Photo of the Day: Aga Khan Museum’s Striking Teal Visitor, and the Sighting of a New Bird as Well as a Tiny Mouse at Aga Khan Park
By MALIK MERCHANT
(Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos)
Canadian geese and their newly born goslings, beautiful trees, flowers and birds, full and new moons as well as daylight moon, children playing, and of course the Ismaili flag and much much more. I have taken countless photos at the extraordinary Aga Khan projects in Toronto — the Ismaili Centre with its unique Jamatkhana dome, the Aga Khan Museum and the Aga Khan Park — and have shared the photos with readers of Simergphotos over the past several months, with many featuring as the blog’s Photo of the Day.
Yesterday, Saturday, June 12, 2021 was another different day for me at the Aga Khan Museum. A newly married couple had arrived with their family members for a post wedding photo shoot. There was joy and laughter all around, and in my heart I wished them happiness. Of course, I did not wish to intrude into a personal occasion, but intrude I did when I saw the arrival of a spectacular teal coloured car at the museum roundabout. Shariff the owner and driver did not mind my intrusion and taking photos of the car, and when I suggested I would hide the number plate of the car, he said that wasn’t necessary.
Of all the things that I love in a worldly way, the car heads my list. And in my opinion, Germans are better at making cars than anyone else — from a performance and handling standpoint, and arguably also in looks. Of course, these days even luxury cars don’t make your heads turn — they are everywhere and not a rarity like they were many years ago.
But Shariff’s BMW could not be ignored. I also did a short interview with him which speaks volumes about his enthusiasm of redoing his car with a unique colour every year.
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It was then tea time, and as I sat across the pond with a cup of chai and cookies that I had brought from home, I was able to take photos of the beautiful robin. Two days earlier, I had seen in the same location a cedar waxwing that I had never seen at the Aga Khan Park before — robins and sparrows yes, but not a cedar waxwing.
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On June 9, the day I sighted the waxwing, I also encountered a very tiny mouse next to a bench I was seated behind the Ismaili Centre building. My zoom camera was in the bag and I could only take a photo of the cute mouse with my iPhone.
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There is always something new to see at the grounds of Aga Khan Park — so come for a walk, contemplate on a quiet bench, hear the soothing sounds of the pond water, watch jet planes fly over, see the sunrises and sunsets, watch the geese bathe in a spectacular fashion, hear the chirping of the birds, and see children play and ride their cycles. You will go back home feeling rejuvenated and happy. We all seek happiness and joy, and the Aga Khan Park provides that to me each time I am there. Each visit has so far given me a different experience. I seek out those moments, and carry with me my Olympus camera — it gives me the impetus to stretch my walks by a few hundred metres!
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FINAL WORD — THE CHROME TEALED BMW
I invite readers from around the world to submit their favourite photos and photo essays about Aga Khan projects in their part of the world. Please write to Malik at Simerg@aol.com.
Date posted: June 13, 2021.
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