Preparing for the rain!

It is rainy season in southwest China and I have no shoes to protect me from the rain, leeches, mud and anything else that wants to get into my shoes while hiking. I have decided that despite my disdain for buying new clothing, I should invest in a new pair of hiking shoes. I went to REI and after trying on multiple pairs of shoes of multiple sizes, I was unable to find a pair that fit both feet comfortably. Given that I only have four days until departure for Taiwan, I decided to go big and buy a pair of size 13 hiking boots. I 

am a size 11.5.  They are huge, but, I think my feet are going to thank me.