Why this blog is called "Gallimaufry".

gal-uh-MAW-free\, noun.

Originally meaning "a hash of various kinds of meats," "gallimaufry" comes from French galimafrée; in Old French, from the word galer, "to rejoice, to make merry"; in old English: gala + mafrer: "to eat much," and from Medieval Dutch maffelen: "to open one's mouth wide."

It's also a dish made by hashing up odds and ends of food; a heterogeneous mixture; a hodge-podge; a ragout; a confused jumble; a ridiculous medley; a promiscuous (!) assemblage of persons.

Those of you who know me, will, I’m sure, understand how well some of these phrases (barring the "promiscuous" bit!) fit me.

More importantly, this blog is an ode to my love for Shimla. I hope to show you this little town through my eyes. If you don't see too many people in it, forgive me, because I'm a little chary of turning this into a human zoo.

Stop by for a spell, look at my pictures, ask me questions about Shimla, if you wish. I shall try and answer them as best as I can. Let's be friends for a while....

14 February 2011

I love you for a hundred thousand reasons But most of all I love you ‘cause you’re you


14th February. Valentine's Day. What better way to celebrate the day than to tell the one you love how much you love them and why you love them! In my case, I dedicate this Valentine's Day to my one true love. 
Shimla, I love you for your-

Little lanes and roads. Winding, meandering, rambling, zigzagging to no-place-in-particular
Houses, ramshackle, rickety, tumble-down, rinky-dink ones. Haughty, sumptuous, lofty ones.
Spectacular sunsets: lilac, russet, sylvan, caramel, chartreuse.
People: poet, painter, author, mother, dreamer, healer. Each one of you teaches so much.
Walking: a joy and a luxury not available in most other towns in India.
Summer storms which bring drama thunder and lightning right outside your window.
Beryl, cerulean, cobalt, indigo, sapphire skies.
Early-morning birdsong. Bulbuls, orioles, thrushes, magpies, parakeets, owls, kites, babblers, tits.
Minerva. Munshiram. Kahanchand. Gaindamull's. Bhuttico. Trishul.  
Annadale. Sheogh woods. Dhanu Devta. Glen.
Flowers, wild & domestic: gazania, potentilla, wisteria, fuchsia, orchid, columbine, clematis, daisy.
Viceregal Lodge. Yarrows. Gorton Castle. Railway Board Building. GPO. Town Hall. Gaiety. Christ Church. 
Mehroo. Sher-E-Punjab. Balji’s. Sol Café. Sitaram. The late, lamented Barista.
Clouds. Ashen. Iron. Peppery. Pearly. Silvery. Smoky. Somber. Blithe. Puffy. Light.
Trees: cedar, pine, oak, poplar, dogwood, rose tree.


Thank you, God, for giving me Shimla. 

11 comments:

NeoBluePanther said...

Hmmm, never realized there were so many reasons to fall in love with the town. :P

Geetali said...

Hmmm, I didn't have to look for reasons to love Shimla! I just do.

Geetali said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bibliophile said...

It is a lovely place. I wouldn't mind staying there for a while - a week wasn't really enough.

AroundDelhi said...

Never found such a lovely description and love for a place and description so wonderful that one can experience everything about the place before even visiting it. Just great.
Thanks.
Shimla Mall-The place to be

Of People and Places said...

brilliant! only someone in love can express true passion. you made me walk on cloud ...and linger on with every smell and sight of the place i once lived in and loved.

Sudhanshu said...

“The woods were lovely, dark, and deep, but unfortunately I had a job to keep, and numerous targets to achieve before i make my way back to the paradise city where the grass is green and the girls are preety.”

Wow what a great blog about the great city,you made me walk on NH22 of Nostalgia taking me to the place where i was born, lived and had spent some of the best times of my life...

Geetali said...

Bibliophile
Dr Anand
Vipin
Sudhanshu
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words. I have never loved a placequite like the way I love Shimla. Glad this feeling resonated with you.

Jamil Ahmed said...

Though one does not really has to count reasons to love a place like Simla, I too been loving this place for the same reasons and many more.and mind you I ceased to live there in 1947!!!But yes, the city lives in me. Such is its charisma. For the same reason love your posts and hope not to be deprived. Does it really matter so much whether you kive in there or not. (who knows, they might transfer you back again.) so please go on posting.

Geetali said...

Thank you, Jamil, for your very kind words. I have many many more photographs and memories of Shimla to share. But my self-imposed period of mourning is not yet over. I promise to start posting again, when that happens...

Unknown said...

very beautifully written about shimla, highly impressive, keep going the same way!!!

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