what kind of shoes are people wearing in temples (men and women). I see they should be closed, does this mean sneakers/dress shoes?

You take your shoes off before entering the temples. We always wear socks.

Inside temples, you must take off your shoes. To enter the Grand Palace/Temple of the Emerald Buddha complex, you must be wearing shoes that are not flip-flops. The signs there show closed-toed shoes with a heel strap, but some people have gotten by with sandals that have a heel strap. I think sneakers are much too hot (and you have to keep taking them off and putting them back on). I like a light slip-on shoe. Often in Bangkok, I want a closed toed shoe when walking on the streets.

socks?? It must be a Mass. thing...

No. it's in homage to the former presidential cat.

lol- love it!

Note the above applies to Thailand. Different customs apply in other countries.

In Burma you must remove socks as well as shoes, and not just in the temple itself but in the "temple vicinity".
We carried wipes to clean our feet off before re-inserting in our shoes.

guess my bf will have to wear hot sneakers...i don't think he has summer slip on shoes

I hated those times when I had to take off the socks too. but I always did it with a smile.

I would NEVER be able to go to that "rate temple" in India.