Spring Woods (final draft)

Spring Woods
A Sweet Scent of Cherry Flowers at Tempura

Roxanne Sun 2010/5/7




Tempura is a romantic island in Second Life with various kinds of relaxing places, such as beautiful gardens, waterfalls, forests, and restaurants for exercising, dancing, meditating, sleeping, and view seeing, and etc. One of the most attractive places situated at the west side of Tempura is a garden called Spring Wood, which appears to be full of sweet scent. “I love the fantasy in this garden,” Jacque Dove said. He is a samurai in Second Life and a pilot in real life. He said it is the most beautiful place he has ever met.



(This is the special pose.)
According to Chikae Ella, an officer of Tempura Sim, when Tempura Island was almost completed in May 2008, there were only cherry trees in full blossom at Spring Woods. The sprinkling cherry flower is considered as a kind of cool symbol, a flower of a good last moment that has no fatuous regrets or adhesion to the life and goes away without more ado. However, the officers of Tempura Island thought that it was not enough to put cherry trees in the Spring Woods for the sake of Japanese religion. The spring woods are located on the west side. In Japanese Buddhism, the west is considered as the West Pure Land which is a sanctuary where ancestors live. So, they decided to plant lotus blooms, the flower of Buddhism. The image of lotus is often connected with a Buddha sitting on them with a special pose, sitting with crossed legs (which we can do in Spring Woods). Therefore, they assumed the lotus was the most suitable flower for the Spring Woods. Visitors can practice that special pose in Spring Woods.






Spring Woods seems to be the best mud for cultivating seeds of love. The picturesque scene and romantic atmosphere make lovers feel relaxed and closer to each other. A couple, who met in Tempera a month ago, said that they were planning to chat in the garden after the dance because the view is wonderful. “If things all go right, I’ll propose to her in that garden.” Gaby Gavilan said to me via im.

A great observatory I found near Spring Woods is on the left side of the hill. There is a tree upon which is a huge nest with a big bird and five big eggs. Sitting on any egg, you can see the whole scenery of Spring Woods. It is another pleasing way to soak in Spring Woods!