I have a great affinity for all things Africa!

In fact, my Bucket List includes a real life trip to Cape Town where I plan to visit 2 families of special friends (with whom I have known for 20 years) who will arrange a Photography Safari Adventure.  So, in the mean time I thought I’d take you within the African depths of Second Life and show you some of my favorite sims that I have visited over the last year or so.

We all have done that “search thing” for a theme when we want to find somewhere to explore or shop in Second Life.

And sometimes while shopping we just happen upon that significant matter on the brain; ie: double the pleasure!

My fondness for AnaLee Balut’s designs of ALB LAMU takes me to just that moment when I visit her ALB DREAM FASHION Boutique.

Well, it’s more than a boutique!  Once there, you better set some time on your watch to stay an entire day as there is more than meets the eye with her creations.

My favorite area is her LAMU ISLAND which blends the Orient & African motif in landscape, building and an array of items to purchase.

You can opt to take the tour upon a friendly donkey or do what I did:

(Well I actually did both! teehee!)

I visit her sim often since I am a thrilled member of her group and receive notices for their new items, group gifts and special events.

One of my many visits was back in February 2013 where I decided to begin my lifelong personal hunt for African and Jungle Themed sims to photograph for my photography series I am creating for a special project.

And thus begins my account of Out Of Africa…

“The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil. He shall preserve thy soul.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in. From this time forth and even forevermore.”  Amen.

One must daydream a little when speculating upon a theme to photograph and write about.  It takes more than a day; wait…more than a month;…wait much more sometimes to bring the tale alive.

So I sat in ALB’s Dream Globe many a time – (and have purchased it for my own meditations ~ it’s only $100 Linden!)

I searched through my Second Life Photography files for moments in time where I engaged upon such African and Jungle matters.  I remember going to the PATRON sim with my ex-business partner, Gopu, as he wanted to buy an extravagant Christmas Tree for our palace (where else other than Patron??).  We found it to be another unique sim where you can visit to purchase lustful items as well as exploring their creative ambient locale.

By 1Gent :

the elephant trail

We lived by the legends, held fast the songs
We carved the land and painted the ancient rocks
We walked the plains and we drove the rains under thundered sky
These are the tales that keep memories alive 
These are the rhythms, to which our souls arrive.
Seek and be sought
Old father holds son, reminds him all he taught
Seek and be sought.
Walk now and fast, follow the elephant trail
These herds are not your own.
Walk now and fast, journey the elephant trail
These herds are not your own.
Walk now and fast, journey lone
Find and make your herd on the elephant trail.

 I have continued my quest for the African zill and recently ventured onto a magnificent sim with my friend Vian….I spent at least 2 days or more exploring and taking photographs for my collection….

Quote from the movie “Out Of Africa”:

“The time you won your town the race…
we cheered you through the marketplace.
Man and boy stood cheering by…
as home we brought you, shoulder high.
Smart lad, to slip betimes away… 
from fields where glory does not stay
Early though the laurel grows…
it withers quicker than a rose…….

…Now you will not swell the rout…
of lads that wore their honors out.
Runners whom renown outran…
and the name died…
before the man……

….. And round that early laureled head…
will flock to gaze the strengthless dead…
and find unwithered on its curls…  
a garland…
briefer than a girl’s………. 

….. Now take back the soul of Denys George Finch Hatton…
whom You have shared with us.  
He brought us joy…  
and we loved him well. 
He was not ours,
He was not mine.

 See below for a list of items worn and poses used to create my images.

If I know a song of Africa…  
of the giraffe…   
and the African new moon lying on her back…
of the plows in the fields…
and the sweaty faces of the coffee pickers…
does Africa know a song of me?   
Will the air over the plain quiver…
with a color that I have had on? 
Or will the children invent a game…
in which my name is?
Or the full moon throw a shadow…
over the gravel of the drive…
that was like me? 
Or will the eagles of the Ngong Hills look out for me?

Visit my FLICKR Page:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/92130367@N07/sets/72157633545237834/

The list of items and poses is quite large!  Here we go….wheeew!

Native Jungle Scenes:  OUTFIT:  EMO-tions Terra Nova outfit, Shadow Rider Head Band, EMO-tions Luminis Staff, Hair EMO-tions Louise Black; Mayway Warrior Choker; My PiXel Puppet’s Nightsparks body & face tattoo; TGW Torvis Gorean Feathers Taluna Anklet, Poses by F*ing Ninjas: Death’s Wish & Stick ‘Em Up.

Alb Aspire Heights Scenes:  Donkey walking pose F*ing Ningas Ringo Star, *Hair w/Donkey D!va Chiharu Onyx, *Prayer Hair:  Earth & Sky Elinor Black; Clothes & Jewelry:  ALB Jade, Boots:  ALB Beyonce

Steampunk & Elephant Scene:  Clothes by Rag Dollz: Brave New World, Steam Deck Boots Brown; POSE Salute by Razmatazz; Hair Damselfly Black Hair Pearl RIALYN