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Once upon a time... 2
Our Spring Break Vacation In the end, got too stressed out by the fast life in Toronto, packed up the family, and linked to the islands for an impromptu spring break vacation. Wanted to see the sights again, ride the maglev, and listen to one of Gehn s now affectionately known as Il Commandante patented operatic speeches. Turned out to be a good idea. As soon as we linked, I could feel the tension flow right out of my fingers... The weather was gorgeous, and it never changed. Bright sun, blue sky, endless sea, soft winds... we couldn t ask for more. 3
The views from Jungle Island are stunning. In the background here you can see Temple Island's Big Golden Dome. The real thing is even more impressive than pictures of it. The water is fabulous, and it's sunny every day. The islands are quite stable now that the troubles are over, and the locals are very hospitable. Gehn is a popular, if occasionally despotic, ruler. Wish you were here the ytram extract is out of this world! And what is a vacation without a beach? We found the beach at Sunner s Cove just perfect for our purposes. The water is wonderful, and the sand has a velvety texture that never ceases to fascinate. We had this splendid beach to ourselves for the duration of our stay. 4
In Sunner Cove on Jungle Island. It seemed a little strange to be bathing in a place that used to be known for the wonderful sunner creatures that used to come and bask on the rocks here, but with the opening of the islands to tourism, sunner sightings have been few and far between. Some say that they only come at night now, when the cove is deserted, and that you can sometimes hear their haunting, raucous cry if you ever happened to be awake at three in the morning. Needless to say, we never saw or heard them... 5
Lida and Larysa on the rope bridge on Jungle Island. The ocean and sky are as unchanging as ever behind them... Wandering about the rock piles of Boiler Island reminded us of the very first time we came here, when the islands were yet not quite stable, and Larysa was just a little girl. Boiler Island is still very rugged and austere, and you would be well advised to pack plenty of water if you want to explore its wind-swept upper reaches. 6
Larysa in front of the mushroom-shaped surveyor room in Whark Lagoon on Garden Island. Unlike the sunners, the whark is still a presence here in Whark Lagoon, and may be spotted often from the underwater observation deck located on the island s lower level. Although the lineups to the underwater observation deck on the lower level of Garden Island are exceedingly long, the sight of the large, mythical creature slowly gliding out of the blue depths of the lagoon to peer at us with its hypnotic, unblinking eyes is chilling and unforgettable. 7
Ah, what would a trip to the islands be without a ride on the justly famous magnetic levitation car, or maglev? After some initial reservations, Larysa could not get enough of it, and proclaimed it better than Disneyland! Here, we whip down the cables at breakneck speed to Jungle Island, visible at the right of the middle photo. The ride takes less than 30 seconds! 8
9 What makes the breakneck speed of the maglev seem greater still is that it often flies just a few feet above the water. The g-forces around the bends can tear your insides apart. Here, we approach Garden Island, visible clearly in the photo at the bottom.
Here I am on the dock on Jungle Island s lake. The submarine was out of commission the day we were here, but just being able to look at the Rivenese village with its mud huts stacked up on the cliff wall was something else. You get this intense feeling of having been here before, of this place being somehow very significant to you... Waiting for the maglev car back to Temple Island on Jungle Island s landing beach. Embedded in the rock behind Larysa to the right you can just make out one of the wooden balls that are part of the mystery of the place. All five balls are still in operable condition on Jungle Island, and it is de rigeur for tourists to make a trek through the island and touch each one. Given the size of the island, this is a demanding proposition indeed, especially in the dense, humid undergrowth of the jungle which gives the island its name. 10
Back on Temple Island, we paid a last visit to the Scarab Room. The soft gleam of the gold walls and pillars, the deep blue glow of the starry dome, and the intricate carvings and inscriptions bring back some of the fearsome history of Riven, something that other parts of the islands try to play down. The gate behind Larysa, blocked by the grille, leads to the Big Golden dome, closed that day for maintenance. Larysa sitting on the Temple Island temple stairs, on the last day of our stay. She had a very nice time, as did Lida and I. A stay on the islands is highly recommended. Very relaxing, very renewing, very virtual. Oh, well, back to a decidedly unvirtual Toronto... 11
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