Swapping cell phones in Bali

My friends from Oregon, brought over a couple of old cell phones that use SIM cards. I thought it would be simple to get them changed over to the local numbers, but it took longer than expected. Last year the Indonesian government made it law that cell phones have to be registered. After buying a 50,000rp SIM card which included 10,000rp of pulsa, outside Bintang supermarket, the guy told me I could not use the phones without registering. In order to do that you have to have a passport if you are a foreinger. I didn’t have mine handy, but the guy said I could register later.

The registration process entails calling a toll free number, then going through a process, which involves calling back and waiting for them to call you. Its all in Indonesian, so I’ll get my sister in law to do it, saving the frustration for both parties.

When these babies are registered we’ll be good to go and keeping in touch will be easy.