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.
A stunning sunrise on Lake Ontario on a perfect morning, shortly after 8:00 AM, Scarborough Bluffs, Grey Abbey Park, Toronto; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Introduced in 1982, the Ontario car plate slogan “Yours to Discover” was changed to “A Place to Grow” for new license plate owners in 2020, in white letters on a blue background. I decided to use the former slogan in the title for this Toronto post because you can keep on growing in this city for as long as you live, and always have extraordinary places to visit. I found this out after having lived here, on and off for about 30 months, beginning the summer of 2018. Google guided me to some wonderful websites, as did the many residents of the city I met at the parks and forests I visited. In turn, I would highlight and encourage them to visit the Aga Khan Museum, the Ismaili Centre and the Aga Khan Park that have provided so much comfort, happiness and companionship to me over the years, along with the nearby East Don Trail and Edwards Gardens.
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Autumn at Aga Khan Park, with dome of Ismaili Headquarters Jamatkhana behind the trees. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Toronto is truly a world class city in all aspects: Sports (teams in every major North American sport — the NHL, NBA, MLB, and MLS), great theatres, world class restaurants and entertainment, great museums and learning institutions, fantastic hospitals and medical teams providing world-class health treatment, the famed TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), fantastic shopping, malls, an incredible mix of 250 ethnic communities that speak 170 languages, proximity to major tourist areas, the beautiful Lake Ontario that appears like an ocean, and the list can go on…and add to that countless parks, rivers, forests and gardens. Of course, Covid-19 has limited our abilities to travel freely since early 2020.
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A SIDE NOTE FOR FOOD LOVERS
For FOOD LOVERS, I have two very quick suggestions. (1) The Kebob on 3417 Derry Road East (at Goreway) for tikkas, tandooris, and ginger chicken. They are served with fantastic nans and a healthy salad. Instead of regular rice, go for their moist and tasty biryani rice. The Kebob has been my favourite spot in Toronto since the late 1990’s. It has never failed me, and I would go to this place everyday, if it were close by. (2) Another great food experience you will have is at Allepo Kebab on 1960 Lawrence Avenue West for Middle Eastern food with a Syrian touch. My nephew from Spain enjoyed Allepo and I have promised him a return trip when he visits Toronto again. The owner is from Syria, as is the lady who assists him in the preparation of the food. Try their special plates and add a couple of small falafels to your order. It is not far from the Ismaili Centre.
Then, if you are a Paan addict, which I am not (it is an annual event for me), try Cafe de Paan — a nice name I think — on 2016 Lawrence, in a little mall 50 metres east of Allepo Kebab. This past week just happened to be my once a year craving for a paan. Cafe de Paan offers an incredible number of choices as well as fillings for the paan, all temptingly placed in the front counter. It also serves great sandwiches and their chai is very well prepared. The owner’s sister in law makes awesome gulab jamun. The mall has several other nicely reviewed restaurants specializing in ethnic food.
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Children enjoy the playground at Morningside Park, Scarborough, Toronto; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
As I depart the city in a few weeks to make a new home elsewhere in Canada, I leave you with a bunch of photographs from an outing last week, November 7, 2021. At the same time, I ask you to visit the Home Page for awesome photo essays that were published in 2021 and earlier. I think you will like the posts.
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A fisherman relaxes and waits for his firmly placed fishing rod to jerk at a popular fishing spot near the parking lot area of the Rouge National Urban Park, Toronto; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
I truly hope that you take time to discover Toronto’s parks and forests during the coming winter as well as in the spring, summer and autumn of 2022. For winter, please dress warmly, wear layered clothing and wear good boots when you are outside!
Toronto is a beautiful city; it is fittingly “A Place to Grow” and also “Yours to Discover.”
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Scenes from Scarborough Bluffs, Rouge National Urban Park and Port Union Waterfront Park
SELFISH AND UNCARING!
A thoughtless and a rather insensitive and selfish individual crosses out a Covid-19 billboard alert posted by the city of Toronto at Port Union Waterfront Park; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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THE SUN
The sky on Lake Ontario from Scarborough Bluffs, Grey Abbey Park, Toronto, 10 minutes before sunrise on November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
A breathtaking sunrise on a clear day on Lake Ontario, Scarborough Bluffs, Grey Abbey Park, Toronto; 7:01 AM November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
The sun going full-blast on Lake Ontario, from Scarborough Bluffs at Grey Abbey Park, Toronto, 9 minutes into sunrise on November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Sunrise on Lake Ontario as seen from Scarborough Bluffs, Grey Abbey Park, Toronto; appx. 7:10 AM, November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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Video: Sunrise
Sunrise, Lake Ontario, watching from Scarborough Bluffs at Grey Abbey Park, Toronto, appx. 7:01 AM, November 7, 2021. Video: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
The sun, now higher in the sky, about two hours after sunrise, shines brightly over a section of Lake Ontario at Port Union Waterfront Park, Toronto; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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AUTUMN, WILDLIFE, HUMAN BEINGS AND NATURE
A beautiful photo of autumn foliage on a small lake at Rouge National Urban Park, Toronto; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Beautiful swans swim in small lake located by the main entrance in Rouge National Urban Park, Toronto; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Swans, Rouge National Urban Park, Toronto; November 7, 2021.Video: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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A fisherman throws his line into a small lake or lagoon by Lake Ontario at Rouge National Urban Park, Toronto, close to a railway track overpass and across from a lookout point; November 7, 2021. Photo: Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.
Waves in Lake Ontario crash on the soft sands of Rouge Beach in Rouge National Urban Park, Toronto; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
A beautiful tree with bright orange autumn leaves stands proudly surrounded by large rocks at the shore of Lake Ontario along Port Union Waterfront Park; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
A close-up view of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station Plant by Lake Ontario, further north-east of Rouge National Urban Park from where the photo was taken. It is one of the oldest nuclear power stations in the world and Canada’s third-largest, producing about 15% of Ontario’s power and employing 3,000 workers. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Visitors enjoy the sounds of the crashing of waves on the shores of Lake Ontario at Port Union Waterfront Park. The Park first opened in 2006 as part of Toronto’s waterfront revitalization project; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
A beautiful view of trees with autumn foliage under clear blue skies on a cliff along Port Union Waterfront Park, Toronto; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
A cat literally stops to have her picture taken as it enters a pedestrian tunnel decorated with graffiti art at Port Union Waterfront Park, Toronto. The cat then continues to walk into the tunnel after the photo is taken, November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
The beautiful cat in the previous photos begins to walk through a pedestrian tunnel decorated with graffiti art at Port Union Waterfront Park, Toronto, moments after it had posed for a portrait photo; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Visitors walk along the scenic shores of Lake Ontario at Rouge National Urban Park, Toronto; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Pigeons find a sandy patch along Rouge National Urban Park on Lake Ontario, Toronto; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
A visitor enjoys a walk along the beautiful Rouge Beach on Lake Ontario at the Rouge National Urban Park, Toronto, November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Mercnat/Simergphotos.
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Scenes from Morningside Park: The Salmon Run
Video: Salmon and the Rapids at Highland Creek
Salmon at a rapid, Highland Creek, Morningside Park, Toronto, November 7, 2021. Video: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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A beautiful deer grazes at the edge of Highland Creek at Morningside Park, Toronto; November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
What appears to be an artistic painting of salmon swimming in Highland Creek, shown in the next photo, becomes clearer in this photo where the water, where the salmon are swimming, is reflecting the forested area by the creek. November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
This artistic looking photo of salmon swimming in shallow waters at Highland Creek in Morningside Park, Toronto, is captured under sunlit blue skies with autumn foliage surrounding the waters. November 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
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Video: Spawning Salmon at Highland Creek?
Salmon roll over may indicate spawning. Highland Creek, Morningside Park, Toronto, November 7, 2021. Video: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Date posted: November 11, 2021.
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Lots of great photos! 💗 Rediscovering Toronto. The restaurant tips are very good! 💗