Once again, I believe the developers have done a great job in putting together this new neighborhood. Al Simhara and the surrounding area has been done in a way that is very different from Shang Simla but it is still evocative of what it is supposed to represent. It really seems to capture the feel of a stereotypical simlish view of Egypt, ranging from the pyramids to the sphinx, from beached ships to Al Simhara's bazaar, from verdant oases to opulent palaces.

Due to the shimmering desert sun, it is not as easy to get one picture to annotate and point out the different landmarks, so I will have to use a few.

(1) Base Camp is found to the south of the township and it is where the adventuring sims first arrive. Our sims get to sleep in tents, have only a shower and toilet and the most basic of cooking facilities.

(2) The Township of Al Simhara is located on the south bank of a small river what I am taking to be a tributary to the mighty River Nile, which is situated to the west. It is a settlement of about a dozen closely-spaced homes although there are a few more houses scattered around the outskirts.

(3) The Market is the central community area in Al Simhara. The General Store (G) has a special line in cameras; the Foodstore and Café (F) sells the local delicacies of shawarma and falafel; the Relic Store (R) sells and buys relics; and The Bookstore (B), which has cookbooks for the local delicacies, fishing books about crocodiles and mummyfish and a primer for those learning photography. In the market square itself is a snake-charmer's basket. There is no regular snake charmer as such and anyone is free to have a go.

(4) Desert's End is Al Simhara's graveyard, houses the mausoleum and various sepulchres and tombs, some of which can be explored. It is found to the east of the township and can quickly be reached either on foot or by kenspa.

This view is taken from the Nile looking eastwards. We do not need to say anything more about the Basecamp (B) but that will serve as the starting point of certain exploratory expeditions to describe how to get to certain new landmarks.

If an adventurer heads on the east road from the base camp as if they were going towards Desert's End but then turn south, the road leads through a pass into a valley where can be found the (5) Temple of Hatshepsut, which bears a close likeness to its realworld inspiration in the Valley of the Kings. There has been a lot of archaeological excavations going on around here already and there are some active digs. The temple itself looks in good condition but there is little to see here. It has a couple of tombs found at the lowest level but they are only accessible if the adventurer has the appropriate keystones. No "off script" tomb raiding here.

If an adventurer heads west, instead, as if they are following the tributary along to the Nile, there are two more ancient landmarks that can be found. A short way down the trail is Camp Sun (CS). This is one of the many small campsites scattered around the Al Simhara area. If an adventurer turns south just before this camp, there is a long winding path. This firstly heads up through the hills but then leads down into Sky Valley. Firstly, they will come across what the locals call (6) Water In The Sand, which is an oasis and fishing hole, but beyond that, partly embedded into the sandy cliffs is the (7) Pyramid of the Sun. Although not the largest of the pyramids in Egypt, there is a lot to explore inside. There may even be a mummy.

If the turn isn't made before Camp Sky and the adventurer continues heading west, the trail winds up into another range of hills. This will bring the adventurer to Camp Earth (CE), which is another small campsite. The trail forks at this point. Following the fork to the left winds around past a beached galley and towards the (7) Pyramid of the Sun. Following the right fork continues to the impressive entrance to (8) Abu Simbel, which is a very accurate rendering of the Ramesses II Temple at the real Abu Simbel in realworld Egypt. Gaining entry is not as simple as entering a pyramid as it requires an offering of a relic and a space rock to be left on two plinths outside.

The river that flows past Al Simhara on its way to the Nile is a confluence itself of two other streams which join together just east of the township. On the east bank can only be found two palaces that are available for purchase by sims with a Level 3 visa and a lot of spare loose change. This view is from the confluence looking in a northwesterly direction.

The north bank of the Al Simhara river can only be accessed by a bridge that is found to the northwest of the township. After crossing the bridge, the road forks and the adventurer can go left or right.

To the right, the first landmark is (9) The Great Sphinx, which bears a close resemblance to the real thing in Giza in realworld Egypt. However, this one appears not to have lost its nose and also upon close inspection seems to be cross-eyed. There is a tomb underneath the Sphinx where it is believed a cure for the curse of the mummy can be found. Continuing up the road, it leads to the (10) Ship's Oasis, where by some bizarre means, an ancient Egyptian galley has found its way to the centre of this oasis that is halfway up a mountain.

To the left can be found three pyramids, which closely represent those at Giza. From left to right, these are the (11) Pyramid of the Wind, the (12) Great Pyramid and the (13) Pyramid of the Burning Sands. Apart from Wind, which has strangely very little to explore or find, the other two pyramids have a great deal to explore, many puzzles to solve, traps to circumvent or avoid and so much treasure, it makes any expedition worthwhile. As expected with pyramids being the resting place for dead pharoahs, there may be a mummy or two to be found.

Following the trail along towards the Nile, the adventurer would end up at the (14) Ruins of Karnak. There are several dig sites around here plus there is a chamber below the pillars. I am yet to find whether this copies any specific site in Egypt, although it certainly does not look out of place here.

Although some geographical liberties have been taken in siting Abu Simbel in site of the Great Pyramid, which would be impossible as in realworld Egypt they are about 300 miles apart, a great deal of work has gone into the design and overall feel of simlish Egypt.