Phone help from Ningrum in Bali

Phones in Bali are super easy. You buy a SIM card at one of the many places selling it, and together with some units of ‘pulsa’ (credit, available in 25,000rp, 50,000rp, 100,000rp blocks) can be in action fast. That is of course, if you are able to register your phone. I bought my new SIM cards for the 2 spare phones my friends from Oregon have, from the booth outside Bintang supermarket. The attendent told me I had to register and could not use the phone until that time. Last night at a Thai food place on Jl. Padma, my sister in-law Ningrum, told me I can use the phone, but have 3 days to register it, otherwise I’ll lose the number. She has managed to register one of the phones, the other has some problem with it.

Anyway, having a local friend who is savvy really helps. Ningrum is a trip. She works as a receptionist at a healing center 6 days a week, earning good money. I told Ollie from Oregon (sounds like some kind of Forrest Gump), that Ningrum is an expert in consumer products, especially cell phones and motorbikes. Ask her about the economy, world affairs, or sports and she won’t have clue. Reciting the specs on Nokia’s whole range, no worries. How many miles you get per liter, on any Honda motorbike, easy. Info on cost, reliability and financing, also possible. I took the opportunity to quiz her on new Honda’s, and she told me one of the latest bikes has a micro processor, like the cars, that tracks some of the vehicles data for a mechanic. She reckons Honda’s have the best reliability over Suzuki and other brands and also the best mileagle. She told me she didn’t think Tiger’s (200CC) stood up to the pounding of potholes very well. Anyway I’ll pick up the cell phone today and somebody will be able to contact me easier.