Flip-Flops
It was your average cold, windy winter’s day in Central Oregon. Temperatures being in their 40s, I donned on my zip-up hoodie, jeans, t-shirt and flip-flops across the street to the local health foods market. Living in the heart of downtown, a block radius away from a sushi restaurant, Greek restaurant, local coffee shop, health foods store, consignment shops, and a swanky billiards bar is just one of many reasons I miss this place.
While browsing the aisles, one woman glanced and smiled at me, motioning my bundled up attire with flip-flops fashion. Probably not the smartest thing to wear in winter. The thing is, I’m Asian, and I wear flip-flops. This is probably more evidence that I should move to California (which is my goal, eventually, actually), but right now, I’m in this magical land of unicorns and trumpet songs. OK, that’s a lie. But I’m in this magical land of the Philippines, where everyone is considerably happy. And they do everything in flip-flops.
There’s something freeing about wearing flip-flops or open toed sandals (they’re called slippers here). Much like my state-of-mind, my feet are happy to roam near naked in a free-spirited manner. In flip-flops, my feet can breathe. In flip-flops, my feet are happy.
I’m not making the case that flip-flops = happiness (or maybe I am?), but all I’m saying is this is everyday footwear and people do everything from jogging, and playing tennis in them. “Rubber” shoes (aka, tennis shoes) are worn during sport activity but a considerable amount of people still wear flip-flops when they ride bicycles, play tennis (actually, the real fad is badminton), dance or go running. Or, maybe it’s just me.
My workout “routine” consists of jogging around the family compound (we have a fairly big yard), doing sprints, plyometrics and circuit exercises. All while wearing flip-flops. One particular sunny day (oh wait, it’s always sunny), I even “rock climbed” with my flip-flops on. That was the day they got stuck in the crevice of the rock and I broke my flip-flop trying to get it out. I have memories of running in my flip-flops as hard as I can, breaking the thong and running bear foot without losing my momentum. What can I say, I’m rough and tumble.
Oh, and happy.
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18 Responses to “Flip-Flops”
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Flipflops = happiness
well, for me anyway.
I guess it’s because I’m a summer person, a hot weather person, and here in London we get maybe 2 months a year where I can wear flipflops and enjoy the warmth…
xx
Wow, hardcore! I don’t think I could run barefoot. But yaaaay for flip flops! I wonder if they’re as popular in Taiwan…
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..Where the “magic” happens =-.
“Slippers” are really no 1 foot wear in South East Asia. But why not? I think it’s same in Southern Europe. If it’s hot, what else can you wear? I also like to wear them, but I hate them, when it rains and the water and dirt make your feet dirty. Ever happened to you? Must be many tropical rains in the Phillies
.-= My Kafkaesque Life´s last blog ..Travel to Macau: Food and drinks =-.
ah hehe, i embraced my inner dirty side in india. it was impossible to escape all the dirt you acquired just walking around in flip-flops. my feet were dirty 24/7! i actually don’t mind it now..
In Australia they are called thongs. I couch surfed along with a German guy with an Australian woman once, who shouted out to us “which one of you guys has black and white thongs?”
We looked at each other strangely, thinking she meant a male g-string in some zebra print or something along those lines.
I walked 6km in mine the other day giving me massive blisters between my toes. They take a while to get used too!
.-= AdventureRob´s last blog ..AC/DC Live in Sydney =-.
haha i would walk everywhere in them.. if i walked! sadly don’t walk around much..
i have heard them as “thongs” too but the g-string is definitely the first thing i think of when i hear that word
Completely off topic, Floreta, but I watched Luc Besson’s film “Leon” a few days ago and I kept seeing a younger you in the Natalie Portman character: the hair, for sure, but also her watching of the world, and her spirit. Disturbing surfaces in the film, but there was a rightness in there, too. Dark fairy tale, for sure. No flip-flops, though. Peace to you.
oh thank you! natalie portman is one of my fave actresses but i haven’t seen this movie.. i always thought it was cool that we have the same cheek mole/beauty mark
Tsinelas!!! I feel you on having free toes though, it’s pretty amazing.
.-= Lorien´s last blog ..By: My last time in the Huachucas | The Wayfaring Stranger =-.
yep tsinelas!
Love flip flops. Nothing better to wear during the summer. And the price is right.
Flip flops on a woman show that she’s comfortable with herself. It’s a good look!
I like that you say flip-flops show a woman’s comfortable with herself. Brownie points for you!
Looks like Asians really love their slippers (and badminton)… Personally, I can’t wear slippers unless i’m at the beach, but my brothers have like, 5 pairs each and they do wear them everywhere!
.-= nashe´s last blog ..So… Merci à tous. =-.
badminton’s popular there too?? hehe. i wear slippers/flip-flops everywhere! it’s so much more freeing and comfortable than shoes.
Kamustaka!? It’s my absolute dream to go to the Phillipines! When I was in Thailand I did a 4 day hike in flip flops and was totally fine with it. Nike Cross Super Air Pump Trainers are overrated.
ooo are you filipina?
love flip-flops. why not?? and yes nikes are overrated 
consider also that there’s a school of thought that thinks barefoot running is better than running with shoes.. footwear is definitely overrated.
a 4 day hike in flip-flops sounds great to me!! love hiking
I’m not sure I’d go running in flip-flops, but I did hike up Diamond Head in them. I’ve gotten so used to wearing flip-flops here in Hawaii (where some people call them “slippers”, also) that it feels weird to wear anything that covers my toes. My toes want to be FREE!
.-= Eleni´s last blog ..Spring break =-.
Great blog and post cheers. How long has this site been running now? The only thing is I seem to be having some technical difficulties getting to your RSS feed though. TradeKing