Cetus

SLURL

Once again I find myself blogging a sim just before its closure. The creator will still have another sim called Locus, but the Cetus sim will be closed at the end of January.

This entire build is a display of amazing visual art created by DB Bailey, and if you play the land music too, the total ambiance is stunning.

He is the only SL artist I've seen who actually uses the alpha texture sorting bug to enhance his work, it's worth seeing just for this alone.

There is also a small but classy modern art gallery.
















On top of all that, one of my favorite builds from Burning Life, Musical Evolution, has been placed there temporarily. To access it, fly to the top of the very tall cylindrical thing and enter where the hand points. (This was interactive with sounds, so if you enter the Burning Life exhibit be sure to turn music off and sounds on.)

Das Schloss der Koenigin

SLURL

Das Schloss der Koenigin is a castle in a medieval German roleplay sim, which also appears to be Elven. However, visitors to the castle are welcome.

I think there may be horses available for riding here, as I saw a hay feeder and a horse was tied up in the courtyard. A peacock was also wandering around the courtyard, screeching at all who came by.

This picture doesn't show it, but the castle really has a moat!


In this pic you can see the little town below the castle.

Peeking into these windows, I can see that there are parts of the castle we didn't explore yet. Hmmm.
The entrance to the main hall as seen from the courtyard. Cool gargoyles!

No one was in the chapel, so I enjoyed a moment of silence.
Goldilocks... er, I mean, Malia... was very tired by this time, so she went to the bedroom. She lay down in the first bed, but it was too hard. Then she lay in the second bed, but it was too soft. Then she lay down in the third bed and it was just right.
The meeting table in the foreground, and out on the balcony is a chess set, which I shall add to the list of things to check out next time I visit.
Inside the main entrance, I suppose it would be the "foyer". You can see the doorway leading to the audience chamber or great hall.
Inside the great hall. The room is so huge you can barely see the lions at the other end of the room. Don't pet them, they are mean. I tried.
A peek into what must be a working chamber for the seneschal or chamberlain.
Oops, that's all the pictures I took today. You'll have to explore the rest for yourself!

Costa Rica, The Rainforest - Volcan Tenorio

SLURL

The Parque Nacional Volcan Tenorio is a fantastic place for a tropical escape. The visitor center offers an educational look at Costa Rica's rainforest, and the rest of the sim is lush and beautiful.

There is a hovercraft tour, which we did not try today.
You can feed the macaws, but be careful of your fingers, they have strong beaks!For the more rugged types, canoes are also available to paddle the rivers.
When you are worn out from a day of canoeing, you can camp out and get a little sleep. Thankfully, the immense variety of insects living in the real rainforest are absent in SL.
There is a peaceful picnic area for relaxing. Keep an eye on your food, though.
Birds of a feather...
Following this walkway will take you to the top of the volcano.
At the top of the volcano there is a viewing platform, where you can get a fabulous view of the rainforest. You can also grab the hang glider for the trip back down.

Isla Menorca

SLURL

Isla Menorca is an absolutely gorgeous sim, lushly natural, with a modern house perched at the very top of the island.

Syzygy in Winter

SLURL

Syzygy is a set of four sims and is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon... or two... or three...

Syzygy has been winterized, and shall be so until approximately March 1, 2010. Most of the lands are open to public exploration, so please feel free to explore beyond even the scope of the locations below.

The lands are designed for natural beauty and exploration... as well as romance.

The owners have taken the time to put together a detailed notecard with landmarks and descriptions of the various public areas.

Syzygy Selene: Beach of Romance
Need more be said? Even the chameleon is attired for winter and will never tell about all that he sees! Red Intan dance crystal is next to the chameleon.

Syzygy Selene: Cute Skating
Join the dancing snowmen on the ice, strap on some skates, and take a turn along the cuteness.

Syzygy Selene - PF&EA Home: Treehouse Tower
Pipsqueak Fiddlesticks & Elric Anatine welcome you to their home. Warm yourself by the fire, snuggle on the oversized bed, gather around the dining table laden with goodies or dance beneath the mistletoe (Intan dance stand to the right of the fireplace).

Syzygy Eos: Heli Pad & Christmas Gathering
Atop a hill you will find a touring helicopter pad. You will also find a small Christmas themed gathering area.

Syzygy Pyxis: Kulta's Neko Teien
Neko no Jinja (Cat Shinto Shrine) is a whimsical Japanese Shinto Shrine in honor of a feline Kami (loosely, "Deity") ~ which is nestled into the quiet hills of Syznygy, overlooking a rambling valley, Neko Teien (garden).

Syzygy Selene: Physic Garden & Apothecary
Welcome to the Physic Garden and Apothecary, protected by the Dark One. Romantic couple animations are spread throughout this expansive area. The greenhouse will warm you, as will the apothecary. But watch for brambles and treacherous snow!

Note to self: maybe tasting things in the bottles in the apothecary was not such a good idea.

Syzygy Selene: Twisted Snowman Skate
Tour the twisted snowmen of the cove on skates!

The remaining pics are of places that were not mentioned on the notecard, but all of which indicated that they are also public.

An ancient Egyptian ruin... with snow? And a stargate?
A pirate ship, inside which you can drink, dance or snuggle... or all of the above.
The Crystal Cave. I didn't find Merlin or Nimue there, but it was lovely nonetheless.