The heavy rain over Phuket this week has claimed its latest victim: one of my slip-slops. It happened on Saturday morning when I arrived at the airport to catch a flight to Chiang Mai. I parked my pick-up and then prepared to heave myself out of the cab. I always take off my slip-slops when driving (for obvious reasons), so the first thing I do is throw them down onto the tarmac and then wriggle into them. I noticed a little pool of water, but thought nothing of it. But just I threw put down my first slip-slop a torrent of water flowed out from under my car and swept it away.
I leapt out and tried to find it under the surrounding cars, but my beloved right slip-slop was gone. Now this may not sound like a big thing; But, in my life, this is a MAJOR disaster. You can't begin to imagine what a saga my slip-slops have been over the years. I wear a size 15, most Thais are size 5 or 6. So the chances of buying a pair here are beyond zero. So I have to import them from South Africa. However, its not that easy finding them in SA in the first place.
My latest pair came all the way from Port Alfred last year. My friend, Gary Timm, who is teaching in Taiwan, noticed the perilous state of my footwear while he was on holiday in Phuket. So he called on his mother in Port Alfred to help out. Bless her, Marj ordered a pair from the factory in Port Elizabeth and then, at great cost posted them to me in Phuket. They have served me splendidly, but, sadly, no more.
Amazingly, I had a weatherbeaten old pair in my suitcase, which saved the day. So for a week, I will be stepping out in Chiang Mai in most insubstantial footwear. Of course, I didn't bother to bring along any other shoes. I am tip-toeing around and treading very lightly, but if the worst happens and they fall apart, I may be arriving back at Phuket Airport barefoot. What a sight! Perhaps I could bind my feet in rags, like some ancient cave dweller.
My slip-slops have been an endless source of amazement and entertainment to many of the Thais I have met. They are agog when they see them and I can't tell you how many times I have slipped them off for some pint-size Thai to try on. They march around in the big flapping rubber soles, to the great amusement of their friends. They always equate them with a "boat", and often put both feet onto one and make paddling motions. Many have asked me to give them an old pair, but I usually wear them until they are totally shredded. So, now the search starts for a new pair. My sister-in-law, Jenny, often comes up with a pair for Christmas (hint, hint), and my friend Marianna Smit is an ace at tracking down pairs at the Oriental Plaza in Johannesburg. And there's Marj in Port Alfred. It seems the Gods have signalled that I should go home for Christmas this year. So, if you spot a size 15 or 14 or even 13 pair of slip-slops in a shop somewhere, grab them. I will be grateful for life.
