Shoe/sock étiquette for temple viewing
 

When viewing temples, I know you have to remove your shoes….but do you also have to remove socks? And, are you allowed to carry your shoes in a bag or do you HAVE to leave them outside. Sounds questionable that they'll be there when you're done.

And, if you have to remove socks, that makes me very nervous about picking up stuff from the floor, not to mention burning your feet (like in Yangon when it should be about 100 degrees) I'm wondering if there's some type of spray product that could provide a temporary seal on you feet….like if you had a burn or something.

Any ideas?

Funny that someone with your screen name is worried about having bare feet! Whether you can keep socks on may depend on the temple, I've always gone barefoot myself, although there was one time in Kolkata I washed my feet off before putting my sandals back on (there were sacrifices going on, but that's unusual).

Occasionally I've carried my sandals, but more often not. In India there is often someone looking after them (whom you tip).

Very true…..I didn't notice the irony! But walking on a pristine beach is slightly different!

I sometimes leave my shoes with the "watcher" but always have a plastic bag in case I want to carry they with me.

When I was in India during winter, I had socks that I brought just for the temples. Afterwards, I either threw them away or stored them in a baggie till I did laundry, depending on the looks of them!

In Burma, the expectation is no socks.

No socks, but do take medicated wet wipes with you and a pumice stone with you for an evening scrub. We didn't on our first visit many moons ago and Mrs SS caught ringworm (easily sorted when back home)
Long thread here from FAQ on TA, footwear is from post 15+
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...r-Myanmar.html
SS

Definitely no socks allowed in Myanmar. i never worried about leaving my shoes and they were always there on my return. Taking wipes is a great idea.

Ringworm, yikes! DH has said he won't go inside if he can't wear socks because he's prone to that kind of thing anyway. I still think a barrier sprayed on the bottom of the foot is a good idea…just got to figure out what that is.

I just got back from an 11 day tour of Myanmar and can confirm you must be barefoot. Most of the floors were not hot, occasionally a short walk outside of a temple. The day we went to Mt. Popa it was raining and we had to climb 700 steps in the wet and dirt in barefeet. I was not a happy camper that day.

Our driver had a supply of the wet wipes in the car to use at the end of each temple before putting the shoes back on. I washed and cleaned my shoes every night back at the hotel. I would advise bringing sandals that have a rubber/plastic sole, like Keene's, that can be easily cleaned without the dirt getting rubbed in.

In Yangon today and visited the Shwe Dagon temple today ... barefoot, no socks, safe to leave sandles at entrance by the elevator. However, I tried a suggestion I had read about on TA and applied (before arriving to the temple) masking tape on the bottom of my feet! Worked great, and gave a layer of protection from grime and hot marble flooring!

Janetd5,
Masking tape! Great idea! We usually carry duct tape when we travel…that should work too. Maybe I can find a flesh color so people won't notice.

susiesan, I'm definitely bringing rubber type soles, but I'm not sure about sandals. I read LP's recom that you wear shoes, not sandals, because there's so much "ick" you have to walk through, (in Yangon in general) to protect your feet. On earlier trips to less developed countries, I've worn my oldest running shoes and then left them. Of course, since this is a cruise….I'd be going through shoes pretty quickly!

Almost all Indian temples and mosques require bare feet, although a few allowed me to wear tennis socks.

There's a spray bandage that forms sort of a waterproof seal that might be useful. I plan to experiment before my next India trip in June.