Poppy Shoppe

Poppy Fields has only been in OSGrid for about four months. We met on her region, Mistburry, where there's a charming, toast colored deck, with a sparkling pool and Zee Lounge, a sleek nightclub. 

The rest of the region is dedicated to long, palm-fringed beaches, and modern buildings, including her interesting project, the Opensim Shopping Expo, or  OS Expo, a hub for shops all over the hyperverse.

The Expo, with its posters, samples, and Landmarks, is designed to take some of the sting out of shopping for assets in opensim, which has to be the biggest bugbear for most people.

Poppy Fields

Poppy Fields: But I was here many many years ago. have been in SL from the start. 19 years . Before hypergrid I travelled many grids. called myself a gridnaut lol. I am creative in many aspects and it seemed a natural choice to be in a place that has less restrictions on creativeness. I knew about other grids but not much about how it all functioned. seemed stable here maybe not technically stable. more... socially stable, more community... with so many of the small grids, it's kind of 'little empires'

Amazing Mount Grace

Mount Grace is an ancient treasure in all realities. It was a Charterhouse, or Carthusian monastery. That's a religious order of Catholic monks, founded in 1084 just outside Grenoble, France. From that original monastery, the Grande Chartreuse - yes, where the liqueur comes from - other houses (branch offices, if you like) were founded by powerful pious men across Europe. They were built over the following centuries, often in quite harsh environments, which fitted in with the ethos of this particular form of worship. The wealthy and royally-connected Thomas de Holland financed Mount Grace in the one of the wildest parts of England, the North Yorkshire moors. 

The year was 1398, the era of  The Canterbury Tales, the Peasant's Revolt,  and the Hundred Years War - great for fiction, but less fun if you want political stability, or to grow old in peace. Within two years of founding Mount Grace, Thomas and most of his allies were dead. The monastery survived this early setback, however, and thrived for several centuries until - well, the answer to that is on the sim.

Not only the real Mount Grace has had to face setbacks and changes. This build by Christi Maeterlinck has had iterations as grids and hosts come and go. This build first appears in the HG Safari blog back in 2011   after a time on NWG, it moved to OSGrid, and more recently found a home on Science Circle grid, where it's on a 4x4 VAR giving plenty of space to convey the wooded uplands of North Yorkshire, and the large land holdings - fields, fish ponds, and woods - that provided wealth and sustenance for the religious house. The current HG Address is, of course, at the end of the post.

Christii Maeterlinck: It's good to have a home for Mount Grace after years of wandering in different servers and grids. strictly speaking, I'm here because the person who runs this grid, has made it available to the Science Circle members; and I happen to have joined Science Circle; I suppose it'll attract the sort of people who belong to the Science Grid... and they're a very varied bunch. 

Coopersville Parade

Yesterday was the Coopersville Flotilla on Kitely, and after many weeks of planning, devising, testing and of course building, nine waterborne vehicles and about 20 people gathered to enjoy the show!

The event was coordinated by Koshari Mahana on her VAR region, Coopersville.

Coopersville is a historical region, with an emphasis on the early 20th Century American style - lots of clapboard, gambrel roofs, and opulent villas, and although this is not a RP region, it offers the opportunity to dress up in your jazz-age finery, or your best Edwardian top hat and tails, and soak in the atmosphere.

Coopersville offers opportunities for people to take up residence, or open a shop on the region, provided it's in keeping with the look of the place, so if you're thinking about sampling life on Kitely, it could be an option worth considering! Contact Koshari Mahana in person for more details.

Koshari Mahana - Beatles Yellow Submarine - Four Winds

And it was the lady herself who wins the 'Yellowest float' award for her Beatles inspired barge, helmed by the Fab Four and carrying a raft below it with a fabulous array of Pepperland-style plants and animals.

Anatomy of an Artist

Something special has been brewing over the past few months. Cherry Manga, one of the most respected and admired artists working in opensim. The region is Anatobotanica, on Pangea Grid. This opening was timed for the conclusion of this season of the Safari, and it really gave the WOW factor to our trip.
At the end you'll find the HG Address spelled out for you - and just to say THANK YOU for reading this blog, for following it, for visiting the destinations whether with the Safari group or on your own - it means a lot to our kind hosts! - and for all the comments, suggestions, help and support. It's been a great season, and there is so much more out there to see.

Anatobotanica is a golden artefact, hanging on a mirrored ocean, with an inland sea of molten gold.

The highlands are spheres, bubbles, bodies - a hive of creativity, golden like the rest. That golden glow is everywhere; the lightbulb of an idea, the first rays of sunrise, the glistering of passions, thoughts, challenges, and pure creativity. It flows through virtual spaces, out into the real world and then back, directly through the fingers of, and the idiosyncratic imagination of, Cherry Manga. 

Rainbows, Sounds, Jellyfish and Doodles

The summer is coming, and while this blog will continue to have new posts, the weekly hypergrid Safari trips will be on hold until September 6.
The final stop of the Spring season was at the Grand Opening of a virtual gallery. It showcases the pictural art of late Jerry Garcia, best known as the lead guitarist and vocalist of The Grateful Dead.
 Peter Agelasto opened the ribbon cutting ceremony with a few words.

 Peter Agelasto: Hello friends, family, sisters and brothers. Welcome to the opening of the Virtual Jerry Garcia Archive Museum, We are so grateful to have you join us for such a special event and free concert.  Thank you everyone who has helped bring this to joyful place life...  Manasha and Keelin Garcia, my teammates over at the Jerry Garcia Foundation. Huge special thanks to the creators behind the Neverworld Grid. Govega and your team. 

Peter Agelasto

Felix and the Mythologies

Felix, qui potest rerum cognoscere causas

Virgil, Georgics 490:II

Ange Menges: C'est une  région tatouée ? :-)

Cherry Manga: pretty creatures everywhere ♥

Shapeshifter, a region famed across opensim, is now on OSGrid. 

Its creator? The well known artist of many names - in RL, she is Elif Ayiter, in SL she's best known as Alpha Auer, but here in opensim she goes by the name FeliX Ringtail. 

The region is  complex, detailed, varied. On the ground level, the landscape is divided into a pair of islands and all the installations make up a story, which you can read here. In the sky are one-off elements, defined by FeliX as 'not really having a story' but they invite flights of fancy, dreamlike motions of the imagination, just the same.

Tosha's Towers

 For our second stop on this week's adventure around the hyperverse, we went over to see a build by Tosha Tyran on Craft Grid Tosha is famed for her reconstructions of real world places, including the Taj Mahal, India; a Hopi village, Arizona; the city of Timbuktu, Mali; and the Guggenheim Museum in Barcelona.

This one's in Cambodia - the famed Angkor Wat.

If the build looks familiar to you, there's an earlier Safari blog post about it here, but this was our first opportunity to explore as a group. If you go alone, you'll have plenty of company - there are about 25 NPCs around the build, adding atmosphere and context.  

The arrival point is sets the scene immediately - as jungle and architecture vie for supremacy.

Tosha Tyran: I would like to tell you a bit about Angkor wat, ok?

Wizardoz Chrome: yesss :)

Through a Glass, Darkly

What does it mean to be mirrored?

Reflect upon it. The photo, the drawing, the video clip - we often hardly recognize ourselves so seen, so replicated. Yet in the looking glass, where everything is backwards, we find our true face, our true form. 

And sometimes, we are lucky enough to find a mirror for more than the external. That's the beauty of Rage Darkstone's latest opus, Mirrored, opening on Wednesday at 1pm SLT on Pangea grid - the HG address is of course at the end of the post.

CapCat Conference

 On Craft grid this Friday CatCat Ragu hosted an interesting conference about art and education, in Portuguese and Italian, with a powerful rl/vw crossover. 

It was partly inworld, partly in Zoom  -  the inworld bit was held on the lovely IPVerso region. This is the second year the conference has been held here, and the region is well worth a visit any time, conference or not.

At Atlas

Second stop on Safari this week - there are just two more tours left before we break for the summer, returning on September 7 - was on the francophone grid, Atlas. The Atlas crew is small but enthusiastic. Harthelie, Chip, and Jeff make up the team, and the grid aims at clean lines, low lag, and lots of tech innovation. 

The grid may be new but these guys are far from being opensim novices. Here is a post about Jeff Kelley from back when this blog was called Pings from the afterLife ,,, check it out,   'Hyper and Hamster' from February 2011

No newbies here, but lots of new ideas!

 Jeff Atlas: Our mission is to build a spot of technical knowledge around opensimulator. We have a variety of lectures and workshops on Linux, databases, networks, opensim administration, streaming, and our insanely fun scripting class every week. This is not place where you will see elaborate builds, although we plan to add some new scenes in the future. Atlas is currently four regions and the staff is composed of three : Harthelie, Chip and myself. We had, and will have more special events. Last was a fashion show. 134 NPCs were walking on the set, in sync with music. This is the kind of challenges we love, and the next will be yet more crazy.

Rain Eday Delight

It was raining when we arrived on Eday, one of the Orkney Islands, off the Northeast coast of Scotland. Luckly, it was only virtual rain, so nobody's hair got messed up. Better say up front, of course, it's not really pronounced 'e-day', but 'ai-dee'... luckily when everything is in text chat, nobody can see your accent! And inworld? well, the HG Address is, as always, at the end of the post. get scrolling!

To meet us, Samsara 'call me Sam' Timeless, the creator of this region and nine others, here on Groovyverse grid. We only got a glimpse of what's in store for visitors on this region - there are dozens of gems hidden in the hillside, so be sure to take a good long hike around the island, and drop in the comments any points of interest that you enjoyed.

Off the Chart

 After the big German welcome we got over on Carima Grid, while visiting the Amazoniens, our second stop on this 17th Safari tour of 2023 was to Ignis Fatuus grid, the home of  Max and Nadir. Lots of fellow frenchies were on hand to welcome us, which was lovely especially if you speak French, and if you want to get that full gallic - mayhem feel, you can watch a vid made of our visit by Prodyck Theas over on Twitch. The HG Address of the build is, of course, at the end of this post.

The region, on arrival, is immediately identifiable as an Ignis build - fantastic towers and tranquil seas, and that sense of all not being quite as it seems. 

Meet the Amazoniens

Have you ever enjoyed a movie or series where a band of heroes, living in a land of fantasy and antiquity, enjoy adventures, laughs, dangers, magical and build lasting bonds of friendship? 

Imagine you too could be, not a spectator, but a participant in all that, and you have Role-playing in virtual worlds. This week - the Amazoniens! HG Addresses as always are at the end of the post.

Opensim has a bunch of RP groups, spread out over many different grids. You can find accounts of several if you look in the archive of this blog, running the gamut of genres - from the Star Trek group on 3rd Rock, to the Gor world of Counterearth, to mention just two - and we'll be visiting the Brigantia Isles group on Wildwood Bayou Grid at the end of the month. Roleplaying means commitment and preparation, with long and complex storylines, but these are not closed communities, for new people and crossover events are welcome additions to keep the creativity on the cutting edge. 

Clan Do

By far the biggest number of events on Opensim are musical. Whether it's a DJ spinning a few, or a karaoke style performer, or a live musician playing in real time, each brings a unique style and contribution to the community. But even if you're not particularly into opensim as a source of your tune-based entertainment, our second destination will wow you without a single note being played!

The magnificent Club Escotia is a 2x2 var on AMV grid, the full Address is, of course, at the end of the post. To greet us, the magical Webby Merlin and everyone's favorite precipitation, MidnightRain Glas.

Webby Merlin: Welcome to Club Escotia, home base for the phenomenal singer Clan Escotia and his various clan members from all over the metaverse. Welcome home all ye who enter here! A custom castle fit for a Scotsman surrounded by various themes of performance venues, 22 in all!

Alex Salamander: Hello :-)

Star Ravenhurst: Hello!

Luna Lunaria: Hi Webby :-)

Lavia Lavine: rubs the top of my head because somebody landed on it  LOL:::

Webby Merlin: Lavia hope your hair's ok! For your tour today, please click the HG Safari Welcome Sign for a TP MENU HUD. Once you ADD this from your inventory, it mounts on the left side of your screen, a click will toggle it open and closed. 

Tosha Tyran: the hud is very neat

Luna Lunaria: Yes I love the hud

Safari Goes Gunga

Thia week's first destination is a work in progress with a wow factor that will amaze! We visited the Naboo region on Kitely, the brainchild of Mike Lorrey. With a name like that it could hardly be anything but Star Wars themed, and the giant sim while not yet complete already features some fabulous environments, like this Gunga City Deesko in a lake to the South. It was the venue for a 'May the Fourth' party last week, and the vibe was still pitched perfectly when we arrived. The HG address etc, you will find as always at the end of the post.

Thirza Ember: Favorite Star Wars person? I am going with Baby Yoda

James Atlloud: Grogu is adorbz

Star Ravenhurst: Star Wars?

Wizardoz Chrome: Darth Vader

Forest Azure: Spock :)

Forest Azure: /me covers her ears... finally picked one, Jabba the Hutt

Mal Burns: chewbakka - he never messes uip his lines

A Very Viking Visit

If you've watched the TV adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok - and even if you never did - you are going to love the Viking build by SoA Bad (call him Bad) as it is one of those atmospheric builds that will thrill you and make you slip on your hangerok, finish your drykkju, and reach for your skeggøx. It's just that good! The region is called Lofoten, complete HG Address and so forth at the end of the post, of course. 

SoA BAD and SITWAS, our hosts on CCI Grid.

 The region the Safari visited this week has one thing in common with pretty much every place we see - there is way more going on, way more details and clever scripting and masterful construction than can possibly be seen in the mere hour that we get to spend on the sim. 

The grid is also home to a Sons of Anarchy biker build, with all the bells and whistles and music that entails... modem Vikings maybe?

SoA BAD: Hello welcome to the Vikings, Will will have a short tour with explanation about the life of the vikings in the 8th to 12th centuries.

SIWAS S [de→en]: Hello everyone nice that you are here, Soa Bad is your host today

whirli placebo: thank you for the invitation :)

Heart Box

 There are places - and people - that have been on the Safari radar forever, as examples of enormous talent combined with wicked humor, and endless heart - Frankie Rockett is a case in point. After many years, the Safari finally got a chance to meet up with him and experience the iconic build Art Box, now transferred to LFGrid, where it has found a stable and permanently open venue. Full address as always at the end of the post.

Armed and dangerously talented 
Frankie Rockett

 There is something of the Willy Wonka about Frankie - with one caveat, none of the annoying 'follow the rules or else' in Frankie's ethos. 

A charming, brilliant, yet somehow elusive figure, Frankie's build Art Box - the fruit of well over a decade of creativity - speaks for itself, it is a chocolate box full of sweet treats. 

The premise of the build for those few people who haven't experienced it over the past decade or so, is that you can be 'part of the picture' - be it a well known poster, photo, album cover, oil painting, watercolor - in short, famous artwork from all genres and time periods. 

It's both fun and philosophical as you put yourself quite literally in the picture, thus inviting thoughts of 'what is going on here.... or just a lot of giggles, depending on your mood of the moment. It's flexible.

Nyx, Tricks, and Jazz Pics

Nyx Breen

Nyx Breen: welcome all. Make sure MIDNIGHT MAX DRAW AND PARTICLES for next part of the Tour

James Atlloud: Ooo, max draw.  I'll get a cool towel for the GeForce!

Thirza Ember: ok, let's try to break Pangea Grid with max draw distances...

Nyx Breen: no way! lol, this is a 4x4 immersive - we are set for this!

Landing point on the Jazzland build

Once again, Nyx Breen pulled out all the stops to create a purpose built immersive experience on Pangea Grid for this weeks Safari, dedicated to the celebration of Jazz, and once again, his build didn't disappoint. It is another huge creation - celebrating both the music and the freedom that builders have in opensim to make something with a huge prim count and acres of space, where the public can be truly wowed. It's a place of movement, so when you arrive, be ready to move! If your draw distance isn't high, you may miss some of the best bits, including the jazz club with dance ball and musical instruments, not to mention all the faces from the past. HG Address and so on at the end of the post, as per tradition.

Forest and All That Jazz

This Sunday is International Jazz Day, first celebrated in 2011 to honor one of the most idiosyncratic and evocative genres of music. The term Jazz has an uncertain, but sensual and vibrant roots and was first found in print in the USA in the early 1900s, read more here if you're curious. Since Safaris happen on Wednesdays we felt free to move the annual festival up a few days, and have an all Jazz extravaganza this week.

Our first stop was on Virtual Worlds Zone, and grid owner Kashi Takeshi welcomed us to All That Jazz (HG Address at the end of the post, as always) which is a club on its own dedicated sim. We were lucky enough to have Forest Azure performing for us, she sings with a rl Jazz combo, and came up with a song list that was a beautiful blend of classy jazz, blues, and more. Songs were in Stream, and her commentary between the numbers was in Voice, which sounds complicated but actually worked as smooth as a Sinatra serenade.

Kashi Takeshi: welcome! Hope all is rezzing fast and okies... You can toggle the stream if the audio does not work.

Forest Azure

Forest Azure: funny to be 'on the other side' for a change

James Atlloud: It's good for the soul Forest (heh heh)

Youca Godel: A nice jazz club sounds wonderful.

Tosha Tyran: yes, it really has a lot of atmosphere

Kashi Takeshi: I built this club some time ago with the plan to start DJing nice Jazz tunes here. I was quite busy last months but will soon start every Sunday, Asha from Sunvibes will also jump in and hope Azure and other Jazz singers will like to perform here too.

Two weeks in Seville

 It takes place a couple of weeks after Easter, and was first celebrated in 1847. It's held in Seville and is a festival all about booths, lights, food, fun, family, friends, and fancy dress - specifically flamenco dresses, and Andalusian traditional costumes. But wait, you say, I can't get to Seville tonight! No worries, you can celebrate Feria de Abril without even leaving your couch.
Traditionally tonight is the lighting ceremony, and on you can be a part of the event, right down to the handsome devils dressed as country gentlemen and dancing divinely. This event in RL started as a horse trading event, so naturally equines, and the appropriate carriages, are peppered all over the region.

This minigrid, owned by Don Javi and hosted by Unadecal Masala, offers a home and venue for the Spanish speaking part of opensim, together with their fans and friends. 

Light and Drama on Pangea

Another fun event on Pangea for all who love art and enjoy good music in a vibrant, fun loving atmosphere.

 Nyx Breen's show is called 'Everything Flows and is in Motion".

Safari Goes Under the Mountain

The second destination for this week's Safari was on Kinky Haven grid, run by Wendie Blackthorne who was there to greet us, in her cute spelunking outfit - surprisingly un-grimy considering the fiendishly difficult tunnel and cave system she had invited us to experience, the creation of her friend Lizzy Borden. No, she didn't have an axe. I know you were wondering. Well, that might not be entirely accurate...

Wendie Blackthorne, front, and Lizzy Borden behind her.

This is a huge region, so of course we were limited in how much of it we could see in our short visit, but the girls had organized themselves in such a way that we were able to get a good idea of the variety and magesty of the build without being rushed too much. 

The tunnel style build is one of the most difficult of all to pull off, as it's a tricky game of proportions when you are trying to create a closed-in atmosphere that is also cam friendly. The labyrinth needs to be at challenging but not so frustrating and cramped that the immersive feel is lost for the player-visitor.

Lighting, textures, sounds and objects all come together to surprise, spook, and delight throughout this enormous build, where every tunnel suggests more discoveries - and does not disappoint.

We met on the big plaza outside the mountain.

Lizzy Borden: Welcome to The Mountain. This is The Mountain of the Ancients who attempted to build a tower to Heaven in the shape of a pyramid.....but it collapsed along with their civilisation. What you are about to see is the remnants and evidence of attempt at restoration by the descendants.

Rinky Dinkie Fish and Fun on AMV

 Last season on the Safari we visited arguably the largest single vehicle in opensim, the luxury liner Aurora, and this week, we're back on AMV grid again to see a very differently proportioned build by Ted Junior - the Dinkies Funsize Resort. While the general rule is that you should have a small cat avie to participate on the sim, Ted and Sofee Supermarine made an exception for us, and we got a warm welcome on an impeccably organized and decorated build.

Ted Junior with Sofee SUpermarine on the right

The convenient landing place puts you down in a information area, where you immediately have access to the Dinkie town plaza and Main Street. Everything is appropriately proportioned, yet cleverly engineered so that normal height people don't feel like their camera is always crashing through walls. A group of AMV residents, including grid co-owner Clifford Hanger, were there to meet us, in their Dinkie personas.

On Einstein

 The Star Trek RP group Infinity welcomed a brand new ship this weekend, the ISS Einstein, captained by David7 Bravin. 

A brief ceremony took place at ground level, where Admiral Keely Scrumptious gave a brief and inspirational speech - two of the best qualities of any speech, I'm sure you'll agree - confirming the nomination of David as the new captain of the Einstein, which will be active in Roleplay on Mondays. For the full schedule of roleplaying, check out the calendar. This is useful both for would-be roleplayers (you can see which ship is active in a time frame that would suit you) and also for casual visitors, so you can avoid crashing one of their missions.

Currently listed under the legacy region name 'Astraios Colony' and soon to be renamed Infinity, this outpost of Starfleet is built on a Var region - and that means space, serious space for multiple ships not to mention ground based buildings below. This newest ship the Einstein is located at about 8000m in the sky...   HG Address is at the end of the post as per tradition.

Safari Goes to The Good Place

It sounds so virtuous to say that you 'don't watch TV that much' and even if that's factually true and not a fib to make you look like a better person, there's a very good reason to quit the no-TV habit. It's called 'The Good Place', a comedy series that ran on NBC from 2016-2020 and later shown on other media platforms. Starring Ted Danson and Kristen Bell, it's the story of the afterlife, where people go either to 'the good place' or 'the bad place' depending on what score or rating their actions during life on earth has earned them - except there's a catch... well, go watch the show to find out about all that. Memorable characters, excellent acting, and a divinely funny script all make The Good Place a delight - but wait - there's more! Here in Opensim, there's a brilliant build by Bink Draconia that makes The Good Place an interactive game! The Safarians went to see what was up. 

The build is full of all the in-jokes, familiar characters, and catchlines of the show, which kind of makes a game in and of itself, to see how many you can spot, The build is on the German grid Pangea, famous for its art builds and the inspirational leadership of Marlon Wayne and Lampithaler Artis. What makes this build even more awesome is that Bink has made the whole thing bilingual, no mean feat!

Xzar Gazing

Last Sunday was the official opening of The Land of Xzar on Genesis RP grid, a region built by Star Ravenhurst, and this Wednesday it the Safari took the tour for our second hour of the 2 hour ride around opensim.  As lovely as opensim is at any time, there's nothing quite like visiting a sim with the creator and some friends to truly get the measure of what is meant by the fine pixels on show. You might say that this build (HG Address is at the end of the post, as always) is really several tales in one. 

It's the 3D representation of Star's novel, to be published on Amazon later this year, but it's also a story of a Star's talent and tenacity as a builder, with many original constructions and textures that she has put together over her many years in virtual. And it's also the chronicle of the many grids she has been part of, several of which have come to an untimely end, forcing her to regroup, rebuild, and re-imagine her regions in other worlds. That opportunity to glimpse and gaze into the creative universe of our fellow Opensimmers is one of the most exciting and interesting parts of the life virtual. Unlike most gaming platforms, it offers a unique connection between original imaginations - yours and theirs - and is infinitely fascinating, if on occasion hard work.

Youca Godel: I'm finding it neat that people are building sims based on shows and books.

Star Ravenhurst: This is based on my book Youca

Forest Azure: are there any fairytales sims? for a fairytale rp sim

Doctor Dave: There's a dead angel on the lawn.  Did anyone bring a first aid kit?

Star Ravenhurst: Is everyone here? I think we are missing Tosha... Welcome Tim

humbletim metaverse: hi

Star Ravenhurst: Well I will start pasting into chat what you need to know. This build is based on my upcoming novel by the same name. This is a visual of the land that has lived inside of my head for years. This is an ancient world that has seen war and destruction with many characters seeking power over time. 1000+ years have passed since the end of the world and civilization returned. The antagonist is Hadean the Executioner. He is a narcissistic, power hungry, sexual predator, brutal, and evil as they come. The hero is Michael McCall of Plano Texas who is angry with his father who has taken over as ruler of the whole planet due to advancements that he owns, sells, and controls the population with.

Lavia Lavine: You didn't tell me your novel was about my Ex husband.

Forest Azure: lol

Virtual Recall: Welcome to Mars

 Straight out of our Star Trek experience on 3rd Rock, we leapt over to Neverworld to see a brand new build based on the film Total Recall. Another huge build, demonstrating the variety, talent, imagination, and humor that make opensim the best place in virtual. HG address is, of course at the end of the post. Thanks to all the Neverworlders who were there to welcome us, and to the 3rd Rockers who continued the fun by coming over from destination one to see this very different build.

Where Posh turns into Sleeze: Okay here you are after filling up on some greasy snacks with dust included, now go back through the blue light  alleyway and turn right ... you coming across an area that looks ... sleezier. Yup, you are closing in on Venusville.  It ain't the Hilton. Note to self- keep your valuables out of sight

Govega Sachertorte:  Hi everybody, big crowd

Joshua 7: Hi All, welcome to Mars!

Hope Lunasea: Bigger than what I was expecting. lol...

Beth Ghostraven: We crash sims for fun, lol, not so much lately though

Govega Sachertorte: Welcome to Mars. Mr Smokes, Nexus Storm, Ares Halostar, Alba Wyrril, they are the main builders

Star Turn on 3rd Rock

Thirza Ember: happy first contact day everyone

James Atlloud: and a first contact day to you too Thirza

Our first stop on this new season of Safari is the absolutely spectacular Star Trek colony on 3rd Rock Grid. a great crowd of 3rd Rockers were there to meet us, and the peerless Alia Souldstar gave us a wonderful tour. The HG Address for this wonderful build is, of course, at the end of the post.

Nila Shvaress: greetings everyone arriving

Georgina Mills: Hello everyone :)

Ellemir Maven: Hello Lucy, Lavia and Kitty

Dolfke Barbosa: pls take your time to let everything rez properly

James Atlloud: Hello!

Pauline NOVA419: ooo, visitors :)

Alia Soulstar

Alia Soulstar: Hiya Thirza and Safari people :)

Beth Ghostraven: Hi Alia!

Prodyck Theas: Helloo

Alia Soulstar: Is that everyone or are there a few still coming ?

Thirza Ember: ok we are good to go, APPLAUSE! for Astraios colony

A Mobius Spring

Springtime is here on Mobius Grid with lots of good news and innovation! 

The unusual and colorful Mobius grid, inspired by all things Sonic the Hedgehog has recently re-opened its doors to OSGrid  gridjumpers, just in time for their Easter Hunt event, held on their big Welcome sim.  Grid address, is, of course, at the end of the post. 

The look of the Easter Hunt game is unmistakable and charming - this is Cream, an NPC who is part of the fun. Green Hill Zone is the sim most visitors know best, but don't neglect a visit to Lunaria, the gallery sim  belonging to Luna Lunaria, in all its violet glory.

Along with its signature look, Mobius Grid is all about innovation and making the best use of all the features the Viewer offers, so when you arrive you can participate in an Experience rather than just going around doing your own thing.

Deadheads on Neverworld

 IT’S ONLY A SLIGHT EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT 
THE INTERNET IS A TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS CREATED 
SPECIFICALLY TO TRADE GRATEFUL DEAD SHOWS.
Scott Beauchamp, Pacific Standard Magazine

He was only 53 years old when he died in 1994, but Jerry Garcia packed a great deal into those decades -  133 songs,  four children, 30 years with an iconic band, a place in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, that whole Haight-Ashbury thing, and of course the missing finger. Before the Grateful Dead was formed, Garcia studied art, and though it necessarily took second place to his music career, he created well over 2000 pieces.

Paintings, sketches and doodly drawings are all part of the rich pattern of Garcia's artistic journey, brought inworld for this event - completing the circle between internet and deadheads, digital and analog, pencil, paints and pc.

Govega Sachertorte

This week a special RL/VW crossover event happened on Neverworld Grid, organized by Govega Sachertorte. You don't have to be a big fan to the music of the GD to appreciate what it means for events to double up their realities, and slip the bounds of geographical being there... it's just a case of relax and enjoy.

Show Me the Monet

There are a lot of good builds in OpenSim, but some are beyond good - for the attention to rl details, for the exceptional building skills, for the atmosphere created on the sim. 

French creator Erwan Elan has a lot of lovely regions on his Serenity Grid, but perhaps the best of all of them is his bravura re-creation of Giverny, in Normandy, the famous home of the Impressionist painter Claude Monet. 

Inside and out, this is hands down the best Monet inspired build you are likely to ever see. Erwan's feel for his subject matter, his thorough research and dedication, radiate out of every texture, and his clever use of the excellent plant resources in opensim (Jimmy Olsen and Imperator Janus spring to mind) thoroughly meet the task he sets for them.

If you have spent any time at all at Giverny in the real world, you'll probably have a story to tell about long queues, an international crowd shuffling dully through the carefully organized garden trail, or about how you went there on a cloudy day, or when the flowers were not looking their best. That is a pretty common experience that you can totally avoid by going to this virtual version of the old farmhouse and two acre garden laid out by Monet and his family in the late 1800's. It is on Serenity Grid, the address is, as always, at the end of the post.