Day 17: Savannah, here I come!

Thanks Genie and Allen

It was great staying over a Genie and Allen's place in Wilmington, NC and we had great conversations, which is one of the things I've really learned to cherish since living in a nation with a bit of a language barrier.  On Friday morning I left their place with a bunch of delicious breakfast cookies, an excellent chicken salad sandwich, and another contact to make a long the way; Paul Lambert in Arizona near the Grand Canyon.  Thanks to Genie and Allen for their great company and hospitality. 

My next stop was to be Savannah, Georgia.  I've always loved the sound of the words that name the historic southern city, which bring to mind friendly smiles, slow streets and sunny weather.  I didn't have any place to stay there so it was my first opportunity to do some couch surfing.  I had sent a few emails a couple days before and had received one reply offering me a couch to sleep on.  I was excited, but also a bit nervous since Ramya, the girl who offered her couch to me, didn't have any other couch surfer comments or experience. 



Ramya and I after Saturday breakfast

 When Ramya greeted me outside her place, I was relieved and had a safe and welcome feeling.  She showed me around her place, which she shared with 3 other SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) students and we got acquainted.  They were all of Indian decent and so Ramya fixed me a burrito of some wonderful and spicy Indian food that her roommate had prepared.  Shortly after, we were out on the town in Savannah's central party district. 

We started at a chocolate bar called Lulu's for some dessert before heading to some rooftop bar for a drink.  That was followed by a dance bar themed in Savannah's haunted tradition.  Finally we wound up at some multi-level dance club that featured top 40 hits, dirty dancing, and poles for us to practice our pole dancing (which we all did).  A brief comment regarding the few clubs I've been to down south; they're customers are not modest about their sexual intentions and express them vividly through close contact dancing.  It's a big difference from what I'm used to in Taiwan, where grinding can be found but is not nearly as prevalent or overt.  To be honest, it's a bit of a turn off although interesting to observe. 



This is one of the many squares in
Savannah; a seemingly great place
to spend a summer's day

 On Saturday, Ramya and I went out to breakfast at a renovated car garage that now serves huge portioned meals and displays local art on the colorful walls.  We walked around some of the historical city squares, decorated with Spanish moss and lined with beautiful architecture.  But alas, it was time to leave as I had to be at my Uncle Bruce's place in Port Saint Lucie that evening.  Thanks Ramya for the fun surfing!