How bad is the pollution you ask?

Remember those spanking brand new shoes I bought on my trip back to the States? Here's what they look like after four days of walking in the streets of Bangkok.

Rotten wood

Perhaps it's the age. Perhaps it's the humidity. Perhaps it's the shoddy quality.

A waitress was hovering over our table at dinner tonight, taking orders. She took a step back, gave a stifled gasp. We all looked over to see her leaning back onto the door frame behind her. She called a busboy over, jabbering in Thai, holding out her arms as if she was expecting him to pull her back upright.

He did just that. She hopped forward, left foot bare. Those of us within sight looked down. Her stiletto heel had punched right through the hardwood floor and sunk heel deep into the flooring.

Shoe Malady

Owie. Damn. My feet hurt.

I'm in the midst of a shoe dilemma.

I walk everywhere. So I need comfortable shoes.
I am out all day, leave for work and don't go back for about 12 hours.
I need dress for work.
I hate wearing clunky closed toe shoes in this climate.
I am out all day which rules carrying excess baggage like a second pair of shoes.
I trip over poorly patched and broken sidewalks which rules out heels.
I need arch support and am hurting from lack thereof in my ballet flats.
I love the cheap strappy sandals here but can't get sizes to accommodate my wide feet.

Now my feet hurt from the lack of proper support and protection. Shouldn't I, of all people, have access to the right shoes?