The synagogue in Kochi was the first synagogue ever where I had to take off my shoes. Men weren’t obliged to wear a yarmulke either, but besides this and the abundance of lamps – the synagogue looked liked a lamp store – the synagogue was still recognizable as a shul.
In a church in this city they made me take off my shoes as well.
Full disclosure: In another church in Kochi I could keep my shoes on.
On the other hand the two men who gave me a massage this afternoon made me take off everything and then started touching my private parts.
I didn’t mind, because it was fairly hot this afternoon.