shoes and socks

This week, while talking with some foreigners in Bangalore I heard someone describe someone else with the phrase "he wears real socks and decent shoes" as if that were a really distinctive characteristic.

The amazing thing is that it is. In Bangalore at least.

People here have no qualms about wearing sandals to the office. Really. And I'm not talking about some really nice Nike or Keen sandals. I'm talking about your uncle's flip-flops.