Where Eagles Dare

 Our second stop on this final Safari of the season was on Kitely, to see a build by Karima Hoisan and Dale Innes. A few problems, because Kitely blocks a whole lot of the smaller grids, which is a shame. It's also a shame that Karima's regions are some of the few on Kitely that are readily accessible to hypergrid art-lovers and explorers, but we make the most of the Hoisan-Innes generosity, talent, and style.

Karima Hoisan and Dale Innis

Star Ravenhurst: Hi Karima and Dale. Finally rezzed
James Atlloud: Hello
Karima Hoisan: Welcome to The Mountain, please take a nc, it has LMs of some places here

The group gradually arriving on Kitely

Thirza Ember: Karima we just need time to arrive and rez, we are not all here yet, and one or two of us are never all there... like myself
James Atlloud: some are signing the Kitely waiver... lol
Karima Hoisan: ohh boy haha
Dale Innis: haha no rush
Star Ravenhurst: I often have to go to the Welcome Center first on Kitely. Then I can go to where I want to go
Nara Nook: Neo tried welcome, think he is trying a different avatar on another grid now
Thirza Ember: on Kitely, it's a pain in the butt... if there is nobody on the sim, then you have to begin on Welcome, but if there are people on the region and the sim is spooled up, you can jump direct
Star Ravenhurst: There have been a few issues getting here lately
Nara Nook: Neo made it
Neo Nook: Weird, looks like Kitely does not like my home grid
Dale Innis: Glad you made it!
Star Ravenhurst: YAY!

Like so many of Karima and Dale's builds, it's a mixture of experiences. Dale does a magnificent job in scripting, and Karima's poetic style really shines in that animated light he provides. In part, The Mountain is a landscape inspired by a Philippine village, in part it's a curated display of the art of the Swedish artist  Markus Åkesson who specializes in neo-figurative art, which means pictures that combine nature, mythical scenes and people in haunting, beautiful poses.

And it's also a ride, and no ordinary one. From the top of the mountain from which the sim takes its name, you lie on the back of a Philippine eagle (here's a short but very cool documentary about these kings of the skies) and then soar, bank, dive and glide all the way down to the ground, where other tours are also available.

Dale Innis: You can get a notecard by touching the sign "The Mountain" up there.
Karima Hoisan: All the art you see, the ground textures, the rocks, and the paintings are all made by one RL Swedish artist Markus Akesson... Markus gave me permission in 2019 to show off his art this way. These paintings are all done in oils, no digital art.

After the teleport and the long climb up a narrow mountain trail, you come out on a clearing with a giant stature of a green man, and a sign reminding you to set your preferences so as to get the maximum pleasure from the experience...

James Atlloud: Wow, that was some hike!
Thirza Ember: uphill all the way until it isn't
Karima Hoisan: we will fly down

And so off we went, through the strange head-like clouds, or cloud-like head shapes. The birds wheel and double back on themselves as they gradually lose quota, eventually bringing you up close and personal with the asian jungle scene below.

We gradually regrouped at sea level, each of us having has a unique experience in the sky.
Lavia Lavine: that was fun
Francisco Koolhoven: very fun ride
Sven Ingersoll: it was great...no worries about air traffic controllers

Lavia Lavine: It worked great...  I was waiting to see if I'd crash into someone, but it's well planned out
Thirza Ember: phenomenal - over the river bit with the birds flying along above and below
James Atlloud: that was a long path for the eagles and it worked great.

Karima Hoisan: You can also jump on a truck or jeep or ride the ferry
Thirza Ember: Karima, can you tell us a bit about the place? we saw your machinima, and it's nice to chat with you, we can wander off alone anytime.
Karima Hoisan: It was inspired by 2 things I love, The Philippine Eagle, so I made it semi quasi Philippine village in the river; and the art of Markus Akesson whose art is everywhere.
Thirza Ember: why did that inspire you? did you encounter an eagle? 
Karima Hoisan: never, but I LOVE birds and eagles are a favorite
Lavia Lavine: Eagles are awesome
Thirza Ember: like the  lions of ornithology
Karima Hoisan: ahh yes they are, and Markus is a humble wonderful artist, he graciously allowed me to put his art here, the two years later he copied the idea... sort of... and he made an outdoor exhibit on paths in the forest.
Forest Azure: is it AI? or real paintings?
Dale Innis: Real! (Terrible how we have to suspect everything of being AI these days.)
Forest Azure: yes, indeed
Thirza Ember: they're so beautiful, they really are mesmerizing
Karima Hoisan: he told me he took the idea from here... no AI, pure oils
Forest Azure: very glad about that and i love them :)

Dale Innis: A unique style for sure
Thirza Ember: did he understand about virtual worlds? Judging from his art, I would think he would find the concept very interesting
Karima Hoisan: no haha I showed him some photos he said  OH I LOVE it:) yes yes display my work there
Thirza Ember: can you explain the texture you have used on the terrain? It looks like fabric
Forest Azure: ooh.. tried to ride the heron.. or be carried like a baby :)
Sven Ingersoll: ...stork...
Karima Hoisan: ohh wow haha did she let you?
Forest Azure: no! too big I guess
Thirza Ember: you are wearing too many clothes for that Forest, you have to be a newborn
Forest Azure: i guess,  /me looks for a bush to get rid of them
Dale Innis: Riding the ferry on the river is lovely
Sven Ingersoll: it was great fun, Karima...ty
Star Ravenhurst: I especially love the bird.
Karima Hoisan: yes  so fun...me too
Thirza Ember: the whole flock of eagles coming down the mountain looked very cool, is that the most people you have had doing that?
Karima Hoisan: YES  Thirza absolutely the most we had 6 at once  that was all, I tried to film a bit
Dale Innis: It was amazing!
Star Ravenhurst: Good because I was too busy hanging on getting a bird's eye view to see any of the other birds

Thirza Ember: this has been a fun season of the safari  with so many great hosts  we've been around the world, from norway to the philippines!
Dale Innis: That's great, I'm glad there's so much going on in the hypergrids
James Atlloud: Safarify - around the world!
Thirza Ember: from the comfort of your own laptop
Dale Innis: whispers: much cleaner that way :)
Karima Hoisan: Awww so proud to be cohosts of the last safari of the season

Petlove Petshop: so nice to end at a dance : )  and I'm loving the music
Thirza Ember: dance and chat and cam - what could be more safari?
Nara Nook: I will miss Safari these next few weeks
Thirza Ember: I mentioned before there will be a special safari on December  7 for the OSCC, it's on a sunday, from 11am slt... 2 destinations, just like a regular safari... if you can come along, and help people who normally don't do my grid jumping, it would be great to see you. We're going to places you may already have seen, but the idea is to encourage stay-at-homes to get out and see other places, sometimes they just need some friendly support for that
Nara Nook: I think I can, will try
James Atlloud: I love that
Petlove Petshop: so true

Karima Hoisan: Yes we fall into that category world couch potatoes haha
Thirza Ember: and then the next season of Safari begins on January 7
Nara Nook: This season really flew by
Petlove Petshop: i can't believe this is the last one for the season, time really does fly when you're having fun!
Francisco Koolhoven: Thank you for showing us your region, it's very magical!
Star Ravenhurst: We are thankful for you organizing these trips Thirza.
Thirza Ember: the thanks go really to the hosts, and everyone who comes along and makes it so much fun you do all the heavy lifting
Petlove Petshop: there's a lot of lifting, including that of spirits... the positivity of open sim is what's so magical
Thirza Ember: it is nerve wracking to be a host!
Karima Hoisan: lol a bit... but luckily the sim behaved
Thirza Ember:  if you missed Karima's machinima about this place, check it out, it's very well done

Star Ravenhurst: Karima  and Dale, thank you for hosting us and for a wonderful experience. This has been a fabulous event to end the season!
Sven Ingersoll: is this the last trip?
Taarna Welles: For this year, yes
Dale Innis: Very welcome!
Karima Hoisan: awww Star always our pleasure with all of you, love the Safari...  thank you so much
Dale Innis: Hurrah!
Thirza Ember: hugs to you all, see you at the OSCC... and of course, on Inworld Review!

HG Address: grid.kitely.com:8002:The Mountain