A website dedicated to photographs and videos from Canada and around the world with an emphasis on nature, wildlife, food, travel and sport as well as art, architecture and culture. In culture, the focus will be on projects related to the work of His Highness the Aga Khan, his Ismaili Muslim community and Islam in general.
From Dawn to Dusk: Splendid Photos of Aga Khan Park, Ismaili Centre and Aga Khan Museum in Mid-Winter! But Where is the Snow After THAT White Xmas?
Timeanddate is a website that has served me well. I depend on it to tell me what is in the heaven’s above — including the locations of all the planets in our solar system, when the sun and moon will rise and set, as well as their exact positions at any given moment from almost all locations in the world! You simply enter your city or town in the search box. Then to locate the object in the sky within seconds, I use the Compass Navigation App that I have downloaded on my iPhone.
Looking through trees at Aga Khan Park, a spectacular photo of the sky shortly after sunset on January 16, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
January 16th, 2021 was a beautiful day. Timeanddate date informed me the sun would rise at 7:47 am in the 119° SE direction. I prepared myself. I charged my digital cameras, made some Lily brand coffee, baked a frozen chicken samosa and excitedly set out for the Aga Khan Park. After spending a couple of hours at the park, I returned home and watched English Premiere League football matches. I then went back to the park at dusk. The waxing crescent moon, which had already risen in the morning, would now be making its presence felt more strongly.
From left to tight: Toronto on January 16, 2021; and streets in Madrid and Ottawa on January 9th and 16th respectively. Photos: Malik Merchant / Yasmin Alibhoy / Rozina Merchant / Simergphotos.
When I got to the Aga Khan park at sunrise, I made a Facetime call to my Spanish cousin to tease her about the greenery at the park, as Madrid and other parts of Spain had been blanketed with several inches of snow a few days earlier. She was stunned as much as I was, because normally it is the other way around! Mind you, December 25, 2020 was affirmed as a White Xmas Day in Toronto with around 10-12 cms of snow on the ground (see photo feature). There has been very little snow since then, and with warm temperatures there are only traces of snow in most parts of the city.
One of the most beautiful moments for me was when I was passing underneath a tree, only to be soothed by sounds of birds chirping in the bare branches above me. I watched them fly from one branch to another. I spent 10 minutes with them, and that was absolutely marvellous. I also felt spring in the air.
However, I also thought of the millions around the world who are confined to their homes due to Covid-19 and also those who are being treated in hospitals. I remembered family members who have lost their loved ones during the pandemic, and have been unable to bring a proper closure to their tragic losses.
One sad note for me was to watch several visitors at the park indifferent to social distancing guidelines. Many were talking in the parking lot and in the park without wearing masks, and they were evidently not from the same household! This is happening in the midst of a lockdown in Ontario. No doubt Covid-19 cases keep on rising due to irresponsible actions!
Anyway, I hope you like this collection as much as the other photos I have posted before from several visits I have made to the three majestic projects brilliantly conceived by His Highness the Aga Khan.
MORE PHOTOS OF AGA KHAN PARK, AGA KHAN MUSEUM AND ISMAILI CENTRE – PROJECTS BUILT BY HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN
Flags of Ismaili Imamat (left), city of Toronto, province of Ontario and Canada bask in early morning sun at Aga Khan Park in Toronto. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
A section of the courtyard of the Ismaili Centre with a stairwell leading to the open rooftop of the centre. The glow in the sky in the horizon is from the setting sun; please see more photos below. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
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5 thoughts on “From Dawn to Dusk: Splendid Photos of Aga Khan Park, Ismaili Centre and Aga Khan Museum in Mid-Winter! But Where is the Snow After THAT White Xmas?”
Beautiful pictures and inspiring commentary
Wow! These are amazing photos!
You are not only a talented photographer but also a fascinating story teller. Keep them coming!
Absolutely beautiful!
Serene and breathtaking.