A bizarre barefoot experience, nothing to do with my feet.

Went into town today, had three things on the agenda. 1) Pop into the phone shop and get my contract switched to pay as you go for when the contract runs out at the end of the month, while also addressing a problem with the handset. 2) take some films in to get them developed. 3) Go to the library and do a bit of work for some exams coming up next week at university.

Was a nice day, so walked into town barefoot, left the shoes at home, all was good. Got into vodafone shop and it was a complete nightmare. They completely wrecked my phone and sim card, no idea how they did it. I just wanted a problem with the memory fixed, and next thing I know, my sim card has been destroyed (all worked fine when I handed them the phone), and then when they tried to issue me a new sim card, the phone had a problem, it was asking for a phone code, when I never set one, and apparantly that model of phone isn't supposed to ask for one anyway. So I'm without a phone until the problem can be solved.

At least the photo shop didn't give me any hassle, nor did the library (although I had wondered about that since there's been an ongoing saga between a barefooter and his local library in the US made famous on the SBL).

And the vodafone shop didn't mention my feet at all either. So there's one positive I can draw from that.

Also, yet again, whilst out barefoot I got stopped and asked for directions by people who didn't know the area. I don't know why, but it happens very often when I'm barefoot. Maybe people see that I'm barefoot and infer that I'm comfortable with the area and must know it well. Either that or it's just one of those odd inexplicable coincidences.

 

Hey sax machine theres a communist plot out right now geared specifically
against you.Just be calm and ride it out.The communists have nothing personally against you.

 

I thought the direction thing only happened to me! I get pinged all the time when out and about bare. Amazing eh?

 

Well us barefooters are a friendly helpful crowd, aren't we

 

Hehe, i work at a petrol station, and a couple of people come in barefoot. I treat those customers extra nice!

 

actually, I've noticed that myself. When I'm not getting hassled (which is most of the time really, I've only ever been hassled once or twice), people are extraordinarily polite and helpful to me.

 

G'day all.

Just joined this Forum the other day and finally have a bit of time to send a message.

I live in sunny Cairns (Far North Queensland) and work as a teacher. I've been here for about 20 years and there is something really interesting.

In Cairns (well all the tropical areas of Oz actually) people are ALWAYS barefoot! Go into a shop and you get served by a staff member who is barefoot. Walk into a restaurant, cinema, doctors surgery or anywhere else you can think of and everyone is barefoot.

At my local High School (were I teach Science and Maths) it is the norm for students and staff to be barefoot. It's just part of the culture here. I haven't worn shoes since I've been here! Actually never wore them before!

Last year I visited friends down in Melbourne (Victoria - southern Oz) and of course I was barefoot. It was Summer (highest temp about 40 degrees celcius) and my friends and I went out to the local shopping centre. What was I greeted with? A Security guard who stopped me from going into the new swish shopping centre as I had barefeet!

Now I grew up in Melbourne and never ran across that prob before - now it seemed that my hometown was anti-barefoot. Strueth - this is Australia here! I've heard of the Americans having problems if they choose to go barefoot but here in Oz???? Wasn't even allowed in a Cinema?

So, if you want to travel to Oz and you want to be barefoot - come to Cairns (ave temp is 28 degrees C all year)! Of course the southern states are still 90% barefoot friendly but in Cairns you will have no hassles. In fact, if you wear shoes you can be 'noticed' and sniggered at! Lolo

Avagoodweegend.

 

I'd like to visit Australia and New Zealand. They seem very barefoot friendly. The people seem a lot more relaxed too. Establishments there would go out of business if they had 'shoes required' policies.

 

ok... where's my passport and get a visa. that sounds like the perfect place, Shangri La. I'd love to move .. but I'm kinda old to start again (47) and why would I wanna move ? because America has lost its way. hummm coincidentally, this seemed to happen when going barefoot fell out of "fashion"

 

Cairns has the type of atmosphere that tourists say is 'intoxicating'! Temperature at 11:17am is 26 degrees C, 50% humidity, nice wind gently blowing through the palm trees, sitting here on my verandah typing and enjoying a beer, listening to the Gheckoes (lizards) calling out and watching a Cassawori (local bird - same size as a emu) moving through the rainforest. Ahh - peace, tranquility!! Hmm just breath it in!

Anyone jealous yet??

 

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