Tempura Island Back - Update: Will Be Preserved By Linden Lab

 

It was several days ago in which the Tempura Island sim closed following an announcement in the group a few days before. But it seems the sim has returned. A reader alerted the Newser the place was back and open to the public to explore: Tempura Island (124/46/33)

Exactly what happened as of the writing of this article is unknown. There was no announcement in the sim's group. The area remains owned by it's longtime owners. The person contacting the Newser hoped both the sim and the recent Tempura Project would remain up. 

Update: At 7AM, it was posted in the Tempura group that the sim would be maintained by Linden Lab under it's Preservation Society.

Dear Tempura Island friends, lovers and visitors.

We like to inform you, that after our decisions to close TEMPURA, we have been reached by LL and made decision and accept to maintain our region by joining "The Second Life Region Preservation Society" provided by Linden Lab. We have received so many messages from SL residents about closing TEMPURA and we are very happy that TEMPURA will still exist.

Please enjoy TEMPURA sim as you have been for all these years.  We like to express our grateful to Linden Lab who recognize and decide to keep TEMPURA as part of SL existence.

Thank you everyone who love TEMPURA sim!  

　　　　　　　菊之介王子 (kikunosuke Eel) / Tempura Island team

So it seems Tempura joins the ranks of The Shelter, Chouchou, The Lost Gardens of Apollo, Mont Saint-Michel, the SS Galaxy, and Svarga as places (mostly well-designed sims) that will be maintained by Linden Lab.

Hat tip: Eliza Cabassoun, Spiffy Voxel

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Tempura Island Closing

 

Some sad news. After fourteen years in operation, The Tempura Island sim is closing. The announcement was given in the sim's group.

After such a long journey of 14 years traveling together in Second life, we made hard decision to close TEMPURA sim.

When opening TEMPURA we could never imagined that will last for so long time.　TEMPURA touched so many hearts and bring amazing memories to everyone　and for that we are deeply glad.

With humbleness and huge grateful we Thank you, to each of you who ever admired, loved and healed,
at TEMPURA.

Tempura is a SIM of love! We say Bye to you, but it's a Welcoming of a new beginning.

May Buddha full your hearts with love and happiness!

Dropping by, I found the area quite picturesque. While it is Japanese-owned, not everything is Japanese-themed. Tempura's largest structure is the palace in the north, which has a large dance ballroom, and a number of places and private rooms for couples. The south had a wooded area, partially green and partially autumn red and orange. In between was a circle of meditation pillows and a tai-chi practice area, both of which were being used when I dropped by at close to midnight SL time. There's plenty to explore, including a few hidden areas.

The sim does have a blog, http://japan-tempura.blogspot.com/, which has a description at the beginning of how things got started in 2008. 

No date has been given for the sim's closing.

To drop by, head to http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/tempura%20island/128/39/33 .

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Tempura Island

Among the more popular places to meditate in Second Life is Tempura Island. Having recently celebrated it's fifth anniversary, the location continues to attract many visitors and regulars. Becky "Sha" Shamen is among those who considers the place among their favorite locations, and writes about what to expect when going there, as well as a few reasons why she keeps going back.

Read Becky's article in Places.