What I like about Mainland

I might never want to live there, because of lag, add-farm, ban-lines and neighbor issues. But there is something about Mainland in SL that makes it worth spending time on. It's the utter chaos that one runs accross every step of the way. The ever unfinished nature of it.
Time (and many times greed) has segmented the regions on the main continents into an infinite number of tiny lots. And thousands of those tiny lots have inhabitants trying to make the best of the little piece of land and the small numbers of prims they own. Houses neighbor gardens, neighbor clubs and shops in the utmost disorderly fashion. Nobody even tries to live according to a set theme. A castle is set between a 20th-century home, a cozy cave and a startrek-style future-home. And about everything inbetween. There is everything from the sl-firsthomes to costly prefabs, first tries at building ones own home to the precious success of coming build-masters.
There's clutter and garbage hanging in midair. Empty platforms and half-built skyboxes. Waterfalls at 100 meters coming out of nowhere whichs waters never touch ground. Cars, animals and other accessories floating high above ground seemingly trown up there by an invisible tornado. Much like a childs room just before mom takes out that big broom.
All it takes to explore this mess is time and a strong set of nerves, that can handle flying around all those ugly banlines and nasty security orbs. And every now and then one stumbles upon a little treasure, well hidden within all this mess. An outburst of creativity which might go unnoticed, if not found by chance.

The Restaurant at the End of the Galaxy

As a fan of Douglas Adams' 'Hitchhiker to the Galaxy' the visit to Extropia was exhilarating fun! The reason most people land here (mostly guys I suspect) is because they are looking for some kind of new aircraft. And for this, I suppose, Extropia must be one of the best places to look. Second Skies offers some of the greatest airplanes and airships I have seen in SL and a whole lot of other freaky flight objects for the kerosene-type of guy. But there is much more to see on this futuristic 3-sim-project. There is the architecture for one thing. All the huge buildings have a distintive lightness to them - no wonder some of them float in mid-air like the airships just above. But the reason why this sim should have a spot high up in the sl-spotlights is the space elevator. Look for the three steel ropes that head right up into the clouds - call the elevator - and take a trip into the stratosphere - or directly into space. That's where Douglas Adams comes in. At the end of the ropes there's a bar from which you have a fantastic look into space. Having a drink there feels every bit as being in the 'Restaurant at the End of the Universe'. Well, without all the sleazy aliens, mostly.

Go there: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Extropia%20Core/180/216/22

See more pictures at my flickr-Page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/moeuhane_sandalwood

Farewell my little island

I had thought it through well. And still: now that I went through with it, a little teardrop formed in my eye. I left my home in Grand Isle today. Packed up house and bar and bonfire and went accross my land with the big broom. It is a weird feeling, leaving behind the place I first called 'home' in Second Life. But in the past weeks I realized that I had spent much more time in my downtown appartment, my gallery and on the road exploring. Therefore I decided to sell my little piece of Paradise for someone who appreciates it more. Moe's Den is not there anymore, but it will sure stay in my heart as the loving refuge it has once been for me. If you decide to be it's next resident, treat it well.

Grand Isle: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Grand%20Isle/225/27/22

Fun with the Funky Feats

There is this thing about dancing in Second Life. My mind first couldn't really make anything out of it. It is one thing, running around in the Metaverse, flying, teleporting, even driving that fantastic bike. But having your Avatar moved around by some script? Sometimes even not your own script? At first that felt, as if someone had strings attached to my rl-limbs. Not an uplifting feeling.

Weird thing is, though, that I grew more and more fond of dancing in SL - for one thing probably, because it is one of the best ways to meet other people. What most residents seem to do, if they are not going about their business or their explorations (or...hm...the other thing...), is dancing at some club - so that's where they are at and where they are most relaxed to talk to.

And then came that night at Spiral Parx' (one of my best friends) club a few months ago. I saw those crazy people having lots of fun - line-dancing, for god's sake! But it was no river-dance-style bore. They had a real shakin' goin' on!

Being this free spirited i-have-my-own-animations-not-touching-that-dance-ball kind of dancer, I was a bit reluctant to accept Hevy Malibu's invitation to join them at first. But sure enough, curious me did anyway. Seconds later, having recieved a hat and a cane matching the color of my clothing, i sat on my own little white triangle in the lineup, handing my fate to Hevy and the other 'trainers'. And before the night was over, I was one of them - a member of Funky Feats - the craziest, funnest and most lovable dance-group/family in SL.

The Funky Feats are a loose group of people that meet for dancing - and having tons of fun doing it. The 'trainers' are constantly adding new dances to the routine, diverse and always matching the music. They talk to club-owners who seem to be really happy with the Funkys showing up, because they almost always draw a crowd of people with them. Which means the group is invited to a lot of beautiful venues in the grid. It's so much of a win-win-thing, because the Funkys can do what they love best, helping club-owners to get the word about their venues out there.

The uplifting spirit of the Funkys is always very welcome. Especially in moments like last night when the group honored an SL-resident that passed away, helping her friends cope by making them dance their sorrow away. The picture is from our white christmas 'Tribute to Brandi Basset Dance' at Paradise Country and Classic Rock Music Club.

If you have a special event at your venue, look up the Funky Feats in group-search and IM one of the 'trainers'. I am looking forward at spending a fun evening of fun dancing and socializing in your club!

The Link to Paradise Country and Classic Rock Music Club:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Five%20Stars/66/178/25

Hydrogen City

The name "Hydrogen City" caught my eye right away, when I checked some guy's picks. It had the sound of dark, neko, sleazy and yet metallically futuristic to it. It just sounded like a perfect picture-opportunity. The TP landed me in empty waterland. So much for hydrogen, I thought. Then I saw it glowing city-floor high above me in the air. Too bad I was in the middle of a No Fly Zone! Doesn't really stop a nosey SL-explorer, does it? Using some serious camera-muscle I stood in this huge city that was everything I expected and more (see flickr-stream). It's a mixture of dark urban neko, spaceship and downtown china. I'm not sure, though, they really like visitors their (completely empty) city. I had just completed my photo-session when falling through a hole in the ground, finding myself back in the waterland all over again. Still, checking the city out is worth the hassle. So try it yourself.

By the way...just a few feet away from the landing zone is a cylindric picture-screen showing a winter forrest. Try getting in there. You will find this amazing little winter wonderland. Although they must have some really defiant elfs living there. There's a bunch of stores - so you might think they would welcome some customers. Well, I found myself ejected from that little island before I could say hello. But hey, maybe they like your face better than mine...

This Link brings you into the city...evading the water (verified!): http://slurl.com/secondlife/Prosperine/106/154/227

Finally: Mont St. Michel!

Do you have this place in SL you heard so much about, really wanted to visited, but were too busy to tp there? Mont St. Michel was one of those to me, until today. I ran across a pick in someone's profile and knew, my visit there was long overdue. I knew from so many pictures that it was recreated down to many details. Yet, I would never have imagined to what extent! To stroll through those narrow alleys and visit this tiny little café was a thrill. This sim would really be too perfect, if not for this unexpected twist. This french city has been taken by the japanese! Don't believe it? Go experience it yourself.

Blog: http://le-mont-saint-michel.blogspot.com/

Slurl:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Mont%20Saint%20Michel/72/144/95

Be A Part Of Art

Why ramble about something, that's already getting alot of buzz? Well maybe because it deserves every word more spoken about it. That's why I'm going to talk about the Art Box. Violet Sweetwater and Frankie Rockett let you experience art in a special way. Ever wanted to be one of the guys lunching on a skyscraper just being built in New York (Charles C. Ebberts), actually be the 50-Feet-Woman attacking the city traffic (Nathan Juran), cross the arched bridge with those people (Katsusika Hokusai), walk on the high-wire between skyscrapers (Philippe Petit), cross Abbey Road with the Beatles (Ian McMillan) or just be Marge Simpson in front of the famous couch with her family? Here you can. Enter the Holodeck and be part of a masterpiece. I did my own little deconstruction of Petit's famous piece.

Read all about the fantastic project here: http://artbox.advancedvirtual.com/

And make sure to visit the sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Klaw/28/20/46

An Afternoon At Aeonia Arts

I am not always amused by group-invites from strangers. But today was different. On login I had an invite waiting for me from one Ally Aeon - a woman I was sure I had never heard of. Turns out later that I had visited one of her galleries in the past. Even before meeting up with her, though, I blindly entered the group. And by now I'm glad I did. Right after that I visited her sim called Aeonia Arts (link below). And I was blown away! It might look like just another Nature Park in SL for the first second. When you start exploring it, though, you will find a world of little themed areas which will each trigger a special set of feelings. The blend of sights and sounds are so natural and yet precisely crafted. But there is more to this lady than just being an awesome grid-artist. She also makes room for others to bloom and blossom, sharing the sim with them to display their work.

Visit Aeonia Arts: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Aeonia/135/179/25

Check out those profiles

One of the greatest things on Second Life are profiles. I like people who have the decency of telling me a bit about themselves - which makes it easier to connect even before you speak to them. It's also a great way to find new and interesting places screening their picks. Through one of those screenings I discovered the works of Hylee Bekkers. I visited her park today, which caught my eye for the great love to detail she invested. But what impressed me most, was her time-machine. Watch out, that you don't get transferred to the wrong century. But you will have to hurry. She says, she has the tendency to tear down whatever she builds after a short while - to free up prims for new projects.

Oh, if you wonder who the wobble in the picture is: I was wearing my undercover-avatar.

Visit Hylee's Ptarmigan Park at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Orbitalis/85/118/35 .

A Night At Zombie City

[xx:01] Zombie bites Moeuhane Sandalwood

[xx:04] Zombie bites Moeuhane Sandalwood

I didn't really know that side of me...but as it turns out I would probably make a decent war photographer. Usually I love to spend my time in quiet places - taking a lot of time in finding the right spot, angle and lighting for that awesome shot. Yet, there something in running from evil zombies and angry guard dogs while capturing those heros trying to clean the streets of these deadly creatures. You will - for sure - find some of these bloody pictures at my gallery sometime soon.

Zombie-infested Leros City can be found at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Leros/112/227/47

It's a start!

I have thought about entering the blog-world for a long time. There's so much blurp out there and I was't sure, I was going to add my own to it. But as my photography-venture is getting broader and I get to meet so many wonderful creators, artists and builders out there - I decided to tell you a little about them and their creations. It's my little way of getting the news out there, about the dedication of these great people for making Second Life such a wonderful place. And then again, I might not be able to stop myself from rambling about some personal stuff. Bare with me, please. We'll just have to see, how and where it all goes. So for now: Take care and have fun exploring all those magnificent places in SL