Getting the right pair of shoes for the trip was essential for me.

I decided I would get 2 pairs of shoes.

The first pair was for going to the beach and for wearing in the (notoriously flooded) hostel bathrooms.   For the longest time I couldn’t decide on flip flops or sandals.   Frankly, I don’t look great in either and I suppose that’s why I couldn’t decide.

One afternoon, after visiting my mom in Langley, I saw that they had an Atmosphere location in town.   I needed to get a rain cover for my backpack so I stopped in to get one.   As I headed to the checkout with said rain cover, I noticed the big wall of shoes to the left and then I saw them – the Saucony Hattori…

Of course they didn’t have my size (of course!) so I left without them but I knew, I KNEW, that these were the shoes and come hell or high water I was gonna get them!

After stopping at Metrotown mall and checking every shoe store under the sun, I returned home empty handed.   I was not beat though because, you know what?   The internet is your friend!

After a couple fruitless searches for local stores carrying the shoes, I found the shoe in my size on Amazon.   A few clicks here and there and they we’re on their way – another package in the mail!

The second pair of shoes were going to be my everyday shoes.   They needed to be durable, confortable and be part running shoe, part dress shoe.   I ended up going with a shoe from a company I had never heard of but was highly recommended for a travel shoe by several people.   The company was Kuru and they only ship online.   Click, click, click and they, too, were on their way…