Tag Archives: Australia

Sydney, Australia, SL version

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I visited Sydney, Australia in SL the other day!  Was very interesting.  I went to the Sydney Opera House.  I wanted to watch a show but the schedule hasn’t had anything added since January.  I’m guessing because Winter is beginning to show its ugly head down under?

You can get there by clicking on this link: Sydney Opera House

Sydney opera house schedule

Sydney opera house schedule

Don’t forget, any links you click on in the post require you to have the Second Life Game installed in order for them to work. 

When you click on the sign above, while in game, a schedule, in text, comes up so you can see the showtimes and the dates.

Here are a couple of views of the Opera House itself.  It must be a pretty impressive sight when actually visiting in RL.

Sydney Opera House 1

Sydney Opera House 1

Sydney Opera House 2

Sydney Opera House 2

It is a lot of fun looking around in SL and posting stuff here.  However, keep in mind that I do NOT have a computer that is meant to play Graphic Intense games, so my pictures do not do justice to how they actually look.  There are things, even when I have my preferences within the game on the highest computer graphic option there is, that do not appear in my pictures.  I go back and forth while in the game, changing my preferences from lowest to highest, on the highest setting tho I give up being able to move very well in the game.  I slow down.  BAD! It drives me crazy.  Before, on my old computer, when it was new I could play all the time and see everything. It broke tho.  On my new computer, a cheap one, I can’t play on that setting all the time.  I end up wanting to throw my computer threw a wall, cuz I can’t move very well on the highest setting. :)

Sydney Opera House at night

Sydney Opera House at night

This is the Opera House at night.  In the first picture, of the smaller pictures, I am across the Quay from the Opera House having a look.  The second picture I am flying above so you can see it from above.  Same for the third, altho I turned the night preference on.

I also took a few pictures inside the Opera House for you to see.

Inside the Opera House

Inside the Opera House

Sorry about the big green dollar sign.  Putting something like this up in the game costs money, so donations are always accepted and you can usually find a “donation jar” in places like this. I gave while I was there.  Only fair, I get to enjoy the end results, but someone still has to pay for the land in game, etc…

Inside

Inside

Well worth it I think.  All the chairs are actually chairs you can sit in and enjoy the events taking place.  The chairs are not for show only.  I don’t know when the new season starts at the Opera house, but I would like to go see a show when they do begin once again.

Here is an interesting sign that was there too.  I kinda like it, similar to our “Watch for Deer” sign here in the states. :)

Kangaroo

Kangaroo

:)   Now that would be a shocker, to me, to see.  LOL  See the beautiful old church there, it really is beautiful.  I don’t remember which church it is suppose to be, lost the note I had about it in my inventory in the game.  It is beautiful tho.  I have an outside shot and an inside shot.

Outside

Outside

Inside

Inside

People go to a lot of trouble to build these things in SL. I love architecture, in rl and in sl.  They can be pretty amazing pieces of art.

I also went in the pub while I was there.  Had to see it.  :)   I was thirsty after all my walking around ya know?

The Rock

The Rock

Love the bar stools, shaped like beer cans, anyone know if they are really like that at The Rock in Sydney?  Amazing. :)

I also rode in a hot air Balloon, from what I gather it is always there for visitors to take a ride in and enjoy the city from above.  I couldn’t drive it very well, was very bad at it actually, so only a picture of the balloon itself. :)

Sydney Hot Air Balloon

Sydney Hot Air Balloon

You can ride it and fly above the city to see what is there and going on in the area.  Pretty nifty.  ‘Less of course you are a terrible driver like myself. ;(  The balloon kept going where I didn’t want to go, I attribute it to my graphically challenged computer.  Not my fault!

Here is a picture of a Sales Vendor, not far from the Opera House schedule.   Fun to see what kinds of things are for sale over there. ;)

Vendor

Vendor

I had a fun day there.  Gonna go back.  There are many other things to see there too.  Some beautiful gardens were in the area and of course the bay is visible.

I hope you like the SL version of Sydney, Australia!  If you want me to go to a place in SL that is in RL just let me know, if it is in SL I will do my best to visit and get some photos, then we can see how it is done in SL!  Have a great day.

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About « Craig Hill

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About « Craig Hill.

Training and Writing Services

Skills and Training: Corporate Training, Business English and University Preparation courses  to improve the ability for those doing business with and western companies.Tertiary English courses to prepare Chinese students for study in the west.

Writing Samples: Samples include published news, features, business, travel, politics, social issues, reviews, comments, creative writing, poems and reports, among other styles.

Resume          Contact Details

A brief biography of Craig Hill:

On 29th December 1960, Australian writer Craig Hill came kicking and screaming into the world. Today, nothing much has changed; still kicking and screaming.

Hill was born in Goulburn, Australia, and attended North Goulburn and Bradfordville Public Schools. Later, his family moved to Sydney, where he attended Heathcote High School.

Over the next 30 years, he attended several universities, and completed a Degree in Training and Development, Associate Degree in Adult Education, Diploma in Secondary Education, Diploma in Journalism and Diploma in Accounting.

He became a volunteer with the Bush Fire Brigade, State Emergency Services (SES) and St John Ambulance. Later, he was employed by the SES to train Controllers and Training Officers from various towns in southern NSW.

Hill first worked in the National Bank of Australasia Limited (now National Australia Bank), before embarking on a three year journey around Australia. It was during this time that his love of travel and writing took hold, which is still evidenced in his work today.

Returning to Goulburn, he accepted an offer to work as a prison guard at Australia’s toughest maximum security jail in that city. It was during this time that he became aware of the injustices inflicted on Australia’s Indigenous population, which influenced much of his later work.

After four years working there, Hill again travelled Australia, then returned to Goulburn where he became Chairman and Coordinator of the local Red Cross. He also organised the formation of a local branch of Australians For Reconciliation, of which he became Chairman, and the city’s representative at the Canberra Reconciliation Council. He had a weekly column in the Goulburn Post about the Reconciliation matters in the district.

Suffering persecution from some authorities in his home town, Hill moved to the Aboriginal Community of Woorabinda, in Central Queensland, where he worked as Deputy Headmaster and TAFE Program Coordinator at Wadja Wadja Aboriginal High School. During this time, he was approached by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation (ATSIC). He helped ATSIC expose corruption within management at the school, before moving to Rockhampton to work with Aboriginal street kids.

Whilst in Rockhampton, Hill was approached by ATSIC again to investigate possible frauds in the NSW town of Tingha. He was appointed Manager of the Mrangalli Aboriginal Corporation. His investigations helped Government agencies force the bankruptcy and closure of the organisation.

In 2003, Hill made the first of his many trips to China, to lecture on Aboriginal Education at 30 universities in nine cities. Developing a fondness for the country, he took a permanent post teaching in Jiangdu, Jiangsu Province, a small city that had a friendship agreement with his home town of Goulburn.

In 2005, inspired by his work with the homeless in Rockhampton, Hill joined the staff of Big Issue Australia Magazine, as a journalist and social worker. He was also invited by Australian Democrats Deputy Leader, Senator Andrew Bartlett, to work on a casual basis as a writer and researcher, particularly into homelessness issues.

In 2006, he was recognised for his success in providing housing for the homeless by being invited to participate in the Vodafone World of Difference Program, a national social responsibility program. He was one of four people invited, from almost 500 nominations around Australia. However, due to a work related injury, he was unable to complete the work for the program.

Hill travelled to Honolulu, USA for six months in 2007, and assisted with research and advice about the homelessness and racial problems in Honolulu.

In 2009, Hill returned to China, where he still resides today. In this time, he has written professionally for eChinacities online magazine, and China Trade Mag. He also works as a Corporate Trainer and Program Designer for Fortune 500 companies and Private Educational organisations.

In 2011, Hill wrote and directed the play “Alice In Wonderland: The Rehearsal” which was later selected as a finalist in the NAFLE National Drama Festival acting competition in China.

Click here for photos

Click here for videos (swimming with dolphins; singing karaoke)

Click here for Craig Hill’s Wikipedia Profile

What Shootabout is All About | shootabout

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What Shootabout is All About | shootabout.

A Walkabout is a spiritual journey commonly undergone by the Australian Aboriginal people and is something of a right of passage. They wander in the “bush” and imitate some of the heroic deeds of their ancestor’s. Webster uses the phrase an “interruption from regular work.”

I’m a photographer and one of the many victims of trying to commercialize my hobby. I want to make money as a photographer so I shoot weddings, models, product, events and just about everything else I can get paid for. This has been great for my career and honestly it’s been a lot of fun, but, I never want to lose the hobbyist passion.

This is why I’m starting a separate side of my photography and calling it “Shootabout.” I want it to be an “interruption from regular work” and a “spiritual journey” in which I can break away from the studios and the clients and get back to my roots. Shooting the world as I see it.

My primary goal is for myself. I want to ignite some of the creative fire I get when it’s just me and the camera, no deadlines, no goals, no clients. My secondary goal is to inspire you to do the same thing by sharing my progress, my revelations and of course, my pictures.

I want your feedback. Whether it’s constructive criticism, praise, or stories and pictures from you own “Shootabouts” feel free to comment or email me. Good luck, God Bless, and enjoy!

Arley Seth
arleyseth@gmail.com