Cat's Labyrinth

Our second stop this week was on Alternate Metaverse grid where we were guests of Cataplexia Numbers who invited us to come see a maze build called Labyrinth, inspired by the 1986 movie of the same name. 

Stories-high hedges flank long passageways full of strange and improbable plants that are eerily beautiful and just a little unsettling. The final goal is to reach the palace in the sky, where Cliff Hanger, the grid's top man, was spinning some tunes.

If you're curious about how the format of a Safari visit works, then please take a minute or two to carefully look at this page on our blog where it explains the concept, the limitations and the tactics that make for a successful journey - if it looks like something you'd like to do, get in touch with Thirza on OSGrid or HG Safari grid.

Cat and half a dozen AMV residents were on hand to meet us on the big sign at the beginning of the adventure. 

Cataplexia Numbers: Hello everyone. Nice to have you join us. The labyrinth began in 2023. I made my own textures and many creations in it. I just began sculpting 3d meshes. Expect big changes in AMV. Magic will be a roleplay for Witches, wizards, goblins, Magicians, etc... Fun fantasy stuff!

Kellie's Hero

Opensim, like life, can sometimes throw a curved ball and this week our planned first destination had to be postponed at short notice. But it worked out great, because Spax Orion said we could come and preview the big changes he's been making at his funfair, Dismayland. 

Spax will be our guest on Inworld Review this Sunday - a Live show about OpenSim on YouTube, so if you watch at 11am SLT, you can also comment and ask questions! Just recently, he's worked hard to give a typically bright and busy tribute to one of Opensim's most memorable creators, the great Linda Kellie. The HG Address is at the end of the post, as always.

Dismayland is diabolically clever

Spax Orion: Dismayland is starting to look like one of the "Sierra: Roberta Williams" Point and Click Adventure games (we had tons of games like those around the turn of the millennium) - Return visitors will notice the world with more interactivity. Plenty of little distractions to wade through before passing the gate...

Tosha Tyran: giggles

It's true. When you arrive on Dismayland you find yourself in a sky box organized like the entrance to a theme park with security personnel - the terrible Wanda and poor, mistreated George are legendary. There are lots of signs and NPCs talking, and for some of us, it feels overwhelming and the first reaction is to get out of the crowd and hurry down to the rides, but if you take your time here, you'll discover that there is more going on in this one skybox than there is on many a 4x4 region!

Con-Versation

 Our second stop on Safari this week was to meet up with Frans Charming and Lyr Lobo of Avacon grid. Frans is the grid's tech guy, and Lyr is a consultant and Koshari Mahana: Hi Lyr, thank you for having us.

Thirza Ember: I think that we are all here

Spax Orion: Nice to see another operator running YETI mono

Lyr Lobo: Welcome, everyone. This is AvaCon grid. AvaCon is a nonprofit organization devoted to encouraging community in virtual worlds. Frans here is our amazing mastermind behind the Web and scripted content on the grid.  Itis a joy to share with the HG Safari 

Frans Charming: We use this grid, sometimes for new users, in education or professional settings, so having some plain default avatars, is useful for that.

Spax Orion: I love building with prims

Francisco Koolhoven: Hi Lyr!

Lyr Lobo: I do too *grins*

Thirza Ember: how old is this grid?  and how many residents?

Frans Charming: Close to those 14 years, i would say. We dont really have residents. The grid is mostly used as an introduction area, for non profits. Or used as a teaching platform.

Lyr Lobo and, with his steaming brew, Frans Charming

Lyr Lobo:  Today is the kickoff of our OpenSimulator Community conference call for proposals. AvaCon sponsors and hosts the OSCC. This is our 14th year. You can submit a proposal for a talk here. Then we will go on to Primland, the documentation for that is here  

Into the Hidden Vale

 Govega Sachertorte invited Safari to come over to Neverworld to sample a recently completed build called Hidden Vale, by Nexus Storm. On arrival, we were welcomed by Gov, Joshua and Alba who guided us around this lush landscape during the first hour of this week's trip. The HG Address is at the end of the post, as always.

Govega Sachertorte: Hi everyone, welcome to Hidden Vale

Thirza Ember: Joshua is armed, so no jokes about his outfit

Sven Ingersoll: we all have arms... legs too - no big deal

Spax Orion: am I here?

Alba Puca: Hello all

Cherry Manga: hello

Arriving on Neverworld

Sven Ingersoll: if you're not here...where would you be?

OSFest Countdown

This year, OSFest is in October, for the two weeks from Monday, October 12 through Monday, October 26 and the theme of the event this year is fantasy and science fiction. 

Principal organizer Shelenn Ayres gave an informative interview about the motivation and the philosophy of the event when she was a guest on Inworld Review, you can watch that show here. 

Shelenn Ayres on Inworld Review

It's not just Shelenn of course; and she would be the first one to thank the volunteers and helpers, new and old, who have come forward to help with the organizing and publicity.  

WolfFest26

Over on Wolf Territories Grid it's almost time for WolfFest 2026, a showcase of the creativity of the residents and a chance to party. The festival is a weekend affair, on October 4 and 5 and the event begins at 8 am Grid time. You can find the program of events here on the WTG website.

Luna Stormfeather's Ferris wheel

The fairground is organized on a grid system with parks, a lake, and various sized parcels stretching as far as the eye can see, and with lots of places to party and relax

Chelly Stewart's Rocking Sands music Venue

I really like this building, a music venue, and was swept away inside the aquarium experience. 

Herding Cats on 2nd Sanctuary

Arriving on Second Sanctuary grid is a bit like arriving at a beautiful Carribbean resort. A pirate ship, gorgeous beaches, and a relaxed atmosphere are the hallmarks of this small but beautifully landscaped grid. On hand to greet us when we arrived on the region called Vanaheim were Pete Taylor and Naomi Volturi, you may remember them from a recent blog post called... what else,  Second Sanctuary.  Pete and Naomi had invited us to go cat hunting - for some very sophisticate cats! as a way to explore this island where anyone looking for a beachy pied-a-terre in the metaverse. HG Address as always at the end of the post.

Naomi Volturi: Hello all, nice to have you here

Pete Taylor: It might be a good idea to reduce the draw distance. Otherwise, you’ll have a lot to load.

Alex Salamander: Hallo und guten Abend :-)

Koshari Mahana: I see everyone naked lol

Thirza Ember: our clothes travel second class,  it's economy rates

Angelic Kisses: hahaha

Jojo Apple: lol

Koshari Mahana: Hi Naomi, Hi Pete

Bink Draconia: hello

Naomi Volturi: hello Bink long time no see 

Pete Taylor: welcome all

Pete Taylor and Naomi Volturi, owners of Second Sanctuary

Forest Azure: ah James, sitting again? you have been sitting on a horse all the time!

James Atlloud: I know, but I have a walk AO that just won't stop, so I think this is better.

Pete Taylor: thirza, are all guests here?

Thirza Ember: Yes, I think we are all here... maybe not all our textures, but in spirit we are all here... we may smell of horse, sorry about that

Burn Story

Dee Zee, Doc Indy, and the great Herbie Haven were kind enough to meet up with us this week on our first stop when we went to visit Burning Man in Groovyverse. The trip included a mix of very RL places, and a few little virtual flourishes, but so neatly inserted into the reality of the build that they feel perfectly integrated. 

Herbie Haven

The group was pretty big this week, about 28 people at our first venue Black Rock Desert, and though almost all of us experienced a leetle touch of lag and disorientation... again, that was completely in harmony with the feelings that Burning Man can cause to real world burners... so it was very much a voyage of exploration, and inspiration.

Vastness is a key ingredient here. Take a look at the map and you'll realize just how large the canvas on which this masterpiece is drawn. Based on the topography and ecology of California and Nevada, the preferred term is Left Coast, and there are plenty of maps and teleports to help a visitor find their way around.

Dee Zee by the Left Coast map

Jade Serenity: Burning Man? I watched the livestream of the RL one... there were a few sand storms

Spax Orion: both destinations are a complete surprise to me... I could look them up but...

Forest Azure: oh, burning man time?

Thirza Ember: i think it's a little different from the last time Forest, there are more horses

Forest Azure: no train or bus? :)

Spax Orion: Who is getting burned?

Lovely Mexico Lindo

Our second stop this week was on OSGrid, to visit a Spanish speaking community that is as vibrant as it is various.

 Lina Kahlo [es→en]: Everyone is welcome to Mexico Lindo, your visit coincided with a very important date in the history of Mexico, we celebrated 216 years of independence

Lina and Niko

Niko Stone [es→en]: With a lot of effort and dedication she achieved this cultural meeting for everyone. We are just in the main square. The plaza you are visiting here in Mexico Lindo Virtual represents this historical place and allows us to experience, in a virtual environment, one of the most important national traditions of Mexico. The plaza you are visiting here in Mexico Lindo Virtual represents this historical place and allows us to experience, in a virtual environment, one of the most important national traditions of Mexico. 

Ayla Alvarez: ♥.;:+THUNDEROUS  APPLAUSE+:;.♥

Ayla Alvarez: so that would be independence from the Spanish

Niko Stone [es→en]: If you want, you can join us where independence was proclaimed. In the early morning of September 16, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called on the people of Mexico to rise up against Spanish rule. The call began with the ringing of the bell of the church of Dolores, Guanajuato, gathering people in the town square. Hidalgo then gave a passionate speech in favor of freedom, encouraging the people to fight for independence.

The Review and You

Another Wednesday, another Safari. Each time, the group is different. Sometimes there are loads of us, sometimes there are people trying the tour for the first time, sometimes it's a more intimate group of regulars - and what you might define as the 'regulars' has also morphed and evolved over the years, with familiar faces disappearing and new ones taking their place, a bit like the constant ebb and flow of opensim itself. It's not an exclusive group, anyone's welcome, for as often as you choose to join us.
Our plans changed at the very very last minute this week, because, you know, stuff happens, which is why it's so handy to meet ahead of time at the Clubhouse so you don't miss anything or get lost. Here's what we got up to...

Ayla Alvarez: hi gang

Thirza Ember: hello lovelies

Taarna Welles: Heya

Alex Salamander: Hello Thirza :-)

Thirza Ember: it looks like the first destination may have some big last minute problems

Taarna Welles: O dear,  Can we switch to the second?

Ayla Alvarez: the second hour is having problems too?

Thirza Ember: no, the second will be fine, but I'd like to do something different with this first hour

Jupiter Rowland: Hi everyone!

Ayla Alvarez: here comes the bunny again...

Livin' the Dream

 If you read the previous article about the 5th anniversary of Belze and Chubby, there's another notable anniversary this weekend in the German speaking community of opensim. Over on Vela Dreams grid,  Cleopata and Myrena Rajal are marking their 4 years together. 

Myrena and Cleopata

Vela Dreams grid is on a home server with 128 RAM and it hosts 42 Vars, the equivalent of 142 standard sized regions. Each Tuesday they have a regular dance meetup on a sim appropriately called Vela Disco that houses a number of prim-built venues with bright colors and vivid textures. Not to mention the fish!

Gothic Bliss

This weekend is a milestone in the life of Chubby and Belze Cherub. They are celebrating five years of marriage.

That matrimonial bliss has given life to a very special creation, their own grid called Chubelz. 

The grid is compact and varied, with a wedding venue, numerous freebie regions including furniture, textures, avatars and clothes and it's well worth a visit any time,

Arriving on Chubelz

 not just for the big Goth event on Saturday 12 September - that's tomorrow, at time of writing. The party will begin at 8pm Euro time, that's 10 am Grid time, and with several DJ's performing, it's going to be quite a night!

Around Chubelz Welcome you'll find many gothic shops full of great freebies

Belze Cherub: Back then, I was in Nextlife and Chubby was with Cleo Rajal. After we got together, we initially teamed up with friends on the Ankabi grid before creating our own grid.

Fairy Dreamland

The grid has numerous sims. The colorful Fairy Dreamland is always open and well worth a visit any time, and then there are numerous others that are open on a seasonal basis, including of course a winter wonderland, an Easter build, and that Opensim classic, a Halloween sim. About a year ago, they held a fantastic fashion show, demonstrating some of their outfits for men and women. 

Belze Cherub: The purpose of the grid is this - to meet up with friends, have fun, and escape everyday life.

Thirza Ember: There are dozens of small, lively German speaking grids in Opensim. It's a very different model to the big grid approach, with many residents and one owner, and it seems to work very well. What do you think is the secret of your success?

Belze Cherub: It’s important to be friendly, especially in small groups. We’re here to have fun and escape the daily grind—we don’t need any drama here.

Congratulations on your five years together Chubby and Belze, and wishing you many more to come!
HG Address: 

chubelz.de:8002:ChubelzWelcome

Saturday's party is at   chubelz.de:8002:ChubelzBallsaal

Arabian Delights

Our first stop this week was to Wolf Territories Grid, to see the artist and poet Arabian Sands, This vast sim has so much on it, that we could only touch on a few points of interest and wow how interesting it was. The sim is called Dune Art, and it's a very sandy sumptuous region under a spectacular sky. There were quite a lot of us on the sim, including some first time Safarians, always great to have new company on our tours!

Yara Eilde: Hello Arabien

Max Well: hello hello all

Dings Digital: Hallo Yara :)

Tosha Tyran: Hello folks :)

Ayla Alvarez: hi everyone, got your pith helmet?

Star Ravenhurst: Hi everyone

Arabian Sands: Hey Forest :)

Tosha Tyran: James, sexy underwear :D

Forest Azure: oh wow, I'm me already! that is fast!

James Atlloud: ty Tosha - who knows, where's my clothes!! ha ha

Ayla Alvarez: not panties, I hope...

James Atlloud: boxers, always boxers.  they be painted on just for such occasions.

Lavia Lavine: Hey Everybody

Bob Solo: hi

Thirza Ember: how is the rezzing going? I see you all looking good ... at least, skins are slow today but at least we all have our hair!

Bob Solo: all colored in

Spax Orion: slowly seeping in... no lag on my end...Pretty place btw!

Lavia Lavine: It's slowly coming in for me

Ayla Alvarez: I'm gray and I can't get up

Tina Bey: Hola a Todos !!

Jade Serenity: Oooo pretty sky!

Tosha Tyran: Hola, Tinísima

 Arabian Sands: As-salamu alaykum, and welcome to everyone.  My name is Arabian Sands, and I am the creator and builder of Dune and Dune Art. It is my great honor that HG Safari has chosen to visit my world today as one of their stops. I would especially like to thank Thirza for making this visit possible.

Thirza Ember: don't say great honor until after. we make a lot of mess

Jade Serenity: giggle

Tosha Tyran: lol thirza! We litter

Ipso-Fari

Our second stop this week was on BloodMoon Pack grid, to meet up with the French painter and videographer Prodyck Theas. We were there to see Ipsofacto, a sim with deep connections to Prodck's RL artistry, and also his many eyars of activity in opensim. Prodyck often streams inworld events on his Twitch account, though today he was busy showing us around - so here's the words and pictures part; if you'd like to see more pictures, why not join our Facebook group where photographer extraordinaire Roff Kisses has posted a few.

Prodyck Theas: bonjour

Vlad Helsing: Please click on the ball on Prodyck's head and choose your language.

Cherry Manga: hello bonsoir

Forest Azure: more desert!

Dings Digital: bonsoir

Tina Bey: que bueno!! llego el traductor!

Prodyck Theas: Has everyone arrived? Welcome to all It's been a long time since I've made any visits. The last time was on Craft  A thank you to Vlad for hosting regions. The theme of this region is after global warming. Man had to make little artificial paradises

Tosha Tyran: Oh my god, that is why it seemed so familiar - like looking out of my window in RL

Cherry Manga: global warming made clouds bloom as flowers , how sweet

Prodyck Theas: Follow me. Here a nod to the spirit of the times

Safari gets into the Zone

Our first outing for the 2026 Fall season of Safari was on a new grid, called The Zones, which is the home of Kimm Starr and Cooper Swizzle. They have prepared an interactive build, or Experience, that is colorful, fun, and breathtaking, on the theme of 'Day of the Dead,' which is also the name of the sim. We were delighted to be invited to see it and while about halfway through our visit, there were some technical problems, it's clear that this is a lovely build you should see for yourselves! The HG Address is, of course, at the end of the post.

It was so nice to see many people on the trip, new faces and regular safarians alike. As you know anyone who wants to join us is welcome, so don't feel shy, come on over next week and be part of the event! Of course, no guarantees your bits and pieces will travel at the same speed when you grid jump...

Ayla Alvarez: I don't want to say hello until I look like a normal human avatar... ah... there I am...  phew!

Alex Salamander Hello everyone :-)

Star Ravenhurst: Hi Alex

Mike Fleetwood: hello everyone

Tutz Zabelin: hi to all new

Cooper Swizzle looking drop dead gorgeous

Cooper Swizzle: Welcome everyone.  We will begin at 5 after 12 so others can join us and rez in. In the meantime, if you turn your sound on there is music. Welcome Ayla, and Neo. Hello Alex.

Kimm Starr: We will start in a couple of minutes... please check your environment is set to midnight and your in-world sound is on

Max Well: hello everyone

Cherry Manga: Hi all!

James Atlloud: wow, so many stars in the sky!

Jade Serenity: yeah and clothing :P

Marlon Wayne: Huhu Yara

Cooper Swizzle: Hello Koshari

Star Ravenhurst: Hi Dorena

Cooper Swizzle: Please come stand behind the yellow line...

James Atlloud: define 'behind'

Safari at the Crescent

 Yay back on Safari!  Oh, and there are ten weeks of Safari this season, so join us soon if you can! Wednesdays at 12 at the Clubhouse. Our second stop this week was on Winxtropia (addresses at the end of the post, as always). 

Here's what we learned from the lovely Bloom Peters of Winxtropia grid who had lost of news about things she's been building recently. There's quite a bit of info on the same subject in this blog post 'Giddy About MIDI', but yesterday's visit geve everyone the opportunity to meet with her in person. We met on Crescent Melody region, under this dome, where the animated orchestra resides.

Bloom Peters: Welcome all. Please,  enable your mic for this experience

Petlove Petshop: Hi Bloom!

Farstar Enoch: hi all

Boujee GamerGirl: hello!

Dorena Bree: i like the sky, its really pretty

Ayla.Alvarez: I'm afraid to ask what the buffer rate is

Bloom Peters: so far 190... not bad. Smart buffer is critical for timing

Bloom Peters: you are free to chat before the show case of course. Today will showcase a brand new viewer created.. as soon as thirza says she is ready. If your mic wont activate do a relog

Farstar Enoch: You need mic enabled to hear the music

Petlove Petshop: ahh ok!

Jade Serenity: i have no mic but i have voice enabled

Bloom Peters: yes that's perfect, as long as u get the dot hehe, you only need to enable Voice checkbox

Neo Cortex: Unfortunately I don't have that voice client on Linux

Nara Nook: I don't have voice either

Thirza Ember: i have voice but it doesn't kick in immediately in a big group but i am sure it will soon!

Bloom Peters: For those who cant get voice not a problem links will be provided for youtube demonstration

Dorena.Bree: great

 Farstar Enoch: Bloom has it all covered

Bloom Peters: this everyone?

Thirza Ember: looking... yes i think so...

Safari Reentry

 After a long sultry summer, at least in this part of the world, with lots of distractions and complications when it comes to being inworld, the Safari mechanism is creaking back into gear in time for our first trip on September 2. It will begin at the usual time, 12 noon SLT, which is 3pm on the East Coast and 9pm in Paris. If you use Opensimworld,  Discord or FB or Mewe you can get regular reminders of events, and there's usually a reminder on the day in the HG Safari group on OSGrid..

Among the many things that have distracted me during the long break is a YouTube channel that you might enjoy - BobbyFingers . In a way, his channel is a bit like Opensim, although it's not virtual... with lots of passion going into very specific builds, lots of unexpected global connections, an open-ended, slow pace to the building process, and some amazing, thoughtful, and humorous creations.

Speaking of humor, the new season of HG Safari will bring us to twenty different destinations over the ten week arc, with visits to regions with poetry, art, and new inworld tech, as well as racing and riding, mazes and beaches; mermaids and goddesses, installations and vortexes. Or should that be vortices.

Safari Signs Off for the Summer

Our second destination was on the Ozone grid, address of course at the end of the post. This is our last tour until the Fall, so we went somewhere with stunning effects.

We were making a return to Dismayland the theme park with a twist, or rather many twists, jokes, puns, insults, a place that is gleesome and gruesome at the same time. After navigating the skybox where the security guards are pretty alarming, we arrived at ground level in the entrance tent where Spax, the grid owner, was awaiting us.
Spax Orion:  Last time HG Safari graced these grounds, every single one of you got a taste of Dismayland swamp water. ::: THEN ::: Atrius Station: The game arena didn't survive the evening. The IMAGE party got hijacked and the presentation was delivered entirely by pigeons. You took the game home in pieces. Dirty Helga called it a masterpiece. 

James.Atlloud: nice

Spax Orion: What started as an iniquitous fun fair is now a virtual novel — the NPCs, the sideshows, the rides, the rubbish on the ground — every piece is a word in a story designed to mock the very reality you just escaped.

Spax Orion our host and guide

Spax Orion: I thought we would have a SCAVENGER HUNT in the middle of a minefield this evening. There are several fountains in this park. ONE is the fountain of youth. Almost every fountain is a liar! Watch your health! Find the REAL one, tell the GAME BOARD its exact object Name — then describe WHY. What did it do? What did it say? Where exactly is it? What's nearby? 

Forest Azure: ah, one last time this season on Thirza's head

Safari Meets Nick

Our last Safari for a while, and we went to visit some old friends who have recently moves to a new - and yet old? - home Confused? Well, that's par for the course on Safari. We were on OSGrid, to see their region dedicated to Nicola Tesla, Wardenclyffe, the HG Address at the end of the post as always.

Yara Eilde: Hello everyone

Alex Salamander: Hello :-)

Max Well: hello

camryn darkstone: Hello Yara and Alex, Max, welcome!

Camryn Darkstone

camryn darkstone: Welcome to Wardenclyffe! This is a reproduction of the laboratory of the famous inventor Nicola Tesla.  Tesla's story is fascinating. Walter and I wanted to build a place that would let people learn about him. You may not have heard of Nicola Tesla. But his inventions affect your life every day. For one thing, he invented AC current, which is why you are able to have electricity in your home. Tesla's arch-rival, Thomas Edison, invented DC current, but it was too impractical for widespread use. The conflict between Tesla's AC current and Edison's DC current is known as "The Current War". There was a recent movie about it, by the same name.

A Pocket Safari

Our second stop this week, after the intense colors and sensations of Nyx Breen's build over on Pangea grid, was a landscape region, all swamp, woodland, and subtle colors. Pandanus Pocket - what an intriguing name! The HG Address is of course at the end of the post. Landscaper Chelsea Louloudi has been in opensim for well over a decade, and has recently found a new home on Wolf Territories Grid, where she very kindly offered to show us around her latest creation.

Thirza Ember: Hey everyone, It is very VERY early in the morning in Australia, where our hostess Chelsea Louloudi lives

Chelsea Louloudi: Hello Everyone!

Bink Draconia: =(-,-)=HuHu =(-,-)=

Yara Eilde: Hello Chelsea

Max Well: hi

Thirza Ember: Chelsea has a translator orb, so that can help everyone understand our conversation (I wish it had a setting for typonese): on her head

Chelsea Louloudi: ahaha Thirza...i'm getting a good giggle Welcome Everyone...great to see you!

Thirza Ember: you guys remember Chelsea's work, she did collaborations with Mudpuddle - remember the Pepperland sims?

Nara Nook: Yeah :)

Jame Atlloud: oh yes

Thirza Ember: over to you Chelsea - I hope you have plenty of black coffee

Chelsea Louloudi: I do Thirza! earlier than i calculated

Thirza Ember: tell us the truth what time is it there

Chelsea Louloudi: 6:06 am

Dings Digital : good morning!

Chelsea Louloudi: morning Dings :)

Nara Nook: Thank you for getting up so early

Chelsea Louloudi: So Welcome to Pandanus Pocket Why "Pandanus Pocket"? The Pandanus is a tree that is common in my part of the real world in the sub-tropics... the name has always appealed to me, as it conveys that tropical feel.

Thirza Ember: that was absolutely not the answer I was expecting

Forest Azure: it is a good tree for lothorien!

Chelsea Louloudi: On this deck is an example of Pandanus tree and it's fruit, which is edible and the leaves are also used in cooking.  Take copies for yourselves. Also on this deck is a stand containing landmarks of my favourite shopping destinations and also interesting places. Just touch it and you will receive a folder. The treasure chests also contain some goodies.