A new map

I haven't been able to proceed with this SLMegatransect for quite a while, but I'd like to point out that a new map alternative that New World Notes has drawn my attention to: a service called mappa novus is providing mapping services and tools for Second Life. Even their free service interactive map seems to be more extensive than the one you get on the SL viewer.

Here's a composition, made by Alf Eaton:

Transsilvanien is open

Well, it seems that Transsilvanien is now open.

The initial contact reveals a much more elaborate sim than the previous ones I've visited in this project. Fog, horses, a looming castle, various trees...

This is not really the day for reporting: it's been an ectic week, and less than  half has passed.

More on SL MegaTransect when I can.

Next leg: Transsilvanien

Here I go...Transsilvanien.

UPDATE: here I don't go! It seems Transsilvanien is a private sim, since I don't have permission to enter it.

Here's what one can find about Transsilvanien:

Region: Transsilvanien

RAB Realty - First Class Real Estates

Allow residents in group

Owner: 

RayAnderson Beaumont, born February 1st, 2007.

Objects found here:

• Transsilvanien - RAB Design 001 - 149.961, 128.784, 21.227 (149, 128, 21)
  
• Transsilvanien - RAB Design 002 - 126.934, 109.697, 20.566 (126, 109, 20)
  
• Transsilvanien - RAB Design 003 - 111.639, 81.910, 20.727 (111, 81, 20)
  
• dead oak 01 - RAB (230, 196, 20)
  
• dead oak 01 - RAB (233, 209, 19)
  
• dead oak 02 - RAB (232, 206, 21)
  
• dead oak 03 - RAB (104, 114, 19)
  
• dead oak 03 - RAB (216, 227, 19)
  

The southwestern isles

One thing with Second Life I knew, but only now really felt, only now that I started to explore the fringes of the map: new land pops out. The map doesn't show all servers, not anything like it. As one clicks and drags and zooms, new servers, even populated one, show up.

The three pictures below are different moments of the same area, as I click, pan, and zoom. For the moment, this seems to be all the land there is.

I'll start by the southwesternmost: Transsilvanien.

Next leg: new land!

As I opened the map to follow the course planned earlier, surprise: new land! To the East and West of the Lung archipelago, new land appeared. So I'll go West, to the new far south-west of Second Life. And a lively place it seems to be, too. A large archipelago.

Shen Lung

Shen Lung seems to be a montainous area of the "Lung" archipelago.

smexy ;)

PRISTINE FALLS W A TROPICAL BEACH & OLD WORLD CHARM ON A CLASS 5 PRIVATE ESTATE WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY NOT ONLY 1 BUT 3 ISLANDS OF LUXURIOUS LIVING, PRIVACY, AND ALL THAT THE ISLANDS HAVE TO OFFER. CONTACT ROCK VACIRCA OR TRINITY CONCERTINA 

Owner: Jazmyn Magic, born May 23rd, 2008.

The first place I went was into a garden element: a grotto, with waterfalls and crystals, but also.. stinging wasps...? What's the point? Well, poor Andabata couldn't hold still with so many stings!

And they pursued my outside!

It's really irritating, because they make one jump with each sting.

The rest of the sim is normal: a dance floor scripted to provide you with dance animations and change color, vegetation, waterfalls.

However, the western half of Shen Lung belongs to a different owner:

Morg's Sanctuary

Leave me alone...

Owner: Morgane Letord, born March 9th, 2008.

Well, can't be more clear than that! A security system even popped out: "hippoSECURE v.1.1.5". It basically pushed me out within 15 seconds.

So, no proving into the private domain. But I'll provide just an overall photo, it is quite similar to the other half of the island.

Meanwhile, I noticed the red pavillion on the hilltop was on the border between terrains, so I checked it out, since it had an avatar there. So the shots being presented now are entirely taken from the "smexy ;)" section of this island.

The avatar was Chara Ramer, born August 4th, 2008. From her profile, doesn't seem to be a bot, but since she clearly wants to be left alone, I didn't bother her with chat.

There weren't any obvious flying structures until 1000m high, so I departed.

Tien Llung, Jetty

The Jetty is another part of Tien Llung. I am starting to realize that some of the more feature-laden sims will require several days to document properly.

The Jetty is amidst a set of sand islands with holiday homes. I took the offer to sail the SG Marauder... but I only got the message "Sorry, Object is in the way".

This area is fairly typical: seaside benches, alcoves, waterfalls, carpets with pillows for resting, pose balls for cuddling... and a nice one: "Laying reading".

A nice touch inside an alcove was a Roman-style klinai, with some nice fruit and a drink, albeit without a pose for adequately using the klinai.

The waterfall, however, was interesting: it was AngelX Wingtips' "Isle of Romance". Clicking it, a menu appears, allowing the user to select from various poses balls and anim balls. If one "sits" on the ball, the menu can be used to change positions and animations: "neck", "gaze", "chat", "kiss2", "embrace", "makeout", "reflect", "layside", "relax". There are also convenient options to "SWAP", so that partners change side, and "STAND", just to make both partners stand upright in a single click. Simple, easy to use, and not requiring heads-up displays.

*~**~*Dog Horten asked me to Marry Him; I said “YES! 11/13/08*~**~*

Other items included a dance area, with slowdance balls, chairs, cabins. A lovely couple posted their own love picture on the outer wall of the cabin. A similar painting was hanging inside, entitled "My Angel & Me". It belongs to Dog Horten, born Dec 31, 2007. The other is Cowgirl Lane, born April 27th, 2007, the owner of the Christmas tree (she has a picture of the couple in her profile). From her profile:

"*~**~*Dog Horten asked me to Marry Him; I said “YES! 11/13/08*~**~*"

Congratulations, Dog and Cowgirl!

They have a cosy living room with a Christmas tree, and a button to tint windows, from fully transparent to black, over various options of darkness. Nothing against camera controls, of course, but enough to convey a feeling of privacy when so desired.

Well, since the door was open, I don't think they will mind me visiting. I went to the bedroom and I noticed roses on the bed. And it is a scripted bed, "Akaesha's Evening Champagne IDX 5.0 Bed". Click it and a menu with various options pops up. For instance, coloured steam, pose balls, but also other options, like foreplay, sexual poses, and even the option of getting delivered to your avatar various kinds of sexual props.

Moving on to the other beach house, not much is unexpected. For instance, a common kitchen. It would be nice to have various options for cooking or preparing a meal for friends, but none where found:

The fireplace was automated, though: a control allows one to turn the fire on or off. There was also another controller, to drop or raise blinds: Galland Homes' Home Controller Key. Other common items were a hot tub with pose balls,and a pool outside.

~

Going outside, Shen Lung was just nearb, so off I went.

NOTE: as I was preparing to leave from Shen Lung to Transsilvanien, later today, Cowgirl Lane showed up. But I was departing, so I didn't chat.