Eliza Eliza’s Bali Adventure LIVING LIFE FULLY
When Eliza Stewart set off for Bali, she wasn’t looking for a quiet beach holiday. Her itinerary read like a challenge list: the dramatic cliffs and world-class surf of Uluwatu, the buzz of Canggu, the rice terraces and active volcanoes around Ubud, and finally the island of Nusa Lembongan, a short hop from the manta rays of Nusa Penida. Living with osseointegration didn’t hold her back. It simply meant planning ahead. “I made sure to pack both oral and ointment antibiotics in case my stomas came into contact with dirt, sand or bugs,” she explains. She also carried spare Allen keys to attach and detach her legs, and washed out her foot thoroughly at the end of each day. A sunrise she won’t forget The highlight came at 4am, hiking to the summit of Mt Batur, an active volcano, alongside hundreds of others from around the world. “Witnessing a magical sunrise looking down on the province and the surrounding volcanoes” was the moment she’ll remember most. The climb was every bit as demanding as she expected. Earlier hikes in Thailand and Japan had taught her that a ‘track’ can mean scrambling over rocks in the dark with only a head lamp, so she chose to hire a private guide for the harder sections. “I’m so glad I did,” she says. The guide helped her through the tricky parts and explained the landscape along the way. “If you’re worried the terrain might be challenging, opt for a private guide or driver. And if you fear being lonely, choose social accommodation. Don’t let the unknowns hold you back.” Not everything went to plan. A quad-biking adventure through the villages of Ubud ended with a flip, seven fractured ribs, and a partially punctured lung. Eliza takes it in good humour. “Such a daredevil,” she laughs, and is quick to note that travel insurance covered her medical care. Her one tip for next time? “Don’t flip the quad bike.” Eliza’s story is a reminder that life with a prosthesis is about possibility, not limitation. With the right preparation, a sense of adventure, and a good guide for the steep bits, the view from the top is well worth the climb.
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