TheGreatBalloonAdventure~Satori by Dahlia Jayaram

The Gr eat Balloon Adventure

Satori by Dahlia Jayaram

Riding The Winds Through Every Second Life Continent

The Great Balloon Adventure

Sator i Riding The Winds Through Every Second Life Continent

by Dahlia Jayaram

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Jayaram, Dahlia, 2008– The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori p. cm. ISBN-13:000-0-00000-000 ISBN-13:000-0-00000 1. Second Life, hot air balloon, ballooning, travel, adventure, exploring. 2. Second Life–In travel. NC1429.M1558J 2010 741.5’6973-B4

201010054 Read my published books online at http://issuu.com/dahliasweet Visit my weekly travel progress blog at: http://dahliasweet.blogspot.com

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori is Dahlia’s fourth book in a series of travel adventures by hot air balloon. This adventure begins in Second Life’s first and earliest sims and follows a route of discovery from the oldest continent of Sansara to the newest continent of Necera. Follow along as Dahlia flies in every Second Life continent. Along the way, she explores and reports on some of her more interesting encounters with people, places and things that make our Second Life worth seeing and living in.

Contents

003 005 01 5 03 7 04 6 05 2 05 7 05 8 05 9 08 2 08 4 08 6 08 8 08 9

The Cont inent of Bad Kar ma Week 1 9 : W hat ’s Ol d I s N ew A g ain Week 2 0 : Breaking “W r eck”-ords Week 2 1 : Pounc ing P ast P ounc e Week 2 2 : H ouston, We H ave a P r obl em Week 2 2 , D ay 4 : A D ead L ap t op Week 2 2 , D ay 4 : Tw o M onths L at er Week 2 2 , D ay 5 : R et ur n t o t he S kies Week 2 2 , D ay 6 : C om p l et ing t he L oop Maps: The P lan & The R esul t Tim eline A t A Gl anc e: C hart ing P r og ress Dahlia’s Top 1 0 F avourit es An Open L et t er To t he L inden F am il y About The A ut hor

CONTINENT FOUR

•

S AT O R I

The Continent of Bad Karma I finished my hot air balloon tour of the continent of Jeogeot, I was already thinking about Satori. Angst was slowly gnawing away at the edges of my consciousness, nagging at me in the back of my mind. A sense of dread was slowly building in me. I could feel it.

VEN BEFORE

Opposite page: Before setting out on her balloon adventure through Satori, Dahlia took time to hang out on the dock at Susie’s Little Ferry Service in Pelvoux. Above: Dahlia lifted off through the palm trees at Susie’s Bar and Grill and into surprisingly open skies over the northern coast of Satori. The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

I already know what you’re thinking: Why would you feel that way? the uninitiated might ask. Well, for those of you who aren’t familiar with my earlier book, The Great Sailing Adventure ~ 2009, where I chronicled my circumnavigation of Second Life’s five continents connected by a contiguous body of water, Satori was by far the worst place I sailed through. I ran into more property ban lines, privacy fences, privacy sensors and buildings pushed up against each other and/or the outer edges of sims than I care to recall. There were so many barriers set up in Satori that one could barely move without imploding in a system crash—so much so that in my mind I began thinking up all kind of nasty slogans to

wear on t-shirts as I struggled to make my way around the continent. For me as a traveler, it was six days of complete frustration and disgust over how so many people could manage to muck up an environment for everyone else. Even as I’ve been writing this first page of my book, I’ve already had my layout application crash five times—I’m telling you, Satori’s bad karma extends way out beyond it’s borders for me! So, while my balloon drifted through the final regions of Jeogeot, I sometimes caught my own mind drifting too, contemplating whether or not the skies of Satori would be as unfriendly and inhospitable as its waterways were. 3

Above: Using a variety of map and notecard information gathered from advance research, Dahlia put together a general flight plan and mapped out her route on a modified version of one of the more recent world maps. The route used airports and airstrips on each continent as check points where she could stop to verify their continued existence or removal. Satori was the fourth continent in her adventure. 4

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Opposite page and left: Dahlia’s first few minutes of flying after lifting off in Pelvoux revealed a surprisingly open sky in all directions along the coast and inland, including views to the northeast (opposite page top), to the northwest (opposite page bottom) and inland to the south (left).

to my fifth stage of ballooning. Upon completing my Satori tour and landing back at Susie’s beach, I could sit down with a cold drink at her bar while I regrouped and prepared for my Blake Sea and Island Communities region trek.

the desire for people to move When the day finally did come about freely and with ease in their for me to begin my tour of Satori, environment. I already had my general flight plan prepared. I would start at Susie Chaffe had owned and opa place I considered perfect to erated her service since 2006. It begin a voyage, no matter in what provided free public ferry transvehicle. That place was Susie’s portation along a variety of waLittle Ferry Service in Pelvoux, terway routes all over the grid. northern Satori. Her headquarters was located on a coastal beach in Pelvoux, which During my sailing adventure, I looked out across the sea toward had been saved more than once the southern shores of Nautilus by a Susie’s Little Ferry after get- continent’s signature island, Nauting stuck in otherwise impassa- tilus City. From Susie’s dock, one ble regions. For me, Susie’s Ferry could embark on a boat trip to boats symbolized and epitomized just about anywhere in the fiveWEEK 19: WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

So that was my plan: start in the north, weave my way back and forth down the western coast to the southern tip of Satori in Pounce, then back up the eastern side in the same fashion until I returned to Pelvoux. From there, I continent region—keeping in could continue on to the Blake mind, of course, that there would Sea, free and easy as a bird. be obstacles and blockages in many various locations. As for a On 7 May 2010, I lifted off from balloon, however, I hoped there Pelvoux in clear mid-morning would be far fewer obstacles and weather. After rising up about 50 blockages to contend with. Time meters, I got my first good look would tell, and I was ready to test around the northern coastline. out the skies of the notoriously While every parcel along the congested Satori. coastal beachfront was occupied, inland was much more open and Aside from using Susie’s headundeveloped than I had expected. quarters for symbolic reasons, I There were wide swaths of large, also had practical reasons. My green, grassy fields. plan to leave from Pelvoux was also intended to strategically place I shouldn’t have been surprised me in position for continuing on by this, however, considering that 5

during my sailing adventure around Satori I had already noted there was more open space to build on the land than there was overtop the water. Now, while looking from my balloon, I was struck by how open and uncluttered the even sky appeared. Perhaps it was only the seas that were congested, I considered. At least it looked like I was going to have plenty of open air to fly in today, and that made me hopeful for a smooth first day of traveling. No sooner had that thought entered my brain than I was ejected out of my balloon. I had apparently tried to enter a “no access” parcel in Nadelhorn. Soon after, that was followed by a parcel in Liskamm that made me go invisible whenever I crossed into it. After that, a crash in Liskamm and a slurry of other parcels with ban lines, filled properties, an impenetrable and invisible towering prim wall, and complete system crashes followed. “This is more like it,” I grumbled sarcastically to myself. “This is the old Satori I expected.” Properties in Gyachung, Hilmalchuli, Troepolsky and Marietta were all to blame. “Shame on you, Satori!” I continued with my grumbling. There…my first t-shirt slogan 6

Above left: Talakin International Airport in Talakin was built atop a westward-facing cliff with a runway that ended right at the edge of the cliffside. Above right: Sweet lil’ Rentals in

Pahto flew the flags of France, America, and Great Britain in memorial to victims at Pearl Harbour. Opposite page: Alien Nation’s retail mall in Bagat was an impressive sight.

had just been written. What’s old propped up outside the front door was new again once more. of the school greeted me. Inside, the familiar sound of school bells Not far away in the distance, I and hallway chatter filled the spotted a school in Zoshchenko air—but in fact, the halls were and decided to seek refuge there completely empty. So were the for a while. Maybe they’d have a classrooms. And the theatre. And nice cafeteria where I could get a the gymnasium too. Perhaps it cheap meal while updating my was a holiday in Iowa City? Or flight notes, I thought. I could chat perhaps it was because there was with some students and see what no cafeteria. What’s a school withthey’re learning these days. So out a cafeteria? I thought. down I drifted and landed on grass just outside of the school. I climbed into my balloon basket and left West High still hungry. I soon learned that I had landed Checking my map, I set my course at Iowa City’s West High School, for Talakin International Airport. home of the fighting Trojans. A I knew from past experience that group of cardboard students just down the hill from the air-

port was a small pub where I could get a pint and maybe a shepard’s pie if I was lucky. So off I went, rising into the Zoshchenko sky and heading in a westerly fashion, my stomach starting to make complaining noises.

geoisie, its state and wars. Personally, I thought they just liked having a reason to say the cool sounding word bourgeoisie.

The CPSL was in additional good company in Georgi, for it was also the home to Virtual HeadBefore I made it to Talakin, I quarters for the Worker’s Party in encountered The Communist America, the Georgi Albert CurParty of Second Life (CPSL), in rlin Society, and the Georgi Furry Georgi. Their note card indicated Communist Party. that the CPSL aimed to spread an understanding of Marxism Between the four groups, I could among SL citizens, and to organ- just imagine the parties they must ise support in SL for the class have there on Saturday nights. I struggle in RL—including all wondered if they had any dance struggles of the working class moves that included pounding on against imperialism and the bour- a speaker’s lecturn and gesturing The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

forcefully toward the crowd. That a ride,” he said. I let him know I showed Jackie around the Tacould be quite a sight on the dance that we were just now landing lakin Boatyard, to the pub where floor, couldn’t it? and wouldn’t be taking off for a I ordered a meal, and to the harwhile. “Give me a copy of your bour office where some items My friend and now official “First balloon,” he demanded. “I can’t; were for sale, including a free Mate Co-Pilot” for my balloon its not a balloon that can be motorboat. I called Jackie over to expedition, MsPaddles Ninetails— copied or transfered,” I informed make sure she got a copy of it, who also goes by the name him. If you want one though, I then took her out to the pier Jackie—joined me while I was can pass you a LM. You can buy it where the boats were docked to enroute to Talakin Airport. Tothere for $2000L.” unload it into the water. gether, after few more It was there that I crashed “Let’s go for a boat ride,“ I crashes in Zamyatin, Vyacheslav, and Malyshkin, we suggested, and we both again, and the famous finally arrived in Talakin. hopped in the motorboat to Alfred E. Newman quote test it out. She drove for a Talakin airport was built atop while, and I did too. It was came immediately to mind: a high cliff overlooking the fun to be back on the water northwestern sea of Satori. in a boat again. We drove “Why Me?” The northern end of its runthe boat back east to the way hung right off the cliff, al“Wow, that’s very expensive!” he mouth of a large bay that extended lowing for heavy planes to dip said. “I don’t have any money.” quite a few sims south into the down toward the water while “Looks like you’ll have to do northwestern territory of Satori. picking up speed, if needed. Our some camping then, I guess,” I approach was from the southern said as I passed him the LM to the We were having such a good time land side of the airport, however. balloon shop. that we ended up sightseeing for When we arrived, I hovered the about an hour before Jackie had balloon over the main office and “Take me there,” he demanded. to go do other things. The time control tower building. I saw He didn’t even ask. I’d had enough there wasn’t any available heliport of him. “You got the LM; you can Top right: Resident Bunnygun Gordeau to land on, so I eased my balloon use that,” I informed him. “But I stepped out of his shop to watch Dahlia descend onto his test track for motorcycles at down onto a parking lot at the want you to take me,” he reGearbox. Right: Dahlia flew Bunnygun back bottom of the hill where the Ta- torted. “What, are you too lazy to to view the retail shops at Alien Nation. lakin Boatyard was instead. use the LM yourself? I’ve got Opposite page: Gearbox included a testing things to do here; you’ll have to track around it’s building and showroom Just as we were landing a fairly take yourself. I’m not your chauf- space inside that was currently hosting a photography exhibit from Dahlia’s balloon newbie resident hopped into the feur.” I turned back to Jackie in trip through Sansara. Wrapping around basket. “Oh, hello. Welcome,” I disgust, rolling my eyes skyward. Gearbox on two sides, B&D Designs sold a said to the intruder. “Take me for “Foreigner newbies,” I grunted. variety of landcaping plants and accessories. 8

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

finally came that we had to get back to other things, so we said our goodbyes and I returned back to Talakin Airport to continue my journey. Once back at the airport, I loaded up my balloon with new provisions from the Talakin

Pub and took off, rising up to the level of the Talakin Airport, then departed off the northern end of the high cliff runway.

ing plane coming in for a landing here. There was more time for me to make adjustments to my altitude and direction than there would be for a plane. I could just I was glad to be a slow, out-going imagine the number of spectacuballoon and not a fast approach- lar crashes that must happen

there as pilots misjudged the runway and crashed into the side of the cliff. Ooops. Thank goodness it’s only Second Life!

large building housed the Alien Nation shopping mall. The circular building was massive, rising high into the air and open on the top so I could look down into it. I flew southward from Talakin to The whole thing reminded me of Bagat where an impressively some giant city-sized rubber tire or space ship. If I were an alienwannabe I’d say come shop here, but unfortunately, despite its impressive styling, it appeared woefully under stocked. I weaved back north, passing a large clock tower, and toward a building with a large picture of Mad magazine’s Alfred E. Newman on it. It was there that I crashed again, and the famous Alfred E. Newman quote came immediately to mind: “Why Me?” I was able to unpack a new balloon quickly and continue on, however. In Pahto, Sweet lil’ Rentals offered a couple of houses on a small neighbourhood street it shared with The USO Club. This 1940s club was modeled after USOs of World War II. Big band swing music was piped in and ’40s era dances were available on a garden dance floor outside the club. Vintage shops sold period fashions of the time too. The group even had a video posted for itself on YouTube here:

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Left: Dahlia flew out of Tuli to see the Alien Nation mall, then doubled back again to visit Cloud Dancer Airport and Seaplane Port on the northwestern coast of Satori in Slithert. Above: Cloud Dancer Airport had a small recreational trailer on the property which served as home to the Second Life Aerobatic Pilot’s Association (SLAPA) and had a joinable group called “Little Bit of Texas” for interested pilots. Opposite page: In Razorwulf, Tabbitarium Cat Rescue Barns offered information about a “no kill movement” and provided items to purchase for $L30. The proceeds would in turn go toward buying one can of real life cat food or kitty litter for rescue cats, but Dahlia became skeptical when the same owner sold weapons next door at a gaming retail shop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= ters of motorcycle manufacturer, ZLT1_jKfjR0. Bunnygun’s Gearbox, which belonged to my friend Bunnygun From Pahto I could see an inter- Gordeau. Not only that, but I had esting dome-shaped building on just set up a photography exhibit the western coast, so I headed for on it’s second floor about four it. As I got closer, I began think- weeks earlier. I felt so stupid for ing that it looked vaguely famil- not recognizing it straight away. iar, but from where I couldn’t put What a total nit I was. my finger on it just yet. After a few moments and looking at it Realizing I was going to be at longer, it suddenly dawned on Gearbox in Tuli soon, I called me. This was the new headquar- Bunnygun and he said he’d meet 10

me outside. I saw him step out the front door and watch me fly over from Pahto. As I arrived at Gearbox, I eased the balloon down onto the test track that surrounded the building and we greeted each other.

making it a must-do for circumnavigating the continent, although for sailors land in Tuli eventually obstructs thru-travel by water.

hit. What’s more, discerning customers who might have their own ideas could have Bunnygun create a custom cycle built to order.

Bunnygun’s new shop was almost complete and he was finishing up work on an inventory of new I was happy to see that his shop high-quality, hand-built and airwas on the route of my balloon brushed, chopped motorcycles adventure, same as it was for my and trikes. Each cycle was only sailing adventure. Tuli was in the 30-31prims each, so they were far northwestern corner of Satori, sure to have less lag and be a big

Bunnygun liked things related to outer space, so I told him of the impressive Alien Nation mall I had passed a couple of sims back. He said he’d never seen it before, so I suggested I take him for a ride to go see it. He had never been on a balloon ride before, so I The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

looked like a small airstrip not far away, so I back-tracked toward Tuli and veered off to the west in the direction of Slithert, where I confirmed my sighting and landed at Cloud Dancer Airfield and Seaplane Port. It had a 60-meter runway adjacent to the open sea, a pilot’s lounge and a small retail shop. A recreational vehicle parked outside belonged to the Second Life Aerobatic Pilots Association (SLAPA). Owner McKinney Allen had a group called “Little Bit Of Texas” for those who wanted to join. I had never heard of the SLAPA or even realized there was such an organized interest, but I was happy to have learned something from my travels this day. After poking about a little, I took off again, this time flying south into Razorwulf where I encountered the Tabbitarium Cat Rescue Barns. Inside their barns you could learn about the “no kill was happy to know that I could A few minutes later, we arrived I’ve heard that from quite a few self to continue working on his movement” and buy an item for provide him with two firsts at the back in Bagat where Alien Napeople I’ve met during my trav- bikes. It was glad to have seen $L30. That money would in turn same time if we flew back to the tion was. I flew us up and down els, actually. People are so focused him and happy he took some time go toward buying one can of real mall. He was game for it, so we and around the outside of the on their own parcels that they out to join me and see a little of life cat food or kitty litter for resclimbed back into the basket and massive, impressive build. Bunoften neglect to travel around, what ballooning was like. It was cue cats. rose up above Gearbox and the nygun was impressed too. “I reeven locally, to see what their certainly a lot different than neighbouring B&D Designs gar- ally got to get out and look around neighbourhood looked like. motor biking, that was for sure. I thought that was a noble idea den, trees, and landscaping shop my area more often,” he said. I and was just as I was about to pay that wrapped around Gearbox on encouraged him to get out more After a good look around Alien While I was at Bunnygun’s Gear- for some food, when I looked next two sides. often to see the neighbourhood. Nation, Bunnygun excused him- box, I remembered seeing what door and saw a disconcerting sight. The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

The same owner of the cat rescue barn also owned another business right next door, GameStop Toms & Kittens store, which sold—of all things—weapons. I found this particularly strange after having just read about the “no kill movement” at the cat rescue. The seeming contradiction disturbed me so much that I reconsidered

my $L30 payment for kitty products, so dubious of the charity that I didn’t bother to buy anything at all. Poor rescue animals; they deserved better.

Larsson, where the dome of St. George Orthodox Christian Church caught my attention and drew me over. This SL church was modeled after the real life St. Sava Church in Belgrade, Serbia, Back in my balloon, I drifted up and both invited visitors to pray, and away with a furrowed brow, light candles, and listen to Orthostill thinking about the kill/no kill dox liturgical music—which I contradiction until I came to was very happy to do. I could say

a little prayer for shelter animals, as well as for the confused owner that also sold gaming weapons. After a while I recognized I had actually been to St. George’s once or twice before while exploring cathedrals which I am sometimes known to do. I remember having loved seeing St. George’s in the winter time while it was covered in snow. Now, however, it was summer, but still just as beautiful, a place for people young and old to come appreciate great architecture and talk of their future. Out along footpaths that meandered around nearby were small, intimate places where visitors could sit to contemplate, discuss, or meditate. I ended up sitting on a park bench nearby the church to update my flight log, answer the call of a customer, and call some of my friends.

Above: Surprisingly, the owner of Tabbitarium Cat Shelter Rescue Barn in Razorwulf also sold gaming weapons in an adjacent shop. 12

Above right and opposite page: High above the College of Scripting, Music and Science, a gigantic compass levitated in the air.

Only a sim away in Horsa stood the College Of Scripting, Music and Science. I had also been here a few times whenever I was curious to look for a scripter who might be needing some freelance work. I always thought I might find a bulletin board with notices from people looking for freelance assignments, but there never was one whenever I visited.

What it did offer, however, was eight floors of over 800 lessons that covered scripting tutorials to program in Linden language— including basics of music, physics, logic, and boolean algebra, and a newbie orientation. It also had a very good group to join for people wanting to know more about scripting or wanting to help others with their scripting questions. Looking up to the sky three hundred and eighty meters above the college and a little north but still in Horsa, a massive compass levitated in the sky. I wasn’t really certain why it was there, but nonetheless, it was quite impressive. I flew up, around, and eventually landed on it, just so I could say I had, if nothing else. Having seen it/done it, I continued on, weaving my way southward, passing through the Webwinder Homes community that covered 90,000 square meters with specThe Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Above, left to right: Dahlia came across another Arbor Project while passing through Mephit. This narrow ledge of land had been separated and subdivided from other larger parcels during previous sales until it was virtually unusable. The Arbor Project made the land available for adjacent landowners to reclaim land lost in this manner in order to make properties more whole again.

tacular views and flew until I spotted a yard sale at Fa’Shel’s Wicked Design in Mephit.

New England sims region where I’d find the boat to be quite nice.

Mephit. Casita de Xenita in Nimue would give me the same ejection reason, as would the My shopping high for today was Arbor Project—also in Mephit— I perused the items out on the soon to be replaced by frustration, and later BZ Trust Ltd. in grass and decided to buy an however, because I was about to Tintafel. antique wooden speed boat for add a significant number of more $L1450. I also touched a Midcrashes to my day than usual. By Acoustic Garden in Bedenham night Mania board to receive a this time, I had already had two ejected me for not being on the lucky toilet gift, but I’ve since for- crashes, but I had another twelve access list, then I crashed while gotten what it was. That’s proba- to go before the day ended. Com- getting into my newly unpacked bly what usually happens when ing up, I’d crash in Mephit while balloon back in Tintafel. Another you get something from a toilet. leaving the yard sale, then be full parcel at Home V2 in MorI was quite excited with my anejected due to a full parcel at The gause crashed me, then I crashed tique speedboat purchase, howScreaming Banshees, where simply while appreciating a long ever, and in time I would take it punk/alternative, clothes and ac- view while over Yoshi & Ren’s out for a test drive around the cessories in were also sold in Magic Mountain in Virocon-

ium—four times! Soon after, another full parcel at kbt in Covenant crashed me. So as you can see, ballooning isn’t always fun. I had a very difficult day, and by the time I reached 3 Star Design Secret Oasis in Covenant I was exhausted! 3 Star billed itself as a “fantasy retreat for those tired of hunting all over the SL map for their medieval and fantasy needs.” My fantasy at the moment was simply not to do any more crashing! So I dropped the balloon The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

I crossed south over Route 8 in path so we could both get out and WEEK 20: BREAKING “WRECK”-ORDS On the 134th day of my balloon Moliman at Imagine Land and look around a while. We both flew into Triasm where resident agreed that this was a lovely look- adventure, I was ready to see if Satori had as many flight disrup- Dahlia Trimble had her parcel We didn’t get very far right away, ing plant nursery. tions in store for me as it had in named “Dahlia’s Home.” I was however, because I spotted some happy to stop there to allow my great looking plant pots at Rayn- While leaving the shop I crashed the last week. I was guardedly friends JohnMichael Tobias and land Plants in Hidesmore that I right next door at Astek Produc- optimistic, but keeping my expectations low. MsPaddles Ninetails join me as simply had to buy for my home. tions - Studio 2 in Spectre, and passengers. We crashed immediAfter my purchase, my shopping again in Spectre while in the sky I lifted off from the top of Inca ately upon liftoff, but I quickly high was quickly replaced with over KRB Yard Sale, before we Temple in Beggars Bowl and recovered to start anew. the reality of a Satori crash. headed back out over the Little Sea again. We headed east to Tefnut, Once I recovered, we flew a couI set a record-breaking where the Old York Garple of parcels east into Beggars A full parcel in Carrion tem39 crashes for any one-week dens, a UK-themed place Bowl, where a very large Inca porarily got us stuck, but we with natural gardens and Temple rose up as high as one of managed to free ourselves period since the beginning woods, lavender, poppies, the great Egyptian pyramids. In- and get back to the Inca and areas to play, cuddle, side, a small selection of jewelry Temple in Beggars Bowl to of my journey over any meditate, sing, hangout and and other assorted fashions beck- pick up a free gift and call continent I had flown so far. more awaited visitors. oned to those who liked ancient it quits for the day. Amazperiod role play. ingly, this concluded only Somehow, Satori had still Above ground in the sky, a my first full week of flying More interesting to Jackie and me, in Satori. And yet, it already managed to be the worst large boulder hosted an intimate outdoor dance place for however, was another plant store felt so much longer to me. place for travelers. musicians to play to small across Little Sea from where we gatherings. It was quite a were at the temple. We powered Before I put my head on the spectacular view of the countryup and flew across the sea until pillow, I looked over my log and drifted eastward. It didn’t take side from there, making it an exwe arrived at Flowers At Hodgie did some calculating. I discovered long for the curse of Satori to and Hodgey’s in Mapinguari. that in this, my first week of fly- kick in. I had two system crashes cellent place to relax and be in Valefar while looking down on entertained. We all marveled at it. ing in Satori, I had set a recorda missile launch site below, then Getting there took a while, how- breaking 39 crashes for any ever, due to I crashed three times one-week period since the begin- another one while scanning a gar- We noticed that below was the den tower in Moliman. Fortuvillage itself, so we descended upon approach to the shop. But ning of my journey over any nately, the balloon remained aloft down to admire the small period once everything rezzed, we could continent I had flown so far. It each time, so I didn’t have to un- buildings and a sculpture in the see that It had a really large selec- appeared Satori hadn’t missed a town square that had two hands tion of plants all conveniently beat since my sailing days. Some- pack a new balloon to continue from where I left off. I took my reaching skyward to cradle…well, arranged in groups and rows for how, it still managed to be the our balloon! For a while we hoveasy viewing. I landed on a gravel worst place for travelers I knew. blessings where I could. parcel and hoped it would be a good omen for my flight.

down onto the grass and decided I would take a stroll before calling it a night. While appreciating the merchandise there, I collected a free merchant stall, a fairy outfit and a traditional Costa Rican ox cart. I called in my friend Sill Basevi too, knowing that she liked some traditional handcrafted kinds of decor. I camped out that night at 3 Star, then the next morning MsPaddles Ninetails and I took off from The Good Life next door in Hidesmore, where I could unpack a new balloon. I sure liked the name of this The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Above left: Following an event star posted on the SL viewer map, Dahlia visited a yard sale in Mephit where she purchased an antique wooden speed boat. Above right: The towering Inca Temple in Beggars Bowl served as a retail center selling jewelry for those who liked to role play in ancient civilizations. Opposite page left: Across Little Sea from the Inca Temple, a well arranged plant store in Mapinguarai beckoned to Dahlia and her co-pilot, MsPaddles Ninetails. Opposite page right: Dahlia spotted a beautiful stained glass window-looking hot air balloon at Imagine Land in Moliman. 16

ered right overtop of it, as if it was about to catch the balloon. JohnMichael had to disembark at the village, so we left him there and waved goodbye as we lifted up and headed south following Route 8.

The S.L. Transportation Company was right next to the Russian blimp. There, all you had to do was simply wait on a bench for a school bus to arrive, then click on it to take a random tour of SL. That semed quite daring and adventurous, if not a little uncertain, In Ulyaovsk Oblast Jackie and I but I already had plenty to see that arrived at the Russian Port of Entry was uncertain in it’s own right, so parcel that included a self-guided I stayed with my own balloon. blimp tour of the area. Across the road was the Bensington Mall I was starting to get hungry, so I shops, and Devils Golf Course. continued a little further down

Route 8 while looking for someplace I could get a meal. Luckily, I spotted a nearby retail fashion shop with no roof over it at Ariell’s Design, in Rybinsk.

gested kilos of pixelation—all while shopping, of course!

When I landed on the diner’s parking lot, I turned around to discover Jackie was unresponsive Normally, you wouldn’t think of and fast asleep on the floor of the a fashion shop as a place to go eat, basket. I covered her up with my but inside this shop was an old jacket and left her there while I 50’s style American diner. It went inside to order a meal and looked like the perfect place for a update my flight notes. traveler to stop to get a meal, and after that, the store offered a great Next thing I knew, I woke up place to walk off those newly in- with my face pressed hard against The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

my diner table, my cheek resting in a little pool of my saliva. Apparently, I too had dozed off after my meal. The shut-eye did me good, but I had a stiff neck from how I had laid my head on the table. I’ve heard stiff and wet usually isn’t considered a bad way to wake up in the morning, but in this case it was less than desirable. It made me cranky. I walked out to the balloon to find Jackie nowhere in sight. She

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had left a note, however, apologizing for having fallen asleep on her keyboard the night before. I chuckled to myself. I had never known anybody to do that before. Thank goodness she wasn’t piloting the balloon at the time.

I’ve heard stiff and wet usually isn’t considered a bad way to wake up in the morning, but in this case it was less than desirable. It made me acranky.

ing lot of Ariell’s. Well, at least it happened before I got far, I reassured myself.

landscaping items. They even had a scramble game and random money fever game.

I relaunched and flew out again, passing by Esperanza Gardens before leaving Rybinsk. Esperanza had verything you might the giant Topaz Plaza retail dis- need for your garden: flowers, I lit the burner and slowly rose up trict in Anastasiya. I was just tropical plants, trees, benches, out of Ariell’s Design into the about to start moving forward fountains, topiary hedges, garden sunlight. Just south from Ariell’s when the balloon sputtered and kits, pots, planters, garden lamps, were the towering skyscrapers of crashed back down into the park- birdbaths, and other assorted

I worked my way around the massive Topaz Plaza, eyeing instead a nearby ferris wheel at a carnival in Camazotz. I love carnivals, as you might already know, so the distraction was natural for me. I hovered for a few minutes to take some notes over Perfect Start in Heffalump, but the flying gods must not have liked that and

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Opposite page: Perfect for intimate music concerts, the Old York Woods in Tefnut had a wonderful small lawn and garden area on a cluster of rocks floating high above the village. Left: In the Old York Village, Dahlia and MsPaddles Ninetails poised the balloon just above a sculpture of hands reaching skyward to make it appear they were either being caught or just released back into the air. Above: We skimmed low through Old York Village looking into shops before hopping over the rooftops and following Route 8 south into Ulyaovsk Oblast.

sent me crashing to terra firma. Thankfully, I had my butt pillow. On the good side, I was able to hop back into my waiting balloon and continue on, following Route 8 to where it terminated in Camazotz. On the bad side, however, I crashed when reaching the end of the road. But back on the good side again, I was able to unload a new balloon there and continue on without much delay. The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

heavens—my answer appeared. A huge swath of flat, grassy land Immediately south of the end of boarded, it crashed again while went west, straight as an arrow, Route 8, it got a little tricky going hovering over the the wagon trail through Sadaburg, Montsoreau, around parcels with ban lines at in Rethymno. and Seyanforth, all the way to the nearby Flat Green Grass in Kambam. I cranked up the Tiahuelpuchi. I crashed there I decided it was time to get out of burner and high-tailed it out of twice while creeping between this dangerous place and looked there at speed eight. Normally I homes with ban lines while on for a clear passage out. To my only go about speed three or four approach to the Old Wagon astonishment—as if sent by the while cruising, so you know when Trail. On my second I go using eight that It was seriously time to move on and crash, the balloon kept I’m in a real hurry to flying without me in it, get somewhere! cut my losses. I guess a wedding so I had to run and wasn’t in my future anytime soon. I burned through the chase it down. After I

first two regions and everything was looking great until the balloon crashed in Seyanforth. Fortunately, I was able to hop back in without needing to unpack a new balloon. I continued on, this time slower so I could get a good look at the retail shops of Fantastic Weddings in Kenilworth. Apparently, I had to pay for my earlier fast-forward progress by crashing three more times simply while scanning the area or waiting for it all to rez for me after re19

Above and right: In Ulyaovsk Oblast, a blimp at the Russian Port of Entry parcel offered a self-guided local tour, while the S.L. Transportation Company right next door offered a school bus that would take you on tours to randomly selected locations all over Second Life.

covering from the first crashes. It was seriously time to move on and cut my losses. I guess a wedding wasn’t in my future anytime soon. I flew south very slowly—tenderly passing alongside of Kenilworth—hoping not to upset the SL gods of motion any more. The balloon’s ropes creaked loudly as if complaining to me. 20

When I made it into Driscoll, I spotted Littlefield Airport in the distance. It was a place I had been expecting to stop at as one of my set airport locations. It looked big and open, but unfortunately, Driscoll decided I had to crash way out in the distance first while making my turn to fly west toward the airport.

I had a another system crash while getting back into the balloon, and by the time I returned, it had drifted off. It took me a while before I could locate it and catch up to it in Kensington exactly over the giant sofa-shaped building that housed the headquarters belonging to Kingdom of Home Hangout and Public Park.

What a totally unexpected coincidence this was, because Kingdom of Home was the kingdom I belonged to in my Tiny Empires group. Flying to Home hadn’t even crossed my mind during my planning stages, and yet here I was. It was meant to be, I guessed, as if by divine intervention. It sure was a sight for sore pixels.

I climbed back into the balloon then guided it down for a landing when another system crash knocked me out once, and then again. But wait! Just as I was touching down, it happened even a third time as I completed my landing on the wooden dance deck in Home’s back yard. The cumulative effects wore me down. The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Above: Dahlia—bandaged up from the accumulation of her many falls and crashes—arrived In Ulyaovsk Oblast with MsPaddles Ninetails (nicknamed Jackie) after a long day of flying. Soon after, while landing, Dahlia would turn around to find Jackie asleep in the basket.

I was so exhausted from all my crashes, that I grabbed my crutch and hobbled tenderly over to a picnic table where I sat for a moment, almost reeling in shock. That was just too many crashes in too short a time for me!

bad news was that I hurt just about everywhere else now. As I sat, I tallied up the extraordinary number of spills I took today and was surprised to learn that I had crashed a total of 15 times—a new record for me—surpassing the 14 spills I had taken only four The good news was, I didn’t feel days earlier. In those two days my achy neck pain any more. The combined, I had over half as The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

many crashes in Satori as I had in night in a welcoming environthe entire six weeks I spent tour- ment. I sighed in relief. ing all of Sansara. That night was a restless one for “Oh Satori, you vex me!” I growled me. Every position I laid in was aloud. I would have shook my fist painful and my mind was fightto the heavens, if it didn’t hurt so ing with itself over whether I much to stretch my arm out that should change my flying strategy far. At least I was at Home where or not. Part of me was wanting to I could rest and recouperate over- fly much higher to avoid all the

pitfalls of lower altitude flying; the other part of me was arguing that if I did that, I wouldn’t be able to see and assess the wonders of the continent. Eventually, part one had to give in to part two. What I really wanted to do was fly very high up and drop one of those giant “blue ice” passenger 21

Right: Route 8 terminated in Camazotz, but a billboard advertising the Old Wagon Road in nearby Rethymno looked like something worthwhile to check out. Below: Fantasic Weddings in Kenilworth looked to be “wedding central” for designers of wedding apparel and accessories. Trouble was, lag was so bad that Dahlia could barely move without crashing. Even sitting still and panning around with her camera was enough to shut her computer down. After a handful of crashes and the associated bumps, bruises and scratches from falling back to the ground, Dahlia gingerly made her way out, hoping to not aggrevate SL’s “motion gods” along the way.

waste chunks down on the conti- spots. Off in the distance in a big, nent like commercial jets do. But grassy field, I spotted resident despite my frustrations on crash- Bander Avon stumbling around ing, the extra effort, and the toll it with a bottle of Jack Daniels took on me, I couldn’t report on whiskey in his hand. He had apwhat I didn’t see. There wouldn’t parently had a rough night himbe much of a book to write if I self too. He could barely walk cheated by flying extra high to and took quite a few falls, but avoid what Satori managed to get really had in store back up every time. There wouldn’t for travelers. At least I could fly a be much of a balloon. I took inI woke before sunspiration from his book to write if I rise the next mornability to keep geting, not really ting back up after cheated by flying having slept well every drunken fall. at all. The early extra high to If he can do it, so morning colours can I, I encouraged avoid what Satori were still streaming myself, trying to across the sky and get motivated. really had in store I was feeling every ache and pain from for travelers. I moved on, headmy accumulated ing for Littlefield crashes. What would today bring? Airport again. To make a long I wondered, half numb in my story short, I crashed three times brain. I was dreading today; I on approach to Littlefield, not could only think there would be including five additional crashes plenty more of the same crashes that I wouldn’t normally report in store for me. because I was on foot and out of the balloon when they happened. I loaded the balloon and slowly I finally had to give up on that reeased up into a lower altitude to gion and flew 300 meters up and look around, half trying to decide west to get away from it. if I really wanted to go now or wait a while longer. I flew through Fiction Sky in Belmont, then entered Rowan, I scanned the horizon for any tell- where I crashed while taking a tale signs of potential troubled photo of a sky crowded with The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Escape route: Near the end of the Old Wagon Trail in Rethymno, an â&#x20AC;&#x153;escape corridorâ&#x20AC;? opened up through Sadaburg, Montsoreau, and Seyanforth and all the way to Kambam, allowing Dahlia to get away from the crash-plagued area.

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Above left: During a crash, Dahlia’s balloon drifted away on its own. By the time she finally caught up and jumped back into it, it was hovering right over the headquarters of her Tiny Adventures group in Kensington, the Kingdom of Home. Above right: Dahlia landed in the back yard of Kingdom of Home and hobbled to a picnic table with the aid of a crutch. Her bandages were testiment to the considerable number of crashes she had endured during her journey in Satori, a record-setting 15 in one day alone on Day 136.

homes. Next, the balloon got stuck in Rakshasa at a parcel that wouldn’t allow me to pass through. I stopped the balloon to try to go another direction, but before I could, I found myself free falling at 92 meters. I deployed my emergency parachute and landing at Onyx Cove Heights in Custer.

cel to relaunch. But moments later I was automatically placed back into my balloon 692m high! I don’t even know what to say at moments like these. Time warp? Do over? Your guess might be better than mine.

above it, scanning the scene before landing. I’d had enough of crashing for the day, so once I landed I called it a day and took a break until the next day.

A walk around the museum would do me good, I thought, although On my big map, I saw a PG event by this point, I probably would taking place at Museo Karura Art have made better time using a In a strange and inexplicable SL Centre in Basilisk, so I decided to wheel chair! I was all banged up moment, I landed on ground and go check it out. Upon my arrival, and bandaged from head to toe. began searching for an open par- I crashed twice while hovering Thankfully, I had my crutch to

help me while I walked over to a picnic table to eat a meal and record the incredible number of crashes I had just endured. The next day came and I was back in my balloon basket preparing to take off when 11 day old resident, DANIGTSPAIN Capelo asked if he could join me. “Sure, why not” I said and handed him a parachute. “Here, you’re The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

going to need this...I promise!” He just stared at me a moment, but then snapped to and quickly buckled up. He had never been in a balloon before, so I could understand that wide-eyed feeling of uncertainty over what could happen while high in the air.

there to see it; it was too intersting beckoned to be landed on, and so to pass up. Dani was a good sport that’s exactly what we did. about it and marveled at all the distant sights around us. Underneath the flower was the TiMo retail shop which sold We continued on until we had a flower fields, rocks, pillars, and system crash at Freies Land in other sundries for landscaping. I Lohengrin. After gathering our- considered getting some landselves back together, we took off scaping for my own property, but We rose up and flew through again, flying until we saw a giant passed on any purchase this time. what seemed like an asteroid field sunflower that rose high up in the in Glinda. It was dangerous fly- sky at TiMo Habitat in Gnoll. After looking around in TiMo, I ing, but I simply had to get in Like an oversized landing pad, it fired up the balloon alone and

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headed to nearby Lycanthrope. There, a giant wolf stood high atop a cluster of rocks that made up a shallow cave. This was home of The WereHouse, SL’s most realistic animal avatars (or so they claimed). With over 1000 avatars, The Werehouse was quite a place to appreciate, that was for certain! I crashed once while leaving TiMo’s giant sunflower, and again while taking photos of the giant wolf at

Below, left to right: While lifting off from Kingdom of Home in Kensington, Dahlia spotted resident Bander Avon in a distant field, stumbling around with a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey in his hand. He could barely walk and took quite a few falls, but managed to get back up every time. Dahlia took inspiration from his ability to keep getting back up after every drunken fall, thinking: If he can do it, so can I.

Never too young to fly: Eleven day old resident, DANIGTSPAIN Capelo asked if he could join Dahlia as she prepared to take off from the Museo Karura Art Centre in Basilisk. She passed him a parachute and together they flew up into what resembled an asteroid field.

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Flower power: A giant sunflower rose high up in the sky over landscaping retail shop, TiMo Habitat in Gnoll. Like an oversized landing pad, it beckoned to be landed on, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what Dahlia and fellow passenger DANIGTSPAIN Capelo did.

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The Werehouse, I crashed four I decided I was going to have to times. Then, once more while start somewhere else and eventupassing into nearby Oathkeeper. ally took off from Highland Arts In just a short distance, I had al- in Great Staughton, which was ready stacked up a flurry crashes only two sims north of Littlefield for the day. I decided it was time Airport where I’d already had to get the heck out of there, so I more than my share of crashes. bolted off to see But it didn’t let the Eiffel Tower up there. The Ban It just seemed in Succubus Line Meadow in where retail store Satori was the kind Medvedgrad gave Jolie Femme sold me a system crash, of place that wanted a variety of as did Devora women’s apparel, to make life difficult Towers there hair and accestoo…three times! for people...at least sories. Eventually, I for those who My luck wasn’t made it out of much better there wanted to MOVE. Medvedgrad and either. I had two limped in to system crashes while hovering Siringo Airport in Siringo. Siringo and looking around the area, then was a long way away from the again when increasing altitude to Blake Sea, but strangely it claimed move on. Fortunately, the balloon itself as “A stepping stone in the sky remained hovering each time, so I to Blake Sea.” Well, no matter what could just climb back aboard. But they claimed, I was just happy to while leaving the tower, I was have moved beyond that cursed ejected from a full parcel at ma section of Satori. maison de l’amour in Polong, and then a second time in MedvedWhen I went to the air terminal grad, also due to a full parcel. to update my log notes, I was surprised to learn I had set another Left and opposite page: The Werehouse, in daily high crash record, this time 16. I just shook my head in disbeLycanthrope, boasted to have over 1000 of lief. There was just something about SL’s most realistic avatars. A giant sample Satori, wasn’t there? It just seemed of their work in the form of a wolf, perched Satori was the kind of place that high atop a cluster of rocks that made up a shallow cave where its avatars were sold. wanted to make life difficult for 28

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people...or at least for those who wanted to MOVE.

We all took off together and flew over to Rowan, where we descended down into San Francisco Bay to see the Golden Gate Bridge, the USS Nimoy, the San Francisco Bay Academy & Oceanographic Institute, and the SF Academy & 24th Century San Francisco Ocean Institute.

that I crashed five times while taking pictures while hovering around inside of it.

Nya and I continued on until we arrived at a massive sky rock in Ozerna that was home to the The following day, I geared up Chameloid, Orion, Klingon Fedand took off from Siringo AirSoon, Leila had to move on, and eration beach party. We might port. My friend, Nya Silverfall perhaps wisely so, after such a se- have moved on, but because I had and one of her friends, Leila Hyries of daunting crashes. But Nya a system crash there, we decided acinth joined me. We were all in and I continued flying westward to take time to explore it. the balloon about to take off together. We stopped briefly to when I had a system crash. Fortupick up some snacks at The Glade It was quite a build, really. The nately, the balloon remained inAt these locations, much studying Cafe in Chuginadak, then flew giant rock levitated just a meter tact and both Nya and Leila were of whales, dolphins ocean life and on to Key Largo where I had a above the beach and had a series still there, patiently waiting for its environment took place. The system crash while landing on its of rope walkways that led from me to shake off the shock of the location was well made窶馬ever beach to make a landmark. For- the beach to more fixed stairs that unexpected early morning crash. mind that it was surrounded by a tunately, the balloon remained wrapped around the rock, then I was relieved and lit the burner. set of giant mega prim walls, or and I could hop right back in. wound half way up until they

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Above left and opposite page: Dahlia flew into Succubus where an Eiffel Tower housed fashion shop Jolie Femme. Above right: Dahlia endured multiple system crashes while on approach to Littlefield Airport in Littlefield until she finally had to give up on the idea of landing there, choosing instead to continue flying to friendlier skies.

Above: Elevated in the air, Siringo Airport in Siringo offered itself up as a gateway to the Blake Sea, and overlooked the much larger Littlefield Airport only a sim away. Right: A miniature replica of certain San Francisco, California landmarks in Rowan included the Golden Gate Bridge, the USS Nimoy, the San Francisco Bay Academy & Oceanographic Institute, and the SF Academy & 24th Century San Francisco Ocean Institute.

reached a doorway. The door led into the rock itself, where a labirynth of walkways, rooms, a water grotto, and meeting areas awaited. The rooms had large windows that looked out over the Satori continent, setting it up for spectacular views in all directions. It was really quite an engineering marvel despite what Nya considered an unrefined construction.

so huge, I just had to see it. I relaunched the balloon on a parcel near the base of the levitating Ozerna rock, and once in the air, Nya and I rose 200 meters up until we arrived over Tommy’s Water Spot where the giant picture of the woman’s face was.

tril, but not much else. Instead, I decided to land on a more neutral location of her face to take some pictures without obscuring it with my balloon. But when we hopped out, the balloon disappeared because the parcel was full.

200+ meters up on the pupil of a woman’s giant eyeball. The next morning, I unpacked a new balloon at ground level in Lamashtu under the giant digital face in the sky. I fired up the balloon’s burner It was massive. So big, in fact, near the 7Seas & Neo-Realms that close-up her face was now Fishing on Lake Lamashtu and just giant squares of flat colour, “I won’t be able to rez here,” I began to drift up, when this mesEventually, it was time to move completely indistinguishable as a told Nya, “but I can rez nearby sage was broadcast into my local on. While examining my Second face. If I chose, I could land on a and return to here for my start to- chat: Life viewer map, I saw a woman’s dark patch, knowing that it was morrow.” It was getting late, so I LandProtector Orb V3.324e: face in nearby Lamashtu that was the pupil of her eye or in her nos- decided to call it a day, standing Hello Visitor, you are not allowed to 32

be in this area. Please pass by. System Action: 2 (Eject Action) Warn Time: 20s [3:38] You have been ejected from this land. [3:38] LandProtector Orb V3.324e: You have been ejected or sent home by the owner of the land, good bye ... [3:38] Terra E-Chute 2.2 whispers: Freefalling at 7 meters! Deploying emergency parachute!! I landed like I had jumped off a The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Defying gravity: A massive, levitating rock in Ozerna cradled an impressive series of imaginative living structures and walkways that was served as home to the Chameloid, Orion, Klingon Federation beach party. The lowermost tip of the rock levitated only a meter off the ground, above small beaches, a waterway, and a lagoon. There were smaller single room structures encircling the rock near the top and around the middle were two larger, more public space styled rooms with seating and even a grotto styled pool in a terarrium-like dome. From the walkway just before entering the central public interior space, you could look back to see the San Francisco Gate Bridge in Rowan.

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Above: Following the walkway that wrapped around the sky rock in Ozerna, Dahlia and Nya found an inviting pool of water, large public areas to gather in, and even smaller single-room units, apparently used as living quarters. Right: Dahlia and Nya checked out the grotto pool that spanned both into and out of the giant floating rock. Far Right: The sky rock had a protective force field surrounding its mid-section, and the entire structure commanded magnificent views of the Satori continent from every window.

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short step ladder. Then my parachute fabric floated down and covered me as I stood there like I was in a cartoon. It was almost too funny. Deploying an emergency parachute at seven meters up. Really? I had a good laugh.

Protector Orb detected me flying into Island Grace 5 and then teleported me home.

There should be a law against sending people all the way home from a security monitor; that’s just plain rude. But there I was, I got back in my balloon and tried standing in my own front yard once again, this time drifting up- and having to find my way back wards in the opposite direction to Iseghey to renew my journey. into Iseghey where another Land- I teleported back to Iseghey, flew The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Above: Dahlia saw a picture of a face in Lamashtu that was so large it could be seen on the SL Viewer map. Intrigued, she flew up with passenger Nya Silverfall to check it out. It was indeed big! So big, in fact, that once you arrived there, you almost wouldn’t even realize it was a face. The investigation also revealed an unexpected surpise: underneath that image was a picture of a dog face used as the roof of another home, also high over the parcel of Tommy’s Water Spot.

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back to my balloon and got back in, then got kicked out again by the same security orb. Now I was getting really aggrevated to have to fly back all over again. This time, when I teleported I flew to just outside of the parcel and dragged my balloon out of the private zone to an area that allowed scripts to run, and got back in. I gave Island Grace 5 a rude gesture and fired up my burner.

liked castles, so it was worth the stop to compare this to one we had seen in Jeogeot together. To me, this one had a lot more detail in its design and made the Jeogeot one look cartoonish by comparison, I thought. Jackie agreed and was happy to have seen them both. While leaving the castle grounds, I had another system crash at Arathorn in Hillard. I had just spotted what appeared to be the terminal end of a road nearby when the crash occurred. When I recovered, I saw that wasn’t far from an ambulance in Ogilvy, so I hobbled over to have my wounds attended to. After, I was pretty well wrapped up with gauze. In fact, I was practically a mummy.

Just as I was ready to lift off, Jackie called me, wanting to join me. I was hopeful that I had got past all my difficult areas, but warned her nevertheless. She was still up to the challenge, however, and climbed in with me, then and off we went. Still in Island Grace 5, I noticed that people could vote for their favourite American Idol, so I asked Jackie what it was about and she told me it was a talent show. I thought it was interesting that you could vote for someone outside of SL while being in SL.

Opposite page: Perhaps the woman’s face was a tribute to the owner’s love. But if that was so, then would that make the dog underneath that picture Tommy’s best friend? Above: High in the sky, the face was so big that Dahlia and Nya could land on a single pixel of the face.

Today was the last day of my 20th week flying since the beginning of my adventure, so I counted up I counted up the number of crashes I’d had. Sixteen for today the number of crashes I’d had. alone—another one-day record—and 55 for the entire week. Simply Sixteen for today alone—another one-day record—and 55 for the incredible numbers. Satori should be ashamed of itself. Really! entire week. Simply incredible numbers. Satori should be ashamed how they could pull that one off. I Egle. We oooo’d and ahhh’d over We drifted back toward the coast of itself. Really! I wondered if the Americans understood for American Idol, some of the boats they had out on and inland, arriving at AmeriWEEK 21: POUNCING PAST POUNCE would also vote for their presifans could vote using their mobile display at their docks. Working Land in Allin where a nice meI took off again from where dent while in SL someday too. I phone. Maybe they can vote for boats, mostly. But we liked them, dieval castle was open to the Route 8C terminated in Ogilvie remember there were some presidents that way too. nevertheless. Maybe we’re the public. We hovered just outside Obama rallies in SL when he was kind of people who are easily im- its front door, craning our necks and flew south into Osiliers, passing Layfee’s ala Carte and JI running for president, but I never I flew Jackie over to Twohead’s pressed, but I don’t mind. I alto see inside. I’m not much of a Fashion Design until I reached attended. But voting? I wonder Nautical Shop & Shipyard in ways said I was a simple person. medieval fan, but Jackie really

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Kinzua Forge in Severy, where there was a deer standing in a garden field near the roadside. I simply had to stop and enjoy the nature there for a few minutes. MsPaddles joined me in Severy

and together we weathered multiple crashes and parcel ejections at The Good Mixer - Camden Town - LONDON 1995 in Severy, Devil Xenno Hell Land in Drax, Doodads & Gizmos in Kanaga, Freebies Land shop in

Auric, Celtic Dreams Nightclub, Tweddle, and a home in Volpe where flaming boulders rested on the grass right outside it’s doors. Call me crazy, because I don’t know why, but for some reason I

Above: Dahlia flew Jackie over to Twohead’s Nautical Shop & Shipyard in Egle, where they oooo’d and ahhh’d over some of the boats out on display. Commercial work boats mostly, but they liked them all the same. 38

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Above: Dahlia spotted a castle from a distance and flew over until she and Jackie arrived in Allin. Dahlia wanted to show Jackie how much more detailed this one was compared to another one they had seen in Jeogeot together. Left: The castle was still being completed, but the owners put out a “Welcome Visitors” sign, inviting the public to enter and enjoy the castle and its great craftsmanship.

felt like this was a good time to indoctrinate Jackie into the art of piloting a balloon and treat her to a taste of “controlling” the balloon—in so far as the continent would allow us. Perhaps because she had weathered so many crashes. Either that, or maybe I had just become a sadist. The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Jackie took the controls while I instructed her how to move the balloon. She piloted us about 10 sims south to a heliport on top of a tall building in Baltazar that housed The Fashion Boutique* Smoking Me, where she eased it down and land with pin-pointperfection. I was so proud of her.

“I’m going to have to let you fly more often! “I said—if not to her, then at least to myself, envisioning me leaning back with my legs propped up on the edge of the balloon basket, popping grapes into my mouth periodically while I watched the scenery pass by. Ahhhh, this is the life, I daydreamed. 39

Free fungus: The retail mall of Free Freebies in Auric incorporated giant mushrooms into itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique design.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Above: MsPaddles Ninetails looked on as Dahlia used a crutch after crashing and receiving paramedic treatment in Ogilvie. Below: Jackie landed the balloon atop Bonita Tower in Baltazar. Left: Dahliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parachute prematurely opened while flying over Oddjob in Quist.

When the next day arrived, I took off from the top of the Baltazar tower and flew into Willowtail where the YuPe retail store sold an assortment of fashions, home furnishings and yachting supplies. I had been past YuPe during my sailing adventure some months earlier and remembered it was where I had mistook a bar The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

for a church with a tall steeple tower. I went in to say a prayer and was aghast at first, until I realized my mistake.

drink at the bar, which I gladly accepted so I could ask how things had been for him and his business in the time since I was last there.

This time, owner P3t3r Paster, arriveed moments after I landed on a stone deck outside of the tall tower that I recognized from before. P3t3r invited me in for a

P3t3râ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or Peter, as I came to call himâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;told me that he had made significant money early in his SL real estate company which paid for his sim and to develop YuPe. 41

Above left: Dahlia arrived at the familiar YuPe retail complex in Willowtail, a location she had stopped at during her sailing adventure in 2009. Above right: After arriving to find Dahlia and her balloon on his stone courtyard, YuPe owner, P3t3r (aka Peter) invited her to

There was a time when he had worked much harder at building and developing products, but that interest had tapered off, as well as his marketing efforts, so sales lagged as a result. In the past year, 42

join him for a drink, only steps away in the tower bar. Right: P3t3r and Dahliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drink turned into rounds of whiskey shots and Zlatorog beer chasers. After three or four (who was counting?), Dahlia noticed the time and needed to continue on her way.

sales had been virtually nonexistent, he said. I could understand, having heard similar woes from other business owners during my travels. Times were tough for all but a few, it seemed, despite Lin-

den Labâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SL Q2 2010 financial stats that reported: > In Q2 2010, Resident-to-Resident transactions totalled approximately L$40 billion, or US$152 million. The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

> Q2 2010 saw 39% growth in sales versation. He had been a very over Q1 2010 and 124% growth generous and forthcoming host. over the same quarter a year earlier. It was time to continue my travAfter a round of whiskey shots, I els, so—rubber legged—I rolled downed the last of my third—or into my balloon basket, fired up was it my fourth—beer and said the burner, and lifted up into the my goodbye to Peter, thanking Willowtale sky to move on to him for his hospitality and conSlitheen, where I promptly crashed

due to a full parcel at Lillith’s Land. Then, I had two system crashes at Sentinel Technologies in Sutekh, followed by another full parcel crash in Gingivere, and another two system crashes at Floyd and Bella’s Love Haven in Tigerclaw where a $L25,000 photo contest was reported to be

happening, but showed no evidence of a contest. I wondered if all my crashes were simply Satori working hard to achieve its quota for the day, or due to my drinking and driving.

and a black castle in Scratchy before I finally made it to a key milestone in my journey: reaching the southernmost tip of Satori in Pounce. From here, I expected to fly northwards, weaving back and forth between the eastern Despite all the crashes, I powered coastline and the eastern interior ahead, passing homes in Lipshen of the continent’s spine. Soso Furse, one of my Crossing Currents Island neighbours, came to join me as I was looking for a new place to unpack a new balloon to continue my journey. Pounce didn’t allow me to unpack any items, so I walked to some rental houses at Skyton Place in Lipshen to unpack a new balloon. As soon as we lifted off in Lipshen, we got a warning that the sim would be closing for maintenance in five minutes. Instead of trying to fly north through the entire sim, I flew south to the closer sim of Yeeowler, and as we arrived, we got a warning that it would be closing in 30 seconds! I quickly put the balloon back in reverse and flew northwest back into Lipshen, thinking I had at Left: After 37 days and 114 crashes and flight disruptions since beginning her journey through Satori, Dahlia finally reached Pounce, the half-way point on the southernmost tip of Satori.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

least three minutes of my grace period left there. As I crossed over the border, however, I was strangely teleported into nearby Sibernicus without my balloon.

however, so I left her to unpack and launch my new balloon just over the water at Extra Parcel/ Emporium Cabana in Sibernicus.

Perhaps it was for the best that Soso’s attention span was short, so Soso didn’t accompany me any after the first crash—only about further, because from there I 120 seconds into my flying day— headed northward along the eastshe wandered off, checking out ern coastline into Fatpaws where other places. I called out for her, another system crash ate my balbut she wasn’t paying attention to loon. Fortunately, upon my recovme anymore, lost in her own en- ery, I spotted one of the balloons I chantment of discoveries. I could- had crashed in during my time n’t wait around any longer, over Floyd and Bella’s Love

Haven in Tigerclaw. I jumped into my old stray balloon and rode it back to Fatpaws to pick up where I left off. The recovery didn’t last long, however, as I had two more system crashes in Fatpaws while panning to take photos of *ASK* Animations Poses Poseballs and Animated Items in Carbonel. Fortunately, the balloon remained each time, so I could hop right back in without having to search around for a place to relaunch.

This page and opposite page: Dahlia followed Route 8 north and found Autism World overlooking a lake in Davros. Route 8 crossed a lake as a bridge, but the mid-portion of it had collapsed into the water in near the Fenric side, making the roadway unpassable. 44

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

I flew a little further past BL #17 in Dinah, then hooked up with Route 8, which I followed into Davros where a shop for Autism World claimed to have raised a commendable $L794,679,255 in donations. They sold t-shirts with slogans on them for $L60 (two were free), and a balloon, an umbrella, or teddy bear for $L100 each. The only thing missing in the shop was information about autism. I thought that would have been the most important thing of all…telling people what it was! WEEK 22: HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM

After looking around Autism World, I climbed back into my balloon just outside of the shop and next to Route 8. I fired up the burner and raised the balloon only a few meters up to travel, because only a block or two away Route 8 spanned a bridge that crossed over a small lake to the opposite shore in Fenric. That by itself wasn’t so fascinating, but what was, the bridge was Bailing out: Sometimes, when returning to the balloon after a system crash, or when the balloon would get stuck, such as in Fatpaws (far left) and over Route 8 in Sakaw (left), the balloon might not respond to commands. To restart the controls and balloon, Dahlia would have to jump out of the basket and “re-sit” back into the it before she landed on the ground. 46

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

out. Midway across the span, the bridge had collapsed into the water!

bourhood seemed to be in a greater stage of building than it had been previously.

This was the first defunct bridge I had seen in SL so far, so I wanted to inspect it more closely to see if this was a case of neglected Linden Lab infrastructure going bad before my very eyes. Perhaps it was a sign of things to expect more of in Satori, a place which already seemed to have more than its fair share of travel obstacles and related issues.

I continued with my northward trek, passing the shopping malls in Janni and passing yet again the house owned by Damian Atolia that had flaming boulders outside it’s door. It hadn’t burned down.

screen with rolling text indicated: they offered: Literature, Lan“InWorld Campus of Free-Ed.Net, guage & Linguistics, Grammar & Petunova (177, 47, 55).” Composition, Journalism & Media Studies, Public Speaking, Perhaps it had moved there? Signs Photography & Photographic on the wall displayed the courses Arts, Graphic Arts, Cinema &

Twice as hot: Twice Dahlia crossed paths with the same home in Volpe that had flaming boulders on its lawn—once while flying down the western side of the continent and once while flying back up the eastern side.

Soon after, I crashed over Oddjob in Quist, so I unpacked a new balloon along the side of a street, then followed it until I came upon a large, relatively empty field in After a brief inspection, I couldn’t Richfield, empty except for a sindetermine the cause of the road- gle unfinished wood frame home way collapse. There was no airthat belonged to the Richfield plane wreckage nearby or any Campus of Free-Ed.Net. construction equipment to build the bridge, so I wasn’t certain if it The “about land” read: “This is was in a state of evolution, decay, where we have located the InWorld or abandonment. I guessed only Technical College. Free courses and time would tell, but I would have study resources to help you build to move on before finding out. your Real Life. And it’s all free— the most significant freebie in Second Not far from the collapsed bridge Life.” I wondered where such an was Happy Rainbow Resort Land, important thing might have diswhich indeed made me happy, appeared to. Perhaps it was somebecause I had spent a night there where up in the sky, I thought, during my sailing adventure. The looking up and wondering if I resort still rested atop the raised should go searching for it or not. spine of land that separated the east from the west of Satori and In an adjacent parcel, I discovcommanded good views in both ered a “Study Buddy Kiosk” for directions. It had changed little Richfield campus which offered since I last visited, but the neigh- more information. A television The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Grassy delights: A home at Kinzua Forge in Severy had an owl perched atop a well and a deer standing in a grassy yard near the roadside of Route 8C. Dahlia simply couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pass up stopping to enjoy the view.

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Cinematography, Dance, Theatre & Drama, Art & Art Appreciation, Music & Music Appreciation. I was impressed, but I wondered about the quality of their courses.

into the same balloon that Jackie was in, still waiting for me.

Not long after, I had a second system crash in Sakaw, and by the time I recovered, Jackie had MsPaddles Ninetails (Jackie) drifted all the way over to the joined me across the street from western coast of Satori, passing the kiosk while I through Ekota, was launching my I gasped in horror Ascalon, Omer, balloon outside of Clairvaux, Severy, when I first a pink mall at and Montlaur Richfield Junction before I could discovered where in Richfield. Tocatch up to her gether we flew she drifted to and in Arguilleries. north over VKC was depressed to I gasped in horror Dog Park in Hewes. We wanted when I first disthink I’d have to stop and get out covered where she to appreciate the to navigate all the had drifted to and dogs there but the was depressed to way back again. owners denied us think I’d have to landing permisnavigate all the sion because they were feverishly way back again over to the easttrying to locate one of the dogs ern side before I could continue they lost in their compound. from where I left off. It would take more effort than I wanted to Probably for the best, I thought. give on this day, so I decided to There’s enough commotion going call it a night and start fresh the on without us disturbing them. next morning. Besides, it wouldn’t bode too well for the owners if news about them The next day I back-tracked to losing someone’s pet got out. Sakaw and continued on my journey. I saw a cute reindeer at We continued on, heading north- Kinzua Forge in Severy, then had west, where I had a system crash a system crash in Satoo while over open land in Weinlos. I looking northward through propmanaged to recover and hop back erties and open parcels. Luckily, 50

Above: Dahlia had a system crash in Sakaw, and by the time she recovered, the balloon—with Jackie in it—had drifted all the way over from the eastern coast of Satori to the western coast, having passed through Ekota, Ascalon, Omer, Clairvaux, Severy, and Montlaur before Dahlia could catch up to her in Arguilleries. It was a minor set-back that required navigating back to where she had left off in Sakaw.

the balloon remained and I could Rayna, still had his place too. It hop right back in. had changed quite a lot since I last saw it, however, so I decided From there, I passed by Sweetto send Ptah a greeting to see how grass, viewing it from off the east he was. He replied to say he sold coast of the continent. I flew fur- some of his land and didn’t spend ther east to see that friends Back- as much time in SL anymore, Home Soon and Lodi still had choosing instead another online their home in Steinhauer. Right virtual world that was more openly next door, another contact from structured and available to freely my Great Sailing Adventure, Ptah experiment with building.

Not far away in Steinhauer was Lionx Oh’s home, a single room enveloped inside the bulb of a closed flower high in the sky on a thin stem. It was quite innovative and nice looking, but very difficult to maneuver my camera around inside. I couldn’t imagine trying to maneuver my self inside it. There was enough room to stand and sit on a bed and that The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Flower power: Lionx Ohâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s singleroom home in Steinhauer was a flower that rose high up into the sky on a thin thread of a stem like a carnival balloon.

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was about it. Perhaps Lionx was a “tiny” while using it? I had no idea. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed seeing it.

WEEK 22, DAY 4: A DEAD LAPTOP

The next morning, I tried to turn my laptop again, but still had no success. This time, however, I was getting thin lines of many differNext up, Strathcona, which had ent colours running from the top signs in the sky for Pen Pen Shop to the bottom of the screen. and Art Rentals. These lead me to see The Village Mall. The mall I knew this was a very bad sign. Only a year earlier I had a similar had both ground- and sky-level situation with my first laptop and retail spaces, and leased “green room” rental shops for as little as took it to the repair shop. They $25L/week. Not far away, Foxboro said my laptop LCD screen had also had residential rentals at Art died but offered to sell me a Colony, but when I entered its air newer, but similar used and respace I was ejected out of my bal- built one for a very low price. I accepted the offer and was happy loon due to a full parcel. to have a newer one just like my Later that night, as I updated my old laptop. It worked just fine too progress notes and map, the for over a year. And now this. screen of my laptop computer De ja vous. suddenly went black. I thought I had lost my power connection, so I actually didn’t use my laptop to enter SL. Instead, I used it to I powered the computer back on—or so I thought—not realiz- record my progress on a flight log and maps, to write my blog, and ing that it was still on, but only to write and design my books. All showing a black screen. I unmy files were still safely on there, plugged it and tried again. This time, I was able to get the moni- but I wasn’t able to view them without a working monitor. tor to light up, but there was no desktop; it was only a plain, flat blue colour. I repeated my efforts I took my laptop down to the reto try to power up the laptop for pair shop so they could inspect it the next half hour, sometimes get- and see if it could be repaired or ting a blue screen and sometimes if it needed to be replaced. I was just a black one. To me, it seemed hoping it was only a loose wire, my laptop had developed a loose but I was preparing myself for worse news. connection to it’s screen. 52

Above: The Emerald Shopping and Gardens mall in Peacock Park was a fabulous metal and glass structure situated along Route 8 in Peacock Park. Opposite page: Inside the Emerald Shopping and Gardens mall atrium was a beautiful arrangement of trees and rocks.

In the meantime, the computer I did use to fly in-world was still working just fine, so I decided to launch my balloon where I left off the day before at Art Colony Rentals in Foxboro. MsPaddles

Ninetails (Jackie) joined me, and together we flew to along Route 8 to The Emerald Shopping and Gardens in Peacock Park. There, a magnificent, domed retail mall with an atrium garden inside

awaited us. It had shops for a variety of mens and womens fashions, skins, shapes, hair, combat weapons and it even had a real estate office. It was quite a structure, that was for certain. The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Room with a view: The openness of the building, plus the great glass domes allowed for great light to come into The Emerald Shopping and Gardens mall and for great views out from it.

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Across the roadway of Route 8, another shopping complex—the Welcome Shopping Mall—had even more shops selling fashions, jewelry, art and rugs. Chaos and Beauty – Photography and Fractal Art Gallery was also located

there with it’s eight floors of real life photography from a wide range of artists. A long pipe connected the large Welcome Mall on the ground to another structure high in the air

that was surrounded by an immense, free-floating maze made of green garden walls. It had no ground floor or roof so you could see the sky through it from the ground down below at the mall. It sure looked curious, so Jackie

Fascinating flying machine: Across Route 8 from The Emerald Shopping and Gardens was a very colourful and unique flying machine referred to by the maker as the “Weapon of YO ASS Destruction.” Dahlia took extra precaution not to bump any of its buttons or levers. The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

and I flew up to inspect it. On our way up and just below the garden maze, another curiosity caught my eye: a fanciful looking, multicoloured flying vehicle of some kind. We stopped to look and see how it was controlled, because strangely, the driver’s seat appeared to be upside-down.

shot anything up. Instead, I was sweating bullets, as the saying goes. We weren’t far from a place that I wanted to show Jackie, so I turned the balloon toward Rhoda, where Vitolo Rossini’s Dogland Park was. Dogland is a wonderful training area where pet owners learn how to work with guide dogs and other pets.

I had to try it out to see if that was Good things should Run by Vitolo, his really the case or not. I climbed out happen to good assistant, and of the balloon onto staffed with addipeople, so I was the wing of the cutional help, Dogrious vehicle and very honoured to land was an outgot into it’s seat. growth of Vitolo’s wear his logo on real life of workSure enough, I was sitting upsideing with guide my balloon to help down. I didn’t try dogs for people to drive it since it spread the word who had suffered wasn’t mine, and head traumas. Inof Dogland. also because I world, large open wasn’t even sure areas were devoted what it would do, because when to train and develop both pet and I inspected it to see what it was owner skills; a small shop offered called, the name said it was the pet supplies and other gadgets; a “Weapon of YO’ ASS Destruction.” bulletin board offered news and information about pets and I didn’t dare press any buttons or events; and a memorial wall was tempt fate any more than I alavailable for pet owners to place ready had. Gingerly, I climbed dedication photos and tribute inback into my balloon, careful not formation about their beloved pets to bump any levers or controls on that had passed away. the way out. I was impressed with this flying ship and happy I hadn’t Of the many places I’d seen in inadvertently broken anything or Second Life, this had been one of 55

Dog lovers delight: On an expansive property in Rhoda, Dogland offered a variety of services related to teaching animals and their owners skills to master essential dog-handling maneuvers and issues. By applying his real life knowledge of working with people who had suffered from head trauma, owner Vitolo Rossini brought particularly keen insight and immeasureable value to the programme.

my favourite humanitarian—or should I say “pet-itarian”—places. Jackie was so impressed with it, she donated some money to it, as did I too.

loon to help advertise his services. He was thrilled by the idea and sent me a few to try out, so while we continued our air journey northward, I rolled out the selections across the fabric of the balA few minutes later, Vitolo sent a loon. Jackie took some pictures, thank you, happy to know we sent them to Vitolo, and he meshad visited and made a donation. saged back how excited he was to I asked if he had a Dogland logo see them. Good things should or sign we could place on the bal- happen to good people, so I was

very honoured to wear his logo on my balloon to help spread the word of Dogland. We flew past Wisteria Hill Gypsy Village and Market in Maplegrove, a small collection of parcels devoted to the gypsy lifestyle. Good for lords and ladies, gypsies, elves, fae, and all folk of magic and mystery, the property had caraThe Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

vans, cottages, castle apartments, treehouses, and tents for rent—as well as many merchant shops. For only $L50 per week you could rent a gypsy wagon with a 50 prim allowance. I tell you, I was honestly tempted to rent!

in the parking lot of a teen fashion mall, the Ceilostomo Center in Ceilostomo. I didn’t get out of my balloon basket. Instead, I just sat down inside, contemplating what I should do about my broken laptop and its effect on recording my From there, we progress. I considReluctantly, I deangled northeast, ered that I could drifting between easily keep text cided to ground two castles in Mills note updates on my Haven and The the balloon until flying computer Burj al-Arab in SL easily enough, but I I had all of my in Tremenitza wouldn’t be able to which was a multirecord or rememequipment fully floored building ber what my flight that used the depath was very easily functional. sign of a famous after a few days. It modern middle east building— would be too easy to forget the same as the one I passed in many twists and turns I often Heterocera during my second took, and I didn’t like the idea of continent’s flight. having to stop and write down every sim name that I crossed into Jackie had to go do some other in an attempt to plot my progresworks, so I flew into Tchailosky sion on a map much later. alone, passing the Four Horsemen Rental Trailier Park where I had flown 150 consecutive days for only $L150 per week people without fail since beginning my could rent classic-styled mobile hot air balloon adventure in home trailers to live in with a 75 Sansara on 1 January 2010. It was prim allowance, then walk down a pretty respectable streak, I thought. the street to the local biker bar I hated to break that string of where all kind of dance and party consecutive days, but I also wasn’t events were hosted. sure how long it might take to repair my laptop. I didn’t want to Just to the north, I set my balloon forget any details during its abdown near an old-styled camero sence, so reluctantly, I decided to The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Gypsy life: Wisteria Hill Gypsy Village and Market in Maplegrove catered to people devoted to the gypsy lifestyle. With a bit of a gypsy streak in herself, Dahlia was tempted to rent a wagon to live in it for only $L50 per week.

ground the balloon until I had all of my equipment fully functional again—or at least until I had a better idea of how soon I could reasonably expect get my laptop repaired. Besides, 150 days was a good, round number to stop at, and a little easier to remember than, say, 152.

WEEK 22, DAY 4: TWO MONTHS LATER

Two agonizing months passed before I was back in business. I had purchased a replacement graphic board for my laptop that was discovered to be the wrong part after it arrived. So I had to send it back and find another part and wait for that to arrive. Once it came, I

waited a week, then another, and called the repair shop to see what their progress was on it. They had forgotten they had it. I was soooo disappointed in them. Eventually, they called to have me come retrieve it, and I took it back home, handling it with all the gentleness of carrying a new born baby. 57

Right: The Burj al-Arab in SL, in Tremenitza was modeled after a real life building in the middle east. The SL building recreation offered a lot in style but unfortunately, the owner offered little else in substance to add value to it. Below: Ceilostomo Center in Ceilostomo housed a number of fashion retail shops that Dahlia referred to as “a teen fashion mall.” It was here that Dahlia suspended her journey until she could get her real life laptop repaired so she could continue to update her progress notes, maps, blog, and books.

During the time that my laptop aboard, then lifted off and flew was being repaired, good news over the cloud line a couple of came from real life; I was offered sims over to Mounford Airport. a new job and began working every weekday. This of course Nearing Mounford, I dropped would have an impact on the the balloon down through the speed of my Second Life balloon clouds until I spotted the airport, journey progress. then breezed by From here on for a touch-and-go From here on out, I would be limited landing, skipping out, I would be to flying on weekoff the runway, ends only—if I limited to flying and continuing could manage to over to the next on weekends only, sim of St. Cloud even fit that in. where a giant if I could even It was certainly flamingo stood going to be a chaloutside of a mofit that in. lenge and take bile home trailer longer to complete each stage from on what looked like a pretty unhere on out, that was for sure. sophisticated parcel of land. I can Now that I couldn’t fly every day say “unsophisticated” with conlike before, I’d have to wait until viction because outside on the I finished flying seven non-consec- front lawn was an unsheltered, utive days to record them as one working toilet—and I, of course, week, and today’s continuation of had to check it out to verify that it the journey would become Day 5 did indeed work. With a flush, it of Week 22. sucked me into the bowl. Yep, it works. Check! WEEK 22, DAY 5: RETURN TO THE SKIES

When I came back in-world to resume my long-delayed journey, I turned my laptop on and updated some progress note information while I prepared my balloon for take-off from the Ceilostomo Center parking lot in Ceilostomo. Jackie joined me in the parking lot and we climbed 58

From St. Cloud we flew into Royier where the Royier Air Force Base was supposed to be according to my research. But despite looking both at ground level and high in the sky we could never find it. Perhaps it was gone now, I thought. Jackie had to go, so I continued my search for RAFB on my own. The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

In my effort to find the base, I strayed from my planned route of flying up along the eastern coast of Satori and, instead, happened upon the Blake Sea Airport in Ashuertus simply by chance. This airport was built atop of a small rise only a parcel or two away from the northern shore of Satori. Planes would take off from the runway and fly northward right over the roof of the J&S Waterway Chicken Ranch and out over the water. I could just imagine the fright that would give the chickens each time that happened. What a commotion there would be! Off in the distance north of the airport and across the watery divide that separated it from the continent of Satori, you could see the shores of Nautilus City, the main island of the Nautilus continent.

Above left: While approaching the northern coast of Satori, Dahlia spotted the Blake Sea Airport in Ashuertus. It was squeezed into a narrow opening in a neighbourhood full of buildings. Below left: Dahlia brought the balloon in for a stopand-go landing at Mounford Airport in Mounford. Above: Dahlia filled up the balloon to rise higher in the sky after inspecting The Burj al-Arab in SL, in Tremenitza. Below: Magnifico Plot 16 displayed a giant flamingo and a clutter of belongings outside of a mobile home in St. Cloud. Fortunately, a working, open air toilet was also offered, making it a convenient pit-stop for a certain traveling balloonist.

WEEK 22, DAY 6: COMPLETING THE LOOP

I stopped at Blake Sea Airport to check out a small memorial placed on the ground between the control tower and a hanger with a few items of flying apparel for sale and a P-51 Mustang parked in it. The memorial was dedicated to fallen flyers from any war. Nearby, another sign offered visitors to join the 1st Air Commando Group. I wondered what number of residents in Second Life were in the The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Terminally startling: The Blake Sea Airport in Ashuertus had a runway that terminated right at rooftop level of the J&S Waterway Chicken Ranch. Dahlia wondered if the planes taking off right overhead would give the chickens the fright of their life every time.

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channel of water that separated Satori from Nautilus City. From there, I could fly eastward with little concern about full parcels or privacy monitors to impede my leisurely progress.

name, and items on it appeared to be owned by Jyrgen Miklos. The “about land” said: “Land abandoned by Sookyung Felisimo on 14Jul-2010”—only a month earlier. I saw in Jyrgen’s profile that he took part in Giant Snail Racing. As I crossed into Bruissac, my If I hadn’t been in one race myself friend Nya Silverfall joined me. for a charity event earlier in the We looked ahead and spotted an summer, I would have no idea uncharted airport in Alvensleben. what a giant snail race was like, The airport seemed to have no but now that I did, it made me

smile to remember when I once raced in a giant snail outfit too. It was quite fun and was even broadcast live on in-world TV, complete with commentators calling the race results. Nya and I continued on, passing the unnamed Alvensleben airport, then Nautilus City Yacht Club - Blake—curiously not in Nautilus City at all, but rather on

Above: Discovering that there was no teleport back down to the Blake Sea Airport from a plane it offered a ride to, Dahlia base jumped off the plane’s stairs to return. Right: A memorial for “Fallen Fliers” was set up on the grounds of the Blake Sea Airport in Ashuertus.

soldier/post-soldier demographic. an unexpected delight to squeeze It seemed to be quite a robust in an intentional fall for once! group in-world. Back on the ground at the Blake On the ground near the control Sea Airport, I relaunched my baltower, a teleporter offered a trip loon. I wanted to fly eastward to up to a passenger jet airliner high the northeastern tip of Satori, then in the sky overhead. I took it and work my way around it, going arived in the passenger cabin. It back southwest to visit Yordie’s was almost as swank as a night Zen Garden, which was the home club inside. Impressed, I walked and public gardens of resident around, admiring the luxurious Yordie Sands. In all the turmoil furnishings and styling. related to my computer problem, I had completely passed by it earWhen it came time to leave, how- lier without even realizing. ever, I didn’t see any teleporter to return with. Fortunately, the side I flew out the north end of the door worked, so I opened it and I airport runway, passing low over looked down at the airport below. the roof of J&S Waterway Chicken I still had my parachute on, so I Ranch, doing my part to keep dove off the stairs and parachuted things exciting for them. Then I back down to the airport. It was let the balloon drift out over the The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Left: Dahlia and Nya passed an unnamed and abandoned airstrip on the northern coast in Alvensleben. Opposite page: Nearby the abandoned airstrip was the Nautilus City Yacht Club - Blake—curiously named, because it was neither in Nautilus City, nor in the Blake Sea.

the Satori continent in Alvensleben also. Satori seemed to have a number of claims to other areas, I noted. A few minutes later, Nya’s friend, Jane Duval, joined us and within moments we were in one of my most favourite regions of Satori, the northeastern tip of the continent. This area was a nice mix of nature blended with sparce residential and commercial properties, built along a slope in Montbard that raised up from the water’s edge of the sea to a low hilltop with a home on it. From this corner of Satori, you could enjoy a serene look out toward the Blake Sea from either the hilltop or the water’s edge where a small, short lighthouse cast it’s beam out into the stillness of open water. Rounding the northern tip, then flying southward in Montbard also revealed an ominous large black rain cloud I preveiously encountered while sailing the year before. Now, while flying, I could see we were in for some more wet weather at the very same location. I didn’t mind too much, however. 62

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Northeastern tip: While passing through Raimondo with passenger Nya Silverfall, Dahlia spotted the northeastern tip of Satori in the distance. Opposite page: The balloon rounded Satoriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s northeastern tip in Montbard and turned south toward inclimate weather.

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Trouble on the horizon: Montbard was the site of a perpetual thunderstorm that constantly rumbled and threw lightning bolts while it rained.

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Calm before the storm: A windmill in Montbard sat earily still, even as a storm cloud approached from the south.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Rainy day feeling: One of Dahliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite locations in all of Satori, Montbard, featured a perpetual thunderstorm cloud, complete with heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. Opposite page: The homes in Montbard still looked very inviting, despite the proximity of the incoming bad weather.

On approach to Prague: Dahliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s balloon flew in for a landing at the PREFABRICA Prague Airport Terminal and Airstrip in St. Diabloux.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

SLPG Prague: Prague Airport Terminal and Airstrip in St. Diabloux had unobstructed access to the northeastern waters off of Satori, as well as exceptionally informative displays about flying in Second Life.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

tips and instructions that I found thoughtful and informative.

a closer look and a little more thought, I said to myself: “Isn’t he the guy I saw stumbling around Jane, Nya and I said our goodbyes drunk in a field down near the at Prague, then I went to sit out- Home Headquarters in Kensington side the hanger while I had a soft a few flying days earlier?” (but by drink from a vending machine. now, actually a couple of months As I sat looking over my balloon, ago due to my laptop repair delay). I noticed a man sitting out near I was pretty sure he was and knew the runway. It was resident Jaco I’d have to check my notes later. Frequency. At first, he seemed But for now, this guy was just sitvaguely familiar to me, and after ting quietly out there on the tar-

Above: The PREFABRICA Prague Airport Terminal and Airstrip in St. Diabloux had two runways—one on ground level, and one high in the air overhead. Right: Terric was the home of, among other things, Netera Landor’s Coffee Shop where she interviewed authors, artists, musicians, and even comedians—celebrities all within the Second Life world.

I was always enamoured by this storm cloud and while I was here I took plenty of pictures of it, trying to capture even one good shot of the lightning bolts of that flashed from it. Down below and not quite under the storm yet, a wonderful little county house looked out on the eastern shoreline, its windmill earily still and quiet despite the approaching storm.

previously unknown airport to me came into view, PREFABRICA Prague Airport Terminal and Airstrip in St Diabloux.

Prague Airstrip was another general aviation facility open to the public within close proximity to the Blake Sea air routes. They had parking for aircrafts and airplanes; pilot apparel was also sold at the airport. They even had racing planes. But what interested me We floated the balloon a little fur- most was that they had some nice ther down the coast where another sign panels offering general flying

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Above left: Dahlia gently guided the hot air balloon into Yordie’s Zen Garden and set it down on a path between the tea house and rock garden. Above right: Yordie, Dahlia, and MsPaddles Ninetails relaxed and chatted at Yordie’s Harvest Moon Cafe, a bungalow surrounded by a bamboo forest and overlooking a stream of water that passed by after tumbling over a waterfall nearby. Right: Owner Yordie Sands sat and discussed all things Second Life, including some of her own trials and tribulations as an explorer herself.

mack by himself, minding his own ing interesting, talented people to business (whatever that was). He her events who can share their inwas a curious fellow to be sure. teresting and often success stories with others. Eventually, I climbed back into my balloon and took off. I flew After my brush by Terric, I swung southeast to Terric where I often the balloon around to head southgo on Saturdays to watch my westerly to head in the direction friend Netera Landor interview for Milarepa and Yordie Sands’ garauthors, musicians and even codens. Despite getting stuck at a medians at her gathering place. It full sim in Montdidier, ejected at is a lot of work, but Netera has Sleno: The Greatest Little Parcel had real success finding and bring- in the World due to a full parcel The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

in De Newenham, and ejected in Napf because I wasn’t allowed to have objects over the Magnifico Wildlife Area, I made good time and was soon approaching the Milarepa border. I decided to see if Yordie was around and sent her a message. While I waited for her reply, MsPaddles called and teleported in to join me. By the time she got settled, Yordie had replied and 73

Above: A carnival in Longchenpa was the location of the Ozimals Bunny Market business, but here focused on breedable horses to feed, rides, games, and even a horse diving show. Right: Dahlia’s balloon drifted past the tower and pool used for the horse diving show.

said she would meet me when we arrived. I asked where she wanted me to land on her property, and gave me clearance to land on her perfectly raked rock garden at Yordie’s Zen Garden.

wooden walkway that crossed over the rock garden and came to greet us.

Yordie complimented my landing enthusiastically. I thanked her and introduced her and Jackie to Oh no, not the rock garden! I instic- one another. She thanked us for tively thought, considering how visiting and showed us the Tea much effort it takes to rake an Ceremony House and the Zen area of rocks and not leave any Garden, then took us along a footprints behind. I really didn’t footpath through a wonderfully want to disturb her freshly raked dense forest of tall bamboo until rocks, so I guided the balloon we reached a small wooden bundown and gently placed it right galow raised up on stilts overon a walking path between the looking a meandering stream. rock garden and her tea house. “This is a beautiful place you Yordie was nearby on an arched have here, Yordie,” I cooed.

Upstream, a waterfall crashed over some boulders and drifted peacefully past us, then around a bend before disappearing into the bamboo forest. We crossed the stream using a short rope bridge that connected to a bungalow called the Harvest Moon Cafe. The bungalow served as Yordie’s gathering place for events. It included a small dj’s set-up in the corner on an outdoor deck, but at

the moment traditional Japanese music wafted through the air like a gentle breeze in the background. We sat at one of the low tables to take in the relaxing ambiance of the water, bamboo and music while we talked. Ahh…perfect chi, I thought to myself.

as early as 2008. At that time, she had gone on land explorations through some of Second Life’s continents. She understood the allure of travel and of discovering new places, appreciating new sights, marveling at how others shaped the environment in which we live, and about finding inspiWhile talking with Yordie, I ration in what we find. We happily learned she had been quite an ad- talked away like two old friends venturous traveler herself—back who hadn’t seen each other in The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Foggy approach: While flying north through Kangchenjunga, the New JBT International Airport unexpectedly revealed itself through a dense fog bank.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Well equipped: The New JBT International Airport provided two runways, taxiways, a large terminal, hangers, open air parking, shops, and more at its massive facility.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

ages, comparing travel nuances, notes and experiences. It is always such a delight to lose track of time while talking with someone who shares your interest, isn’t it?

I passed over a carnival in Longchenpa belonging to Ozimals Bunny Market, a breedable rabbit selling enterprise that seemed to have captured the imagination of many residents The visit was a relaxing respite over the past few months. But from the busy-ness of my typical here, at the carnival, the focus flying day—the kind we should was on horses to feed, face paintall be so lucky to have. In all, ing, a duck prize booth (I won a Yordie had a really lovely comblue kite), bumper cars, a train plex of Asian- styled buildings, ride, ferris wheel, carosel, and pathways and gardens. If you love even daily diving horse shows. tranquil, natural surroundings, bamboo forests, Asian music, and Route 8 curved up alongside the tea ceremonies, this might be just carnival, so I followed it north to the place for you. It certainly where it intersected with Route agreed with me and Jackie, that’s 8B, which veered off to the west for certain. I’m sure I’ll be comin Cipactli. The intersection had ing back to Yordie’s again some- a small route marker, so I flew time to stroll the gardens and see down to check my progress on it, what other interesting Asian-in- then continued on my way into spired views await me. If nothing Weisshorn where I came upon else, I can go simply to relax and Bihar Sanctuary, a “Hindu/Budbreathe. dhist/ Jainist sci-fi role playing sanctuary in the Firefly/Serenity Jackie had to leave before I finuniverse”—whatever that meant. ished my visit with Yordie, so I took off from the Zen Garden I had no idea what that was all alone and flew north, knowing I about, so I continued on to Kangwas nearing the end of my tour of chenjunga where the “new“ JBT Satori. Having visited with Yordie International Airport had an exmade up for many of the suffer- pansive property with plenty of ages I endured while traveling parking and hangers for the pubthrough such a trying continent, lic to use. Like the other JBT Airand so I was enjoying my north- port in Jeogeot, this airport also bound trek toward Suzie’s Little had a large arrival and departure Ferry Service in Pelvoux. terminal, but this location did not The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

have the same level of security in the terminal as Jeogeot did. What’s more, there was no sign of Jack Linden’s enlarged head expanding, then shrinking in any of the

check-in lines. Perhaps the lack of ward completing my journey. both were related, I didn’t know. Another reason was because, only one parcel over, I noticed two grass My stop was brief at JBT because runways belonging to The Battle I wanted to keep pressing on to- of Britain Airfield, RAF in Big-

Above: “X” marked the spot for the Battle of Britain Airfield, RAF, in Biggin Hill, where vintage airplanes, derrigables, cars and flying accessories all came together to achieve a remarkable recreation of an authentic WWI European airstrip. 77

But whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to mow it all?: The Battle of Britain Airfield, RAF, in Biggin Hill, was the site of an incredible recreation of a British combat airstrip located in Europe.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Too much opium perhaps?: In Weisshorn, the Bihar Sanctuary touted itself as a Hindu/Buddhist/Jainist sci-fi role playing sanctuary in the Firefly/Serenity universe.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

In search of Peloux: As Dahlia neared Peloux, she began looking for her start and finish location at Susieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Little Ferry Service Pier & Bar on the northern shore of Satori.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

quite a shock. When I arrived at Susie’s Little Ferry Service, her parcel of beach had been stripped bare, save for a small boat up on wooden blocks and a sign in front of it that read: “Susie’s Little Ferry Service is Temporarily Closed. Be Back Soon.” I just stood there dumbfounded—numb and unsure of what to think.

A shocking conclusion: Dahlia arrived at Susie’s Little Ferry Service Pier & Bar, only to find the land stripped bare, save for an empty boat and sign reading that the service was temporarily suspended.

gin Hill. I eased my balloon down onto the grass, hoping I wouldn’t disturb the conversation between two other residents, Duncan Cooperstone and Gabe Yazimoto. The airport had a decidedly authentic 1940’s vintage period look to it and offered a group to join, as well as hangers, cottage and vendor rentals. It was a nice The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

change of pace from the concrete Pier and Bar, and maybe—if I airports I had mostly seen during was lucky—to say hello to Suzie my travels thus far. too. I was really feeling the excitement build as I could see the coast I didn’t stay long, because I could approaching in the distance. I’m see on my map that Pelvoux was almost there! I cheered to myself only a short distance away, and I inside my head. wanted to reach it before the day ended. I pushed ahead, eager to I began looking for Susie’s parcel land at Susie’s Little Ferry Service of land somewhere along the

It took a few moments, but I snapped to and decided I should send Suzie a notecard. I pulled out my pen and scribed a note: “Hello Susie, I just landed in Pelvoux today at your home beach after completing my circuit of Satori begun some months ago (delay due to some technical breakdown enroute). I see your plot of sand is empty except for the sign and boat. I hope everything is ok or will be soon. Take care and keep in touch. Let me know if I can do anything for you. ~Dahlia.” I sent it off and really wished the best for her.

beaches, looking for anything that was familiar. I was having a hard time seeing her building and palm trees, however.

I just stood there on the empty beach, deflated, my cheerful mood and elation for completing my long and arduous journey stolen once again by Satori. One Eventually, with the help of my last kick in the gut from the map and selecting parcels to find continent I’d come to dread most. out who the owners were, my If it weren’t for the good people long awaited return back to my I’d met here, I’d hate Satori and starting point in Pelvoux ended in never come back again. = 81

MAPS: THE PLAN Right: A look at the general pre-flight route plan shows the intention to fly near to and around some key points of interest.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

MAPS: THE RESULT Left: The actual flight path as completed followed the general planned flight route and was modified as needed to take in additional points of interest in as they were encountered.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Timeline At A Glance: Charting Dahlia’s Prog JANUARY SANSARA

CONTINENT START DATE

NOTABLE PLACES (ORDER SEEN)

1 January 2010

The Ivory Tower of Primitives Governor Linden’s Mansion The Particle Lab/Learning Center The Vehicle Lab/Learning Center Kazenojin Executive Airport DarkWood Cathedral Bay City Airport Orientation Island Vehicle Park Abbotts Aerodrome Giant SL Handprint Icon Helen Keller Monument YadNi’s Junkyard Kanin Mountain Skiing & Sledding Anton Airstrip Zeppelin Service Zermatt Ice Skating Lake Chalet Linden Cloudmont High Country Smithers Bluff Rainbow Cherished: Romantic River Shops Teslin Meadow Preserve Tour Pegasus Zeppelin St Michel ~ the Jule Verne Museum Shelter Island Balloon Tour Bitch Fight Arena Aztral’s Airport The First Church of Atheism Knowledge Park Linden Village & Offices Help Island Public Orientation Island Knowledge Port Explorers Info Centre Mahulu Volcano New Citizens Incorporated, Kuula Gruppman Technologies Corporate ANWR Offshore Oil Rig Platform

ESTIMATED / ACTUAL CONTINENT COMPLETION DATE

1 Feb. / 11 Feb. (42 Days) FLYING DAYS MISSED

None FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS

66 WEEK 1 SIM COVERAGE

Natoma to Shermerville (N. Central to NW Sansara) WEEK 2 SIM COVERAGE

Shermerville to Mondrian (NW to SE Sansara) WEEK 3 SIM COVERAGE

Mondrian to Hibdon (SE to E. Central Sansara) WEEK 4 SIM COVERAGE

Hibdon to Pooley (E. Central to NE. Central Sansara) WEEK 5 SIM COVERAGE

Pooley to Lozi (NE. Central Sansara) WEEK 6 SIM COVERAGE

Lozi to Calleta, Heterocera (NE. Central Sansara to S. Heterocera) GUEST PASSENGERS

Alina Graf, Lie Rang, Nya Silverfall, Natalia Silverfall, 1 Shermerville passenger, Ms SecretSpy, DawidDawid Dawid, Cyanidekissesxx Draconia, BackHome Soon, Erin Riler, Tatsuhiko Zuka, Rikki Reichmann, Eric Christensen, Narcissus Mint, Ara Enzo, Johnny Mikado 84

FEBRUARY Done 1 √

HETEROCERA

MARCH Done 2 √

ESTIMATED / ACTUAL CONTINENT START DATES, HETEROCERA

1 February / 12 February 2010 ESTIMATED / ACTUAL CONTINENT COMPLETION DATES, HETEROCERA

22 Feb. / 16 March 2010 (34 Days) FLYING DAYS MISSED

None FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS

83 WEEK 7 SIM COVERAGE

Cecropia to Nessus (S. Central to E. Central Heterocera) WEEK 8 SIM COVERAGE

Nessus to Engrailed (E. Central to N. Heterocera) WEEK 9 SIM COVERAGE

Engrailed to Moneta (N. to W. Heterocera) WEEK 10 SIM COVERAGE

Moneta to Cecropia (W. to S. Central Heterocera) GUEST PASSENGERS

Johnny Mikado, Aleks Piers, Pavl Duke, Madeline McMahon, Mot Mann. Lila Wardark, Caya Corvale, JohnMichael Tobias

NOTABLE PLACES (ORDER SEEN)

Calleta Train Station Hoboland Railroad Infohub Cerridwen’s Cauldron Tuliptree Train Station Neumoegen Train Station Busiris Airport Onespace Rockumentary Hopeful EMission Bella Carnival TMA - A Jewish Neighborhood SL Volunteer HQ Andiana City Cycnia & Euclidia Arbor Project SL Coast Guard Training Center Lythria Tall Tree Flanders Field Airport Ear Community Park Rainbow Cloud Nine Club Pug City Continent’s Highest Point, Campion Lapara Airport Arches Paraglider Slope Solo’s Steam Engine Service Moneta Airport The Unknown Theme Park The SL Chess and Sudoku Club H8 Motor Company Great Northern Wall Lord Victor Monument Friends of the Urban Forest & Permaculture Project Lake Gnoma Saiku Rainstorm Sky Mark Properties International House Of Style Didugua Thunderstorm Lightning Mz. Shoes

APRIL JEOGEOT

ESTIMATED / ACTUAL CONTINENT START DATES, JEOGEOT

23 February / 17 March 2010 ESTIMATED / ACTUAL CONTINENT COMPLETION DATES, JEOGEOT

18 March / 6 May 2010 (49 Days) FLYING DAYS MISSED

None FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS

120 WEEK 11 SIM COVERAGE

Quoll to Lordshore Cove (South to S. Central Jeogeot) WEEK 12 SIM COVERAGE

Lordshore Cove to Xentilx (S. Central to S. West Jeogeot) WEEK 13 SIM COVERAGE

Xentilx to Flint (S. West to West Jeogeot) WEEK 14 SIM COVERAGE

Flint to Martindale (West to W. Central Jeogeot) WEEK 15 SIM COVERAGE

Martindale to Areumdeuli (W. Central to North Jeogeot) WEEK 16 SIM COVERAGE

Areumdeuli to Dacham (North to N. East Jeogeot) WEEK 17 SIM COVERAGE

Dacham to Kyung (N. East to East Jeogeot) WEEK 18 SIM COVERAGE

Kyung to Quoll (East to South Jeogeot) GUEST PASSENGERS

Lila Wardark, MsPaddles Ninetails, Voodoo Spyker, Freyja Beresford

√

MAY 3Done NOTABLE PLACES (ORDER SEEN)

Explorers InfoCenter Lordshore Cove Bridge Hawkside Airport The Monastery of Felix Meritis Raining Cats & Dogs in Cambell Devils Golf Course Wheelies Neighbourhood Michael Jackson Support Group & Memorial Park White House, USA Silver Creek & Flint Route 10 Tunnel Milkshake Lounge Ichelus Volcano P2 & Teles Airport Department of Public Works Office Mr Whippie Ice Cream Truck The Library @ Driftwood Beach Zee & Zora’s Little Slice Sculpty Earth Mumtaz Taj Mahal Mos Ainsley Space Base Stone’s Point Park Kea Airfield Dacham Sky Race Track Omurice Buddhist Centre Steam Locomotive Preservation Group Kira Cafe Demonstration Area NCI South World Peace Flag Garden Chilbo Community & Tall Tree Korumburra Kuwaiti Building Hwanin Football Sky Fields JBT Airport Jonestown Airstrip Jonestown Media Attention Press Pass Media Studios Cathedrale d’Images The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

ress On The Calendar, Continent-By-Continent JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

Done 4 √

SATORI

ESTIMATED / ACTUAL CONTINENT START DATES, SATORI

19 March / 7 May 2010 ESTIMATED / ACTUAL CONTINENT COMPLETION DATES, SATORI

15 April / 22 August 2010 (130 Days) FLYING DAYS MISSED

Counting discontinued due to prolonged wait for computer repair (two months) and gaps in flying time due to inability to continue flying on weekdays FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS

139 WEEK 19 SIM COVERAGE

Pelvoux to Beggars Bowl (N. Central to N. West Satori) WEEK 20 SIM COVERAGE

Beggars Bowl to Ogilvie (N. West to West Satori) WEEK 21 SIM COVERAGE

Ogilvie to Davros (West to S. East Satori) WEEK 22 SIM COVERAGE

Davros to Pelvoux (S. East to N. Central) GUEST PASSENGERS

MsPaddles Ninetails, Bunnygun Gordeau, DANIGTSPAIN Capelo, Soso Furse, JohnMichael Tobias Nya Silverfall, Leila Hyacinth, Alice Draper The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

BLAKE SEA / ISLAND COMMUNITIES

NOTABLE PLACES (ORDER SEEN)

Susies’s Little Ferry Service The Communist Party of SL Talakin International Airport Alien Nation Bunnygun’s Gearbox St George Christian Orthodox College Of Scripting Music & Science Old York Gardens Old York Village Russian Port of Entry Fantastic Weddings Kingdom of Home Hangout and Public Park The WereHouse - Lycanthrope Store USS Nimoy San Francisco Bay Academy & Oceanographic Institute; Bay SF Academy & 24th Century San Francisco Ocean Institute Chameloid, Orion, Klingon Federation Beach Party Tommys Water Spot Twohead’s Nautical Shop & Shipyard Fenric Bridge Out Richfield Campus of Free-Ed.Net The Emerald Shopping & Gardens The Four Horsemen Rental Trailer Park Dogland Park Blake Sea Airport NE Satori Rain Cloud in Montbard Prague Airport Terminal and Airstrip Netera’s Coffee Shop Yordie's Zen Garden New JBT International Airport The Battle of Britain Airfield, RAF

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY 2011

BLAKE SEA / ISLAND COMMUNITIES

ESTIMATED CONTINENT START DATE, BLAKE SEA / IC

ESTIMATED CONTINENT START DATE, GAETA V

16 April 2010

18 July 2010

ESTIMATED CONTINENT COMPLETION DATE, BLAKE SEA / IC

ESTIMATED CONTINENT END DATE, GAETA V

30 April 2010 ESTIMATED CONTINENT START DATE, NAUTILUS

1 May 2010 ESTIMATED CONTINENT COMPLETION DATE, NAUTILUS

22 May 2010 ESTIMATED CONTINENT START DATE, CORSICA

23 May 2010 ESTIMATED CONTINENT COMPLETION DATE, CORSICA

17 July 2010

15 August 2010 ESTIMATED CONTINENT START DATE, GAETA I

16 August 2010 ESTIMATED CONTINENT COMPLETION DATE, GAETA I

18 August 2010 ESTIMATED CONTINENT START DATE, ZINDRA

19 August 2010 ESTIMATED CONTINENT COMPLETION DATE, ZINDRA

2 September 2010 85

Dahlia’s Top 10 Favourite Big People, Places,

MONTBARD

BALTAZAR

MARMEDUNC

Thunder, Lightning & Rain

Jackie’s Balloon Piloting Debut

Northeastern Corner of Satori

One of the few inclimate areas found in her travels, Dahlia always marveled at the large rain cloud just offshore in Montbard.

Dahlia was so proud of MsPaddles Ninetails piloting debut, flying them about 10 sims and making a perfect landing on a rooftop.

One of the more scenic locations, the lighthouse in Marmedunc looked eastward, out toward the Blake Sea, welcoming visitors.

RHODA

TULI

Well Wiggle My Tail!

Pit Stop at Bunnygun’s Gearbox

Vitolo Rossini’s Dogland Park is one of the most popular and inspirational public services Dahlia had found in all of Second Life.

Dahlia was so excited to have Gearbox owner, Bunnygun Gordeau, greet her on arrival and then take a ride together. The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

Things Or Moments While Traveling In Satori

OZERNA

WILLOWTAIL

Sky Rock With A View

Whiskey, Beer & SL History

An amazingly creative complex of rooms and walkways wrapped around an enormous boulder that levitated just off the ground.

It was a pleasure to meet P3t3r Pater and share a few drinks while talking all things SL during my second visit to his bar near YuPe.

NISHIJIMA

ASHUERTUS

PEACOCK PARK

Great Chi With Yordie

Jet Airline Skydive

Of Chrome & Glass

It was an honour to meet Yordie Sands, owner of the equally naturally beautiful and tranquil Yordieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zen Garden.

Without a way to teleport back to the Blake Sea Airport from the jet airline it sent her, Dahlia opened up the side door and jumped.

The Emerald Shopping Mall in Peacock Park was a beautifully constructed building with an atrium full of trees inside.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE LINDEN FAMILY (DELIVERED TO JACK LINDEN JANUARY 10, 2010 & STILL AWAITING ANY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT)

Dear Jack, Happy new year to you. I have two items of interest I would like to share with you, to see if you or any other Linden family member may have any interest in them. > First, the results of my 5-continent sailing adventure. > Second, the beginning of a new adventure to fly by hot air balloon to/around/through each of Second Life’s 9 continents, flying in order from the oldest to the newest continents to explore many of the interesting sights and people seen along the way. THE SAILING JOURNEY We met briefly at a Blake Sea town hall meeting in August 2009. I had asked for your thoughts from a Linden Lab viewpoint toward exploring the possibility of working toward ensuring an open waterway around each of Second Life continents and you had favorable comments toward the idea. I have since completed a sailing trip around the five continents that are linked together by a common waterway and published a book covering that adventure at: http://issuu.com/dahliasweet/docs/thegreatsailingadventurebook Excerpts from the book also appear in four concurrent issues of ICON magazine, from October 2009 until January 2010. Near the last page of the book, I included a letter written to the Linden family at large so those who I met along the way may read a little about the result of my endeavor to initiate some form of dialog about working toward an open waterway. I hope you’ll take a moment to read it too, and to let other Linden members know of it as well. During my trip, I asked residents if they were interested in having an open waterway around each continent and their response was overwhelmingly in support of it. I passed the results in the form of a petition to Blondin and Keira Linden back in October. I have since sent follow-up messages to Blondin once each month thereafter, without receiving any reply from either he or Keira, so I’m of the impression that they are not interested to pursue any dialog on the topic.

none at all, as I’m sure you can understand. Perhaps if Blondin and Keira are not the appropriate Lindens to engage in this topic, as I was told they were—and as Blondin himself directed me—you might be able to steer me in the appropriate direction toward who would be best to receive such information and what I should expect in return by way of response. THE BALLOON JOURNEY With the sailing adventure completed, I have moved forward with a new adventure: to fly by hot air balloon throughout the entire nine continents of Second Life. While the sailing adventure took seven weeks to circumnavigate five continents, I expect the hot air balloon journey to take at least three months—this is with flying at least a couple hours on average each day. The journey is already underway, having begun January 1, 2010. You can track my progress on my blog at: http://dahliasweet.blogspot.com and in potential future issues of ICON magazine, which are available both in-world as well as on www.issuu.com. HISTORICAL MARKER FOR SL’s OLDEST SIM As part of the balloon expedition, I was wondering if perhaps the opportunity existed to have a public design contest to create a historical marker in Natoma to indicate it as one of the first and oldest sims in all of Second Life. I thought perhaps it could be incorporated into the festivities surrounding the annual Second Life birthday events. As SL gets older, people may have increased interest to know of its roots, and as of yet all historical information is scattered around, rather than being centrally located. We could bring them all together in a venue surrounding such a memorial marker. I have ideas for this and would be interested to discuss them with you if you or others in the Linden family have interest. I’m wondering if any of the Lindens may be interested to know of the balloon endeavour, or to spread news of it in any particular fashion, such as in Blue Linden’s travel blog or via other notices. The journey will continue regardless of publicity; I was just interested in sharing a good thing with you and others, should there be any interest in it. Thanks for reading and best to you in 2010.

I'm writing you because you had expressed an interest, and I would be happy to receive any thoughts you may have in reply—for, against or disinterested—any comment would be appreciated more than receiving

Dahlia Jayaram 10 January 2010

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dahlia Jayaram began her Second Life in October, 2008. Part of her first few months were spent searching for the most beautiful and natural islands in SL. That endeavour led her to Crossing Currents Island, which she now shares with her partner, Lie Rang, developing and promoting island lifestyle products for MnM Designs. After sailing around five of Second Life’s continents in late 2009, Dahlia wanted to have a travel adventure that would include all nine continents (which became ten just before completion of this book). Thus, the Great Balloon Adventure was born and launched January 1, 2010. Travel from the oldest continent of Sansara through the youngest continent of Necera would result in a book for each of the ten continents, published at http://issuu.com/dahliasweet.

The Great Balloon Adventure ~ Satori

<#>

“Satori is the most mobilitychallenged continent I know of, as is evidenced by the 88 crashes and flight disruptions experienced in this stage.”

What will be your adventure?