a place to rush through or catalogue, but one to experience while it is here. Metal made flesh, and then gone again, leaving only images and impressions behind.

Rep Detec, – One almost expects Rick Deckard to come through the door at any minute

Useful Links

Teleport to Blade Runner – Gigerpunk
Drune Forever Flickr group

The toymaker’s room

If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog, Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.

Join us in the Second Life Destinations Facebook Group, where bloggers share new finds.
Photographers: post your snapshots in the Second Life Destinations Flickr Group.

A futuristic vehicle at Blade Runner Gigerpunk

A fast food Stall Blade Runner Gigerpunk

Street scene at Blade Runner, Gigerpunk

January 24, 2026
Planet M’s Tula, a Red Earth Dreamscape

A view of the moon – Photographer Nan Slade

Enter another world

Planet M’s Tula in Second Life is one of those places that stands out from the crowd. From the moment you arrive, there is a clear sense that you are somewhere very different from the norm. If you enjoy quirky landscapes, Second Life animals, or simply visiting places created in an imaginative and playful style, Planet M’s Tula may well appeal.

A contented frog on a giant lily pad – Planet M

Sound, Light, and Atmosphere

Before exploring, I would strongly recommend enabling the shared environment and turning on the region sound. I do not usually play music streams when visiting a place, but here it feels essential. What you hear is not music, but a carefully layered soundscape, bird calls drifting through the air, the croak of frogs near water, and subtle ambient noises that gently draw you into the valley. Combined with the lighting, it creates an immersive atmosphere that feels completely matched to the landscape

Elephants by a pool – high in the sky at planet M’s Tula

Arrival and Exploration

The landing point places you on a small island in the middle of a flock of flamingos. Ahead of you is a free explorer bubble, which you can add, large enough to sit comfortably inside. Transparent, with a soft reddish tint, it allows you to float and fly around the region using the arrow keys and page up and down controls on your keyboard. It is both playful and practical, and makes drifting between levels feel entirely natural.

Sizing each other up – photographer – Nan Slade

A World Imagined into Being

The official Second Life Destination Guide describes Planet M’s Tula as “a surreal red-earth valley shaped by organic forms, roaming animals, and a ceramic studio at its heart”. While the landscape is certainly strange, alien even, Myrdin Sommer, the designer of Planet M’s Tula, has achieved the remarkable feat of making it feel like a complete world imagined into being, with its own internal logic

Aerial view of Planet M’s Tula

The valley unfolds in warm red and reddish-brown earth tones, sculpted into organic forms that curve and rise as if grown rather than built. Tall, finger-like structures reach upward, while other forms broaden at the top, creating flat-topped shapes like giant fungi or isolated plateaus. On these elevated platforms you can see a wide range of animals. Some plateaus contain shallow basins, which may hold ponds or, in some cases, trees. Nothing here appears accidental, yet very little follows the rules of a natural landscape as we understand it on our own planet.

Planet M’s Tula – Photographer Nan Slade

Life on the Plateaus

Life is everywhere, though never quite where you expect it. Trees cling to elevated platforms, animals wander calmly across spaces that could never sustain them, and a river threads its way through the valley below, bringing movement and sound to the stillness of the stone. Seeing large animals standing on unreachable ledges is surprising at first, but quickly becomes a quiet pleasure, with each new plateau inviting curiosity about what creature might appear next.

Giraffe on Planet M

Clay, Craft, and Daily Life

The buildings are well worth closer investigation. Made from the same clay-like substrate as the rest of the planet, they form curious rooms with rounded corners and interiors that feel lived in rather than staged. There is a kiln, its open door revealing pots inside while a fire burns beneath, fed by stacked wood. Through the next doorway you arrive at the pottery workshop, with clay pots and other objects stacked on shelves. It was here that I found Myrdin Sommer seated at the table, apparently working on a pot, her avatar accompanied by animals in a way that felt both whimsical and entirely at home. On a windowsill nearby, a dodo sits quietly, incubating an egg.

Myrdin Sommer at work – assisted by two friends

Above, reached by a ladder, is an art studio, where abstract paintings are stacked around the room, some finished, others still in progress. Outside, a wind turbine turns quietly, suggesting not decoration but function. Wind exists here, power is needed, and craft matters.

Art studio – Planet M’s Tula – Second life

Accepting Tula’s Logic

These details shift the experience of Tula. This is not simply a strange landscape to pass through, but a world that works on its own terms, operating according to its own logic. Planet M’s Tula in Second Life invites you to suspend disbelief and accept its rules. It is quirky, imaginative, and rich with photographic possibilities, a place that rewards curiosity and quiet exploration.

Moonlight over the red-earth plateaus of Planet M’s Tula in Second Life.

Useful Links

Teleport to Planet M’s – Tula
Planet M – Flickr group

Blackbirds looking for grubs in Dino dung

If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog, Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.

Join us in the Second Life Destinations Facebook Group, where bloggers share new finds.
Photographers: post your snapshots in the Second Life Destinations Flickr Group.

January 11, 2026
Woodland by Cica Ghost, A Dream Built in Wood

Adorable invertebrates of all kinds inhabit Woodland

An Organic Arrival

Some places in Second Life feel as though they have grown rather than been built, carrying an organic quality that feels natural and unforced. Woodland, the latest creation by Cica Ghost, which opened on Wednesday 7th January, is one of those places. On arrival, it felt less like stepping into a region and more like entering a shared dream.

A rather smug-looking Frog King sits on high at Woodland

Cica accompanies each build with a short quote, and this time it is a familiar one, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Walt Disney. It feels particularly fitting here, where imagination has been translated almost entirely into texture, tone, and form. As always, it is important to use the shared Environment settings. The lighting is not an afterthought but an essential part of the experience, shaping how the land feels as you move through

Woodland from above – From here it’s easy to see the different texturing

Texture, Tone, and Ground Beneath Your Feet

At first glance, Woodland appears almost monochrome. The sky is very dark, almost black, while the land below is rich brown throughout. The longer you explore, however, the more variation reveals itself. The higher, hilly areas are a deep, near-black brown, laid out in small square patterns that give the terrain a tiled, tactile quality.

Caterpillar at Woodland by Cica Ghost—Who could resist those eyes?

Elsewhere, the ground changes underfoot. Some areas resemble wide wooden planks, others look as though they have been stitched together from squares of different materials. A few even carry the look of worn denim. These subtle shifts invite slow exploration, encouraging you to notice the land rather than simply pass through it.

A large butterfly – Woodland by Cica Ghost

Whimsical Inhabitants

It is not just the land itself that displays unusual textures. Cica’s builds almost always include larger-than-life inhabitants, creatures that might best be described as monsters, although nearly always friendly and whimsical ones. In Woodland, many of these inhabitants are invertebrates. Beetles, grasshoppers, snails, stick insects, and more roam the landscape, all bearing Cica’s trademark moving eyes and an appearance that feels endearing rather than threatening, despite their considerable size.

Whimsical inhabitants of Woodland by Cica Ghost, carved in wood and full of character, with tiny wooden houses rising behind them.

Among these creatures are a chameleon and a frog, the frog appearing almost regal with a crown perched on his head. The frog, the snail, and some of the other creatures show clear wood texturing, while others have rougher skins that suggest snake-like scales. Their scale can be surprising. The snail alone towers far above avatar height, reinforcing the dreamlike quality of the region.

Chamelon and stick insects at Woodland by Cica Ghost

There are houses here too, seemingly made from single pieces of wood. They appear small beside the creatures that surround them, which raises the playful thought that smaller beings might be hidden away inside, unseen in the darker corners. Whether that is true or not hardly matters. It is the overall visual effect that lingers.

The curious wooden houses at Woodland

A Place to Linger

As with Cica’s previous builds, there is a gentle sense of whimsy throughout Woodland. This is not a place to rush through. It encourages wandering, pausing, sitting, and noticing details that might be missed at first glance. There are dances to enjoy too, best experienced with friends, adding a quiet sense of shared joy to the landscape.

The huge friendly snail at Woodland – my little robot avatar in the foreground is a little over one metre tall to give some idea of scale

Woodland feels thoughtful and cohesive, a place shaped as much by mood as by structure. It left me with the sense that I had been allowed into someone else’s imagination for a while. It is very much worth a visit, especially if you give it the time and attention it gently asks for.

Fungi or Fun Guys? – could be both – look at those smiles

Useful Links

Cica’s Inworld Shop
Cica Ghost on Marketplace
Cica’s personal Flickr stream
Cica Ghost Flickr Group
All my posts about Cica Ghost here and the latest ones here

At every Cica build there are always different flowers – these remind me of daisies

If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog, Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.

Join us in the Second Life Destinations Facebook Group, where bloggers share new finds.
Photographers: post your snapshots in the Second Life Destinations Flickr Group.

January 8, 2026
The Goshuin Project, Collecting Moments of Japan in Second Life

A moonlit approach to Yozakura Jinja, where flowering cherry trees and shrine banners guide visitors toward the Dragon God Hengu

An introduction to a Japanese tradition

I have always found that some Second Life experiences invite quiet attention rather than spectacle. The Goshuin Project is one of those. It offers a thoughtful way to explore Japanese culture through virtual shrines and temples, while collecting something small, personal, and meaningful along the way.

The idea is simple but beautifully considered. Visitors travel between participating shrines and temples in Second Life and collect Goshuin, virtual versions of the calligraphic red seals traditionally offered at real Japanese religious sites. Each stamp marks a visit, a moment, and a place, rather than a task completed.

The mystical Para Shrine

What are Goshuin stamps?

In Japan, Goshuin are handwritten seals given at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. They usually include the name of the shrine, the date, and carefully brushed characters, all arranged in a distinctive style. Every shrine has its own design, which makes each Goshuin unique. Traditionally, they are collected in a special book and kept as a personal record of visits.

Proudly displaying the Goshuin souvenir outside the issuing office at Yozakura Jinja

The word Goshuin translates as honourable red seal, and that sense of quiet respect carries through into the Second Life project. These are not souvenirs in a commercial sense. They feel more like gentle reminders that you were present and took the time to look.

The Goshuin Project in Second Life

The Goshuin Project is organised by Sakka Flow, who explains the background and intention of the project on the official website. The aim is not only to recreate shrines, but to encourage slow exploration and appreciation of Japanese spiritual spaces within Second Life.

There is a growing list of participating shrines and temples, each offering its own Goshuin. Some are set in peaceful forested regions, others sit within more formal temple grounds. Although they differ in design and atmosphere, they share a sense of calm and care.

As I moved between locations, I found myself paying more attention than usual. The sound of water, the spacing of lanterns, the way light falls across stone steps. These are places that reward lingering rather than rushing.

Umigami Shrine, its temple buildings and walkways resting on vast stone islands suspended high above the clouds

Seeing more clearly

Until recently, I have had mixed feelings about visiting Japanese regions in Second Life. The architecture, the customs, and the fashion create a strong sense of wonder, even fascination, at being somewhere so different from the world I know. At the same time, that difference could feel distancing.

It was rather like standing outside a building and looking in through a dirty window. What I could see looked interesting and inviting, but the details were hard to make out, and I never quite felt part of what was happening inside.

Recently, that feeling has begun to change. Using tools such as Google Lens has helped deepen my understanding. Translating signs and written details allows the environment to reveal more of itself. Shrine names, dedications, and offerings become part of the story rather than decorative elements alone.

With that understanding comes a quieter pleasure. It feels as though I have stepped inside, where it is warm, unhurried, and clear, and where I can finally take my time and look properly.

Encounters along the way

Another pleasure of exploring places like Yozakura Jinja is the people you meet. While wandering the shrine grounds, I encountered a small group of Japanese avatars, all dressed in playful party costumes. One was a dragon, another a banana, another a hot dog.

We spoke using a mixture of English and translation tools, exchanged greetings, and wished each other a Happy New Year. At their suggestion, we paused for a group photograph. I stood in the middle, hurriedly dressed as a tree, the most mildly amusing avatar I could find at short notice.

A chance meeting at Yozakura Jinja, where a small group of Japanese visitors and I paused for a playful photograph beneath the cherry blossoms

It was a small, happy moment. Encounters like this are part of what makes Second Life special. You meet people you would never encounter otherwise, share a smile, and move on carrying that warmth with you.

Why it is worth exploring

The Goshuin Project does not rush you. It invites quiet curiosity and gentle wandering. Even if you know little about Japanese religious traditions, the experience feels welcoming rather than instructional. You can explore, collect, observe, and reflect at your own pace.

For me, it has become not just a journey between shrines, but a way of slowing down and paying closer attention. It is very much worth a visit.

Useful Links

Goshuin Project – Official Website – Website is in Japanese by default, but English is available via the top selector.

Goshuin Stamp Project Flickr Group

Yozakura Junja Shrine

Umigami Shrine

Para Shrine

Kamura Shrine

Kamura Shrine

If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog, Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.

Join us in the Second Life Destinations Facebook Group, where bloggers share new finds.
Photographers: post your snapshots in the Second Life Destinations Flickr Group.

January 6, 2026
100th by Cica Ghost

As usual Cica’s monsters are cute rather than scary

Opening Impressions

Cica Ghost’s latest build, 100th, opened on Saturday 8 November. Although I visited on the 8th,unfortunately real life has kept me from writing about it until now. This installation feels celebratory and bright, as though Cica has marked an important milestone with a small firework of colour.

As usual, Cica has added a quotation to accompany the build. This time it is Frank Tyger’s line, “When you like your work, every day is a holiday.” She has also created a unique environmental setting for the region, which she considers an essential part of the experience.Please use it, you will see 100th exactly as she intended.

100th by Cica Ghost

First Impressions of the Landscape

The first thing you notice on arrival is the colour. Many of Cica’s recent installations have used limited palettes, such as soft greys or gentle greens. 100th is quite different. Everywhere you look there are vivid reds, blues, greens and yellows, arranged in bold patterns that lift the mood at once. Just standing there made me feel more cheerful.

The flora of Cica Ghost builds merit an article in itself: here giant red tulip-like flowers reach into the sky

The island is full of steep hills, brightly painted in two or three wide bands of colour. To the south there is a natural gap between the hills.

You can see the brightly coloured hills and the path down to the sea in this overehead picture

A path lined with small coloured stones leads you toward the water, and if you follow it you will see Cica sailing quietly in her boat. I gave her a wave, and you may wish to do the same.

Waving to ‘Cica Ghost’

Creatures, Details and Small Surprises

There is so much to discover as you wander. A comical cow wearing bright blue socks stands outside a house. Huge butterflies stand here and there, their eyes moving, which is one of Cica’s familiar touches. A bright yellow dragon watches you with interest. A group of children are gathered, one of them pulling a bunny car on a string.

All the most fashionable cows wear blue socks

Curiously the children have no facial features, which feels striking in a world where even the animals and vehicles have moving eyes. Perhaps there is a reason for it. I hope to ask Cica one day.

Faceless children at 100th by Cica Ghost

There are duck car rezzers to ride and places to dance, and the list of small delights continues in every direction.

Duck car rezzers at 100th by Cica Ghost

Rather than describe everything in detail I will simply say that it is a place worth exploring at your own pace. You will probably find other visitors enjoying themselves too. When I was there a lively group of Dinkies were having great fun.

Dinkies at 100th by Cica Ghost – Photographer Minerva Treat

‘Dinkies’ having fun at 100th – Photographer Minerva Treat

A dear friend of mine, who sadly no longer comes to Second Life, was convinced that Cica always included a cat in her builds. If she could see this installation she would be pleased. There are three cats here, of course amusing to look at and with moving eyes as well.

Three cats—100th by Cica Ghost

A Remarkable Milestone

The name 100th is literal. This is Cica Ghost’s one hundredth installation in Second Life, which is an extraordinary achievement. She has created a Flickr album with one picture from each of the hundred builds, forming a beautiful visual record of her work. You can see it here:

A friendly looking yellow dragon – 100th by Cica Ghost

Cica’s installations are sometimes thoughtful, often whimsical, and always full of charm. They are wonderful places for photography and even better places simply to enjoy yourself. That spirit of playfulness is alive and well in 100th by Cica Ghost.

A giant butterfly—one of the many amusing characters in 100th by Cica Ghost

Useful Links

Cica’s Inworld Shop
Cica Ghost on Marketplace
Cica’s personal Flickr stream
Cica Ghost Flickr Group
All my posts about Cica Ghost and here

The Sun shines down on 100th

If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog, Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.

Join us in the Second Life Destinations Facebook Group, where bloggers share new finds.
Photographers: post your snapshots in the Second Life Destinations Flickr Group.

November 19, 2025
Rainy Café at Still Waters—Second Life

Rainy Cafe at Still Waters

A Café in the Clouds

High above the residential region of Still Waters Autumn sits Rainy Café at Still Waters, a small retreat designed by TeaRose Resident and described by her as “a cozy rainy café in autumn.” That description fits perfectly.

From the moment I arrived, the sound of steady rainfall greeted me, followed by the low rumble of thunder rolling across a weather dome that rests overhead. It feels like stepping into a gentle storm that you never have to escape.

Autumn Colours and a Stormy Sky

The café stands in a quiet clearing surrounded by dense woodland. The trees glow with autumn colour, their branches heavy with shades of yellow and brown that seem to deepen in the rain. The storm above was active throughout my visit, adding drama to the scene without overwhelming the peace of the setting. It is the sort of place where the weather becomes part of the experience and not something to avoid.

Warm Light and Seasonal Comforts at The Rainy Cafe

Inside, everything shifts. The café is warm, dry, and softly lit, a welcome contrast to the storm outside. At the moment it is dressed for Halloween, with pumpkins placed by the entrance and small seasonal touches scattered throughout. These decorations may change as the months move on, but the sense of care in the interior will not.

The counter displays an inviting selection of treats. Apple pies, caramel toffee apples, pumpkin pie, spiced cider, and doughnuts line the shelves, creating the feeling of a real café preparing for a busy autumn afternoon.

It is easy to imagine settling in with something warm and sweet while the storm continues its performance outside.

Places to Sit, Play, and Simply Watch the Rain

There are plenty of comfortable spots to sit, either alone or with friends, each arranged with a clear eye for detail.

Two playable board games, Draughts and Beserker, wait for anyone who wants a quiet distraction.

Playable Berserker Board Game

Playable Draughts Board Game at Rainy Cafe

Everywhere you look, the décor has been chosen with intention. Artwork, small ornaments, and occasional pieces of furniture come together naturally, showing TeaRose’s talent for creating charming, cohesive spaces.

Eye-catching decorations with a fungi theme

Hallloween Decor at Rainy Cafe – Second Life

I took far more photos than I meant to. It is that sort of place, a café where every corner rewards a closer look.

Rainy Cafe, A Peaceful Escape Among the Storm Clouds

If you feel like taking a break, drinking a good coffee, and watching lightning flash across a dark sky from the safety of a warm window seat, Rainy Café at Still Waters is worth a visit. It offers a little pocket of calm above the world, wrapped in autumn colours and the comfort of a passing storm.

Exploring Second Life

For another café, you might enjoy Blackthorne Book Café, Hi-Cafe, or the very different La Fée Verte – An Art Nouveau Absinthe Salon in Second Life.

The Blackthorne Book Cafe Second Life

Hi Cafe, viewed from Route 3

a wall painting at La Fee Verte

If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog, Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.

Join us in the Second Life Destinations Facebook Group, where bloggers share new finds.
Photographers: post your snapshots in the Second Life Destinations Flickr Group.

November 16, 2025
Blue Finch’s Haven Hollows 2025 – Second Life

The imposing figure of a skeleton looms over the entrance

Halloween is in full swing across Second Life, yet I’ve been slow to join in this year. After visiting Critterflop Hallowpop and Cica Ghost’s Happy Halloween, I decided at last to explore a few more of the seasonal builds — and one of my first stops proved a very good choice indeed: Blue Finch’s Haven Hollows designed and owned by Ɗíąղղą Ӈąɾɱօղყ (dianna.harmony)

Exploring Haven Hollows

Blue Finch’s Haven Hollows – Photo Nan Slade

At the landing point, a helpful notice board greets you with teleport options to four themed areas and a notecard “Experience Halloween with us! Take a tour on our boat through the spooky swamp, or ride the haunted trails on our horse, or just walk the trail and find a cozy little cafe with your friends and loved ones. There is lots to see and do here at Haven Hollows. Stay awhile and come back often. We love to see you here!Please be sure to set your environment to shared and your sounds on please.Take pictures and post them to our Flickr. Join our group and keep updated on our events and parties “

The welcome board with teleports and information.

A street of shops and stories

I chose to explore on foot rather than teleport, and a few paces took me onto a cobbled street lined with small shops and lit by streetlights, around which moths flutter.

The cobbled street has shops either side

It’s worth pausing here before taking one of the trails deeper into the region. Doorways are dressed for the season with pumpkins, garlands and the occasional ghostly figure Some of the shops sell items that are ‘My Story’ compatible. One shop, the ‘Blue Finch Pottery Studio’ has a personal story in that inside is a picture of Ɗíąղղą Ӈąɾɱօղყ’s mother, who owned the real life Blue Finch Pottery studios.

So many things to see at Blue Finch’s Haven Hollows. Like these animal ‘trick or treaters’,

The Bkue Finch Pottery Studio is named after the one in real life

three adorable owls

The Haunted Swamp Ride

To the right down some steps is the first of the two main rides, the Haunted Swamp Tour. It lasts about seven minutes and is a lovely mix of eerie and playful, more storybook than nightmare. You row yourself under the watchful eye of your guide, The Grim Reaper.

The Swamp Ride, I did the rowing while the Grim Reaper showed the way.

The Grim Reaper is quite assertive!

Atmosphere and Detail

Take your time to explore, there is so much to see and photograph. Those looking for a quieter moments will find plenty of spots to sit — some cosy, some romantic.

So much to see at Blue Finch’s. Haven Hollows – Photo Nan Slade

Exploring on foot allows you to appreciate the landscaping, thoughtfully layered, never cluttered, and rich in detail. Even the fallen leaves scattered across the ground feel deliberate, adding to the sense of place.

An eerie pirate ship is visible from the beach – Photo Nan Slade

A Halloween with visiting

What I liked most about Haven Hollows is its restraint. Some Halloween regions rely on shock and gore, but Dianna Harmony’s design avoids that entirely. This is Halloween with atmosphere — imaginative, photogenic, and welcoming. It’s easy to spend an hour here just wandering, taking pictures, and admiring how carefully everything has been placed.

The cable car – affords a panoramic view of Blue Finch’s Haven Hollows – Photo Nan Slade

Set your environment to shared and turn up the sound: the ambience is part of the charm. Whether you arrive for a ride, a photo, or simply to enjoy the season, Haven Hollows is worth a visit — a place that captures the fun of Halloween without losing its sense of beauty.

Looking for more Halloween Destinations? See all my Halloween posts here

Blue Finch’s Haven Hollows – Photo Nan Slade

Blue Finch’s Haven Hollows – The Links

Teleport to Blue Finch’s Haven Hollows

Blue Finch Flickr group

Exploring Second Life

If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog, Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.

Join us in the Second Life Destinations Facebook Group, where bloggers share new finds.
Photographers: post your snapshots in the Second Life Destinations Flickr Group.

October 24, 2025
JOMO – Serenity in the Snow in Second Life

Jomo & YUSR Stores built into the mountainside

Surrounded on three sides by sheer cliffs of snow and ice, the JOMO & YUSR Main Store juts out from the mountainside like a temple of old, its styling unmistakably Asian. Only the front façade is visible — a grand entrance flanked by imposing statues — while most of the store lies hidden deep within the mountain. Even if you’re not looking to buy, it’s worth exploring. Inside, the cool stone walls and dark paved floors create the sense of being in a special place; if it were real life, you might find yourself speaking in a whisper. Light falls in pools that reveal not only the creations for sale but other quiet details, all adding to the mystery and atmosphere.

The temple-like entrance to JOMO & YUSR, carved into the mountainside

A miniature Shangri-La

The landscape feels both beautiful and inhospitable — a place where the elements dominate. The region forms a vast mountainous horseshoe that rises to about 84 metres, with snow-covered peaks in every direction. Yet in front of the store lies a surprising patch of green: flowering cherry trees, the soft hum of dragonflies crossing the water, and a pool warm enough to bathe in. It feels like a miniature Shangri-La within an otherwise frozen world. Perhaps the warmth comes from unseen geothermal springs, though that’s left to the imagination.

Jomo viewed from overhead

Cherry blossoms and dragonflies and a chance to bathe in the open air

Exploring further afield

Beyond the main building, there’s much to explore. To the left of the store is a blacksmith’s forge, complete with animated tools — perfect for photos as you sharpen blades or hammer them into shape. Many of the forge’s contents, from weapon racks to individual weapons, are free or just one linden — a gift to anyone building a role-play region. On the right stands a pavilion, where a polished rosewood table is laid out for a tea ceremony. Nearby, hidden within the rocks, a cavern shelters a magnificent sleeping Buddha.

Heating the metal

Beating a sword into shape

Sharpening a blade

On the right stands a pavilion, where a polished rosewood table is laid out for a tea ceremony

A tea set laid out on a rosewood table

Nearby, hidden within the rocks, a cavern shelters a magnificent sleeping Buddha.

The sleeping Buddha carved into the rock

On the far side of the mountain, another cluster of buildings clings to the cliffs, each carefully furnished.

A cluster of buildings clings to the cliffs

The highlight here is a detailed giant golden statue of Avalokiteśvara, with fruit offerings that lend a sense of quiet devotion.

A quiet moment near the Avalokiteśvara statue

The adventure doesn’t end there — a winding path of steps leads the energetic to the very peak, where the views are breathtaking

A view of the steps on the mountain at Jomo—Second Life

Reflections

JOMO has changed many times over the years. Earlier versions — described by Inara Pey (2013), Maddy Gynoid (2015), A Sunny Difference (2016), and Susann Decuir (2020) — all shared the same sense of wonder. Each build carried echoes of Asian landscapes and mythic calm. The current version continues that tradition, the work of creators xiaoduo Abbot and 大鱼 (deo.rain),

A Place to Linger

If you visit JOMO, take your time. Don’t rush straight to the store. Let the snow settle, listen for the wind, and walk slowly down to the water. You’ll find that this place — part shop, part temple, part dream — reveals itself best in stillness.

[Visit JOMO & YUSR Main Store in Second Life →]

Exploring Second Life

If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog, Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.

Join us in the Second Life Destinations Facebook Group, where bloggers share new finds.
Photographers: post your snapshots in the Second Life Destinations Flickr Group.

October 13, 2025
Persistence of Memory in Second Life

Persistence of Memory—Second life

Second Life is a wonderful place, created entirely from the imagination and creativity of its residents. This blog is about sharing places I find interesting, entertaining, educational, or simply awe-inspiring. It will range from vast, long-standing builds to tiny pop-ups that vanish after a weekend.

Somewhere within that wide scope sits Persistence of Memory.

A Surrealist Relic in the Oldest Region

In the heart of Da Boom — the very first Second Life region, created in 2002 and long regarded as the centre of the grid at coordinates 1000/1000 — stands a 3D rendition of Salvador Dalí’s Persistence of Memory.

Easily overlooked, this small installation was created in 2008 by Voodoo Shilton, originally for the Primtings Museum. Built entirely in sculpted prims, it recreates Dalí’s melting clocks in interactive 3D form. Visitors can even click the piece and become part of it — “melting” over a tree branch, which makes for a fun photo opportunity.

“For me the melting watches are a metaphor for the relativity of time and space… The artwork as a dream allegory combines new understandings of the universe with the mystical personal experience of the individual.”
— Voodoo Shilton

Persistence of Memory – Two Copies, Two Histories

Voodoo Shilton notes in his profile that the artwork now resides at Voodoo Instruments in Nopsaebaram, where another copy can still be found. Both locations are worth a visit, however there’s something especially fitting about encountering it in Da Boom, a region steeped in Second Life’s earliest history.

📍 Visit in Da Boom: SLurl
📍 Visit at Voodoo Instruments: [SLurl]

A Place to Return To

Da Boom itself has more curiosities and reminders of Second Life’s early days. I hope to return soon and write more about what survives in this historic heart of the grid.

Da Boom the very first region in Second Life

Exploring Second Life

If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog, Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.

Join us in the Second Life Destinations Facebook Group, where bloggers share new finds.
Photographers: post your snapshots in the Second Life Destinations Flickr Group.

October 7, 2025
The Outer Garden Annex – Lumen Tide – Second Life

The sign on display at Lumen Tide

There are places in Second Life that don’t so much exist as they glow — worlds built from imagination and the quiet shimmer of light. Lumen Tide Second Life, created by Bisou Dexler as part of The Outer Garden Annex, is one of those rare creations.

The name alone hints at its nature: Lumen, the measure of light, and Tide, the rhythmic pulse of water. Together they suggest a sea where light and darkness move as one — and that’s exactly what you find here.

Sitting surrounded by the lanterns with giant jellyfish overhead

A sea of light and darkness

Lumen Tide is a world of shallow water so dark it’s almost black, yet everywhere touched by colour. Ripples stretch from east to west, their foamy edges tinged with soft blues and reds, like fragments of sunset caught on the surface. Above the water float vast translucent jellyfish — luminous ghosts drifting between sea and sky, sometimes vanishing back into the depths from which they came. Around them rise tiny lanterns and fireflies in gentle motion, each one a moving point of light in the darkness.

crowds of moving giant jellyfish fill the sky

The sky itself is part of the story — near black, with a pale band of light along the horizon. Look east and you’ll see a faint cloud of stardust, perhaps drawn from a NASA nebula, suggesting that the sea below might as well be the sky reflected.

There’s no path, no clear destination. You wander through the water, ankle deep, guided only by curiosity and light. A few small details — a row of fishing chairs, a boat, a pair of geese, whimsical crabs — anchor you just enough to remind you that this is still a dream made by human hands. Sit, and the world continues to move quietly around you.

Fishing rod and animations are provided

Bisou has always been a master of mood, and here he offers something simple yet profound: a visual experience meant to evoke wonder. It’s like a firework display without sound — beauty without noise, designed to make you pause, breathe, and see how light itself can feel alive.

Lumen Tide is open only for October, a fleeting world that will fade like the moonlight it captures. Visit while you can, and take a moment to stand still as the light moves around you.

Visit

The Outer Garden Annex – Lumen Tide
Created by Bisou Dexler
Open to visitors during October only.
Shared environment recommended:
Transparent water, Ambient Occlusion, Screen Space Reflections, Mirrors, and Sun/Moon + Projector Shadows enabled.

If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.

Join us in the Second Life Destinations Facebook Group, where bloggers share new finds.
Photographers: share your snapshots in the Second Life Destinations Flickr Group

October 6, 2025
Farewell to Astral Dreams – 2008–2025

a gathering at Astral Dreams

Astral Dreams, the beloved steampunk region created by Mina Arcana and Jack Davies, has now closed after seventeen remarkable years on the grid.

It’s always sad to see a long-loved region vanish from Second Life, and this week brings the news that Astral Dreams — for so long a jewel of creativity and community — has disappeared from the map.

First opened in 2008, Astral Dreams became one of Second Life’s most atmospheric steampunk destinations: a place where music, art, and friendship met beneath glowing brass skies. I visited just a few weeks ago to take pictures, but when I returned the next day, the land had already fallen silent.

Mina kindly wrote to explain:

“Hi Sam, unfortunately due to real problems and the little time both I and Jack Davies have to dedicate to Second Life we made this sad decision a few days ago. I find it hard to talk about it, we’ll see about the future. A hug.”
— Mina Arcana

Seventeen years is a long life for any virtual world region. Although Astral Dreams has now passed into memory, it remains one of those places that quietly shaped the landscape of Second Life — romantic, creative, and always welcoming.

If you visited Astral Dreams in the past, feel free to share your memories or pictures in the comments below.

If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.

Join us in the Second Life Destinations Facebook Group, where bloggers share new finds.
Photographers: share your snapshots in the Second Life Destinations Flickr Group

October 5, 2025
Happy Halloween by Cica Ghost
Happy Halloween – Second Life

Halloween in Second Life

There is a calendar cyclical movement with Second Life regions; October is the time for Autumn pastoral regions , filled with Fall reds, oranges and yellows, and also Halloween builds.

And so it is that Cica Ghost has opened her latest installation on the the 1st October “Happy Halloween”

Cica always pairs her creations with a quote, and this time she’s chosen:

“The only thing we have to fear is FEAR itself… and spiders.”

It’s a playful twist on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous words, one that seems to be making the rounds beyond SL

Halloween sims usually mean ghost train rides, dismembered bodies, gore, and jump frights, but Cica being Cica, I knew that I was very unlikely to find such an interpretation,. But I would I be right?

Three cheerful-looking pigs. part of Happy Halloween

The Landing Point – A First Clue

Visitors first arrive on a small circular platform, where Cica gives her usual guidance to use the custom windlight (essential for her creations), alongside a tip jar and links to her Marketplace, Shop & Hop store, and in-world shop. The teleport down to the build is shaped like a gravestone – guarded by a cute two-dimensional smiling spider. Look up, and you’ll even spot another whimsical spider perched on the crescent moon above. Clearly, you’re not heading into a horror show.

Cica Ghost’s Happy Halloween – Second Life

A Monochrome World with Touches of Colour

Down on the island itself, the custom windlight creates a moody, dark environment punctuated by pools of bright light. Much of the world is monochrome, but Cica uses splashes of colour with care: golden star-shaped flowers, earthy orange-brown pumpkins, the green eyes of a monster, and a ginger cat clutched by a red-haired boy. These details stand out all the more against the stark backdrop.

Red-haired boy with ginger cat—not all happy Halloween. is monochrome.

Whimsical Characters, Not Scares

Despite its name, Happy Halloween is not a frightening place. Even the pumpkin heads, clustered on the eastern side of the island, look more sulky than scary. Instead, the scene is filled with Cica’s trademark whimsy: “spooky boys” and “spooky girls” with stitched smiles recalling Jack Skellington, spooky cats, a skeletal pianist at his piano, a spectral coach and driver, friendly spiders, and countless other curious figures.

A cheerful couple with a coach and horse

Pumpkin Heads at Happy Halloween

A Place for Fun

It’s also a place to enjoy with friends. When I visited, I came across a couple of avatars having fun together, which felt perfectly in tune with the playful spirit of the region. Like so many of Cica’s builds, Happy Halloween works both as an art installation and as a backdrop for people to make their own light-hearted moments.

Having fun at Cica’s ‘Happy Halloween@

Final Thoughts – A Playful Halloween in Cica’s Style

As always, Cica Ghost fills her world with creatures that charm rather than chill. Happy Halloween is a playful celebration of the season – a monochrome dreamscape, lit with contrast and humour, and unmistakably hers.

‘Spooky’ girl with pumpkin in tow

Useful Links
Teleport to Happy Halloween at Mysterious Isle here: SLURL

Exploring Second Life

For another whimsical Halloween build you might enjoy Critterflop Hallowpop.

The whimsically shaped houses at Critterflop Hallowpop, Second life

If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.

Join us in the Second Life Destinations Facebook Group, where bloggers share new finds.
Photographers: share your snapshots in the Second Life Destinations Flickr Group
October 3, 2025