Day 73 - We started this morning as usual. Others were up a bit earlier but I got out of bed at 7:00. At least one thing was different. Alas, we had no Internet this morning. I knew that I could only buy one month of unlimited data at the airport when we were returning from Dubai. The kiosk at the airport allows tourists to buy a no-compromise, LTE data package for around US $21. I guess we returned a month ago already!
We could keep the same SIM for use in my pocket router. The number is registered and all but it required a top-up. Telecom services are plentiful and competitive in Sri Lanka. They also make it easy to switch and update packages. Some extremely cheap packages can keep someone connected.
I didn't mind springing for a costlier package because all seemed really cheap compared to what I'm used to. I tried updating online yesterday, but their online payment processor is tuned for Sri Lankan credit cards and it balked at my card. I knew it'd be easier to simply go to a Sri Lankan Telecom Mobitel outlet.
We hailed a three-wheel (tuk-tuk) the old-fashioned way; which means, by going and asking the driver of one not in use. I'm used to the ride-share apps here as they make things so much simpler. We went over to the High Levels Highway, near the flyover. There are a lot of clothing and interesting shops in that area. We parked right in front of the Sri Lankan Telecom offices.
Out of the million options, I decided to get two 60 GB add-on packs for a total of around US $12. We use the router for both of our phones, the laptop, and Jay's sister's devices. I think 120 GB should probably take us for a full month without needing to be careful about YouTube or downloading.
The old fish seller stopped by his sister's house. This one is on a motorbike. Jay's sister buys a lot of fish but mostly at the shops. However, if the fish guy has something she likes, she buys it. Today, she got a half-kilogram of shrimp for US $2.50. She did not buy the flying fish even though the old man demonstrated it for me.