A Japanese Garden in the Sky
Kaleidoscape is a beautiful rural region of Second Life, with a distinctly medieval character. Its village, farms, winding paths, waterfalls and surrounding countryside have deservedly attracted the attention of several Second Life bloggers.
But there is another part of Kaleidoscape that deserves a closer look.
High above the village is a very different world, the Japanese Garden Mangekyō.
A Very Different Kaleidoscape
The Japanese garden is a later addition to Kaleidoscape, and I have to admit that my knowledge of Japanese customs and traditions is not sufficient to explain every detail of what we find here.
What I can appreciate, however, is the beauty of the setting.
A path leads upwards through a light green bamboo forest, eventually arriving at a fully furnished Japanese style house. I love the little details here, including a table laid for a meal and a cat that perhaps has been enjoying a little sake.
But look closely at the house itself. A little stream flows right through the centre of the building, passing beneath the roof before continuing into the garden beyond. It is such a delightful detail, and one that you might easily miss unless you stop and look closely.
Beyond the house is a Zen garden, carefully arranged among rocks and greenery, while waterfalls tumble down the surrounding landscape.
And there is more.
Fireworks in the Night
The creators have chosen a very dark, almost midnight EEP for the garden. With lamps placed strategically around the land and fireworks lighting up the sky, it certainly makes for a dramatic view.
For photography, however, it is difficult to pick up all the detail, so I have broken my usual rule of using the shared environmental lighting on some occasions. Other photographs were taken using a midday setting.
I had wondered whether the garden might have been created for a particular Japanese festival, but ³ᶜᴴᶖ₄ (3chi4.ethereal), who created the garden with the assistance of ʟ ɪ s ᴀ (lisapia), explained that this was not the case.
Instead, it was simply created as a beautiful display, offering everyone a relaxing, seasonal Japanese atmosphere in Second Life.
I rather like that explanation. There is no need for a special occasion. Sometimes a beautiful place can simply be created for people to enjoy.
Viewed from Above
From above, the layout becomes easier to appreciate.
The bamboo path leads towards the house, with the Zen garden to its right. Follow the landscape beyond the garden and another waterfall can be found, together with a covered pool, an Onsen, tucked into the hillside.
There are other details scattered around the garden too, and I am sure I have not discovered them all.
That is part of the pleasure of places like this. You see something from above, follow a path, and then discover another waterfall, another little corner or some small detail that you had not noticed before.
A Final Visit
There is an interesting contrast between the two parts of Kaleidoscape. Down below is a rural landscape with a medieval European feel. High above it is this distinctly Japanese garden, with bamboo, a Zen garden, an Onsen, waterfalls and fireworks.
And now there is a reason to visit sooner rather than later.
The main Kaleidoscape village is itself shortly to close for two weeks for redecoration, but it will return. The Japanese garden, however, is scheduled to close at the end of 31 August.
So if you have already explored Kaleidoscape, look upwards before you leave.
You may find that there is another, very different world waiting above the village.
Useful Links
Flickr group Kaleidoscape
Follow ³ᶜᴴᶖ₄ (3chi4.ethereal: Primfeed · X (Twitter) · Flickr
Teleport to Kaleidoscape Mangekyō.
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.