The Gift of Give And Take - The Jodie O' Shea House Bali

Apr 24, 2020

To all those who bought the 210 limited edition Deus Christmas Boxes we prepared for our Indonesian store over December & January, this one is for you. In February we were able to make good on our promise that 15% of the sales price was to be given to the Jodie O’Shea Orphanage in Denpasar Bali. The orphanage is named after one of the young victims of the tragic 2002 Bali Bombings.

With 92 children in their care, the people who work there, certainly have their work cut out for them. They range in age from the gorgeous Maria who is only 3 months and has a shock of hair and can’t help but tickle the soft side of every human she comes into contact with, up to a few 18 years olds, who will soon empty out into the world to make a name for themselves. We hoped that this small donation; which we had transferred into food, toiletries, bedding, books, and blankets would go some short way to providing some respite.

About a baker’s dozen of us rode over there on Saturday afternoon to unload the items but also to feel this human tragedy up close, personal, and first hand. We wandered around the campus, several houses that seemed to have been blended together with liberal quantities of concrete and engineering ingenuity.

Most of the kids were genuinely happy and enthusiastic to see us. Smiling and inquisitive they behaved like kids the world over. Excited to eat some treats and open to the idea of doing some playing to get there.

Bohemian Rhapsody is one of those rare tunes that most people know, Daniel knew it and played us his version on a big electric organ set up in their rec room. So good you could hear a pin drop. There were a couple of other talented pianists amongst the kids and after everyone had left the room an extremely shy young girl called Dea slipped behind the keys and tapped out some beautiful tunes once the attention had turned away.

During our visit we played a game that promoted the importance of sharing and the value of working together as a team, it was fantastic seeing how the oldest, who are in their final year at school extended an encompassing area of their concern and care out over the younger kids. There was more than a warmth in the air. You felt like you were with family.

We were able, for a small window of time, to explore the children’s daily activities, these children have undergone an amazing transformation. Prior to coming to the orphanage all of them had grown up in severely disadvantageous conditions. Some were malnourished coming from poverty-stricken areas, others coming from homes of one or no parents most of them had been surviving on meager hand to mouth existence.

Within the Jodie O’Shea house, they had created a home, the children nourished and encouraged to embrace a new journey of life they might have never known, an education, being nurtured and cared for, and having the freedom to simply be children.

But their story doesn’t stop there and since Bali has shut her doors to any new tourists the font of money that helped feed and clothe these children has all but dried up. They go through a lot of food those kids and rather than let them slide back to where they came from we are asking you to maybe lend a hand.

We know everyone is feeling tight, but should you have something leftover and feel the need to help someone then might we suggest that you donate to the Jodie O’Shea orphanage directly through the link below.

LINK TO THE DONATE PAGE OF THE JODIE O'SHEA HOUSE

ENGLISH TEXT BELOW

Setiap tahun, teman-teman kita Tasix Adventure—penyelenggara petualangan ban berlumpur dan adrenalin berbahan bakar terbaik di Bali—mengadakan acara akhir pekan berkemah yang sangat dinanti-nantikan. Mereka menamakannya “ The Wild,” dan jujur saja, tidak ada kata yang lebih pas dari itu.

Ini bukan sekadar acara; ini adalah petualangan wajib bagi siapa saja yang mencintai tanah, tantangan, dan persahabatan yang hanya bisa terjalin saat tertawa melihat teman lain terjatuh.

Hal tentang The Wild adalah misterinya. Kamu tidak tahu ke mana akan pergi, bagaimana sampai di sana, atau apa yang akan kamu temui—seperti hidup, tapi dengan lebih banyak asap knalpot.

Tahun ini, The Wild yang berlangsung pada 7 Desember 2024, mengumpulkan 135 pecinta motor enduro, trail, dan cross di Desa Kopi, Tabanan. Tepat pukul 9 pagi, kami berangkat menuju Desa Gesing, Singaraja. Rute tetap dirahasiakan hingga hari acara, meningkatkan sensasi penasaran dan antusiasme. Dengan dibagi menjadi beberapa kelompok kecil, kami melengkapi diri dengan perlengkapan motocross lengkap untuk menghadapi tantangan musim hujan.

Perjalanan? Murni magis. Jalur berkelok melalui permata tersembunyi Bali, di mana setiap tikungan menawarkan pemandangan yang memukau atau hampir membuat jantung berhenti. Rute tahun ini menghadirkan medan tanah liat merah—dijuluki tanah "keramik" karena teksturnya yang licin dan keras saat basah. Untuk melintasinya, diperlukan teknik khusus yang disebut “paddling the throttle,” sebuah manuver yang mendebarkan dengan motor yang sering bergoyang liar. Dari kejauhan, mungkin terlihat lucu, tetapi saat di atas motor? Ceritanya berbeda.

Setelah menempuh 68 kilometer petualangan liar, kami tiba di perkemahan di puncak bukit yang sudah dipenuhi tenda-tenda peserta lain dan deru knalpot. Destinasi selalu mencuri perhatian, dan yang satu ini tidak terkecuali—tempat tinggi dengan pemandangan 360 derajat yang menakjubkan dari laut, gunung, hingga kota.

Saat hujan turun, tenda-tenda didirikan, dan malam itu diisi dengan berbagi cerita tentang penyelamatan heroik dan kecelakaan yang menggelikan. Dan tentu saja, ada balapan. Bayangkan sekelompok pengendara penuh semangat meluncur di perbukitan dalam kekacauan yang terkontrol. Balapan tahun ini termasuk duel 1 lawan 1 yang seru di sekitar puncak bukit, dengan peserta menyelesaikan dua putaran penuh adrenalin.

Bukan soal menang; ini tentang hadir, tertawa, dan menikmati momen. Para pemenang dan peserta tercepat yang mencapai puncak bukit dirayakan dengan hadiah, tetapi senyuman, persahabatan, dan kebersamaan membuat semua orang merasa seperti juara.

The Wild tahun ini benar-benar sesuai namanya, bahkan lebih. Petualangan, tawa, dan cukup banyak tanah di gigi untuk menyebutnya otentik—kami tidak akan menginginkannya dengan cara lain. Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya kepada semua peserta yang menjadikannya pengalaman tak terlupakan. Sampai jumpa di petualangan berikutnya!

Every year, our mates over at Tasix Adventure—Bali’s finest purveyors of muddy tyres and fuel-driven adrenaline—host their much-anticipated camp-out weekend. They’ve named it “Wild,” and honestly, there’s no better word for it.

It’s not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for anyone who loves dirt, daring, and the kind of camaraderie you can only forge while laughing at someone else’s wipeout.

The thing about Wild is that it’s shrouded in mystery. You don’t know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, or what you’ll find—kind of like life, but with more exhaust fumes.

This year’s Wild, held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, brought together 135 enthusiasts of enduro, trail, and cross motorcycles at Desa Kopi, Tabanan. The route was kept a secret until the event day, heightening the thrill of the unknown. At exactly 9 am, they shared the destination, Desa Gesing, Singaraja, Divided into small groups, we geared up with full motocross kits to tackle the rainy season’s challenges.

The ride? Pure magic. Twisting trails through Bali’s hidden gems, where every turn promised either breathtaking views or breathtaking near-misses. This year’s route featured red clay terrain—nicknamed "ceramic" soil for its slick, hard texture when wet. Navigating it required a special technique called “paddling the throttle,” a nerve-wracking maneuver that had bikes swaying wildly. From a distance, it might have looked hilarious, but on the bike? It was a whole other story.

After 68 kilometres of this wild adventure, we arrived at the hilltop campsite already alive with the buzz of activity and the roar of exhausts. The destination always steals the spotlight, and this one was no exception—a high-altitude perch offering stunning 360-degree views of the sea, mountains, and city.

As the rain came down, tents went up, and the evening was all about swapping stories of heroic saves and laughable crashes. And then there were the races. Picture a pack of overexcited riders tearing up the hillside in what can only be described as controlled chaos. This year’s races included thrilling 1-on-1 duels around the hilltop, with participants pushing through two laps of sheer adrenaline.

It wasn’t just about winning; it was about showing up, laughing, and embracing the moment. The race winners and the fastest hilltop arrivals were celebrated with prizes, but the smiles, the camaraderie, and the shared triumphs made everyone feel like champions.

This year’s Wild lived up to its name and then some. Adventure, laughter, and just enough dirt in your teeth to call it authentic—we wouldn’t have it any other way. A massive thank you to all the participants who made it unforgettable. See you on the next adventure!