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MSWA Bulletin Magazine Summer 2018

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BALI BUDGET ON WHEELS

BALI BUDGET ON WHEELS ANITA GAMBA, MSWA MEMBER When winter approached earlier in the year, I toyed with the idea of going to Bali for some much-needed warm hydrotherapy. Bali offers the perfect tropical paradise for every Aussie tourist. But what if the Aussie tourist in question is a middle-aged woman using a wheelchair full time? Hey, how hard can it be? I booked my flights and accommodation through a local travel agent. Everything was times two as Gay, my beautiful, fearless and experienced support worker, was coming with me. So, off we go! First word of advice for anyone doing air travel in a wheelchair is to check the availability of an ‘aisle wheelchair’; a small, narrow chair with wheels that the staff use to take you to your assigned seat. I discovered this the hard way. With my own wheelchair stowed away with the luggage, getting on the plane wasn’t a problem. We used the airport’s complimentary aisle wheelchair. However, to my astonishment, this was removed from the plane once I had boarded and was never seen again. Effectively, this meant that Gay needed to assist me to use the bathroom and to disembark upon arrival. As I can weight-bear for very short distances, this was not a major hiccup. However, for anyone unable to weight-bear this would be a major issue. Okay, so maybe the plane ride wasn’t ideal, but surely a prebooked room with full disability access would be foolproof, right? Well, what passes for disability access is subjective overseas. The first hotel in Sanur (which I shall not name) was immediately full of obstacles. Steps hampered our access to reception. Then it turned out there was no record of our booking. Upon finally reaching the room, I discovered that this sweltering and smelly box was certainly not as advertised. Unfortunately, it was in such bad disrepair and so very small that my wheelchair couldn’t fit into the bathroom, let alone out to the deck. So much for access and careful pre-planning. Fortunately, I was able to reach my booking agent, and found another vacancy in Kuta, so the Four Points by Sheraton became home for the first part of our stay. Despite what seemed like 50,000 steps leading to reception, the hotel had a good ramp. The staff happily pushed me to the top, which is just as well because the incline was brutal. When Gay and I got to the room, we collapsed onto our beds. Oh my gosh! It was air-conditioned, it was clean, it was everything I had hoped the first hotel would be. However, when I tested the entrance into the deluxe bathroom, my wheelchair couldn’t fit through the door. “No problem,” said the cheery staff. The pesky bathroom door was promptly removed altogether. Problem solved! The pool occupied much of the ground floor, and much of my time. Rails and ramps were accessible and adequate. During our time in the pool, we met up with some other overseas holidaymakers who had travelled to Bali for hydrotherapy. We all agreed, not only were the facilities top class at the Sheraton, the staff were professional and accommodating. Getting around Bali outside the hotel boundaries was slightly more of a challenge. Obstacles at first were easy enough to manoeuvre through, but they just kept coming. The badly degraded footpaths and roads were filled with vendors, produce, tourists, animals, children, tree roots, litter and construction work. Whilst we did manage to manoeuvre around all of this, it certainly would not have been possible for me without the extra support from Gay. At times I needed to be pushed or pulled around the impediments. There was also the odd occasion that a team of friendly and helpful locals picked my chair and me up and carried me over obstacles. I felt like a Balinese Princess on wheels. The next place we stayed was at the beautiful Amadea in Seminyak. The staff there couldn’t do enough to make us feel safe and comfortable. They built ramps on site for me, found a shower chair, moved furniture around inside the room and outside near the pool. Nothing was too hard. Gay was not available for the full two weeks and I had planned accordingly. We had a seamless hand over in mind with a replacement support worker due to land prior to Gay’s departure. But Bali’s volcano timed another eruption the day the changeover was scheduled. The airport was closed indefinitely until the ash cleared, leaving me without a support worker for a day. For me this wasn’t a problem at all, I had developed a rapport with the other guests and staff who collectively made sure I was comfortable and well looked after. For a less flexible traveller with higher care needs, this could have proved quite a concern. My replacement support worker did finally arrive, and the rest of the trip was fairly smooth. If you are planning to travel to Bali in a wheelchair, don’t expect the same Australian standards of buildings and amenities. However, what Bali lacks in amenities, it makes up for in its people’s inclusiveness and ingenuity. I welcomed the blanket of humidity and the smells of Bali that hit my senses like the aromas of cooking, overripe fruit, incense, cars and oh so many people. With an open heart and adventurous spirit, Bali is very much worth the effort. Blessings and ciao. Anita 16 | MSWA BULLETIN SUMMER 2018 MSWA BULLETIN SUMMER 2018 | 17

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