In Reply to: Shoes to take posted by whenwecan on Tuesday, 4. December 2007 at 16:29 Bali Time:
Comfort is the most inportant factor. Not quite sure what the Oz names for footware really mean, but I've never known any type of footware to be 'inappropriate', especially around Kuta or Sanur or even Ubud. I would say that bare feet would be looked upon as being very wrong in most places other than the sand. but never any problems with any other shoes that I have noted. I would say fit the shoe to the occasion, just as you would do at home.
I've found footwear always a problem when travelling; it's difficult and awkward and unwieldy to pack and always seems to take up an inordinate amount of space. Nevertheless, for a man, at least three pairs, one reasonably comfortable dress shoes for travelling, a pair of sandals and a pair of lightweight lace-ups for walking - what you may call 'joggers' perhaps? I also take plenty of sox and deodorising powder !! My partner takes about the same, but being a lady, usually an extra pair of evening shoes for eating-out. And good on her too - some opinions seem to suggest that any old junk is OK to wear in Bali. Not so. Anyway, for what it's worth, we pack all our footware, toilet bags, gifts, airosols and any other clumsy gear into the one small suitcase, leaving the other for more delicate fold-ups, but I'm sure you don't need a lesson on packing.
Happy walking