Bastet’s Paradise, Aphrodite (Flickr) – click any image for full size



Bastet’s Paradise, referred to in the Destination Guide as The Lost Island, is a beautiful enigma inviting exploration. Designed by Tek Scientist, the region is a curious blend, offering a rich landscape for people to enjoy and explore, places to sit, or share or to dance, mixed with curious shades of adventure, fantasy and science-fiction.

The Landing point sits alongside a garden conservatory, complete a barbecue and outdoor kitchen, and offering a place for people to sit and, if they wish, enjoy a meal. All of which sounds nicely suburban; except the conservatory and patio appears to be sitting in a jungle clearing overlooking a river and with elephants standing close by…

Bastet’s Paradise, Aphrodite (Flickr)

So, are we in Africa? Well, not entirely; the ruins a short walk away suggest we might be in South America, while beyond them a rounded tree house suggests something one might find hidden in Middle Earth, while the tiger roaming beneath the trees perhaps points towards the Indian sub-continent. Elsewhere things have a distinctly sci-fi edge to them, suggesting we are in fact on another world, far removed from Earth; so perhaps this place is a far-flung colony deep in space, an Eden created by human hands, where the animals of old Earth wander amidst the broad trees and ancient stones of a long vanished civilisation, and surrounded by tall mountains.

Careful exploration is required here, and if you’re into SL photography, you may find you’re spending a lot of time cycling through windlight settings, as so much of the region offers itself to photography and a range of lighting conditions. Do be a little careful in you explorations, however, as the sim surrounds do encroach on the region in places, which can lead to a few problems such as bouncing against the region boundary while roaming. Be aware as well, that if you take to the air, not all the trees are set to phantom, which can also lead to unexpected collisions.

Bastet’s Paradise, Aphrodite (Flickr)

But don’t let that put you off; Bastet’s Paradise really is worth taking time to explore. I loved the otherworldly feel to part of the region – the play of glow and light across surfaces which gave the upward flowing water an entirely “alien” look and feel as it moved across rocky surfaces as if they were shimmering in their own right. Elsewhere, catching sight of distant mountain tops through the trees gave me a feeling of being in Lothlorien or perhaps Greenwood the Great before darkness crept into it, and looking out towards the distant Misty Mountains.

For those who simply want a place to chill, Bastet’s Paradise offers plenty of scope – there are places to sit to be found under trees, on the shoreline, inside the assorted buildings – and even floating out of the water in a giant soap-bubble! Intan dance systems can be found throughout the region as well, and for those wanting a more romantic / intimate space, there’s a teleport system which will carry those who find it up to a skybox overhead.

All told, an interesting place to visit.

Bastet’s Paradise, Aphrodite (Flickr)

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