Myanmar Part 1: "Yangon, A City of Reticent Hope"

Her 2013 real life trip to Myanmar ,exclusively for OI Magazine written by

Sita Writer.
Camera pictures provided by and are property of Sita Writer.

"It is all Kipling’s fault…. I wanted to go to Burma… now called Myanmar because of Kipling’s’ romantic descriptions. To me, Kipling immortalized this country in his famous quote from “Letters from the East”, “This is Burma and it is unlike any land you know about.” A tall order in this day and age where the world has gotten smaller with the ease of international accessibility and the Internet.

Burma, a country that has been sleeping for 50 years… a 50 -year nightmare is finally waking up --- but waking up to what and for how long? For now things seem to be going in the right direction but that could change at any time. After all Burma or Myanmar is, after North Korea, probably one of the most obscure and obscured countries in the 21^st century. In fact, it is an anomaly, and one I explored in March.

Pic 1 : Street scenes, man with fruit stands

When I think of Burma it conjures up magical visions of great golden temples nestled in tropical landscapes, verdant rice fields and mighty rivers, beautiful women adorned with rubies and jade, poppy fields and puppet performances inspired by myths and legends that go on into the wee hours of the night. Myanmar’s very name Suvanabhomi means the Golden Land and I wondered if it would live up to my imagination and expectations.

Pic 2: Street scenes 2, Burmese woman and food

Pic 3 : Street scenes 3, Burmese woman and flowers

Myanmar is usually described as a product of times past – it has an endearing, leisurely charm and innocence that was said to be pervasive throughout S.E. Asia fifty years ago. Unlike the rest of Asia, until recently, Myanmar remained reclusive. The first five things I noticed upon arrival was that you will see few Burmese dressed in Western garb, there are no Western commercial aspects (yet), no cookie cutter chain hotels, restaurants or atms, no skyscrapers, and although they drive on the right (a rather recent government mandate) all the steering wheels in cars are on the left making taxi rides very interesting experiences.

I traveled to Myanmar to experience a sense of the “real” and authentic Southeast Asian culture and from the very moment I stepped foot in Myanmar, I had to agree with Kipling; I knew I was in for a truly remarkable experience.

"My journey began in the former capital of Myanmar, Yangon, founded in the 11^th century by the Mon and located in the Ayeyarwady Delta area. The British seized Yangon after the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852 and it soon became a great commercial center. Typically, the Raj built colonial styled houses, public buildings, spacious parks and gardens amidst traditional wooden Burmese structures and golden temples.

Pic 1: Colonial building

Pic 2 : Another colonial building with the Burmese flag

In many ways, Yangon is stuck in a time warp – it has no skyscrapers, and only a few high- rise buildings some commercial others apartments no more than ten stories or so high. Today, downtown Yangon is known for its leafy avenues and fin-de-siècle architecture and has the highest number of colonial buildings in Asia. Sadly, many of the colonial buildings are in a state of disrepair and one wonders if they will be torn down because they are symbolic of foreign subjugation or if they will restore to their former glory.

"My first stop in Yangon was the famous Sule Pagoda in the heart of downtown. Sule has played an important part in Burmese politics; it served as a rallying point in the 1988 Revolution and the 2007 Saffron Revolution. The name the Saffron Revolution that connects monks’ protests against the military dictatorship is a bit misleading because the monks of Myanmar wear claret colored robes unlike the saffron colored monk’s robes of neighboring Thailand.

Pic 1 : The Sule Pagoda

The history of Sule Pagoda is bound up in the mythical prehistory of Myanmar. Two monks traveling from India established it because it contained a hair relic of Buddha. The actual name Sule can be linked to the Sule Nat, the guardian spirit of Singuttara Hill. Sule, an octagonal, zedi or stupa as it is known in the west, is shaped like a bell and inverted bowl; this architectural style originated in India. It sits in the middle of an intersection like a great golden traffic circle. Inside the pagoda’s shrines and images are four colorful Buddha’s with neon halos behind their heads.

Pic 2 : Zoomed out on the Sule Pagoda

Wandering around the Sule Pagoda area I was amazed at the striking examples of colorful architecture, shops, markets and parks. Strolling through the markets and outdoor teashops gives you a feeling of how little life has really changed here. In the crowd I saw many smiling and curious faces. I would like to think faces full of hope.

Pic 3 : Interior of the Sule Pagoda

Pic 4 : Zoomed interior Sule Pagoda

"The next temple I visited was Botataung… it was exquisite. An Allied bomb destroyed the original temple in 1943. During the clean up and rebuilding of the temple, a golden casket in the shape of a stupa was miraculously recovered and was found to contain a hair and two other relics of the Buddha. I was excited to visit this temple because this 140 -foot (40 meter) bell shaped golden stupa is unusual. The stupa is hollow and you can actually walk around the inside of it. It was a surreal experience to walk around floor to ceiling golden walls all intricately inscribed with whimsical looking Burmese script embellished by beautiful floral offerings placed throughout the sanctuary. Outside the temple are thousands of turtles swimming and sunning themselves in pools of water. I bought some turtle food from a nearby stand and feed them in hopes of acquiring merit for a future existence.

Pic 1: The Botataung temple

Pic 2 : The Botataung, another angle with offerings

Pic 3 : Close up of the Botataung temple offerings

Although I did not stay in the best hotel in Yangon, which is a toss up between the historic Strand Hotel and the elegant Governors Residence, the hotel I choose had an excellent view of the Shwedagon Pagoda not only from my room but also from the restaurant.

Pic 1 : The Shwedagon Pagoda Temple

"I like temples and Shwedagon simply put, took my breath away. “Shwe” is the Burmese word for gold and “dagon” means three hills. The temple is situated on Singuttara Hill and is considered to be the holiest of the countries pagodas. Shwedagon was built over the shrine that contains the relics of the Buddha. Countless smaller pagodas made of gold leaf and lacquer, silver, marble; tin, teak, iron and brick, built one after another through the centuries are to be found here.

I will never forget taking off my shoes and socks as is customary in Myanmar and climbing a seemingly endless gold gilded covered staircase barefoot to the high marble terrace of the Pagoda for the first time; what I saw when I reached the summit was like a golden ray of hope glistening in the darkest of nights.

Pic 2 : The Shwedagon Pagoda temple and crowd

Pic 3 : Architecture close up of the Shwedagon Pagoda

The Shwedagon Pagoda is an architectural masterpiece -- it is a golden fantasy forest of gilded stupas, serene Buddha’s mythical beasts, planetary posts, glittering glass mosaic alcoves, and grand pavilions in every architectural style all of which is a backdrop for meditation, prayer, renewal, pilgrimage and merit.

Pic 4 : Rooftops of the Shwedagon Pagoda temple

"The Pagoda is said to be 2500 years old and to have more gold on it than gold in the vaults of the Bank of England. The main stupa soars nearly 330 feet (100 meters) above the hilltop and is a treasure trove inside and out. Inside it is said to house eight hairs of the Buddha as well as three other relics. On the outside, the stupa is plated with 8,688 solid gold slabs; the tip of the stupa is set with 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies, along with sapphires and topaz. As if this was not enough, a huge emerald sits in the middle of the main stupa’s spire to catch the first and last rays of the sun. All this is mounted on and above a 33- foot umbrella built on seven gold plated bars and decorated with 1,485 bells, 1,065 are gold, 420 are silver. Surrounding the main stupa are more than 100 stupas, buildings, pavilions, halls and administrative buildings.

Pic 5 : The Bell of Shwedagon Pagoda temple

For me, Shwedagon is an ultimate example of the timelessness of faith and hope. There isn’t a time of day that Shwedagon isn’t beautiful or for that matter crowded with families, monks, and pilgrims paying homage here – although it is so large, it never really seemed crowded. To say it is opulent is an understatement; it is also much more because it exudes spiritual serenity and energy reminiscent of the all -knowing eternal smiles of ancient Egyptian gods and kings.

I saw hope in Yangon - a reticent hope to trust that change will continue and things will proceed in the right direction. Quick political transformation here is unlikely as there are still many places off limits to foreigners as well as things the government definitely does not want the outside world to see. Change in tourism will also come slowly – the infrastructure is sadly lacking not only in terms of world-class hotels but also in terms of rail, air and auto travel. Is Myanmar in transition? I would have to say absolutely but what course the changes take depends on the complexities of the people themselves, the government and Myanmar’s strategic location and wealth in natural resources and, most importantly, how Myanmar will interact – or not with the world.

"In my next installment… I will take you to the mythical city of Mandalay and to enigmatic Began.

Thank you for reading my first installment about my recent trip in 2013 to Myanmar (Burma) , my name is Sita Writer, OI Magazine journalist."

Kawaii ! It exists inside Second Life too!

Written by Liza Veliz (aka NineIZ)







I'm totally sugar bombed inside out. I have been hanging with Kawaii Dolls™ for a few days.
I've been to the fairy land of cuteness. Never seen anything like it before!

Here is a video from the night I first met them.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200126296375056&set=vb.1079989222&type=2&theater
and yes, it is me is dancing in the audience with that long black hair floating around.

Maeda is the cutest thing I've ever seen inside of Second Life™!

My first view of Maeda Aiko. She was the cutest I had ever seen. It is the girl in white.(See picture above).

First time I came in contact with this culture was by finding the book Kawaii by Marita Lindqvist™,
of which its cover were like a sort of candy all over. Little bubbly cute stickers on it and in pastel pink.
That book covered Japanese pop culture and was about boy bands, but also a lot about the female fans.


Marita Lindqvist's book cover of Kawaii. My first contact with Kawaii. Photo: NineIZ

Kawaii is not entirely a teenage phenomena in Japan, it's aesthetics of design is even used by the
military for information material and in all sorts of other public media marketing.

Well, it is one thing to read about this and totally another to be part of this for real.
Maeda Aiko – aiko.torii in Second Life - (or Acchan as she is nick named) is the one who founded
Kawaii Dolls inside Second Life. It all started 2 years ago, Maeda heard about this world, made
an avatar and put up a Facebook page as she had an idea to make a Second Life career shot at the
same she had experiences of in RL. Then she forgot about this for a while till she started notice she
actually got Kawaii Dolls friends on her FB site.
https://www.facebook.com/Kawaiidolls.co.jp

Kaa Boom! Or maybe I should say Kawaii! The story started. That was one year ago and they
made success. Members come and go, but they keep growing.

− I met someone to work together with and we got the ball rolling again, Maeda tells me when
we meet at the lounge of Pink Velvet in Tokyo of Shubaya sim.

Here we are hanging under a bridge after the interview before the club night. You see the Pink
Velvet lounge in the background.

Me interviewing some of the Kawaii Dolls at the lounge of Velvet Pink. Me, Vivi, Maeda and
Syrena.

Pink Velvet is their own club in this world in their sim Shin Shubuya. It is in Tokyo region which is
a gathering place for fans of the Japanese culture. Here the girls hang in the streets as any teenagers
and sometimes dance at a street corner.

The Kawaii Dolls dancing at a street corner of their Second Life Tokyo.

The Kawaii Dolls, or KWD as they also are called, is an idol project. In Japan there are many kids
who wishes to become famous and they are all teenagers. When you get too old your chance is
gone. This is the reason they involve in Second Life to get another chance. In Second Life they can
be teenagers for ever.
This project goes RL also. The plan is to become famous in real as well as virtual. And to give each
member a chance to become an idol. Same as it happens in Japan for real. Their videos from Second
Life are shown at different events in RL, latest in Nice. The carnival you saw in the video at the top
of this article was shoot to be shown at a real convent for fans in Nice. It is from the Cyber Carnival
of Nice on Moya Island. Moya Patrick is a RL modern artist that used to do art in Japan, in Shibuya
especially, but now is an artist in France famous for his love for virtual environment.

The Second Life fans of Japanese Kawaii culture are all over the world and Maeda Aiko gathers
them within her international project by Facebook™ and Second Life.
− I want a second chance but I also want to share this chance with others. To have a family
is important and we are family, she explains. What we have in common is the interest for
Kawaii and Japanese culture.

− Future plans is to involve a vote system, same as exists in RL. Whoever get most votes
become famous. This is a secret so far, but soon we will start a vote system at our shows,
Maeda tells me in confident voice.

Then she tells me that kawaii is not always happy candy and recommend me to listen the lyrics of
the Japanese group AKB48.
http://youtu.be/6ArJCF-D5C0

− My name is no hazard, AKB48 are the reason my name is Maeda, she explains. KWD want
to be the AKB48 of the virtual universes.
The girls of KWD also sings for real in the shows, mostly karaoke style but also using their own material. So there is a chance here to listen the music of Maeda Aiko when go see them or check
their videos.
After the interview all gets crazy, tp's are raining as everyone wants to get ready for the evening
clubbing, and I get lost. Think of trying take that tuk-tuk outside but it throws me out.

The tuk-tuk outside the Pink Velvet.
Then they come back from their tp's and get me.

One of their male friends offers a ride and me and Ema take this. I get a grand tour of Tokyo.
In middle of the ride Ema ditches me by TP as she is the DJ of tonight’s club and the guy drives me
into death. Yeah, Wild night. Suddenly I get that TP to the club and we party for hours.

Me and Kura dancing at the Discoteque in Tokyo.

See the girl in the excavator bucket? Some way to pick up girls for afterparty. Am still laughing.

Relaxing in the swing in my garden after the party. It was needed after this tumble night of fun.
After this night and the day before I am totally wasted. So needs some time to get things together in my head again. Then I check my chats and recalls the interviews. Took me a week to land in fact,
after this flight.

At the lounge of Velvet Pink Ryou Yiyuan was the one giving me links to their blog.
http://kawaiidollskwd.blogspot.fr

There is a reason for that. Ryou is the outer world communicator for KWD™.

Everyone give their share in the band. Ema Burt even sang her own material when she was DJeing
at the party after we had met at Velvet Pink. Just to give us the full picture on how they operate, or
maybe because this is how it works. When engage the girls, you get some KWD with it.

− When I met Ryou things started to take off. She was willing to do the communication with
blogging about our activities and set up our website, Maeda explain and continues, then we
met Vivi (Vythika), and she provided us with islands to do shows at.

I wonder of course over the connection with Mr Moya, as my first meeting with them was at the
carnival he organized.

− Mr Moya engaged us for the Nice carnival of RL and SL intercommunication party and has
shown our videos at the RL/SL convents at game fairs. KWD make him discovering more
about Japanese pop culture. He begin to have interest for Harajuku style. We didn't find him
in SL but it's too complicated to explain how we got to know him, explains Maeda.
One thing that confused me about KWD is how they communicate as a band. Do they have
managers or band meetings or what?

- When it comes to KWD we do everything all together or not at all. We tried concepts of band
meetings with managers and so, but that did not work for us. We can not be controlled and fixed
into someone else idea of concept. We need be free and do it together within the group, Maeda
answers with emphase.

Acchan, Maeda Aiko, in a picture from their Facebook.

Maeda lives in France right now. She moved away from Japan as a teenager, just when she had got
connected with record companies, due to family reasons.

− In Japan it was mainly my parents idea I should take the chance to become an idol but now
it is my own. I am a very happy person in my RL, I work as a nurse and love it, still I need
to do this once more, she explains.

− I also want to give others this same chance. So anyone who reads your article that wants to
become an idol with KWD are most welcome to join us. Being an idol in the Japanese sense
of the world is not being especially famous but searching to be. What we have in common
the passion for Japanese pop culture, she continues.

− Vythika (Vivi) jumps into the talk here and tells: Avatars of idols are required to look Asian.
^o^ That is the one main rule.

− Another rule is no gor or such, we are supposed to be teenagers, adds Maeda.

Maeda explains the name of the band.
− It exist many idols in SL, they are mainly Asians and destined to a Asian public too. My
mixed status (being Japanese and French) gave me envy to give the path of KWD being
international so this way the "teams" came. Team K = American time zone, team W =
Europa, team D = Asia. So whatever time zone you are at there will always be someone in
the KWD to be with you.

The girls make postcards with autographs for their fans, this is Maeda Aiko's postcard.

Then she does something extreme that fascinates me and proves once again during this meeting
with KWD that there are more to Japanese culture interest then just sugar bombed pastel. She shows
her alt. This is a dangerous looking Japanese Ghost avatar and it makes me think of Japanese
Horror such as The Grudge and The Ringu, only worse.

There are always two sides to a coin, sort of speak.

Picture from KWD blog.

At the interview the girls explained to me the diversity within the Kawaii culture. There are Gothic
Lolitas as well as many other different style. Within KWD everyone got their own agenda, even if
they have costumes for their official shows that looks same.
- Ryou is a Kuro Gyaru, Setsuna an Hime Gyaru mixed with an Ageha, I'm an Hime Kei, Maeda
explains.
− These are Japanese styles of dress and appearance, adds Vythika.
− I remember aiko and the other had word for my style, but I couldn't remember it, says
Syrena Macpherson.
(She is the Gothic Lolita in my eyes.)
− Setsuna is the specialist, Maeda say with a manga smile. She love to give a distinctive style
to all of us.
− Setsuna is your stylist? I ask.
- No, our stylist is Neka but Setsuna is a sort of fashion victim. She run the bar we are in to be able
to feed her hunger for shopping.
Syrena Macpherson giggles. Maeda too.
− Until Godzilla comes, says Vythika.
− Godzilla?? Liza Veliz peeks ears and the girls explain they got the Japanese movie horror
monster terrorizing Second Life Tokyo for fun in their sim.

Godzilla terrorizes Tokyo sometimes. Photo from Kawaii Dolls Facebook.
− DO you live this style in RL too? If I may ask?
− - I'm not but sometimes a bit occasionally, tells Maeda.
-We all are fans of the style in RL, Vythika says. But it is hard for some.
They have a choreograph that create their dances and lives in Japan in RL that is called Kote
(tetsuya Andrew). And is sure good at it too. Watch this video.



The only male idol in Kawaii Dolls so far is their stylist Neka.
Neka is the stylist of Kawaii Dolls KWD.

- The thing we got in common is the interest for Japanese Culture and Kawaii, and the burn inside
of the wish to become an idol, Maeda Aiko explains and then bows respectfully in Japanese way to
show us her appreciation we wanted to write about her and her Kawaii Dolls.

We do the same to her and the other Dolls.

It was surely a pleasure to write this article.

If you want to connect with them or book them for an event you can always reach them at their
Facebook or at their website. They also have a calendar in the form of a book inside of Second Life
if you wish to go see them live.
They have their own TV Channel where you can watch them at this link
http://livestre.am/46I3d

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kaiolohia/134/168/4000
Slurl to the Pink Velvet

I wish to end this article with an awesome video of AKB48™. It was Acchan (Maeda) who
recomended me this one when we were speaking of styles.



Thank you for reading my interview of the Kawaii Dolls in Secondlife!

My name is Liza Veliz ,reporter for OI Magazine.

Celebrity DJ A.F.I. talks about Secondlife

Written by Carmichael Caudron



Introduction of a real life celebrity in Secondlife™......

beautiful promo glamour shot of DJ A.F.I

DJ A.F.I™ is a celebrity DJ and TV star aka Aubry Fisher (A.F.I stands for Aubry Fisher Ink).
Aubry who has starred in 2 reality shows TLC'S LA INK™, and VH1'S ROCK OF LOVE 2 ,also has upcoming movie projects in the works in Hollywood (Los Angeles) where she resides.
In this interview we will be looking into the past 2 years of her life , where she has visited a virtual reality game called Secondlife.
Many other celebrities have visited Secondlife (SL™) such as Duran Duran, real world companies such as Mercedes Benz™ and along with another estimated 10 million visitors at home have either made an account or live their "second" lives daily on this wonderful virtual reality.

It's not everyday at OI Magazine we have the honor to write an article on a real life celebrity so I was very excited.
I had the chance to talk to her on the phone as well as chat with her avatar in SL.

Along with the details of our conversation, lets look at her journey in SL thus far....

Family in SL....

Rain, Maddox and DJ A.F.I in Secondlife

On Facebook™ she has a professional page and an SL page for her profile and besides listing her DJ schedules , she proudly shows off her friends she made in SL and especially her SL family. To those less familiar with the virtual world, you can do as you would in the real world, after creating your avatar you can create your own first and last name, a career, design, rent a home,anything including raising a family and Aubry is doing all that.
In there she connected with the avatar Maddox Dupont, a native from Australia in real life,a well known hair,fashion and shape designer in Secondlife who owns KMADD & Mad Designs™ with whom she is raising a family that includes her simulated SL children, Rain, Paige,Lucas,Faith,Tana and their furry pet avatar,Andu.
Rain, Paige, and Lucas are all toddledoo (toddler/baby clothing) designers of which Rain has established an online store at Marketplace at this link https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/125519

DJ A.F.I in Secondlife with family and friends

The meeting of her first SL child named Rain is a deep genuine love story Aubry told me,who in real life is a 20 year old girl who roleplays Aubry's daughter in the game.It was something she had never experienced before, filling the void of not having had kids yet in her real life and finding it here in SL.

Rain in turn considers Aubry her surrogate mother as well as they both have established that deep unbreakable connection. They Skype™ almost daily, talk on the phone and Aubry mothers Rain like she would her real child, it was pretty touching hearing her speak in this way of her close friend from SL.

Meeting Maddox Dupont was also a love story on its own where she tells me one day she just imed him and said, "You are hot,I want to go on a date with you!"

Maddox replied and sparks flew in the game where they have been together ever since.


Designing SL fashion....

AFI Argyle UK Tank Top

AFI Boho Elephant Halter Dress

Recently Aubry has also just begun her own fashion clothing line in SL which she named A.F.I Designs™. She creates mesh clothing designs, male rock designs and female boho (hippy) designs with majority of the textures handcrafted by her.
That day I had met her earlier at one of her homes in the game with my own avatar where she had invited me over to ask me and one of her friends there for our opinion of some of her latest male mesh designs, where she was dressed as her male avatar displaying the clothing.
You can find her store at this link https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/125520 and to buy one of her items you need to register an account and exchange your currency into Lindens which is a very quick and simple process.


Djing in Second Life.....

promo made for her Secondlife DJ sets

The main clubs DJ A.F.I. spins at regularly in Secondlife are club Ambrosia, Rez, I love the 80s, Grind, BAD and Toontopia.
Aubry tells me she is also friends with Phil Kearny who is the owner of Ambrosia, Rez, Grind, and BAD. She continues "He has made a major impact on my game and life and I love him dearly as a friend. He has become a confidant and has been there for me through everything. He is very compassionate and motivating and a very caring friend. I owe him a lot. He pushes me and makes me a better person both in RL and SL ".

She has fliers for each event at the clubs and promotes them on Facebook or in the game (inworld)

DJ A.F.I djing in Secondlife

I asked Aubry what brought her to Second Life to DJ and roleplay plus how secondlifers perceived her being here from her RL celeb status.

"I saw it on HBO, I thought it looked so cool with 3D animations and I tried it out and found I could DJ on it as well.Been there ever since" she answered.

"Overall the acceptance was great" , she told me "but a few people did hate on me being here as they thought only normal everyday people with everyday problems as they put it,should be in the virtual world, to which I said I have as much right to be here as the next person, my status has nothing to do with it, I'm human and have the right to the same escape,relaxation and journey SL offers its players".

Couldn't have been a better answer,I thought and her answer definitely silenced her haters.

As to managing her Second Life keeping it in balance is her manager who checks on her from time to time logging in with his own avatar, who she on multiple times,ejects from her home she told me when he gets too intrusive hahaha.

past real world promo where Aubry performed

Validation was also an issue for Aubry, she tells me "When people saw my avatar, they always seemed to question my identity if I really was who I said I was, so one day I webcammed live during a set in the real life club to put the rumors to rest that I was faking who I was".She has since done several webcam shows as it was naturally well perceived by the audience in SL.

Next I asked if she has told her real life friends, colleagues and family about secondlife .

"In my real facebook I have a picture folder called Second Life, they are aware of it and it's definitely no secret"

The 108 pound 5 foot 6 blonde beauty then told me she enjoys promoting her SL but it is a lot of work as she is very busy with Djing in her real life career while trying to handle her secondlife audience at the same time but she does it because she loves it and she's paid well too for doing it.

She then gave me this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1CpojXrd2w (or see the embedded video we provided above) of her birthday party back in August last year she shared in SL on video listed on Youtube. Needless to say the event was grand and even a Linden employee attended which is rare in SL.Linden employees are people employed by Lindenlab™,the makers of the virtual world of Secondlife who have their own avatars and make sure everything goes smoothly inworld.
She tells me she has befriended several Linden employees now, who enjoy her events and periodically visit her sets!


Photography, Photoshop artist......

Photoshop Photography by DJ A.F.I

example of her client photography work

Photography is another one of Aubry's passions in real life that she is exploring in SL too using Adobe Photoshop™,she is very good at it may I add having seen her work, very skilled.You can schedule an appointment with her if you wish to hire her for any photography work,simply leave her a message inworld or via Facebook to set it up.

In closing......

As the clock turned 5 o'clock in the AM, our phone conversation winded down as I heard her yawning and ofcourse I couldn't keep a lady up this late, I thanked Aubry for her time and hospitality and being so open with me.A great experience for me as a writer in Second Life.

Don't expect to get her phone number out of me though when we talked because even I don't know it, it was blocked on my caller ID as her manager would go crazy if she hadn't made that precaution which I completely understood.

Real Life DJ bookings..........

Thank you for reading our article of celebrity DJ A.F.I (Aubry Fisher) exploring the virtual world called Secondlife.

You may join her group in SL named DJ A.F.I. Fans

Like her SL Facebook page to stay updated on her DJ gigs WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/RLDJAFI 

Like her real world Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/DJ-AFI/114614045270863?fref=ts

Also find her websites at WWW.LADJAFI.COM and https://soundcloud.com/BOOKINGTHEDJ
Follow these links to either book her services in real life or in Secondlife.

 

 

  

Soaring In Salisbury Connecticut

By
Sita Writer

This exclusive article dates back to the pre-Olympic Games in 2012.It describes Sita Writer's real life traveling experience during that time to Connecticut also provided with her own camera pictures.




Connecticut is the third smallest state in America and one of the original thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the
American Revolution. It is known for its compact and varied
landscape that runs the gamut from hills and river valleys to the
serene shoreline of Long Island Sound. Known as the nutmeg
state because Yankee peddlers use to sell carved wooden nutmegs
to unsuspecting housewives. Connecticut was also influential in
the development of the federal government and is known as the
Constitution State for this reason. As “the land of steady habits”
Connecticut features the highest per capita income and median
household income in America.

Winter snapshot of Connecticut by Sita Writer

In a recent article in National Geographic, Martha Stewart called
the Litchfield Hills located in the northwest corner of the state
bordering New York and Massachusetts the “real Connecticut”
because of its unspoiled bucolic countryside, large gracious
colonial homes, picture perfect village greens and charming
villages that are not sullied by the ever persuasive mega chain
stores and eateries that make so many cities in America cookie
cutter samples of one another.
There are many activities for visitors to enjoy in this southern
New England state from down hill and cross country skiing to ice
fishing, skating and even meandering on a winter wine trail or
simply relaxing by a fire at a cozy country inn.

Ski jump shot taken by Sita

One exciting winter event that takes place every January in the
quintessential village of Salisbury, located in the gently rolling
Litchfield Hills is the U.S. Ski Jumping Championship. The
village has hosted this internationally recognized ski event ever
since the day back in the roaring Twenties when a pair of Salisbury
youngsters strapped on their skis and sailed off the roof of a snow-
covered barn. That, at least, is how the locals recount the story.
Whether the tale is true or just an example of good old-fashioned
Yankee yarn spinning, “Salisburyites” have over the years grown
delightfully dippy about their annual ski get-together.  

When, for example, the U.S. Weather Service fails to cooperate and the hills
lie bare and brown, the determined and resourceful villagers import
the fluffy white stuff from wherever Mother Nature has been more
generous, spreading a blanket of flakes on the jumping ramp and
the landing area with a wheezing, gasping corn blower. Only a
few times has the event had to be canceled, much to the chagrin
of the snow-loving Salisburyites. In 1991, some snowmaking
equipment was finally acquired and the days of shovels and
strained backs are over for good.

morales pic used by permission

This year marks the 87th year for the main event, the Eastern
U.S. Ski Jumping Championships that often have forecasted future Olympic competitors. Ski jumpers will be showing off the
tremendous coordination, skill and grace it takes to soar 64 meters--over 200 feet--with a happy landing on the ski jump that rises like some wooden prehistoric creature on Satre Hill.  

Another camera shot by Sita

The tower at the John Satre Memorial Hill, just off route 44 in Salisbury, has hosted many world -class skiers including members of the American
Olympic ski-team. Foreign participants have come from as far
away as Austria, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia and
the Ukraine.
Some of the best junior jumpers in the East are expected for this
annual event that is often a warm-up for Olympic hopefuls. The
activities begin Friday night, February 8, with a chili cook-off at
6:30 p.m., followed by the human dogsled race and jumping warm-
ups under the lights. Saturday events kick off at 9 a.m. with the
kids Nordic 20 and 30 meter jumping competition, followed by the
Salisbury Invitational Competition for ski jumpers from 1 to 3 p.m.
The big event, the 87th Eastern Ski Jumping Competition, will start
at 1 p.m. on Sunday; everyone will be hoping to beat the Salisbury
record, an impressive 231-foot jump.


Traditionally, the enthusiastic crowd cheers skiers on by jingling
cowbells as the jumpers soar. This year, between 7,000 and 8,000
ski enthusiasts are expected to arrive, more than three times the
number of villagers. There is a folksy, down-home feel to the event
-- competitors must huff and puff their way up hundreds of steps
to reach the launching platform; down below spectators can crowd
to the very edges of the landing area for a close-up view of the
excitement. For further information, see www.jumpfest.org.

The Litchfield Hills is renowned for its comfortable country
inns and bed and breakfasts so if you plan on making a weekend
sojourn to this winter wonderland there are many options to choose
from.

ragamont hotel

ragamont blue room suite

ragamont living room

The Ragamont House Bed and Breakfast, an award winning
Landmark property located in the heart of scenic Salisbury offers
elegance and comfort in a stately Greek Revival Landmark
Mansion. Expansive gardens, canopied beds, cathedral ceilings,
fireplaces and cozy sitting areas are combined with up-to-date
modern conveniences and three lovely suites that you will happily
call home. The Blue Room has a rustic cathedral ceiling with two
double Shaker inspired canopied beds that have been designed by
local cabinetmaker Ian Ingersoll of Cornwall Bridge Connecticut.
This room offers a cozy sitting area with a working fireplace that
is a perfect place to warm up after a day at the ski jumps. http://
www.ragamont.com.

Rock Hall fireplace

rock hall room chamber 1

rock hall chamber 2

Rock Hall Luxe Lodging located in nearby Colebrook is a
romantic and refined boutique lodging experience on a spacious
private estate designed by renowned architect Addison Mizner in
1912. Originally the house was built as a residence for Jerome
Alexandre, an heir to the Alexandre Steam Ship fortune and his
wife Violet Adelaide Oakley. Mizner known as “The Architect of
Palm Beach,” designed and built their 10,000 square foot manor
house in his signature Spanish Mediterranean Revival style.
Today, Rock Hall is the only surviving Mizner residence north of
the Mason Dixon Line.

Rock Hall, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
features graceful gardens, orchards, walking trails and meadows;
billiard and fitness rooms, and a seasonal tennis court, swimming
pool and jacuzzi. Choose from five distinctive guest suites
including Chamber 3 with its’ hand blocked pastel printed
wallpaper from Italy, Juliet Gray queen size bed with gilt bed
tables, chaise and wood burning fireplace --the room is an
expression of romance at its best. http://www.19rockhallroad.com.

interlaken inn living room

interlaken inn townhouse image

 For a resort like accommodations, try the Interlaken Inn known
as New England’s Country Resort located in nearby Lakeville.
This resort is located between two lakes and offers all the modern
conveniences of a world-class hotel with the added benefit of being
located in a setting of great natural beauty.
Here you have a choice of lodging options from a room in a romantic Victorian Mansion
to a townhouse conveniently equipped with a full kitchen and loft.
http://www.interlakeninn.com.

Thank you for reading my article about my experience in Connecticut, my name is Sita Writer reporting for www.oimagazine.com , welcome to leave comments as always!