Photo of the Day: Gorgeous Sunsets in Vancouver and Cabot Trail in Canada, and Cartagena, in Colombia, South America

By MALIK MERCHANT
(Publisher-Editor, BarakahSimerg and Simergphotos)

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Playground of the Gods, sunset vancouver burnaby mountain park simergphotos malik merchant
A view of a magnificent piece of native Japanese art sculpted by Nuburi Toko. The moon is high up in the sky, with the sunset about to occur in the next 30 minutes from the time this photo was taken at 7:40 PM. The pole points across the ocean to the west symbolizing the bridge of friendship that connects the sister cities of Kushiro and Burnaby. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: iPhone

Thank you to all the readers who have written in the social media, WhatsApp, and via email to say they have been enjoying the photos that my daughter Nurin and I have presented on Simergphotos over the past several months. I arrived in Vancouver a week ago to pay my respects to my mum, who passed away on January 21, 2021 at the age of 89.

Sunset Vancouver Burnaby Mountain Park
The setting sun in the west casts a beautiful glow on “Playground of the Gods” as well as makes shadows at the Kushiro gardens of Burnaby Mountain Park. The sculptures were done by renowned Japanese native artist Nuburi Toko. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: iPhone

My evenings are mainly spent at the Burnaby Mountain Park, as it is quite close to me. Unless I am lucky, I have to make several rounds to get a parking spot as hundreds come to view the sunset. At this time, the sun sets between 8:10-8:25 PM — days will continue to get longer until June 21. The waters in the ocean glimmer with light from the setting sun. What a spectacular sight! One thing missing from my sight that I would see everyday at the Aga Khan Park in Toronto. The Ismaili Flag! Let’s see if we can plant one here and many other places!

Sunset in Vancouver as viewed from the gardens of Burnaby Mountain Park: April 20, 2021. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: iPhone
Sunset in Vancouver as viewed from Burnaby Mountain Park Simerg photos malik merchant
Burnaby Mountain Park, a beautiful park is also famous for viewing Vancouver’s spectacular sunsets. The parking area gets full before the sunset and throngs of people sit at various vantage points to see the sunset. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: iPhone
Sunset vancouver burnaby mountain park simergphotos malik merchant
The parking area at Burnaby Mountain Park gets full with the approaching sunset. Visitors come by the hundreds to take their spots at several vantage points in the park — and no one is ever denied a great spot to watch the magnificent sunset. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: iPhone
Sunset in Vancouver as viewed from Burnaby Mountain Park: April 20, 2021. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: iPhone
Playground of the Gods, Burnaby Mountain Park, Simerg photos, sunset Malik Merchant
Sunset in Vancouver as viewed from a section of the magnificent Japanese native sculptures Playground of the Gods at Burnaby Mountain Park. April 20, 2021. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: iPhone

In this Photo of the Day feature, I have combined my Vancouver sunset photos, above, with a collection of sunset photos, shown below, that I took in Cartagena, Colombia, and the Cabot Trail in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Though not a sunset photo, the last scene in this post took my breath away. I came out of the car, and had to take the picture and reflect on the message. I spent a lot of time at the site. Yes, prayers for all ruhanis (deceased); they seek it!

____________________________

CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA

Cartagena Colombia Sunset Simergphotos, Cafe del Mar
A packed Café del Mar restaurant on the Walls of the resort city of Cartagena, Colombia, for viewing of spectacular sunsets in the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E.M10

Me in Colombia? Yes, and I will be sharing a very exciting and inspiring story with my readers sometime in the future about an extraordinary and amazing trip that I made to the South American country about 4 years ago for a very very special reason. For now, I will stick to the sunset that I watched in Cartagena from Café Del Mar — a much sought restaurant that is booked well in advance for the sunset. It is located on the Walls of Cartagena. I was by myself and the restaurant was able to sit me at a table beside the ocean.

Sunset Cartagena Colombia South America malik Merchant Simergphotos, simerg
Sunset in Cartagena, Colombia as viewed from Café del Mar. January 26, 2017. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E.M10
Sunset Cartagena, Colombia South America, Simerg Photos, Malik Merchant
Waters of the Caribbean Sea, just off Cartagena, Colombia, glitter with light from an evening sunset. January 26, 2017. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E.M10
Sunset Cartagena, Colombia South America, Simerg Photos, Malik Merchant
Photo of the Day: Sunset in Cartagena, Colombia as viewed from Café del Mar. January 26, 2017. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E.M10

_____________________

CABOT TRAIL, NOVA SCOTIA

Some of my friends who drove through this 300 km highway, which is regarded as one of the most scenic drives in the world, were bitterly disappointed as it rained on both days they were there. When I entered the Park late one September evening, it was raining hard and the 50 km drive to the hotel was quite difficult with poor visibility. After a restful night, I was treated to two continuous days of splendid weather, with spectacular valley and coastal views all along the way — I decided to travel in both directions.

Cabot Trail, Nova Scoria, one of the most scenic drives in the world, by the Atlantic ocean. September 9, 2015. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.

Some of my friends who drove through this 300 km highway, which is regarded as one of the most scenic drives in the world, were bitterly disappointed as it rained on both days they were there. When I entered the Park late in the evening, it was raining hard and the 50 km drive to the hotel was quite difficult with poor visibility. After a restful night, I was treated to two continuous days of splendid weather, with spectacular valley and coastal views all along the way — I decided to travel in both directions.

Sunset at Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia. September 9, 2015. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E-M10.
Sunset at Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia. September 9, 2015. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E-M10.
Cabot Trail sunset malik merchant simerg
Sunset at Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia. September 9, 2015. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E-M10.
Sunset at Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia. September 10, 2015. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E-M10.
Cabot Trail sunset malik merchant simerg
Sunset at Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia. September 9, 2015. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
Cabot Trail sunset malik merchant simerg
Sunset at Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia. September 9, 2015. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E-M10.
Cabot Trail sunset malik merchant simerg
Sunset at Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia. September 10, 2015. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E-M10.
Cabot Trail sunset malik merchant simerg
Sunset at Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia. September 10, 2015. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E-M10.
Sunset at Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia. September 10, 2015. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E-M10.
Sunset at Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia. September 10, 2015. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E-M10.

____________________

… AND A PENETRATING MESSAGE

…..That I was compelled to act upon immediately

St Margaret's cemetery nova scotial, Malik Merchant simerg photos
This is not a sunset photo but I was struck by the message that was engraved on the grounds of this cemetery that I came across as I drove through the Cape Breton Highlands. September 10, 2017. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Olympus E-M10.

Date posted: April 23, 2021.

_________________________

Before departing this website, please review our Table of Contents or visit the Home Page for links to our fantastic photo essays. We welcome feedback/letters from our readers. Please use the LEAVE A REPLY box which appears below or send your comments for publication to simerg@aol.com. Please share this article link with your friends!