Fang's Bites

The Amazing Race Asia 4, Episode 1 Recap

It’s been a while since I’ve done a recap of any Amazing Race episode. I’ve been too ambitious with trying to recap everything so I’m going to do a reformat and not transcribe everything that went on in the episode.

The new season of The Amazing Race Asia has already started on AXN-Asia and I’ve seen the premiere. I’m glad to have the show back since it was not on last year due to issues with the Avian Flu. But it’s back with a vengeance this year so I’m going to do my best to recap this series and of course, The Amazing Race 17 which begins on Sunday.

So let’s look at this episode.

First, you have to look at the teams. There are ten teams this year, all of whom have pre-existing relationships. The teams are:

Dimple & Sunaina – Actresses & Travel Buddies from India
Manas & Sahil – Cousins from India
Hussein & Natasha – Father & Daughter from Indonesia
Yani & Nadine – Best Friends from Indonesia
Ivan & Hilda – Husband & Wife from Malaysia
Ethan & Khairie – Friends from Malaysia
Jess & Lani – Party Girls from The Philippines
Richard & Richard – Best Friends from The Philippines
Claire & Michelle – Rebel Pals from Singapore
Alan & Wendy – Dating Couple from Hong Kong

As in the past seasons, many of the teams are either actors, TV personalities or aspiring models. But I’m done complaining about this. That’s the dynamic of The Amazing Race Asia so we continue.

The start of the race was in Kuala Lampur in Malaysia at the Thean Hou Temple.

After the obligatory introduction, host Allan Wu sends the teams off and they have to drive themselves through heavy KL traffic to the Batu Caves where they encounter the first Road Block. A Road Block is a task that only one person may perform.

There, teams have to take an offering of food including bananas and fight off monkeys, go up 272 stairs and tell the priest the exact number to get their next clue. If they fail, they must go back to the bottom and start again.

1. Ethan & Khairie
2. Michelle & Claire
3. Richard & Richard
4. Hussein & Natasha
5. Wendy & Alan
6. Manas & Sahil
7. Sunaina & Dimple
8. Ivan & Hilda
9. Jess & Lani
10. Yani & Nadine

Once teams are finished here, they have to go to a location that was a pit stop on the American version of the Amazing Race in Season 16 and that was Pinang Peranakan Mansion in Penang, a drive of four hours to get their next clue. Once there, they have to figure out “Baldwin” is a piano and sing their next clue.

1. Ethan & Khairie
2. Richard & Richard
3. Sunaina & Dimple
4. Michelle & Claire
5. Wendy & Alan
6. Jess & Lani
7. Yani & Nadine
8. Hussein & Natasha
9. Manas & Sahil
10. Ivan & Hilda

Once they sing their clue in the tune of “Amazing Grace”, teams will drive to the Futsal Field where teams must play goalkeeper in the form of indoor soccer. For every shot they fail to block, they will incur a 2 minute penalty.

1. Ethan & Khairie
2. Sunaina & Dimple
3. Richard & Richard
4. Michelle & Claire
5. Wendy & Alan
6. Ivan & Hilda
7. Hussein & Natasha
8. Manas & Sahil
9. Yani & Nadine
10. Jess & Lani

When the teams are done at Futsal Field, they’re to drive to Swettenham Pier where teams will encounter their first Detour. A Detour is a choice between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons. In this Detour, teams will decide between Flags and Rags. In Flags, teams must collect five flags on board a cruise via clues using ship lingo. In Rags, teams must go to Deck 10 of the cruise ship. One teammate will be lowered to the outside of Deck 5. The other team member must find the other teammate and then snap a picture through the inside of a room window.

1. Ethan & Khairie
2. Richard & Richard
3. Michelle & Claire
4. Sunaina & Dimple
5. Wendy & Alan
6. Ivan & Hilda
7. Manas & Sahil
8. Jess & Lani
9. Hussein & Natasha
10. Yani & Nadine

Upon completion of the Detour, teams discover their next destination is Deck 12 of the Star Pisces cruise ship and the pit stop for this leg of the race. The last team to arrive, may be eliminated.

1. Ethan & Khairie – winners of a Sony Bravia 46″ HDTV & Sony Playstation 3 game console.
2. Richard & Richard
3. Michelle & Claire
4. Sunaina & Dimple
5. Wendy & Alan
6. Ivan & Hilda
7. Manas & Sahil
8. Jess & Lani
9. Hussein & Natasha
10. Yani & Nadine – saved by pre-determined non-elimination leg

Some observations here. Ethan & Khairie were definitely helped in this leg as they are from Malaysia and had a home field advantage. They left first, they got to the Road Block first and never looked back.

Yani & Nadine had bad luck throughout as their car spit the bit on the way to the Batu Caves, but they arrived at the cruise ship before Hussein & Natasha who inexplicably went on a ferry and had to turn back to the cruise ship, yet still finished in 9th ahead of Yani & Nadine. The girls from Indonesia must finish first in the next leg otherwise incur a 30 minute time penalty. That could mean the difference between winning or elimination.

Overall a good episode. Don’t know much about the teams yet, but it’s early. Don’t have a favorite as of yet. We’ll see whom I like as we go along. I hope to have another recap for you next weekend.

Follow Friday V

This is another edition of Follow Friday, originally started on Twitter. If you’re a regular reader, you know how it works. If not, you can find out how it began at Mashable.

Anyway, I don’t feel like explaining it right now so I’m just going to go into the feature. Here are several blogs and sites you should visit more than once.

He has become a giant on Twitter and he’s already a giant in blogging. Robert Littal’s Black Sports Online is a very fascinating site and he has a very good take on hoops, boxing and all things sports business. And when the BET Awards were on the air, his take on the entire affair was laugh out loud funny.

I’ve linked to Wrap Around Curl when she’s written a post for Steve Lepore’s NHL-centric Puck The Media site. Wrap has her own blog which is naturally called Wrap Around Curl. Wrap follows hockey, hockey fashion and she’s quite snarky. I find her blog quite funny and her Tweets are even snarkier, if that’s possible. But she knows her hockey which is more I can say about Carrie Milbank, who is a host for NHL.com.

If you’ve ever watched the daily morning editions of SportsCenter, you’ll know of a feature called “BlogBuzz” which measures what are the hot topics on sports blogs. The company that provides the information for ESPN is Sports Media Challenge which is a consulting firm for athletes, coaches and executives. Among their clients are Shaquille O’Neal, Derek Jeter, Geno Auriemma as well as various college programs, professional sports teams and sports leagues. According to its website, the firm helps its clients “maximize public exposure while minimizing its risks”. It was one of the first firms to suggest to its clients to use Twitter to reach a new audience and it’s working.

Ian Bethune runs Sox & Dawgs, a New England sports blog. Not only does it follow the Red Sox, but also UConn sports, the Patriots and the Celtics. Ian was one of the first blogs to follow Fang’s Bites regularly and he was a traveling companion to the Blogs With Balls conference in New York last month. Ian shows that a good New England sports blog doesn’t have to based in Boston to keep track of the area sports teams. Ian does a great job on Sox & Dawgs and I can safely say he’s become a very good friend.

I’ll run the next three sites in quick succession. All are TV reporters and all are Fang’s Bites faves. First, is former NESN Red Sox on-field reporter Tina Cervasio, currently of MSG Network in New York. She also Tweets as well.

Next is ESPN’s Bonnie Bernstein who made an appearance on IFC’s Z Rock series last month.

Last but not least is Charissa Thompson who is a rising star on Fox Sports and was a co-host on Best Damn Sports Show Period.

Bonnie and Charissa both have blogs at their sites.

As usual, two non-sports sites. For the latest and greatest in TV and Entertainment news, there’s The Ausiello Files headed by Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello.

And to keep up with the latest on Reality TV including Survivor, The Amazing Race and Big Brother, head on over to Reality Fan Forum. Headed up by Rob and my sweetheart, puddin, this is the best site to find out the latest on the above mentioned shows. Plus, the site also discusses other reality shows. The site has the best information on The Amazing Race and over the last three seasons, has been able to determine the actual route of the show. The TAR Detectives as they’re known are a very smart bunch and nothing get past them. So if you’re a fan of The Amazing Race, head on over to RFF and sign up.

That is it for this edition of Follow Friday.

The Amazing Race Asia 3 – Finale Results

These are the results of the season finale of The Amazing Race Asia 3. Click “back” on your browser if you don’t want to read them.

1. Sam & Vince – winners!!!! Congrats to the team from Hong Kong
2. Geoff & Tisha
3. Ida & Tania

I hope to do a recap on this episode this weekend.

By the way, this Sony ad with Sam & Vince came out before the finale which led to speculation that they would win. Last season, Adrian & Collin appeared in a Sony ad before the finale and they won so fans of the show tied two and two together based on that information. While there was another Sony ad with another team, this was the one that led to speculation and it turned out to be true. So my suggestion to Sony? Don’t put this out until after the finale for next season.

Back later.

The Amazing Race 13 – Ep. 10 Results

I guess I’m going to have to give up on trying to do recaps this season. I’m so far behind and I really don’t know what’s going on this season. Work has been crazy.

Here are the results from the latest episode.

1. Ida & Tania
2. Geoff & Tisha
3. Sam & Vince – took a four hour penalty at the detour
4. AD & Fuzzie – also took a four hour penalty and thus, eliminated.

Finale next week.

In lieu of my recaps, here’s Calvin’s Hub with a very good synopsis.

The Amazing Race Asia 3 – Episode 8 Results

Here are the results of the latest episode:

1. Geoff & Tisha – winners of a trip to Hong Kong (perhaps this team is hitting its stride now)
2. AD & Fuzzie
3. Ida & Tania (despite a 30 minute penalty for not finishing first)
4. Sam & Vince
5. Henry & Bernie???? – sadly eliminated

I loved Henry & Bernie and they were my pick to win this edition of the race. I have yet to watch the last episode and yes, I do want to catch up on my recaps and hope to do so starting this week. I just have to get past a horrific work stretch.

For The Fans of The Amazing Race Episode Recaps

I know I have been lax on the Amazing Race and Amazing Race Asia episode recaps over the last three weeks. First, work has been a bear. Next, when the Red Sox are in the playoffs, all bets are off. It’s hard for me to blog and to pay attention to other things while my team is in the postseason.

I apologize for not being able to provide you with recaps. I left off with the Amazing Race Asia 3, Episode 3 and have not done Amazing Race 13, Episode 2. I will pick up where I left off and you can start expecting those recaps over the next few days. Thanks for your patience.

The Amazing Race Asia 3 – Ep. 6 Results

I’m so behind on recaps, I don’t know if I’ll ever catch up, but I hope to get back on track soon. Here are the results of today’s episode.

1. Sam/Vince – winners of a 3 day/2 night vacation
2. Henry/Bernie
3. Geoff/Tisha
4. AD/Fuzzie
5. Ida/Tania – last, but not eliminated, however, mugged at the mat

The Amazing Race Asia 3 – Ep. 5 Results

I have to do a recap of the last episode tonight, but here’s the results of today’s episode.

1. Sam & Vince – winners of the Fast Forward and a golf resort vacation
2. Henry & Bernie
3. AD & Fuzzie
4. Geoff & Tisha
5. Ida & Tania
6. Mai & Oliver – eliminated

You know, we have three non-elimination legs left so I hope we don’t have them strung together like last year when Terri & Henry were saved twice despite being hours behind the other teams.

The Amazing Race Asia 3 – Episode 4 Results

Here are the results of the latest episode of The Amazing Race Asia 3.

1. Ida & Tania – winners each of a Nokia phone.
2. Vince & Sam
3. Mai & Oliver
4. Henry & Bernie
5. AD & Fuzzie
6. Geoff & Tisha
7. Niroo & Kapil – had problems with their car and were eventually eliminated.

I heard the pitstop greeter was gorgeous.

Recap coming up sometime this weekend.

The Amazing Race 3 – Ep. 3 Results

I have not seen the episode, but I do have the results.

1. Henry & Bernie – winners of a Sony HD Handicam each
2. Vince & Sam
3. Ida & Tania
4. AD & Fuzzie
5. Geoff & Tisha
6. Mai & Oliver
7. Niroo & Kapil
8. Natalie & Pailin – quit the roadblock and thus, eliminated. Apparently Natalie miscalculated that this would be a non-elimination leg. Idiot.

I’ll try to find out more and look for a recap sometime during the weekend. In the interim, head over to Calvin’s Hub for a synopsis of this episode.

The Amazing Race Asia 3 – Episode 2 Recap

We pick up this episode at Ratchaphruek Garden World in Chiang Mai, Thailand which, as host Allan Wu tells us, was the first pit stop in a race around the world. Nine teams remain after Neena & Amit were eliminated in the first episode. Each team will leave 12 hours after they arrived at the pit stop. And with this being a 90 minute episode, we have a lot to recap so let’s get cracking.

Mai & Oliver who arrived first at 10:35 a.m., will leave at 10:35 p.m. They rip open their envelope and find they have to go to Flight of the Gibbon by taxi in nearby Mae Kampong. Once there, they’ll take a zipline, some 50 meters above the ground. When both team members have completed their zipline ride, they’ll receive their next clue.

Mai tells Oliver that since this will be an “Hours of Operation”, they don’t have to rush. But Mai! There are several things you have to learn. Like THIS IS A RACE! There’s no time to rest. Go! But they don’t.

As Geoff & Tisha leave the pit stop second, we hear him say, “I’d always like Tish to trust me more, but my track record pretty much sucks at the moment. Maybe in the second leg.” They laugh. As I mentioned in the recap of the first episode, the only highlight for Geoff was him hurling on the sidewalk after eating bugs, frogs and scorpions in Bangkok. Unfortunately, we’ll see much more of him in this episode.

Henry & Bernie leave 3rd and we hear Henry saying he doesn’t have to trust Bernie as much, but she stresses she’s not playing the baby sister role in this game, she’s his teammate. Every word that we’ll hear from the teams from their confessionals prior to this leg is prophetic so when I transcribe them, remember what happens down the line because it’ll be important.

We then see Mai & Oliver befriending a woman who takes them in for the night. Don’t they realize you get to the next destination first, then find a place to sleep? No, they go to sleep first. You’ve got it all backwards! It will come back to bite you, kids. Mark my words! She says, “We’re chilling out,” to which Oliver snickers like he’s a genius. Yeah, you’ll see when you arrive at Flight of the Gibbon how much of a genius you are.

The two all-female teams, Pailin & Natalie and Ida & Tania are next to depart the mat. By the way, it’s time for me to mention that we have not heard how much money will be available for this leg. This has been downplayed over the last few seasons, not only on TARA, but on TAR. I would like to know, unless no money was given.

Next to leave is the Asian version of Team Who (Dave & Jeff from TAR4), William & Isaac. Rarely will I use a reference from the Television Without Pity boards, but this one is totally appropriate. The name Team Who stuck for Dave & Jeff because they were both devoid of personality. After watching that season in reruns on GSN, I totally saw the point because not only were they boring, but they showed nothing and eventually became the second team not to make the finish line (following Team Guido in the original TAR). So coming back to this season, William & Isaac have basically spoken in one monotone voice, have not shown any emotion, have not smiled or frowned and have no personality, thus the Asian Team Who moniker. And they talk about being happy not to have been the first one out. Again, prophetic.

Asian Team Who is followed by Vince & Sam, AD & Fuzzie, then Niroo & Kapil. The Indian father-son team are the last to leave at 1:29 a.m., almost three hours after Mai & Oliver, but thanks to the Hours of Operation at Flight of the Gibbon, everyone will be bunched.

The eight teams other than Mai & Oliver who are sound asleep take taxis or songtels to Mae Kampong and start taking numbers. Vince & Sam arrive first and will get on the zipline first. AD & Fuzzie are next followed by Ida & Tania, then Niroo & Kapil and Henry & Bernie. While in their cab, Natalie tells Pailin since Flight of the Gibbon doesn’t open until 7:30, they can take it easy, but Pailin who seems to be a fan of the race knows that you have to get a number.

Mai & Oliver have finally hit the road thinking that they’ll be first in line, but they will have a rude awakening when they get to the Hours of Operation.

Geoff & Tisha and William & Isaac will take the zipline 6th and 7th respectively. Then Pailin is proven right as she picks the 8th spot and you would think that Natalie would have learned a lesson, but as we’ll see, she does not.

Finally, here come Oliver and Princess, skipping into Mae Kampong, thinking that they’re in first, only to realize that they’ve not only lost their lead, but they’re to go on the zipline dead last. They’ve learned a valuable lesson about the race. Never assume anything.

So when the park opens, everyone straps up and goes on the zipline. One by one, the teams take their turns zipping across, then repelling down to the ground.

Most of them get to the ground without incident. Others like Natalie & Pailin hit each other on the way down. For the most part, everyone does this task without any protest and everyone has fun taking the zipline.

Once the teams get their clue, the teams find that they must take a taxi to a nearby Banana Plantation where the next clue box awaits.

So the next thing for the racers is to find a taxi to take them to the plantation. As the teams do so, their drivers race all the way from Mae Kampong passing each other to get to the plantation.

Getting there first is Geoff & Tisha whose driver is the one they used to get to Flight of the Gibbon.

As Geoff & Tisha get to the clue box and rip open the black and yellow envelope, they discover they’ve reached the very first Road Block in the race. The question? Who’s steady under fire? As we all know, a Road Block is a task that only one person may perform.

In this task, teams must look for a backpack hidden somewhere in the plantation. But the key is to avoid being shot by several Paintball snipers, camoflaged and away from sight. If a racer is hit by a paintball, then he/she has to go back to the beginning and try again. As Allan tells us, the paintballs can travel up to 329 km/hour which means, they hurt like a bugger.

Geoff immediately decides he will do it and this is the one and only time he acts noble in this leg. As he says, “I’m not going to let my girl get shot at by guys,” it’s the only time on this leg that he appears likable, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

Since Geoff is the only one at the plantation, he gets the course to himself and he gets shot at least twice. Then the other teams start arriving. Henry & Bernie are next and they decide that it’ll be Bernie taking this task. Mai will head out for her team and Kapil goes out for the lone Indian team left in the race. Then we hear Geoff getting shot again which is totally funny. Mai, Bernie and Kapil then join Geoff on the course. Bernie and Kapil are shot next.

As other teams arrive, two more women, Fuzzie and Tania get on the course. And Geoff is shot once more. I can watch him getting shot over and over again. It’s funny.

But when Bernie gets hit under her left arm, it leaves a massive welt. That’s no tattoo, folks, that’s the mark of a paintball traveling up to 329 km/hour.

Mai is then shot at close range. Then Fuzzie is shot on the upper right thigh. It’s target practice at the Banana Plantation and our racers are the targets.

Eventually, Tania is the first one to get her clue and it appears she totally avoids getting hit by a paintball. In the meantime, the first one to arrive, Geoff is still waiting to find the clue and he’s getting demoralized. Good. Tania tells him not get down, but as anyone on the race can tell you, it’s deflating to see others pass after you’ve arrived at the Road Block or Detour first. And you’re totally helpless until you manage to finish the task. Right now, it’s total random luck as to whom gets the clue next.

Ida & Tania discover that they’re to fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, otherwise known as Saigon. The former capital of South Vietnam, it’s the commercial center of the country. The city has a population 7 million people and almost as many motorcycles.

Once they’ve arrived at Ho Chi Minh City, teams must find the Saigon Opera House where they will find a clue box adorned with a yellow and white flag so as not be confused with Vietnam’s red and yellow flag.

This is just like in the 3rd season of the Amazing Race where the last legs of the season were run. If you remember, this was the season when Terri & Ian became the oldest team to make the finals and it was where Flo had her infamous meltdown and wanted to quit. Hey! Wait a minute! This sounds totally familiar! Who wanted to quit in the first leg of this season? Mai! And since this race is heading to Vietnam, it must mean someone else will want to quit! So many similarities with The Amazing Race 3 and The Amazing Race Asia 3 thus far. Too funny.

But we continue on. Ida & Tania speed off for the international airport. In the meantime, Fuzzie, Mai, Bernie, Kapil and Geoff are getting hit all over the place. Finally, Fuzzie gets to the backpack and gets her clue.

The last three teams arrive at the plantation, where Asian Team Who, BQII and Vince & Sam all prepare to get shot.

Mai is the third team member to get her clue. So we have Tania, Fuzzie and Mai all jumping ahead of Geoff. Are you seeing a trend here? I hope you do. Geoff is feeling the pressure.

As Mai & Oliver head to the airport, she thinks they’re heading to China because she thinks Ho Chi Minh is “that guy, kind of like fat. No offense.” None taken, but I think you’re referring to Mao Zedong.

Anyway, back at the plantation, racers are getting shot with reckless abandon, but Bernie reaches the backpack and grabs her clue. So four women have retrieved their clue while Geoff continues to get shot. Pailin and William are next, meaning five women got the clue first before any man was able to reach the backpack. We are definitely seeing Girl Power at work here in this part of the leg.

Finally, Geoff runs back to Tania with their clue and as you can see, he’s got a massive welt on his arm. Too bad it couldn’t be higher because as we’ll see later, it will seem that the welts have somehow affected his brain.

Over to the Chiang Mai Airport, Ida & Tania are the first to get a flight out of Thailand. Since they’ve arrived at the terminal in plenty of time, they will be able to get to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) with a connection in Bangkok.

At the plantation, Sam is the next one to get hit by paintballs multiple times and he’s disappointed because he was in the Army, learning how to avoid getting shot. I guess he needs to go back. Kapil is able to get his clue, then Sam brings up the rear, getting the last envelope at this task.

At Chiang Mai Airport, teams start arriving in rapid fire fashion. Mai is finally informed by Isaac that they’re going to Vietnam, not China and it hits Oliver that the little Princess was thinking about Mao Zedong (maybe Isaac told him). It’s a nice bit of comic relief.

Meanwhile, we get a little bit of airport drama which I hate transcribing, especially when it goes overboard like in the last season of The Amazing Race. Since this airport drama is important to the next part of this episode, I’ll recap it for you.

Henry is able to find a flight heading into HCMC through Siem Reap, Cambodia. He & Bernie are the first to book this flight followed by Geoff & Tisha and AD & Fuzzie. Fuzzie informs Henry that they chose the right flight because today’s flight going to HCMC through Bangkok is full.

BQII tries to find a flight through Bangkok as do Mai & Oliver and Asian Team Who. They discover that the next available flight to Ho Chi Minh City is not until 9 a.m., the following day which will put them way behind the six other teams. Mai says there doesn’t seem to any other way? Did she bother to check? Why were three other teams able to find alternate routes?

Then the final two teams to reach Chiang Mai Airport, Niroo & Kapil and Vince & Sam are also able to get on the flight to Siem Reap so what gives here? Are the others so vapid that they aren’t able to look for another flight? By the time BQII, Asian Team Who and Oliver & the Princess arrive in HCMC, they’ll be racing for two spots in the next leg and one of them will be eliminated.

So these three teams are on their way to Bangkok where they will stay overnight until the following morning. To be honest, this is some bad travel planning by these three teams. We’ll see if it comes back to bite them in the next leg or if there’s a massive bunching saving them.

Once in Bangkok, Mai & Oliver and Asian Team Who look for cheap accommodations to stay overnight. Pailin decides that since they can’t afford a hotel, BQII will sleep at the airport. This devastates Natalie and she proclaims this as “the worst thing that could happen to us on the race.” Are you kidding me??? The worst thing that could happen to you on the race is to get eliminated! Sleeping at the airport is nothing and believe it or not, it’s actually one of the safest places you could be! But no, Natalie has a meltdown. She starts to whine, cry, bitch, moan and begins to think that she could get killed in the airport. Please. Pailin is the one thinking rationally since she knows they don’t have a lot of money. If they had to, I guess they could have doubled up with one of the other teams, but Pailin chose not to. Natalie, being Miss Universe, decides if she doesn’t have First Class accommodations, she’s going to shut down. And I was thinking in the first episode that she was going to the stronger of BQII, instead, she’s whining like a baby.

Moving on, we see that Ida & Tania have arrived in Vietnam. Grabbing a taxi and getting to the Saigon Opera House, they see that the clue directs them to Saigon Pho Cafe. There, they will play a (dreaded product placement ahead) Nokia video game called, “System Rush“, a racing game set on futuristic race tracks. Once the team members have each completed three laps around the track in the allotted time, they’ll receive their next clue.

Back to BQII, Natalie is whining and complaining about sleeping in the airport. Pailin could not understand why Natalie could not deal with it. Natalie then is seen saying, “Maybe people could train for this type of thing?” No, you just sleep and deal. During their confessional, Natalie scolds Pailin for not asking her how she was doing during her breakdown. She called it “her darkest hour.” Please. The darkest hour is being in prison or being held hostage. This is neither. You’re in an airport. Pailin says she was sleeping in the same airport and no one has died in that way, to which Natalie says, “You never know.” As much as I killed Mai for acting in a stupid manner last week, I must take Natalie to task for this behavior. It seems that she has never had to rough it or sleep in a tent. This is sleeping in an airport where it is inside, away from bugs and insects!! It’s relatively clean. But all Natalie can think of is satin sheets and Evian water foot baths!! I’m really disappointed in Natalie because I really wanted to like her.

We go on. Over to the Saigon Pho Cafe, Ida & Tania breeze through the video game and they’re having the greatest time unlike Natalie who doesn’t seem to have a sense of humor. They find that they’ll have to go to Ben Thanh Market, one of HCMC’s famous landmarks. They’ll have to go to a certain flower stall to receive their next clue.

While Ida & Tania try to find the market, the five teams that smartly flew through Siem Reap have arrived in HCMC, Niroo & Kapil, Henry & Bernie, Vince & Sam, AD & Fuzzie and Geoff & Tisha. While four teams speed off in their taxis, AD & Fuzzie decide they will take their time so not to get confused. Apparently, there are two Saigon Opera Houses, or so they think. Ida & Tania arrive at Ben Thanh Market and are informed the flower stall does not open until 7 a.m. (huh???) and go look for a hotel.

While AD & Fuzzie go on a Wild Opera House Chase, Geoff & Tisha, Henry & Bernie and Vince & Sam find it ok and get their next clue in that exact order. Geoff feels they should not have run over to the clue box because it made where they were going rather obvious. Niroo & Kapil have now made it over to the Opera House and they have their next clue. All are heading over to Saigon Pho Cafe where they will play System Rush.

It is at Saigon Pho Cafe where Geoff begins to show some rather ugly behavior. Actually, he started earlier with a snide comment on Henry’s ability to play video games, but you could dismiss that thinking it was just in the heat of the battle. Now, we start to see Geoff display some really bad tendencies. He first finishes System Rush in no time, even after arriving to the cafe after the siblings. Henry finishes next and tells Bernie how to complete the game.

Geoff starts to make side comments as Tisha is trying to finish the task. She asks him to go away and let her concentrate. In their confessional, Henry says Tisha is a lovely girl, but Geoff is “just too cool for school…” and “Tisha is being pushed to the breaking point.” And while Geoff is dancing around the room, Tisha can’t focus and has to watch her boyfriend … well, be a little boy. He continues to push her, but Tish shushes him and he backs off with a bewildered look on his face.

Even though Geoff and Henry have finished their part, it’s Vince & Sam who get their clue first in this group and they get to head to Ben Thanh Market. Bernie is having trouble mastering System Rush, but Tisha finishes and she & Geoff are off to the market. Then in their taxi, Geoff says, “You schooled her (Bernie). You schooled her.” But Tisha is a bit more sympathetic knowing that girls aren’t necessarily gamers, but then Geoff has to throw a shot saying Bernie is “over the hill.” Nice Geoff. You’ll get yours later.

Bernie just can’t get a hold of the game and has to start over, leaving Henry in a mess. He can’t bear to watch, but is being a good brother by not saying anything. He knows it would just make the situation worse. But she manages to complete the task and it’s off to the market.

Kapil is playing the game as well and is having some fun. An hour after arriving in HCMC, AD & Fuzzie finally find the Saigon Opera House and the clue.

At the market, Vince & Sam are informed that the flower stall opens at 7 while Geoff & the lovely Tisha (she’s pretty, but let’s face it, she can do way better than her loser boyfriend) find the Hours of Operation which specifically says, “0600″. So why the discrepancy? This is never explained, but in the overall scheme of things, it doesn’t affect the final order of finish, it’s just one of those quirky things that always seem to come up in the race.

Henry & Bernie also find the Hours of Operation so the siblings, Vince & Sam and Geoff & Tish all decide to find lodging for the night.

Back to the cafe where Kapil has finished the game, now it’s his father, Niroo’s turn. Over 50, he’s not a gamer and is having trouble looking at the phone which controls the game. He can’t grasp what’s going on, but does finish the task so they’re off to the market just as AD & Fuzzie arrive.

Fuzzie then finds the game quite easy and hands off to AD. They quickly finish the task and while they get their clue, Niroo & Kapil find the Hours of Operation so they go to sleep. And they’ll be joined at the hotel by AD & Fuzzie.

The following day, Niroo & Kapil, Henry & Bernie, Geoff & Tisha and AD & Fuzzie are all on hand when the flower stall opens and get their clues. They discover that their next destination is the Cai Be Bus Terminal, some two hours outside HCMC. It’s there where they will find their next clue.

These four teams get on buses to Cai Be and Fuzzie notices that she has not seen Ida & Tania. That’s because they’re just getting up and leaving their hotel thinking the flower stall opens at 7 a.m. Vince & Sam say they were informed of three different opening times, but it doesn’t matter, they and Ida & Tania are safely in Vietnam. They get their clues, then board different buses to Cai Be. They have no idea what position they’re in, but what they don’t know is that there are three teams that have still have not left Bangkok.

And just when you start to wonder about the last three teams, lo and behold, you see BQII, Asian Team Who and Oliver & the Princess all boarding their flight to HCMC.

Then the first wave of four teams hit Cai Be. And when they find the clue box, all of them see that they’ve hit another Detour. As we say it together, a Detour is a choice between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons. In this Detour, teams will have to choose between two modes of Vietnanese delivery, Sampan or Some Walk.

In Sampan, teams will have to load a wooden boat with fruit and deliver it to a local trader. The Cai Be Floating Market on the Tien Giang River is one of the biggest wholesale markets in the region. Rowing an unwieldy Sampan against the strong river’s currents will prove tough for some teams. Those lacking the proper rowing skills could take a long time.

In Some Walk, teams must capture 20 chickens and deliver them on foot to a nearby local market. However, trying to find the chicken vendor in a busy market where Vietnamese is primarily spoken could frustrate some teams.

The teams debate which task to take and Geoff & Tisha along with AD & Fuzzie take the boat. Niroo & Kapil and Henry & Bernie take a walk.

Ida & Tania make it to Cai Be and since Tania has a problem with chickens, the actress and heiress head for Sampan.

For some strange reason, Vince & Sam are kicked out of their bus and are forced to the roadside. They ask the driver to call another bus for them, but he refuses and the guys start walking towards Cai Be some 6 km away.

While Vince & Sam are having transportation problems, the other five teams are arriving at their separate detour tasks. Henry & Bernie get to the chicken farm first followed by Niroo & Kapil who find a local to direct them. Geoff & Tisha, AD & Fuzzie and Ida & Tania start loading their sampans with fruit.

Henry who seems to love animals is caressing a chicken and is joking that he’s going to stew or grill it when Bernie yells at him. Unfortunately, he loses it and the chicken has gained freedom from its coop. That’s what you get when you mug for the camera. And Bernie properly scolds him.

Then we head back to the sampans where the three other teams are quickly filling their cargo onto the wooden boats. It’s not looking safe and it seems like one of them will tip over in the strong Tien Giang River currents.

Henry & Bernie are finished loading their chickens and will lift their baskets, walking towards the market to drop them off.

Over to Vince & Sam who are wondering how they managed to get dropped off 6 km away from Cai Be. Luckily, they manage to find transportation (but is it a private vehicle … isn’t that against the rules???) and are now chugging into Cai Be. Brother and sister pass father and son who are just now making it to the chicken farm.

On the river, Ida is rowing her sampan and is having fun while doing it. Geoff seems like he can’t handle rowing the sampan. AD & Fuzzie who haven’t even pushed off decide to cut their losses and do the chickens.

Niroo & Kapil are at the ranch and catching chickens left and right. Bernie complains carrying the two baskets on her shoulders is too heavy and proclaims, “I want to be a man!!!” Actually, Bernie would not look good as a man. She’s quite sexy as a woman so I would prefer to remain a female. Anyway, they push ahead towards the market.

At the sampan task, Ida & Tania have decided to switch tasks and seeing that, Geoff & Tisha do the same. It’s hot in Vietnam on this date and Fuzzie who is big boned to be kind, is feeling the heat on the walk to the chicken farm.

Vince & Sam have made it to Cai Be and pay the driver of the van who transported them the 6 km to the clue box. They decide to do the chickens as well. And at the coop, Niroo & Kapil have captured all 20 of their chickies and are ready to head out.

Henry & Bernie have found the market and are now looking for the vendor so they can drop their chickens. But they put their chickens down and look for the vendor first. They begin to argue as siblings do when both feel they’re right. Bernie did not want to let go of the chickens, Henry wants to find the place first. It’s not a massive blowup, it just looks like it is. We can classify this as a typical brother-sister argument.

Over to the teams that have decided to switch. Ida & Tania notice that Geoff & Tisha are following them to the chicken coop. Tania calls Geoff, “Spider Black. The evil Spiderman behind us.” I’m liking Ida & Tania with each passing moment. They’re having fun and taking the right attitude in this race. Then we notice Fuzzie who is very hot and needing to take a moment to cool off from the humidity of Vietnam.

Niroo & Kapil debate on the proper way to carry the chickens. Kapil wants Niroo to drape his arms over the bar. Niroo says he can’t do it that way. Now it’s a typical father-son argument on The Amazing Race Asia.

Back to the siblings, Henry & Bernie continue to argue, but manage to settle their differences in order to get back to their chickens and drop them off to the right vendor. As Bernie grabs the clue, she finds that they have to head back to Ho Chi Minh City by bus and find Thanh Nu Jeanne D’Arc Vang Lang Church where they will find their next clue. So they find a bus which will take them to the church.

While Niroo & Kapil have left the chicken farm, somehow Vince & Sam leapfrogged over three other teams and they’re putting the birds into their baskets. But Sam suddenly remembers he has a phobia about animals flapping their wings near his face, so Vince has to grab the chickens from Sam, then lock them into the basket. But they collect 20 and can leave for the market. As they exit, they notice the other teams coming in.

Ida & Tania meet up with AD & Fuzzie, while Geoff & Tisha encounter Niroo & Kapil who aren’t very helpful on where the chicken farm is. Tania who doesn’t want to touch the chickens tells Ida she might have trouble picking them up, but Ida tells her to just do it. And she does.

Niroo is now having trouble carrying the chickens. His hands are going numb. Kapil tells him to keep his hands where they are. But with the high humidity, he has to stop and catch his breath.

Now, three teams are all trying to catch chickens. Geoff & Tisha are picking them up relatively easily. Ida & Tania can’t stand the chickens clucking and are feeling sympathetic. Fuzzie is just grabbing them two at a time and dropping them into the buckets saying the only chicken she likes are the fried ones on her plate. Now that’s funny and I like she and AD quite a bit.

Geoff & Tisha are the first to get 20 chickens, but he takes Ida & Tania’s instead of his own baskets. They call him back and he begrudgingly returns them. Once everything is squared away, we have five teams walking with their chickens towards the market in Cai Be.

Niroo & Kapil and Vince & Sam unload their cargo and are able to get their clues. They decide to share a taxi to HCMC.

It’s not comfortable carrying the chickens with the weight on the back of your neck and some of the racers struggle like Tisha. She’s tired and mentions the 30 consecutive hours they’ve raced without hitting the pit stop. Sam passes Tisha and tries to encourage her. Geoff tells her she has to continue even though it’s hot and the two all-female teams have passed them. He keeps pushing her and orders her not to stop, but she says she has to on the way.

While they struggle, Ida & Tania and AD & Fuzzie have reached the vendor and get their next clue. Shortly afterwards, Geoff & Tisha make it and this wave of teams has now completed the Cai Be stage of the race.

Ida & Tania and AD & Fuzzie try to grab a bus before Geoff gets there, but unfortunately, he does and it’s here where his behavior gets extremely ugly. He blows his whistle right in everyone’s face.

He demands a driver, but no one is coming forward. The two all-female teams are completely embarrassed and get out of Dodge. But Geoff is unfazed. He says the people there knew he meant business. Come on. That’s disgraceful. You don’t blow a whistle in someone’s face. That is the type of behavior that causes international incidents. He grabs one man by the hand, but Tisha tells Geoff that he does not know where to go. He’s yelling. No one is coming forward and if I were Michael McKay, I would come out, take that whistle and jam it down Geoff’s throat. This is the behavior of an immature little boy and while Geoff is chronologically 26 years old, he’s acting like he’s 6. I hope that this team gets eliminated soon because I don’t think I could handle them winning the race.

Back at HCMC, the final three teams have arrived at the airport and are pushing off towards the Saigon Opera House. Asian Team Who has the address and has given it to everyone else. While they speed off in three taxis, Mai now knows they’re bringing up the rear and feels the teams in front are at the pit stop already. Not quite, Mai, but you’re pretty close. They get their next clue instructing them to head to the Saigon Pho Cafe to play the Nokia video game. William & Isaac show their first sign of any emotion by getting excited to play noting their experience on Playstation will help. Natalie again complains says she hates video games.

Of course, Asian Team Who breeze through the game followed by Mai & Oliver. Natalie is having trouble after Pailin finished her part. But Miss Universe 2005 gets it done and BQII is the last to leave the cafe. Mai notes that the one person who wants to race on her team is Oliver and the one person who wants to race on BQII is Pailin. This is true. And if you drop Natalie and Mai and combine Oliver with Pailin, you would have one very formidable team.

But instead, Natalie complains saying they’re being treated as less than human. And she doesn’t see the point in doing any of these tasks or going through this. Pailin says she knew what she signed up for. But Natalie is not listening. She complains that she hasn’t slept, she hasn’t eaten, she hasn’t showered and adds that being dirty is the lowest form of human existence. This is coming off as quite elitest. My goodness. What is wrong with her? Pailin is trying to be patient and I’m surprised she hasn’t opened the door on Natalie’s side to push her out of the cab and into Saigon traffic. Sorry this isn’t Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Natalie.

The next thing for the Back Pack is to get the clue at the flower stall and when they all do, they then pile onto a bus for Cai Be. While they’re leaving HCMC, Henry & Bernie are returning.

They get to the church, and find that their next task is to become A Friend in Need. They’ll choose among Red Cross aid workers representing different charitable agencies in HCMC and use a $500 donation from (dreaded product placement ahead) Singha Beer to spend on aid for that organization. To be honest, while I’m snarky and cynical, this is where TARA shined last year when the racers painted a school for orphans with AIDS in South Africa and provided a donation from Standard Chartered Bank. And seeing the kids really touched my heart.

Continuing on, once the teams have finished this task, they will make their way to the Saigon Post Office where they will find their next clue.

It’s here when Henry was touched by the whole thing and broke down. He said the stress of the race amplified the things that disturbed him and he cried. I can’t kill him for crying because it’s a chance to help some people in need especially in a country that could use the help.

Niroo & Kapil and Vince & Sam stumble out of their van and are more than happy to be a friend in need. Following them are AD & Fuzzie and Ida & Tania.

Henry & Bernie go to a school for handicapped children. Vince & Sam go to the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation. Both get their instructions on what to buy and quickly head out.

Niroo & Kapil find out their orphanage needs art supplies. Ida & Tania have their Red Cross aid worker call the orphanage she’s representing to find out what its needs are. AD & Fuzzie get to a school for the blind and meet a girl who’s playing an electronic piano quite well. Both of them are touched by her and know what they have to buy.

We then see the teams buying food, art supplies, DVD’s, soap, toothbrushes, essentially some basic needs. AD & Fuzzie go into a music store and they’ll use their money to buy another electronic piano for the school for the blind.

And while this is happening, Geoff & Tisha arrive and it appears Geoff is actually into this. Their aid worker represents a charitable kitchen. So this team is off to buy vegetables for the kitchen.

The five teams in front of Geoff & Tisha are finishing up their purchases and heading back to their charitable agencies. Henry & Bernie give the money that is left over to the school and they pose for a picture with the children. They all look so precious. No sarcasm there, I’m being serious.

We then see Geoff & Tisha buying tomatoes for the charitable kitchen (to be honest, some of the tomatoes don’t look ripe). Vince & Sam drop off milk and some other supplies, then are asked if they want to visit with the kids. Being teachers, they’re only happy to oblige and they play with the kids for a bit.

AD & Fuzzie then drop off their piano for the school for the blind and once it’s set up, they head for the Saigon Post Office. Niroo & Kapil drop off DVD’s, art supplies and some linens as well which are appreciated by the orphanage.

Geoff carries two baskets of vegetables through the streets of HCMC. Tisha is having trouble carrying her basket. As he drops off the veggies, he exclaims, “Charity isn’t fun anymore.” Nice attitude, asshole. Get out of the race now, you jerkoff.

At the Saigon Post Office, Henry & Bernie rip open their clue and discover that after some 30+ hours of racing in this leg, their next destination is the pit stop! This will be the Museum of Vietnamese History. As Allan tells us, the museum houses artifacts from as long as 300,000 years ago. The last team to check in, may be eliminated. Teams will have to enter the museum through the main entrance of the Ho Chi Minh City Zoo.

Vince & Sam get to the Post Office next and are relieved to see the pit stop is the next destination.

Asshole & Tisha give the kitchen US$400 from the original amount and head off. Geoff says he’s flipped and can’t do anything else. No, he’s a jerk and should be arrested for being an asshole in a foreign country.

AD & Fuzzie find the next clue at the Post Office and will head to the museum. Ida & Tania make a brief stop at their orphanage, visiting with the children. Ida says she felt fortunate to help out and it’s gratifying to see the teams with the exception of Geoff get something out of the visit to their charities. And Tania says she felt bad rushing out of the orphanage and said it was rude to be like that because you could see they wanted to stay with the children.

Henry & Bernie go through the gate of the Ho Chi Minh City Zoo, see the museum and are told by Allan that they are the winners of this leg of the race. And for being first they receive (dreaded product placement ahead) a year’s supply of petrol from Caltex.

AD & Fuzzie hit the mat in second and this is a strong team. Don’t let the looks deceive you. This is a very smart team and I hope they go far. Relieved they’re at the pit stop, AD decides to kiss the mat. It’s been a very long leg. But I thought AD is obsessive compulsive. Well, to each her own, I guess.

Vince & Sam are checked in third, quite happy that this leg is over. Niroo & Kapil are pleased to be told they’re in 4th. At the Post Office, Geoff & Tish are surprised to see four more clues in addition to theirs. Ida & Tania are next to get their final clue of the leg.

Over to Cai Be, it’s now nightfall and the teams have reached the clue box at the Bus Terminal. Natalie tells Pailin she doesn’t want to touch chickens, but Asian Team Who correctly talks them out of Sampan saying it’s too dark to be looking on the water. So William & Isaac, BQII and Oliver and the Princess make their way to the chicken farm. Let me tell you, that’s going to be a rather interesting scene.

Back at Ho Chi Minh City, Geoff & Tisha hit the mat in 5th, pleased as punch. Then the most delightful team thus far, Ida & Tania are in 6th and promptly do a happy dance in front of Allan. He asks them to do a chicken dance.

This makes a nice transition to the chicken farm in Cai Be where Pailin, Oliver and Isaac are all gathering the chickens. Nice of Natalie to open and close the lid of the baskets. But because she’s distressed listening to the clucking of the chickens (it’s just clucking … obviously the Princess has never lived on a farm), she starts to cry. I don’t understand this, but since she wanted to quit after winning the first leg, there’s a lot I don’t understand about Mai. I really don’t want to understand her at this point.

Asian Team Who is having the most trouble getting the chickens. The self professed city boys don’t get the whole thing about catching chickens.

Mai & Oliver and Pailin & Natalie have enough birds to leave the farm and head off. Natalie is cranky as she lashes out at a bicyclist on the road. Isaac tells William he can help so he does his best to catch some chickens.

Over to the market where Mai & Oliver get their next clue. Pailin & Natalie are next to get their clues and Miss Universe 2005 suddenly perks up and does her Beauty Queen wave to the crowd gathered around them. I’m just shaking my head. When Natalie’s privately with Pailin, she’s Debbie Downer. When she sees people looking at her, Natalie’s suddenly Miss Congeniality? I don’t get it. As I’m watching this, I wish Pailin would come out with a right cross, but it’s not to be.

Asian Team Who is the last and final team to leave the chicken farm, but with Natalie & Pailin and Mai & Oliver taking their buses to Ho Chi Minh City, it’ll be tough for them to catch up. And Oliver says he loves the brothers, but he can’t wait for them. It’s a race and they have to continue. That’s the attitude to have! Finally, someone who gets it!

And the Brothers are the last to get their clue in Cai Be and basically will be last at the pit stop.

Since things aren’t going to change for William & Isaac, I’ll quickly sum up and end this recap because it’s becoming longer than the actual episode.

Once in HCMC, Mai & Oliver buy a new laptop computer for an orphanage. When BQII arrive at their charity, the director says it’s too late to buy anything and they get off the hook. She’ll just takes the US$500 from BQII and Natalie & Pailin head to the Post Office (I don’t like that, but what can you do?). Asian Team Who is instructed to buy some groceries for their charity which for all intents and purposes eliminates them.

So BQII jumps ahead of Oliver & the Princess and hits the mat in 7th way behind the first six teams. Mai & Oliver are in 8th and Asian Team Who is eliminated. And in their exit interview, William & Isaac speak in the same monotone voice, show no emotion and are devoid of personality. I don’t think they’ll be missed.

So the final order of finish:

1. Henry & Bernie – Winners of a year’s supply of petrol from Caltex
2. AD & Fuzzie
3. Vince & Sam
4. Niroo & Kapil
5. Geoff & Tish
6. Ida & Tania
7. Natalie & Pailin
8. Mai & Oliver – all the way down from 1st
9. William & Isaac – eliminated

Next week, we go back to a 60 minute episode and it’s also the premeire of Amazing Race 13.

The Amazing Race Asia 3 – Ep. 2 Results

I have not seen the episode, but thanks to someone providing a live blog over at the Reality Fan Forum, I have the results of the 90 minute episode that has just aired on AXN.

1. Henry & Bernie – winners of a year’s supply of gas from Caltex
2. AD & Fuzzie
3. Vince & Sam
4. Niroo & Kapil (up from 9th)
5. Geoff & Tisha
6. Ida & Tania
7. Natalie & Pailin (teams 7-9 were way behind after missing a flight and Natalie wanted to quit from what I heard, you know my feelings about people wanting to quit)
8. Mai & Oliver
9. William & Isaac (eliminated)

Recap of this episode coming up sometime this weekend.

The Amazing Race Asia 3 – Episode 1 Recap

It’s been almost 7 months since The Amazing Race 2 ended with Adrian & Collin winning. Now we have 10 new teams and a race that is much tougher than the previous two seasons.

Just like last season, I will do episode recaps and I will do them as soon as I have the complete episode in hand. In the weeks leading up to the premiere, I was not into the race, but as soon as I watched this episode, I was caught up immediately. As with last season’s premiere, the racers have to go all over the place, but thanks to some hard physical tasks and a very long bus ride, Killer Fatigue came into play early. Let’s go over this very well produced episode.

We begin this season in Bangkok, Thailand where Allan Wu is located on top of a building (Phil Keoghan-style, I might add), telling us that tuk tuks are transporting the ten teams to the King Rama I Monument, dedicated to the man who founded Bangkok. After an introduction to this season’s cast, we see the tuk tuks park and the racers get out to see Allan.

I like the tuk tuks and I wish that the US version of the Amazing Race would use them to transport the teams to the starting line. How cool would that be? And why can’t we use tuk tuks for transportation here in the States? Ok, enough of my tuk tuk rant.

Anyway, Allan goes through his regular spiel, but he adds a special caveat. He says, “This race will be hard. It will push you … and challenge you … in ways you can never imagine.” Hmmm. Foreshadowing perhaps? Ok, this race is going to be tough. How tough will it be?

Allan has already told them that there are 11 legs, 7 of which are elimination legs. And he finishes by saying the winner at the end will receive US$100,000 which is nothing to sneeze at.

And with that, the teams head to their luggage where their first clue is waiting for them. Right off the bat, the teams discover that they have an eating challenge. And they scramble to find transportation. Some teams are smart, heading back to the tuk tuks that brought them to the monuments, others head off to find a taxi. Beauty Queens Natalie & Pailin take a tuk tuk.

Now, I have to stop for a moment to say that there is only one true team of Beauty Queens and that is Dustin & Kandice from TAR10 and All Stars. Out of respect to them, I will call Natalie & Pailin, Beauty Queens II or BQII when I need to abbreviate. We go on.

Mai & Oliver, Thai natives, actress and friend, grab a tuk tuk as well and speed off to the next destination. Other teams have trouble finding cabs including brothers William & Isaac from South Korea. Finally, everyone gets their cab and the teams are now speculating on their first task. The only one to guess right are siblings Henry & Bernie who say, “Grasshoppers?” to which Henry says, “Scorpions.” This guy is perceptive.

The other teams are thinking noodles, curry, Thai food… no. You get to eat some really crispy stuff, but we’ll get to that later. The teams are heading to Thanon Khao San, a district quite well known as a tourist destination and for its rice markets. Both it’s not rice that the teams will be eating. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

When the teams arrive at their destination, they’ll be eating assorted delectable fried insects along with fried frogs and yes Bernie, fried scorpions. Everything must be eaten before teams can receive their next clue.

Friends AD & Fuzzie are the first to arrive and start chowing down. Fuzzie says they taste like French Fries. I’m glad someone feels this way because they look like fried insects to me. The teams arrive one-by-one and without any hesitation, eat the bugs, frogs and scorpion. However, I didn’t say they weren’t going to have trouble because they will. Natalie upon arrival says she does not want the frog. I must say I’ve had frog legs before and they’re very tasty.

Isaac & William, the brothers from South Korea, aren’t happy and William says he has a fear of insects. Shut up and eat, boy! No time to complain unless you want to get eliminated. A crowd of onlookers has gathered to watch the racers eat the fried insects, crunchy frog and scorpions. Tania had something explode in her mouth and she was about to shut down. But give credit to BQII for just taking whatever was in the bowl, grabbing them and just “scarfing them down” as Pailin said. Natalie was looking quite happy while doing it, but then again, beauty queens know how to smile even in the most adverse conditions.

Siblings Henry & Bernie are the first to finish and to head to their next destination(dreaded product placement ahead), yet another Caltex station (I believe this is the 5th Caltex station to be seen in the series, by my count) where they will wash a marked vehicle, but not just any marked vehicle. Remember in the first season when the teams had to wash a car in Singapore just after heading to the Fountain of Wealth? Well, this time, they’re going to have to wash a doubledecker bus. The bus has to be completely clean before the teams get their next clue.

Meanwhile, the other teams are still eating the bugs, frogs and scorpions and it’s here where some of the racers’ gag reflexes kick in. We then see a sequence of vomiting into buckets. It’s a really nice sight and you get a nice example right here. What? You didn’t think I would leave it out, did you?

And wouldn’t you know it? Natalie & Pailin are the 2nd team to leave the eating challenge quickly followed by boyfriend/girlfriend Geoff & Tisha. The only real highlight we get to see of Geoff in this episode is his hurling on the sidewalk after the challenge. I’ll spare you that sight.

They were followed by Mai & Oliver, AD & Fuzzie and Ida & Tania so again, we have some really strong female teams on this race.

Well, I would not include Mai in that group and we’ll see why at the end. We don’t want to jump ahead too far. We still have a lot to go in this recap. But we see where Mai who has said her parents have brought up like a princess shows her prima donna side by making Oliver carry her huge backpack. He’s got to carry his own and then carry hers as well????

What have we learned after 12 seasons of the US TAR and 2 seasons of TARA? That it’s always best to pack light. Don’t carry these bulky backpacks that have all of your essentials inside. We’ve seen teams having to get rid of stuff along the way and Mai’s backpack looks like it has her entire life and he has to run with two backpacks? That never works. And Oliver even tells Mai and he can’t do it, but she doesn’t care saying the next destination will be easy. Right. And I can carry two one ton boulders on my shoulders. Who is she kidding?

Finally, the other teams are finishing their eating and are heading to the Caltex station. And as the racers are winding down from the bug challenge, they notice they have pieces of bug, frog and scorpion stuck in their teeth. It’s a nice thought.

Arriving first at the Caltex Bus Wash are Mai & Oliver. Because she has not done anything in her life except act, she is immediately intimidated by the daunting task of washing a bus. Other teams arriving include Geoff & Tisha and BQII who jump into the task feet first. Geoff throws water on the bus to which Tisha feels is not helping. BQII are working together quite well, communicating and finding which areas to wash first (can you tell I like them right off the bat?).

The next wave of teams are William & Isaac, AD & Fuzzie and Ida & Tania. But the third wave of teams is having trouble due to bad taxi drivers and Bangkok traffic. Some drivers got lost and had to ask for directions. But they eventually find it and everyone is now washing a bus. And they get some help as it starts to rain. Natalie’s eyeliner is starting to run … not water soluble, I guess. But she’s not complaining, she wants to get the task done. And even with raccoon eyes, Natalie still looks good.

The first team to get the clue is Bernie & Henry. They find that they will take the bus they just cleaned and head to Wat Phai Rong Wua. Once there, they’ll find their next clue. Three buses will transport the teams. Only three teams will be able to take the first bus, then three more teams get to go on the second bus and the last four teams will be on the third and last bus.

While Mai & Oliver are the second to finish, they really don’t read the clue carefully and instead of waiting for another team so they can board a bus, they pile into a taxi and drive off! Where are you going? In addition, due to their privileged background, they don’t know what a chartered bus is. And had they waited, Neena & Amit who had received their clue would be joining them and Henry & Bernie, but due to that mistake, they find that they will be taking the second bus. Taking Mai & Oliver’s place on the first bus will be BQII. And that bus heads off forcing Mai & Oliver who’ve returned to the Caltex station to wait for two other teams before leaving.

Geoff & Tisha and Ida & Tania leapfrog over Mai & Oliver who have lost time in their confusion. And again, poor Oliver has drag his and Mai’s backpack to the bus. The man has eaten bugs, frogs and scorpions and then spent hours washing a double decker bus, and you make him carry your bags??? Have some consideration, woman!

So the second bus leaves and Mai announces to the world that she’s never washed a car. Ok.

This leaves the last four teams, Niroo & Kapil, AD & Fuzzie, William & Isaac and Vince & Sam to bring up the rear as they all finish cleaning their respective buses. They finally depart while the first bus carrying Henry & Bernie, BQII and Neena & Amit arrive at Wat Phai Rong Wua. They discover that they’ll have to look among hundreds of Buddha statues for their next clue. But the thing is that it’s very dark so finding the envelopes will be difficult and the buses will depart 20 minutes after they arrived so if they’re not on that bus, they’ll have to try to get the next one while searching for their clue.

The second bus has arrived carrying Mai & Oliver, Geoff & Tisha and Ida & Tania. So you have six teams searching for clues in a very dark area. While all teams are carrying flashlights, one can only see so far. But Mai & Oliver pick up a clue and are able to get on the first bus. They’ll head to the Chiang Mai Bus Terminal, over 8 hours and 585 kilometers from Bangkok to find their next clue.

Geoff & Tisha are the next to find their clue among the gold Buddhist statues and they’re the next and last team to get on the first bus. So all of the teams that were in the first wave to arrive at the Wat Phai Rong Wua are still searching for clues and have missed their bus. Henry & Bernie find their clue ensuring they’ll be the only ones on the second bus.

Neena & Amit and Natalie & Pailin finally find their clues, but now they have to wait for the third bus and all of its teams to find the envelopes before they can leave. When the final bus arrives, Neena tells them to hurry up to find their clues as they don’t want to wait so long and she tells the final four teams to look at the base of the statue, not for a cluebox. Awfully nice of her, but I can’t kill her for this because with each passing moment, the other two buses lengthen their lead on the last teams. Eventually, the last teams find clue and get ready to boarded a crowded bus with seven teams to Chiang Mai.

While the last bus with seven teams on board is just leaving Bangkok, we see the first bus carrying Mai & Oliver and Geoff & Tisha arrive at the Chiang Mai Bus Terminal. Once they rip open the black and yellow envelope, the teams find that they’ve reached a detour.

Say it with me now. A Detour is a choice between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons. I wish this sentence was still used in the US TAR, but I’m glad it’s here in TARA. In this detour, teams have the choice to decide between Race or Rice.

In Race, teams must drive a buggy over an 8 km dirt trail to receive their next clue. The task is not physically demanding so teams who can navigate their way through the trail can finish quickly.

In Rice, teams must work together to pound rice into a sticky paste to make two small rice balls. While the rice balls are small, pounding the rice will be very difficult. Teams that don’t have the muscle to pound the rice could take a long time.

Mai & Oliver and Geoff & Tisha share a songtel to take them to the detour. And as Henry & Bernie arrive, they decide to do the rice detour and Henry is excited to use his chef skills only to have Bernie remind him that cooking will not be involved. Oh, snap!

The first three teams are now pounding rice into the paste in hopes of making two rice balls. And when the last bus arrives, to a team, all decide to do the rice. Race! It’s faster and you won’t be in the hot sun for long!! I don’t understand these decisions sometimes, but as I mentioned at the beginning, at this point, Killer Fatigue is taking its toll rather early in the race. Usually, Killer Fatigue is not a factor until the midway point of the race, but in this first leg that has had vomiting, the washing of a double decker bus and trying to find clues in the dark (and this is all in the first 24 hours), no one is thinking clearly.

After pounding the rice for a long time, Mai & Oliver finally have enough paste to make rice balls and they are the first to get their clue. They are relieved to find out that the next destination is the pit stop, Ratchaphruek Garden World, which is named after Thailand’s national flower. As you can tell, this is the first pit stop in this leg of the race and the last team to arrive may be eliminated. Mai & Oliver are quickly followed by Geoff & Tisha who shared the songtel with them to the rice detour.

Henry & Bernie finish the rice task third and they’re off to the public gardens (I’m not going to write the name of the garden again, once was tough enough). As they ride in the songtel, Henry and Bernie are eating a rice ball and he has the line of the episode when he says, “You know what this would be good with? A side of scorpions.” Great line and it was an organic moment (no mugging for the camera unlike a certain team from last season who constantly posed and mugged, but we’re not going to mention them this season. Oh, maybe one of them might get a mention later in this recap, but that’s later).

In the first songtel, Geoff and Oliver decide that when they arrive at the mat, they’ll do paper, scissors, rock to decide who will be in first place. Henry says at best, he and Bernie will be first, at worst, they’ll be third. It appears the two songtels are in a race to see who finishes first, but I really don’t think it was that close. Maybe Michael McKay can confirm that for me. But Geoff feels he sees Bernie & Henry.

However, it’s Geoff & Tisha and Mai & Oliver who reach the mat first. And as agreed upon, Mai and Tisha do paper, scissors, rock to determine who finishes first and will receive the very first prize of the race. Mai wins. She and Oliver get to step on the mat in first and they receive $2,500 each (dreaded product placement ahead) from Standard Chartered Bank which they will spend after the race. Geoff & Tisha are on the mat second and grateful for the help they received from Thai natives Mai & Oliver. Even though they lost $5,000, Tisha says she wants to play the game fair. I like that and she may be someone who could be rewarded down the road.

Henry & Bernie hit the mat third and she recognizes that the greeter with Allan is none other than Fang’s Bites fav from TARA2, Paula Taylor of Paula & Natasha. I was so sad when they were eliminated. Of course, Paula is looking so lovely here. Yes, I’m smitten, but how could you not be? She’s so pretty and has such a great smile, the only drawback is her relationship with Mutt of TARA2, but I can overlook that.

Anyway, we continue with the recap and this is where it turns ugly. Suddenly, Mai has told Oliver that she has had enough of the race and wants to quit. For long time fans of The Amazing Race, who does this remind you of? If you said Flo from TAR3, you would be correct! And Oliver blows up not comprehending what he’s hearing. Of course, he then lets Mai have it for making him carry her 30 kg backpack all over Thailand.

He says, “You don’t see that I’m dying here for you. All you can say is, ‘I’m tired.’”

She replies, “You keep complaining, ‘I’m *bleep* carrying your backpack. So heavy. Blah. Blah. Blah. So don’t *bleep* carrying my bag.”

He fires back, “I didn’t complain!” Um, yes you did, Oliver.

And after another fiery exchange he says, “Just don’t complain for when I’m doing everything, ok??!!!” She’s not helping either, but the man is tired and says so. She should not have made him carry her heavy backpack. Obviously, Mai was thinking, “Oh The Amazing Race will be a fun time and I can make myself more famous by being on TV.” Well, the race is physically demanding and Mai is finding out that she has a lot of growing up to do. This is not for princesses. I can’t condone Oliver’s behavior either, but this has the potential to blow up even further the longer these two are in the race.

Back to the seven racers who will decide who is going home. Some arrive at the rice task, ready to pound some paste into rice balls. Most have started the task, but one team that is having trouble just getting to the task are cousins Neena & Amit. Their driver got lost, then they got directions pointing them in the wrong way. This leads to their downfall.

Over to the race detour, William & Isaac and Ida & Tania wisely choose to drive the buggies. Why more teams didn’t choose this task is beyond me. When I hear buggies or rice, I’ll go with the buggies. At the rice task, AD & Fuzzie and Niroo & Kapil decide to change tasks and race buggies. But those who stay, Vince & Sam and Natalie & Pailin finish their rice balls and head to the pit stop. Ida & Tania cross the finish at the race task and are next to head to the pit stop. Brothers William & Isaac are the next to get their clue as they finish the race detour. And while they leave, Neena & Amit are just arriving, which is not good.

At the pit stop, BQII, Natalie & Pailin step on the mat in 4th, a very strong finish and I’m happy for them. So is Paula as you can see here. Are you sensing a theme here?

Vince & Sam step on the mat next, but because they did not pay their songtel driver, they cannot check in. So they have to run back to the gate.

To the race detour, Niroo & Kapil and AD & Fuzzie have buckled into their buggies are on the dirt track.

Back at the public gardens, Vince & Sam pay their driver, but she’s not happy with them. Ida & Tania arrive and they jokingly ask for a porter to take their heavy backbacks (again, pack light!). Because of their mistake with the driver, Vince & Sam lose two spots as Ida & Tania are checked in 5th and William & Isaac are awarded 6th place. Vince & Sam are officially in 7th.

Leaving the race task in 8th place are Neena & Amit, but their adventures to the pit stop are just beginning. AD & Fuzzie and Niroo & Kapil appear to be in the race for last spot to remain in the race. As they head for the pit stop, AD points out her pouch is dirty and gives a mock cry. I think she was faking that, but some who have watched feel she lost it at that moment, but I think she was joking.

The next scene we see is Amit asking for directions to the public gardens, but the woman appears to be clueless.

However, not appearing clueless are AD & Fuzzie as they reach the mat in 8th place and safe for another week.

But not safe are Neena & Amit who keep asking for directions and are constantly pointed to the wrong way.

Niroo & Kapil aren’t getting much help either as their songtel driver stops to get gas.

Neena & Amit finally stop at a tourist information center to find out where the gardens are and have the person there tell the driver where it is.

Niroo & Kapil’s driver appears to be taking his sweet time filling the songtel’s tank. But they manage to get to the gardens and father & son are checked in 9th, barely hanging on.

And bringing up the rear after leaving the Caltex Bus Wash on the first bus so many hours ago are Neena & Amit and they are promptly eliminated. And Paula’s look says it all. Neena & Amit were good, but as we have come to find out in the race, if you get a bad driver, it can really get you in trouble and that’s what happened here.

So the final order of finish:

1. Mai & Oliver – winners of US$5,000 from Standard Chartered Bank
2. Geoff & Tisha
3. Henry & Bernie
4. Natalie & Pailin
5. Ida & Tania
6. William & Isaac
7. Vince & Sam
8 AD & Fuzzie
9. Niroo & Kapil
10. Neena & Amit – eliminated

Coming up next week:

A 90 minute episode. That means more recap for you. See you then.

The Amazing Race Asia, Ep. 1 Results

Until I can get my hands on the episode, I can only give you the results tonight’s premiere of The Amazing Race Asia 3. Hopefully, I can put up a recap over the weekend.

1. Mai & Oliver
2. Geoff & Tisha
3. Henry & Bernie
4. Natalie & Pailin
5. Ida & Tania
6. William & Issac
7. Sam & Vince
8. AD & Fuzzie
9. Niroo & Kapil
10. Neena & Amit (Eliminated)

Paula of Paula & Natasha was the greeter with Allan in this episode.

Next week, it’s a 90 minute episode.

Interview with the Amazing Race Asia Executive Producer Michael McKay

This weekend, I exchanged several e-mails with Michael McKay, the Executive Producer of the Amazing Race Asia in advance of the season premiere of the new season which takes place on AXN this Thursday.

I became a big fan of the show during the very first season which brought us the very first all-female team, Zabrina & Joe Jer, to win any version of the race.

Last season, I started doing episode recaps and got disillusioned with the antics of Marc & Rovilson, especially with their elongated winning streak, but was happy to discover that Adrian & Collin had won the race.

To give you a quick bio, Michael McKay is the Executive Producer and Director of the Amazing Race Asia. He has worked on the Amazing Race 2 and 4, as well as being a Consulting Producer for TAR 5 and 9. Michael is the President of activeTV, based in Australia and Singapore. He has been a prolific producer of sports programming in Australia and Asia.

One day, he happened to visit Fang’s Bites and left a comment which pleasantly surprised me. Since then, we’ve exchanged friendly e-mails and Michael agreed to do an interview with me which was conducted over the last few days. In the interview, we preview the upcoming season, talk about the selection process, Kynt & Vyxsin from TAR 12 and what’s in the future for TARA.

Here are the results of our e-mail exchanges:

Fang’s Bites: I’m glad that you agreed to do the interview. Much appreciated.

Michael McKay: My pleasure, I enjoy reading your episode recaps of the series, they’re often very funny (and honest) .

FB: Let’s start off. You’ve said in press interviews that this is the toughest race of the three you have produced. Without going into specifics, what made the race so tough?

MM: Well, as the Network has already said, it’s going to be a tough Race. The toughest Asian Race, sure, but as tough as any US Race too I’d say.

The first few legs in particular are punishing and we’ve thrown in a few surprises for the viewers. Take nothing for granted

How tough will it be? Right from the very first challenge. And the second is a biggie. As soon as you see it you’ll know what I mean.

And the second episode is no push over. I’ve never seen so many bruises in a Race let alone a single leg.

One of the big factors in this series is the heat and humidity. It’s there all the time. Sometimes it’s hard for that to come across on TV but believe me, it gets to the teams when there is no let up.

Series 2 was a big sprawling effort, I think we actually covered more ground than the US version. This time around we’ve gone for a tighter, more punishing route. The way the route is set up for this series I would best describe as “relentless”. We wanted the teams to be always on the go, to be always challenged.

FB: You mentioned that there are some bruises in the early legs. Did it concern you that any of the racers might have to quit because of injury? I remember in TARA1, Laura (of Laura and Andy) had a problem with her knee and had to see a doctor, but continued onward.

MM: Yes, Laura’s injury was touch and go but she seemed to make a miraculous recovery because they won the next Leg of the Race.

Injuries are always a possibility, given how physical the Race is. Most of the time they are sports style injuries such as knees, ankles, hamstrings, things like that.

Teams having to quit because of injuries is always a possibility but quite rare really.

The Race was tough, and the second Leg sure is a bruising affair but we work hard to ensure a safe Race (but not a walk in the park).

FB: In the Racers Revealed program, Kynt & Vxysin from TAR12 were seen. Was that an actual audition tape? Did they want to be in TARA? And what would have happened if you chose them for TARA?

MM: Yes, it was Kynt & Vxysin and they really did apply. They were very keen to be involved but we felt it would be unfair to have a team that had already raced (and raced very well I might add) and also we take teams from Asia. But if we do an All Star version down the track you never know.

FB: Is an All Star edition something you’re thinking of in the future?

MM: Possibly, the fans seem quite keen (they’ve been talking about it since TARA1 which I thought was perhaps a bit premature).

FB: There are a lot of celebrities in this particular race. Was there a reason for their selection?

MM: I think the term “celebrity” is a bit over used, especially in relation to TARA. Last season the Dancing Moms were labelled celebrities but I would not have agreed with that label for them.

My interest is in making great TV that entertains our viewers so I’m not really interested in the celeb factor to be honest.

I’m sure the network is happy to have them, for the promotional value they bring (and I think they push the so called mactor factor quite hard), but unless they make great TV a celeb is of little use or interest to me.

I’m not really aware of all of the actors, models, TV celebs etc. in all of the different Asian markets so if we see an application video that grabs us then that’s great. Celeb or not.

You could argue that they are going to be more comfortable in front of the camera and that’s a start but not the whole story. We knocked back a big celeb team last season because that was all they had going for them.

Vince and Sam aren’t celebs, AD and Fuzzie aren’t – they just really interested us. I love regular folks in the series but most of all I want teams that will entertain us (or in the case of M&R last season, really annoy the hell out of [you]).

And the Beauty Queens? If they don’t entertain you I’ll give you your money back.

FB: Yes, Marc & Rovilson certainly annoyed me, but in your opinion, how did they (I won’t use the names I gave them, LOL) do in drawing interest to the series?

MM: They proved very popular with viewers but I’m okay that fans love some teams and not others. That’s one of the things that makes the show interesting; the different characters.

FB: (Host) Allan Wu has been compared to TAR host Phil Keoghan (unfairly in my view). How do you think he has evolved as a host for TARA?

MM: Allan was always going to be compared to Phil in the first season and we were aware of that and talked about it. The viewers needed to get used to him and he needed to settle into the series. He was good last year and by the end of this season it will be hard to imagine anyone else doing it. He’s relaxed into the role and is loving it, which comes across. Funnily enough, he has a similar sense of humour to Phil and, like Phil, is a really nice guy who goes out of his way to help his crew.

FB: Would you ever have both Phil and Allan at the mat together?

MM: I’d love that, it would be a lot of fun and they’d get on well I think. They both share a similar sense of humour.

FB: What led you to produce TARA?

MM: I was producing on the US version and (TAR Executive Producer) Bertram van Munster asked if I could take on the Asian version. I met with the AXN folks, we hit it off and now we’re completing the third series.

FB: How much have TAR co-executive producers Bertram Van Munster and Elise Doganieri helped you in producing each season?

Bertram is a partner in our Asian business and he loves being involved. We’re good friends and we talk all of the time. Elise too is a close friend, since we first went scouting the Australian outback for the second series.

They are always there when I need advice or want to talk through an idea. They are just so passionate about the Race and have been great supporters for us.

Unfortunately, as it has turned out, the Asian and US Races have been run at the same time so they haven’t had a chance to come on an Asian Race. Our two production teams ran into each other at an airport last season which was funny.

FB: I did hear of this. Did the two teams exchange stories, and was there any consideration of possibly having a crossover between the two shows?

MM: A cross over started out as a joke when we were getting bored waiting for teams somewhere. Elise Doganieri and I would discuss the possibility of their being another franchise somewhere and the teams from that Race going to our Clue box and ending up on our Race by mistake. We thought that was really funny until a few years later, I’m off doing the other franchise and it occurs to us that it is a real possibility. Then it wasn’t as funny anymore.

FB: You’ve hinted at a TARA4 on the AXN website. How close is that to a reality and what can we expect for that season?

MM: I haven’t even started seriously thinking about TARA4 so I don’t have a route worked out or anything like that.

Executive Producers aren’t universally known for their humble approach to talking up renewals but I’ve been around long enough to know that the viewers will ultimately decide if we do a fourth season (by virtue of the ratings). That said, the series has been an outstanding success in Asia and I do hope the fans will love this third series, enough to warrant a fourth.

FB: Will TARA eventually make a stop in the US? Last season, the show did go to Europe adding a new dimension to the game. Could we see a trip to the US in the near future?

MM: For sure! No reason why not.

FB: This is a totally self-serving question, but how did you become aware of my recaps for TARA2?

It is a self-serving question. You’d make an excellent Executive Producer.

We get an auto search of the internet when The Amazing Race or Amazing Race Asia pops up.

Your recaps gave me a laugh so I bookmarked your site and often return to see what you are up to.

FB: Thanks very much, I appreciate that. I’ll do my best to keep you laughing this season.

MM: Thanks, I need it sometimes

FB: Will TARA eventually air in the US? I’ve had to find creative ways to watch the show, do you see TARA airing in the US sometime soon?

MM: For creative read highly illegal

I don’t think so to be honest. The TAR and TARA series are both distributed by Disney who do a great job but I can’t see any of the non-USA versions screening in the US.

FB: How about a DVD set? I know TAR had two seasons released on DVD, are there any plans for TARA?

MM: I’m not on the merchandise side but I’m not aware of a box set coming out anytime soon.

FB: Of the first two seasons that have aired, what was your favorite location to visit?

MM: Oh gosh, that’s tough. I loved the Monkey Forest in Bali (although the monkeys thought the clues were bananas and kept eating them). I love going to India, it makes for great TV.

New Zealand gives us great adventure. Prague was beautiful, we all loved that.

Actually one of my absolute favourite locations comes up towards the very end of this series so more on that another time.

So many places and to think AXN are actually crazy enough to pay me to do this job (lucky they never visit your site so they won’t see this).

FB: How supportive has AXN been to the show?

MM: Just in case they DO visit your site I will say they are brilliant to work with.

Actually, that’s the truth. I love working with the folks at AXN and Sony in LA. They have become good friends and they make doing the series a pleasure (most of the time).

FB: What do you think of spoilers and people who manage to determine the route of the seasons? Do you feel the spoilers add interest to the race or do you feel they hinder the interest?

MM: I’m amazed at the lengths people will go to and in a way it is flattering that they care so much. There are times though when I feel a spoiler really does spoil it for the viewer. Sometimes they go over the top. And, of course, the spoilers don’t always get it right (and some get it sooooo wrong).

FB: Do you have producers at each location?

MM: Yes, absolutely. This adds up to a lot of producers.

It’s like a travelling producers’ convention

FB: Do you try to have a storyline for each team ahead of time and then edit them to try and fit that story?

MM: I know some shows may pre-determine who is the nasty character, who is the sweet one and so on. But under the pressures of the Race, Teams can go from sweet to nasty in the blink of an eye so you see people at their best and not so best. It’s better to keep it real because the Race is what it is, which is why I think viewers like it. It has endured as a reality show that is, in fact, reality.

FB: Thanks again for doing this, Michael.

MM: No problems and I look forward to your recaps

The Amazing Race 3 Promo Featuring the Start Line!

Here’s another promo for The Amazing Race Asia 3, this one featuring Ida & Tania, but also showing the start of the race.

I like it.

Videos of the Week: The Amazing Race Asia 3 Racers on Video!

AXN-Asia has started to air promos of the teams in advance of September 4th’s “Racers Revealed” program. I’ll post the video and I hope Sony, the owner of AXN-Asia, does not force the person who posted them at YouTube to take them down. I had posted promos of last season’s epiesodes, but was forced to take them down from my account, so I won’t be posting them and let someone else take the heat.

These videos may be spoilerish so view them at your own discretion.

Geoff & Tisha

Vince & Sam

Oliver & Mai

Kapil & Niroo

Natalie & Pailin

Bernie & Henry

Ida & Tania

General TARA 3 Racers Revealed promo with Kynt & Vyxsin from TAR 12!

TARA 3 promo featuring Allan Wu!

Meet The Amazing Race Asia 3 Racers

Here is the cast for the Amazing Race Asia 3. Note the amount of mactor teams. I’m not too happy about this, but Executive Producer Michael McKay has told me in an e-mail (yes, he told me), “If you liked M&R (Marc & Rovilson) last year I think you’ll have a ball with this season ” We’ll see. I hope I don’t get disillusioned with the season like I did last year.

The pictures and bios come directly from the AXN-Asia TARA3 buzzsite.

Without further delay, here are the teams for The Amazing Race Asia 3.

A.D. and Fuzzie (Singapore)

A.D. Chan (left) – Freelance Writer & Director, 34
Faeza (Fuzzie) Sirajudin – Teacher, 34

Colourful does not begin to describe long-time friends A.D. Chan and Fuzzie Sirajudin. As one can tell, normal does not describe the default buddies, as they describe themselves, who oddly define their relationship as “an old married couple”. “We’re like that, except we’re not old, we’re not married, and we’re not a couple!” says Fuzzie, 34, a partner and teacher in an English language centre.

Having met in school 15 years ago, Fuzzie was nothing that A.D., 34, now a freelance writer-director for TV and T-shirt designer, saw as a potential friend. She says, “But look how far we’ve come! It must have been written in the stars that we should become default buddies. And I suspect this is what we will be for the rest of our lives.”

So it was only natural that when auditions for The Amazing Race Asia 3 came up, choosing each other was well, a default choice. Referring to the race as an opportunity to do something different, Fuzzie says, “It’s to do something outside the mundane, to do something to challenge myself and something to define the year.”

“It’s always been a dream to be on it someday. But all that talk finally led to some action only this year, when I felt an inexplicable impetus to just go for it,” A.D. concurs.

The duo are also the first to admit that they are not perfect for the race, with the many shortcomings that they have, but adds, “We’re perfect for TV.”

And the first thing Fuzzie has done is to lose some weight for the race. A.D. too dusted off some dumbbells for the big event, but reasons that her secret weapon for the race is her complex character, much like a sheep in wolf’s clothing. “My character is layered with contradictions and complexities, which make me idiosyncratic, inimitable, and hard to categorize,” she notes gamely.

Despite their 15 years of familiarity, hard habits are hard to break and one thing Fuzzie will have to contend with is A.D.’s obsessive compulsive controlling behavior, as A.D. says that while she has a low tolerance for imperfection, she tends to “over-analyze everything to death and can be indecisive”.

On her part, A.D. will have to contend with her buddy’s lack of physical fitness and general slothful ways, among other things jokes Fuzzie, who adds, “There’s also my ‘over-drama-ness’ which makes me easily excitable, and my lack of attention to details and my poor memory.”

Their goal in joining the race isn’t about the fame or money, but the fun they think they would be enjoying. Says A.D., “Who wouldn’t want to watch two highly unlikely people run the race? Everybody loves the underdog.”

To which Fuzzie gamely adds, “Did we mention that we’re unfit?”

Geoff & Tisha (Philippines)

Geoff Rodriguez (left) – model, 26
Tisha Silang – Business Development Manager, 32

You can call this her second chance. A technicality led to her resignation as Miss Philippines Universe 10 years ago and Tisha Silang is making sure that history does not repeat itself.

In 1998, Tisha won the Miss Philippines Universe crown but had to give it up because of her Canadian citizenship. While that win has remained the proudest moment of her life, she’s hoping that taking part in The Amazing Race Asia will trump that.

Joining her is her boyfriend of three and a half years, Geoff, and by all accounts, participating, much less winning the race will be an uphill battle says the couple. For one thing, their relationship is the classic definition of opposites attract.

“Nobody would have thought that we would end up dating. We have very different personalities but have managed to make it work so far,” notes Tisha.

Quips Geoff on the first time they were introduced by a mutual friend,” I was interested in Tisha for obvious reasons. And Tisha wasn’t interested, for obvious reasons.”

This is also the second time that the couple has auditioned for the show and the couple almost missed the deadline too. “We were in such a rush to submit the video I can’t say we did anything really spectacular,” Tisha admits.

The last and most important reason against them has to do with their horrible track record when it comes to traveling. While on vacation in Boracay, the couple missed not once, two but three consecutive flights back home to Manila. And by that time, they were broke as well. Tisha says with a laugh, “And now we want to race together…should be interesting.” Fingers are crossed but hopefully, the two won’t be making the same mistake again, especially on the show.

“Missing a flight, I think that is the most embarrassing thing you can do while traveling,” admits Geoff. But rather than to lay blame, the couple made the best of their situation. “Tisha was shooting for FHM and we were supposed to be there only for the weekend. By then we had spent all out money in re-booking and extension fees. But time flies when you’re in love and having a ball.”

And the other reason for wanting to be in the race is of course, to counter the loss of Team Philippines from the previous season, jokes Geoff. Marc and Rovilson came in third in the last show. He says, “We have huge shoes to fill after the stint that Marc and Rovilson pulled off.”

Nonetheless, the couple is certain that they will bring to the race the love and respect that has been the foundation of their relationship. Geoff says, “Tisha and I have had a sound relationship, from the time we have met. And now we are testing our relationship, by entering the race.”

Henry and Bernie (Malaysia)

Bernie Chan (left) – TV Host/Actress, 39
Henry Chan – Chef, 43

Fans of Asian reality television might recognize model and host Bernie Chan – she was the face of Project Runway Malaysia last year. But few would recognize her race teammate and elder brother, Henry Chan.

It is not because the 43 year old isn’t famous, but rather because the chef and restaurant owner has had reconstructive surgery done in late 2006. “In Aug 2006, I fell over and broke my jaw very badly. I’ve had reconstructive surgery on my face and mouth, but I’m all fixed up now,” says Henry Chan with a gleaming smile that shows no record of his accident.

But it is what’s inside that counts and the siblings are hoping that their 39 year old relationship will give them an edge. Says Bernie, 39, “Finding the right partner to do it with is half the race won and Hen is the only person who understands what I’m trying to say half the time.”

Hen, of course, is her nickname for her brother, in response to the name Bernie he coined, since he could not pronounce her actual name, Bernadette, as a child.

“I thought it would be fun, stressful but fun. I love traveling and I thought, if I get in, it would be the biggest challenge of my life,” she adds.

Sums up Henry on the natural choice of picking each other as teammate, “We don’t really fight, we think alike and we get on crazily well.”

But if there is one thing the siblings do not share, is their behavior. Henry is the more contemplative of the two, preferring to sit back and analyze the situation while his sister leaps at every available opportunity. Like Henry says, “I tend to think about things too much, while she tends to just act and think about things later.”

Explains Bernie, “I’m too impulsive! If I want to do something, it has to be done now,” and adds, “My strategy is to try and stay calm but with have a sense of urgency and just go with our instinct. Luck plays a big part too which to me comes with being positive and happy, which Hen and I are.”

As for preparing, one thing Henry did have to pick up was learning how to drive a manual transmission. Naturally, his coach was his baby sister and given their hectic schedule, it wasn’t the best of lessons. Groans Henry, “Bernie gave me a crash-course in the pouring rain, at night, in peak hour Kuala Lumpur traffic.

But learn he did and the driving lessons show the extent that the duo has worked together. Admits Bernie, “Even though I shout at Hen, he will know it’s not personal and in the next second we will be buddies again. And he won’t quit on me.”

Quitting is the last thing on Henry’s mind though, as he had already mapped out a plan on how to celebrate if they win. “We go back to one of the favourite countries we visited in the race but this time round, we do it in five-star style.”

Ida and Tania (Malaysia)

Ida Nerina (left) – Actress/Director/Producer, 44
Tania Khan – Property Developer, 36

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, or make that a group of 13 females who were shortchanged. Such was the case that involved Malaysians Ida Nerina, 44, and her best friend Tania Khan, 36, in, of all places, a luxury resort! Throw in a hen’s party, a burnt rug, hotel management and even the police and the mixture is a potent one that shows what these two will do to get what they deserve.

Recalls Ida, “All 13 of us were held hostage by the hotel who blamed us for a carpet burn that we did not cause. Even the police got involved. It was so traumatic.”

The ladies insisted on their innocence but the hotel refused to let them leave and even locked the gates. “Due to the trauma, we caused a ruckus on the plane,” adds Tania, a mother of an 11 year old daughter and a 10 month old baby, who despite her sheepishness at admitting the event, displays an inner strength. So just because there are now only two of them doesn’t mean their combo is any less potent. If history is anything to go by, they are not pushovers simply because of their age or reputation.

On paper, they are two very different people – Ida is a homegrown actress with 16 movies under her belt, Ida is a media star compared her more corporate driven, property developer buddy. “We’re both bubbly, dramatic, kind-hearted, fiercely loyal to our friends and klutzy. We’re often the first to jump into the deep end of any adventure,” describes Ida on their similarities.

“Tania and I just thought it would be fun to try out together too. Tania is so game for adventure and is always fun to be around and just as dramatic as I am,” says Ida.

One thing they both hope to achieve, other than taking home the top prize, is the chance to see the world from a new perspective. Ida admits, “We’ve shared some great trips together and who better to see if you can backpack the world with as neither of us have ever done it (referring to backpacking).”

Viewers if not their fellow racers are in for surprises with Tania and Ida joining the race. These fans of The Amazing Race Asia have many natural talents they can count on to stay in the game. Tania comments of this, “I’m pretty good at finding handy short-cuts to all kinds of things. I’m very friendly which always helps in getting things done when you need help.”

Hopefully, these attributes will make up for some of their shortfalls which includes indecisiveness on Tania’s part, and weak ankles for Ida, which are not good for running she says jokingly.

Underneath the playful exterior though is a person who bears grudges more than she wants to, so the other teams better not cross Ida, less she unleashes her anger on them. “I’ll scream my head off, then apologise to whoever’s in the way.”

Mai and Oliver (Thailand)

Visa (Mai) Sarasas (left) – Actress/Model, 24
Oliver Faivre – Model & Student, 26

Oliver started out as a friend of her brother, and Mai first got to know him when she was dating one of his friends. Fate threw them together, but not in any romantic way, but as best friends.

In a way, actress and model Visa Sarasas, or Mai, as she is known to her friends, is the one person that Oliver Faivre can behave naturally in front of.

“She is the only girl friend that I have who I can talk normally to,” says the 26 year old model and student, adding, “She is someone I don’t necessarily have to be polite to.”

Such honestly is the culmination of seven years of friendship and the friends have decided to celebrate by taking part in the race simply because Mai asked and Oliver agreed.

“I picked him because I think he has the most potential to go on this race and be able to cope with all the situations that will happen,” describes the actress, who has made a name of herself starring in movies and television shows in Thailand.

In case you think of her as a celebrity who is more used to assistants and an entourage of helpers, think again. For her audition video, Mai simply tied up her hair (sans make up!) to speak to the camera, and in fact, her real life persona is nothing like her sultry on-screen roles on TV and magazine covers.

She proclaims, “I joined The Amazing Race Asia because I want to travel around the world and compete with myself.”

Given the history of male/female pairings in race history that have led to explosive confrontations during the competition, Mai is thankful that her team does not fall within the usual stereotypes of such pair ups.

“The fact that my teammate is a guy, and we’re not in a relationship so I don’t think we’re going to fight like lovers do,” she says as a matter of fact.

“I have a very strong teammate and I think I’m a very strong girl as well. Our weakness would probably have to be the fact that we have never worked together as a team so I cannot predict what’s going to happen when we do.”

Assure Oliver, “You don’t have to worry about the fighting. We fight a lot, but it’s for fun. We will make the show interesting.”

Not that it matter to Oliver, who is looking at the race as more of a chance to meet new people, and maybe do something for a good cause.

Natalie and Pailin (Thailand)

Pailin Rungratanasuntorn (left) – Miss Thailand Earth 2006, 25
Natalie Glebova – Miss Universe 2005, 26

No Amazing Race season is without its resident eye candy but with leggy beauties Pailin and Natalie, their team has one credential none of the previous good looking teams in race history ever had – being in a Miss Universe pageant and winning one!

25 year old Pailin Rungratanasunthorn was the first runner up in 2006 Miss Thailand Universe and represented her country as Miss Thailand Earth 2006 as well.

As for her good friend Natalie Glebova, the 26-year-old actually was a Miss Universe. Natalie took home the gleaming crown and title from the competition held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2005. The Russian Canadian beauty originally from Tuapse, Russia represented Canada in her winning event and is the second Canadian to claim the title.

It is no wonder that beauty pageants are part of their blood, having met in the 2006 Miss Thailand Universe pageant and becoming fast friends after that. Pailin was also one of Natalie’s bridesmaids when she married Thailand’s highest ranked tennis player, Paradorn Srichaphan, in November 2007.

But beauty is not the only thing that links the Thailand team together. Both have acute business sense as they are running their own business. Pailin’s company makes toys, t-shirts and gifts for sale online, while Natalie’s company sells beauty products across Thailand.

Describing herself, Pailin notes of her decision to participate in The Amazing Race, “I am really competitive and I want to do something where I can put my energy in it.”

Agreeing, Natalie adds, “We’re both very competitive and cannot stand to lose. We love to travel, love to do adrenaline like things, love to experience new cultures and learn.”

And with both their credentials, travelling has become second nature to them. Pailin has travelled to Japan, China, South Africa, and Egypt while Natalie, other than gracing beauty pageants around the world, has attended the G8 Summit in New York, and as a HIV/AIDS awareness advocate, has travelled extensively to India and Africa.

Having spent their formative years in the beauty circuit, the damsels know a bit about what it takes to stay ahead. And having seen the show on television, the duo is also gunning to experience the thrills and tumbles that only the race can deliver. Exclaims Natalie, “We love to try new things. Give us bungee jumping, parachuting, paragliding and parasailing any day!”

She adds, “We are competitive, we’re in shape and we’re going to kick ass.”

The girls have started preparing for the trek around the world based on what the previous Amazing Race Asia seasons were like. Surprisingly, their strategy for winning is to be the underdog and “fly under the radar”. “Let’s hope that no one will take us too seriously so we won’t be recognized as a threat until it’s too late!”

Neena and Amit (India)

Neena Rai (left) – Model/Artist, 24
Amit Rai – Real Estate Consultant, 27

If one half of this team can “betray” even family to get what he wants, what chance do the other teams have? Take Amit Rai, 27, for instance. One thing he has never forgiven his cousin, Neena Rai, 24, who used to be an air hostess, for is never introducing him to any of her model and air stewardess friends. So rather than rely on family help, he took matters into his own hands.

“I stole her mobile phone and took down all the numbers of her model friends, and called them up as a model-coordinator,” quips the media and real estate consultant. Now, whether he got lucky with those numbers is another thing, as his only goal now is to represent India and if he wins The Amazing Race Asia, make Indians everywhere proud of his achievements.

But he adds, “The prize money is very tempting too.”

And while his cousin is thrilled to experience the rush of the race, the reality TV fan also hopes that the increased profile of being on The Amazing Race Asia will boost her modeling and art career.

Having known each other all their lives, and having spent the better half of that time seeing the better and worse of each other, the duo believe they are ready for whatever the competition throws at them. In fact, watching them together, it seems they too have a need to outdo each other, and are behaving more like siblings than first cousins. They say, “We have gone though life, education and stress together and we have this bond.”

But with family, there is always the drama to expect. Summing it up, Neena explains, “We both are poles apart in everything but still get along like a house on fire. We both are melodramatic people as well. While my reaction to a particular situation could be loud, his reaction to calm me down is even louder.”

However, there are elements that only she can bring to the team, such as her vast airport hopping experience during her time as a flight attendant. Her game plan is to have other teams underestimate her. “I intend not show my competitive side to the other racers and let everyone think I am all beauty and no brains,” she professes.

One thing she would have to master is her patience though. “I am very impatient and tend to think negatively. And God help me with my punctuality.”

She also has to deal with a cousin who more often than not, prefers to give up on things.
“He deliberately starts giving up or loses a winning game because he is either annoyed or impatient,” she says.

As for Amit, he credits Neena for getting him hooked on the show and intends to play the role of the underdog, and of course, work on his impatience. “I intend to show the other team that we guys are good for nothing and then like tortoise win the race, slow and steady.”

His intent is to stay chilled out, calm and focused, while having fun. “I can handle stress and people who are under stress,” he says.

Niroo and Kapil (India)

Niroo Asrani (left) – Actor, 53
Kapil Asrani – HR Executive, 25

Life is about taking chances and sometimes, having to learn fast when thrown into the deep end. For father and son team Niroo and Kapil Asrani, the latter cannot be more true, or literal.

As a child, Kapil wanted to learn how to swim and his father did it the only way he knew how, by picking up his son and tossing him into the pool. “The way my dad had thrown me into the swimming pool in order to teach me how to swim, it communicates a lot about the person he is,” recalls Kapil with affection.

The good news is, Kapil managed to learn and the success fostered a great father and son relationship that has since grown beyond the familial, to that of friendship. In fact, one glance at Niroo and Kapil would conjure the image of two friends hanging out, despite the fact that the elder man, currently enjoying his time as an actor, is all of 53 years old. At 25, Kapil is less than half his father’s age, but the HR executive has the same level, if not more of the enthusiasm towards the race.

One of the reasons Kapil wanted to take part, aside from seeing the world in the race format, is to bond more with his father. This probably explains why the duo has yet to plan on race strategies and would rather run the race one step at a time.

Explains Kapil, “Our strategy is to go by gut feeling and take each thing as it comes. If you are prepared for anything, everything comes easy.” And Daddy concurs on this point. “We do not like to copy. We will cross the river when we reach there.”

When it comes to challenges, Kapil has no problem with Dad taking control, because he is used to it, but not in the way you think. Outside of the family, the duo is also part of the same acting company, where Niroo serves as actor cum director, with his son as one of the actors. Notes Kapil, “Although we share a father-son relationship, we are more like friends. That’s rare to see in such a relationship.”

This act of following the father stems from the fact that on the one occasion Kapil never listened and allowed his overconfidence to take over, his actions “messed up a show”, says Niroo. Those days are gone and Kapil has grown into his own as an actor, and his proudest moment as a father and director was when Kapil won accolades during a performance directed by Niroo.

Despite having a short fuse, Kapil is looking to keep cool under pressure. His strengths, he says, is to enjoy even a stressful situation, depend on his communication skills and rely the ability to think on his feet.

Balancing him will be Niroo, who despite his recent acting foray, is an engineer by trade. “My engineering background, my analytical skills, & my sense of direction are my true strengths,” he notes. And if they win, the duo is also looking at the prize money to expand their theatre group. “We will utilise this money in building a theatre stage which I want to build in the name of my mentor,” say Niroo.

Sam and Vince (Hong Kong)

Vince Chung (left) – Comedian/Host, 32
Sam Wu – University Lecturer, 32

Both started out as teachers but in their spare time, one is a master of words while the other is plays with words. Meet Vince Matthew Chung, the former primary school teacher turned full time comedian cum host, and his best bud Samuel Wu, a university lecturer who ranks as one of the top players on the online word game, Prolific.

For those wondering, Prolific is a word puzzle much like the classic Boggle game and yes, this shows how quick thinking the duo, who make up Team Hong Kong, can be. Having met three years ago while working in Hong Kong, the 32-year-olds became fast friends due to similar passions in a variety of things, from acting, hosting, stand-up comedy, and most importantly, partying.

They actually met via mutual friends at a party and things since then have been a blast. Recalls Vince jokingly, Sam “wouldn’t leave the area where the food was being served.”

This also will not be the first time that the friends have participated in a competitive event together. Vince once made it as a finalist in the first ever nationwide stand-up comedy competition, “The Funniest Person in Hong Kong”, and if you hear Sam tell the story, the jokes were all Sam’s. “I was very proud of him,” enthuses Sam. “They were all my jokes of course, but he denies it vehemently.”

One thing that does stand in their way though is their hot headed nature, which has led to confrontations. Sam too has to deal with physical fears as he is terrified of needles and bees.
He says, “I was hospitalized after getting stung in the head by a hornet when I was four and since then, I’ve had a major phobia and if anything flies near or around my head, I freeze instantly.”

This is why Sam reckons that Vince is the more physical one, whereas he is the thinking part of the group. And what is their overall strategy? Sam says it is to, “always be part of the pack, and then break away to lead the pack in the middle legs of the race”.

But what if it doesn’t work? Vince jokes, “I want to bring banana peels to throw onto the ground so that teams running behind us will slip on them.”

Yes, Vince is the more competitive of the duo, but it’s because being on top is in his blood. Vince has also joined various sports teams, from softball, baseball to football throughout his life and swam competitively from age six to university.

Don’t dismiss Sam either as he too can be single minded in his endeavors. Back in 2001, a desire to lose some weight made Sam go on a diet that saw him shed 20kg over a five month period. “I went from an obese 80kg to a 60kg, through rigorous exercising and dieting,” he recalls.

The one thing the duo will do however, is to soak up every experience on this race because this could be their last hoorah, since Vince might be leaving Hong Kong in the near future. You might say they have nothing to lose, but everything to strive for.

William and Isaac (South Korea)

William Hong (left) – Sports TV Host/Agent, 26
Isaac Hong – Sports Agent, 29

These brothers know how to score a goal when they spot an opening, seeing as how the siblings are a staple in the Korean football arena – They are sports commentators and football agents for professional players in what is arguably Asia’s favourite sport. William and Isaac Hong are definitely looking at bringing their A-game to The Amazing Race Asia, as this is the first time that a Korean team is participating in the race.

“Nationalism is big in Korea and William and I believe that we can be on the show, and show everyone our positive and energetic attitude,” says the older of the two Isaac, 29.

It is this attitude that has brought the brothers huge success in their lives, from when they were both actively involved in the football scene during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea, to when they, as football agents, successfully negotiated the transfer of a Korean player into the Spanish Primera Liga.

So yes, working together and counting on each other has been a backbone of their relationship, as they not only grew up together, they are now working in the same office and sharing the same apartment.

“Even though we are brothers, we have very different personalities. I guess it’s because we lived apart from one another for quite some time. However, that works out well for us, since we can look at things in different ways,” says William, 26.

And it does help that Isaac is the biggest “TARA freak” he knows of. To his credit, Isaac claims to have watched all The Amazing Race episodes ever produced, from both the US and Asian versions. Coupled with his confidence and past travel experiences to over 38 countries in the world, taking part in the race just seems right. He gushes, “TARA is my favorite TV reality show, and it is only a lifetime opportunity to be part of it.”

“Since I have been to many countries in the past time I do know the quick way to get close to the local people so I think this could be a secret weapon for me,” says Isaac.

“Winning the race would mean a lot to me since The Amazing Race is my favorite show in my life,” says Isaac, who is clearly very excited about joining the show, and being a role-model to viewers just as previous contestants were to him.

“I have learned so much from contestants that positive attitude can bring you so many great things and they taught me how to live with bigger passion and greater energy. Hopefully at the end, not only Koreans but Asian can see what two brothers are capable of doing, to achieve our ultimate goal with our positive effort.”

William however, does not have such lofty ideals. His idea of celebrating would be a nice long break. “I’ll take a nice vacation somewhere where I don’t have to race around.”

I’m not really happy about having model/actors/hosts/comedians in this version, but I’ll give this season a chance before making a judgment.

The Amazing Race Asia 3 Promo

Thanks to puddin, my BFF at Reality Fan Forum. This is the new promo for the Amazing Race Asia 3. Alan Wu is showing off, but the man is in great shape, so he’s entitled.

The Amazing Race Asia 3 Website Unveiled

AXN-Asia has launched the website for the new season of Amazing Race Asia. Teams have already been announced and I’ll do a post on the 10 teams coming up soon.

My first reaction is that there are too many mactors in this edition of the race. One of the things I liked about the first season was there were more real people participating. Unfortunately, the popularity of second place finishers Mutt & Revolting in Amazing Race Asia 2 brought the mactors out of the woodwork for this season and there are nine teams involving models/actors/TV hosts (thus the term, “mactor” that was first coined by Hera of Gus & Hera in TAR6) and their friends/significant others in this edition.

While I have yet to see any scenes or promos, my first reaction is not positive. Executive Producer Michael McKay does produce good television, but having nine teams of mactors mugging for the camera is something that does not appeal to me at all.

We’ll see what happens. There will be a Racers Revealed program on September 4 and the new season will premiere a week later. As long as the season is interesting, I’ll come back with recaps like I did last season, but if I get disillusioned like I did last season, I’ll drop them.

I do hope Michael McKay knows what he’s doing because I would hate to think negatively of this franchise.

The Amazing Race Asia 2 – Final Results

1. Adrian & Collin
2. Pamela & Vanessa
3. Mutt & Revolting

Thank goodness for this result.

I’ll have a recap of this final episode when I’m finally able to watch it.

The Amazing Race Asia 2 – Ep. 13 Preview

The Amazing Race Asia 2 – Ep. 12 Preview

The Amazing Race Asia 2 – Ep. 11 Preview

Here’s the latest promo for The Amazing Race Asia 2.

The Amazing Race Asia 2 – Ep. 10 Preview

Here’s the latest promo for the next episode of The Amazing Race Asia 2.

The Amazing Race Asia 2 – Ep. 8 Recap

Time for another recap. You remember that after the last episode, Terri & Henry were spared by a mugging at the mat, Non-Elimination Leg. So we still have six teams left. Who will be eliminated in this leg?

The last leg took us to Seoul, South Korea, one of the economic capitals of Asia and host of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games, and the pit stop for this leg of the race.

Teams will now leave 12 hours after they have arrived. They don’t know what’s in store for them and will travel to the next destination based on clues sealed in yellow envelopes (I miss Phil saying this from the early seasons of TAR).

Continuing our policy, we will not show the first place team nor will we mention them by name. In fact, for much of this recap, they will be called, The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named. Every once in a while, I’ll call them something else, but we start with The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named leaving Olympic Park at 7:48 a.m.

They’re instructed to go by plane to Frankfurt, Germany, the first time The Amazing Race Asia has gone to the European continent. Once in Frankfurt, they will make their way to the Old Opera House where they will find their next clue. Teams will receive $142 for this leg of the race. A quick aside, I notice in that freeze frame, that Avril Lavigne will appearing at the Opera House, certainly not what the architects of the hall had in mind, but I digress. The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named make a comment that they want to go to the airline that has the hottest flight attendants. Yeah, sexually harass flight attendants. That’ll get you good service, you jerks.

Adrian & Collin are next to leave. They have been hot on the tail of the first team since the second leg and will hopefully find a way to defeat Bald Fuck and Jerkface, maybe not in this leg, but somewhere down the line.

When The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named get to a ticket counter, they’re told that all direct flights to Frankfurt from Seoul are booked. This begins a series of Airport Drama that I dread to write, but I will because I am your humble recapper. The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named get on a waiting list for Frankfurt, but the ticket agent laughs at them when he’s asked if their chances are good on getting on the flight.

So the first two teams start to look for ways to get one step ahead of the other, either through the internet or through a ticket agent. But thus far, it won’t be successful.

Essentially two hours after the first two teams, sisters Vanessa & Pamela and best friends Paula & Natasha leave the Pit Start. Maybe because I have this affinity for girl-girl teams, I hope one of these two or even both teams makes it to the Final 3. While Vanessa & Pam have had their problems, Paula & Natasha are the closest to the charming Zabrina & Joe Jer from Season 1. And they haven’t let too many things get them down on the race.

Ann & Diane leave next and due to the editing of the last two legs, they haven’t come across as nicely as in the first three episodes. While I still don’t consider them to be villains, I don’t like the way they kidnap locals as Charla & Mirna did in TAR All Stars. They’re a bit forceful.

Back at the airport, Paula & Natasha find out the predicament the other teams are in. The first two options for Frankfurt are full and with The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named and Adrian & Collin still searching for options, it’s going to be a while until something opens.

Then Ann & Diane use the emergency card which never works. Ann tells a ticket agent that she has a sick relative in Frankfurt and she needs go get there by 5 p.m. that day. If a ticket agent got a nickel or dime for every time that line is used, that agent could retire at an early age. The problem is that Ann didn’t look too stressed when she said it so it was no go.

Some four hours and 49 minutes after the first team left the mat, Terri & Henry get their clue, but as Alan mentioned in the last episode, they will not receive any money. However, the other teams knowing their troubles leave some money so they can get to the airport. Natasha says hopefully they’ll be ok, or Terri will have pulled all of Henry’s hair out of his head, or something to that extent.

The sisters who took a subway to the airport to save money find out that the airlines are overbooking flights to Frankfurt on this date. Paula & Natasha are on standby for three flights.

Terri & Henry decide to use the Military Joint Reception Center as Henry is a retired Naval officer, but it doesn’t book flights so they’re stuck.

During an idle moment, Paula & Natasha talk about the Final 3 with the sisters and also yielding Ann & Diane. Why not talk strategy while you can? It’s not a bad idea and there’s always strength in numbers. Remember in TARA1, the teams decided to gang up on Andy & Laura after they stole SanFran’s cab so it’s never a bad idea to talk about the Yield when there’s an opportunity. They should yield The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named but they’re always ahead of them and when you can knock out the Dancing Moms, you had better do it while you can.

Finally, the teams are getting their flights. The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named get their tickets while Ann & Diane complain. Paula & Natasha get seats aboard one flight as do the sisters. Terri & Henry continue to go to various airline ticketing offices to see if they can find a flight. But they find out that only one seat is available and they must travel together as stated by the TARA rules.

So Bald Fuck and Jerkface are able to get a direct flight from Seoul to Frankfurt which will arrive by 5 p.m. local time, a journey of 8,088 km. Natasha & Paula have a flight which will get to Frankfurt at 5:35 p.m. Adrian & Collin, Ann & Diane and Vanessa & Pam are all on the same flight which will arrive in Frankfurt an hour after Natasha & Paula. Terri & Henry are still in Seoul looking for standby. They finally get a flight leaving at 3:25 p.m. via Hong , but they’ll be way behind the other teams.

The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named arrive in Frankfurt first and promptly get a taxi to the Old Opera House. They’re on the famous Autobahn and make some stupid, unfunny one liner while mugging for the camera. Shut up, please! They arrive at the Opera House and find that their stay in Germany is only brief. They’ll be heading by train to Prague in the Czech Republic.

Once there, they will make their way to the historic 15th Century Charles Bridge to search for their next clue. So the Annoying Assholes get to the train station and find that the next train to Prague won’t leave until 11:38 p.m. which will leave enough time for everyone except Terri & Henry to catch up. So the Inane Idiots decide to hang out in Germany and see some sights before they leave for the Czech Republic.

The next two flights carrying Paula & Natasha, Adrian & Collin, Vanessa & Pam and the Dancing Moms all in prompt succession. The best friends, gym buddies and sisters all find transportation quickly. Ann & Diane promptly steal someone’s cab and head to the Old Opera House. They’re definitely Charla & Mirna Deux in that regard.

Because the cabs are quicker than the subway, Vanessa & Pam and Adrian & Collin get to the clue box before Paula & Natasha who took the train from the airport. Pamela was surprised to see that they would not be able to stay in Germany for long. When Paula & Natasha arrive at the clue box, they’re surprised to see so many clues taken. Once Ann & Diane get their clue, they all find that it will be a long wait at the train station. Again, the Dancing Moms rudely cut the line at the ticket counter, jumping some 20 people. They did ask if they could go to the front, but this is really reprehensible in my mind. If you can do it, more power to you, but if I’m in line, I say no. And they find out that they have a long wait for their train, so did cutting the line help in the long run? No.

So it’s another bunching at the train station with everyone except Terri & Henry waiting for the same train. And it gives me the opportunity to show Paula’s lovely legs.

While waiting for the train and realizing they’re low on cash, the Big Time Jerks go to a strip club and Bald Fuck gets on the pole to make money. I wish the AA’s had been arrested for lewd behavior, but it was not to be, plus I’m sure the producers encouraged this somehow.

So the five teams board an overnight train for Prague, a journey of 412 km. As we see them disembark the train, Terri & Henry are just arriving in Frankfurt and are on a train heading to the Old Opera House.

All five teams have now made it to the Charles Bridge, looking for one of the Baroque Statues with the clues inside a hole. Because the teams overthink their clue, they take a long time to find the right statue.

Terri & Henry get to the Old Opera House and are the last team to find out that they’re going to Prague, so just after arriving in Frankfurt, they’ll be visiting the Czech Republic as well.

Now I’ll give credit to The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named. Baldie tells Crackhead to look inside holes in the statues and he promptly finds the clues. It was smart of Bald Fuck to think of that because it will take a long time before the other teams to realize that the clue does not mean a religious statue or shrine.

After running away from the bridge and from the other teams, the Pitiful Penguins find out they have to go to a puppet shop on Karlova Street to get their next clue.

So now, you have four teams looking for the clue and Terri & Henri speeding to Prague on the train. Terri says she hopes for a disaster to happen to one of the other teams. Her wish is halfway coming true as teams are taking a long time to find the clue on the bridge.

At the puppet shop, The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named find out that it’s a dreaded “Hours of Operation” and the store won’t open until 11 a.m. which means there will be some bunching here.

Ann & Diane say they searched 2 hours for the clue and I can totally see that. It can be frustrating, but Paula & Natasha are able to find it and head for the puppet shop. They get there and see The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named waiting and totally frustrated that they could not have opened up a lead on the other teams. But this is what happens in The Amazing Race. You just never know when you’re going to bet bunched. Adrian & Collin are the next to find the clue and join the other teams waiting for the puppet shop to open. Finally, the Dancing Moms take the clue out of the statue and they’re at the puppet shop when it opens to get their next clue.

The teams find that they have to walk to Kinsky Palace in the Old Town Square of Prague to get their next clue. And once the teams get to the clue box, they find that they’ve reached a Road Block.

As long time fans of The Amazing Race know, a Road Block is a task that only one person may perform.

In this task, teams have to become a Knight in Shining Armor and rescue a damsel in distress.

Team members will don a Knight’s suit, take a key and then walk to Old Town Square where they must locate a Damsel in Distress standing on a balcony. Once they find the Damsel, the team member must exchange his/her key for the next clue.

So the four teams that have reached Kinsky Palace have all found the clue box in quick succession and decide who will do the Road Block. Inside, they get fitted for their suit of armor which is very heavy and since the teams went to Prague in the summertime, most likely was hot inside. Of course, when you have four people dressed as knights walking through the streets of Prague with cameras following behind, you’re likely to draw attention and all teams certainly did in this particular task.

Back on Charles Bridge, Vanessa & Pamela are still searching for their clue and they know the other teams have left. They say they lost track of time. They just don’t think that the clue could be actually inside the statue instead of having a clue box. They eventually find the clue, but not after wasting a lot of time overthinking what they were supposed to do.

Of course, the Jerky Boys are the first to find the Damsel and to get their clue. They rip open the envelope and find they have to make their way to the train station and go to Beroun, some 30 km outside of Prague. Once there, they have to find a marked car and drive to the Town Square where they must look for a local townsperson carrying a (dreaded product placement ahead) Nokia phone with their picture on the screen. Teams must play the video message on the phone to receive their next clue.

At the Road Block, The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named finish this task first followed by Adrian & Collin, the Dancing Moms and Paula & Natasha. What delays all of them is taking off the suit of armor. Once this is done, they can head for Beroun. This is where we finally get some separation.

The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named along with Adrian & Collin and the Dancing Moms all get on the same train. For whatever reason, Paula & Natasha got on a different train to Beroun that did not leave for 40 minutes. This put them behind the other teams in Beroun.

The trailing teams, Vanessa & Pamela and Terri & Henry are seen next. The sisters get their next clue at the puppet shop while the married couple are just arriving in Prague. Vanessa & Pam arrive at the Road Block where Vanessa decides to the Knight in Shining Armor.

At Beroun, the teams find their cars which they discover are not first class. While The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named can figure out how to drive theirs, Diane has trouble just trying to start the car and Adrian & Collin find a local who will go with them to Town Square. The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named go into a hotel to get directions.

Vanessa finally dons her armor and starts to walk towards the Damsel in Distress. She correctly asks a local if there’s something named Prince and is told the Prince Hotel where the Damsel is waiting. Vanessa finds her and is able to get her next clue.

Meanwhile, Terri & Henry have made it to the Charles Bridge and they could have left right away as Henry looks briefly at the statue that has the clue, but inside the hole and had he taken a longer look, he would have found the envelopes, but he didn’t so we’ll have to endure some yelling from Terri. Oh well.

At Beroun, the top three teams have now arrived at Town Square. Ann & Diane have gone into a shop while The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named run past them to look for the locals carrying (dreaded product placement ahead) Nokia phones with their pictures and video messages. Just shortly behind are Adrian & Collin.

Finally arriving in Beroun are Paula & Natasha. This is where we get a little bit of comedy as Paula drives and after having just one lesson on a stick shift finds the driving a bit hard. Natasha tries to give her a refresher, but it just doesn’t work. A couple of times, Paula almost gets into accidents, but she manages to stop before any damage is done. Considering the damage Natasha caused in the last leg, this is quite admirable.

And the search for phones is not going well for The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named and Adrian & Collin.

Making their way to Beroun are Vanessa & Pam via the train. Vanessa & Pam talk about the holes in the statue and say they weren’t looking for them, they just saw the fingers.

Henry correctly surmises that the statue they’re looking for may not be religious, but full of holes, but they do not go back to the one he saw earlier. They just keep walking. Not good. Then Terri starts to yell again and then pouts telling Henry to look, but she can’t do that. They have to be together. She says it was hot and she was thirsty, but that’s still no excuse to yell.

The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named finally find the right phone and they watch their messages to get their next clue. Adrian & Collin do the same so after they get their clue, the male teams are once again, one-two. And they’ve reached a Detour.

As we all know, a Detour is a choice between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons. In this Detour, teams must drove to the town of Nižbor and choose between Blow or Bow.

In Blow, teams have to go to RÜCKL CRYSTAL and each team member must cut a design on the bottom of a glass cup. The town of Nižbor is known for producing high end Bohemian Crystal. Once both members have successfully cut the design, they’ll receive their next clue.

In Bow, each team member must take a crossbow and hit a colored target. Once they achieve success, they’ll receive their next clue.

The two all-male teams decide to shoot arrows and take off for Nižbor.

Ann & Diane finally make it to the Town Square and start looking for phones. After a frantic search, they find a local who has their picture and they listen to the messages. Diane sees her brother, then Ann’s husband comes on and this is where we see Ann get impatient saying he’s longwinded. Ann wants to go past the message, but Diane says they can’t so they have to watch. Ann really doesn’t look good here. She blows some kisses to him, but she appears not willing to watch the rest of his message. And after getting their clue, they originally decide to do Blow, but after Diane tells Ann she wants to do the Bow, they change and head for the crossbow task.

Vanessa & Pam have finally arrived in Beroun and head for Town Square. They don’t like the car. And Vanessa has trouble as the manual transmission doesn’t have power steering.

At Town Square, Paula & Natasha have arrived and are looking for the phone with their picture on it. They go to a person who apparently is not part of the production and he’s puzzled why two Asian girls are trying to look at his phone, so he walks away. Funny stuff. But they eventually find the right phone and the guy who’s been waiting for them gets a hug from two hot chicks. I’m sure that made his day. They see Natasha’s mother and brother and Paula’s cousins on the screen and thus get their clue. They decide that they will do the glass cutting task.

Wow, back at the Charles Bridge in Prague, Henry goes to the statue he looked at earlier, sticks his hand inside the hole and finds a clue. Hallelujah! Had he done this when he had first arrived, we would have been spared of Terri’s bad behavior, but then again, we’ve come to expect yelling so why should this episode be different?

Arriving at Nižbor and the Bow task are Bald Fuck & Crackhead and closely behind, Adrian & Collin. They’ll once again go at it for the top spot in this leg.

Both teams have difficulty at first adjusting the aim of the crossbow. They both comment on how each team pushes the other. And everyone seems to shoot their first arrow above the target. The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named hits the target and they have to do it one more time in order to get their clue.

Back in Prague, Terri & Henry have found the puppet shop on Karlova Street and it’s the Road Block that will be next for them.

The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named hits the target a second time and they get their clue. These First Class Jerks are instructed to go to Karlstejn Castle which is the 8th Pit Stop of the race.

Allan tells us that Karlstejn Castle is located 30 km south of Prague and was built in 1348 (that’s old!) and was once home to the Czech Coronation Jewels. And yes, the last team to check in, may be eliminated, but do we believe this? I don’t think so.

Adrian & Collin are next to leave so they’ll chase Bald Fuck & Crackhead to the mat. Notice the clue and the instructions? I like how the producers allow us to see that. You MUST park in the Marked Parking Area. You MAY leave your bags in the vehicle. You MUST leave your keys in the vehicle. I WISH the US version of TAR would do that.

At Kinsky Palace, Henry decides that he will be the Knight to rescue the Damsel in Distress.

Vanessa & Pam have reached the Town Square in Beroun and look for phones. They have to run around a bit, but finally find the correct one. This message has their mom and Vanessa says it was nice to hear from her because it gave them encouragement to push on and it came at the right time. But they choose Bow and Pam says they always choose the task which they think they have skill but don’t. They’re really funny girls.

Back with Henry, he’s donned his armor and is ready to find the Damsel.

The Dancing Moms have arrived at the Bow task and Diane is off target. She finally hits the colored area so it’s now up to Ann. She hits the target after several tries and now, the Moms can leave and head for the Karlstejn Castle.

To Paula & Natasha and Paula again almost gets into an accident. Stick shifts and Paula definitely do not mix. She eventually gets righted and they get to the the Glass Shop. They look at how the expert cuts the design into the glass so they forge ahead with their Detour. Natasha cuts her design into the bottom of the glass, but the guy looking over says it’s not correct so she has to do it again. But Paula takes over and hers is wrong as well. Natasha tries again and gets thumbs up and once Paula finishes up, her glass is also approved and the girls are now heading out to the Castle and the Pit Stop.

Henry has finally spotted the Damsel, exchanges his key for the clue and he and Terri are now on their way to the train station to get to Beroun.

The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named is driving to the Pit Stop, passes the Karlstejn train station with Adrian & Collin close behind, but in a scene reminiscent of TAR6 when Freddie & the racist Kendra won while Jon & Kris were stopped by a train, Adrian & Collin are stopped right at the tracks by a crossing train. This allows the Annoying Assholes to reach the mat in first … again and they get another Standard Chartered Bank credit card with an obnoxious amount to spend.

This means that Adrian & Collin are second. Again. And we have the same one-two finish for the sixth straight leg.

Vanessa & Pam have reached the Crossbow challenge and are shooting arrows. Terri & Henry have reached Beroun where she proceeds to yell “THAT WAY!” instead of telling Henry what direction to turn while driving to the Town Square. She’s in the back seat and he can’t tell where “THAT WAY!” is. No communication. But they eventually reach the square where they look for cell phones. They find the right guy and they see their friend on the video message. Once they receive their clue, they decide to do Bow.

And the Dancing Moms arrive third. Boo. That’s all I have to say.

At the target, Pam hits the target first followed by Vanessa. They get their clue and head for Karlstejn Castle.

Speaking of Karlstejn Castle, Paula & Natasha check in 4th smiling all the way. They’re so delightful and it’s hard not to like this team.

Vanessa & Pam arrive in 5th relieved that they’re still in it.

And once again, bringing up the rear, Terri & Henry. They reach the bow task, finish up there after a long time of shooting arrows into the ground and drive for the Pit Stop in the dead of night where they are told once again, it’s a Non-Elimination Leg.

Unlike the last leg in which their money was taken away, this time, Terri & Henry are Marked for Elimination meaning they have to finish first otherwise incur a 30 minute penalty which could mean the end.

Henry then says something that could mean some foreshadowing. He says, “The person that wins this Amazing Race should be an athletic team. They should have great communication, great cooperation amongst the team… so if we were to win this it would kind of be a fluke.” So do we get that fluke with Terri & Henry? Hmmm. We shall see.

Our order of finish:

1. The Annoying Team That Thinks It’s Funny, But Is Not And Shall Never Be Named – winners of a $5,000 Standard Chartered Credit Card … again. Sixth straight first place finish.
2. Adrian & Collin – sixth straight second place finish
3. Ann & Diane – another 3rd place finish
4. Paula & Natasha
5. Vanessa & Pamela
6. Terri & Henry – Marked for Elimination

In the next episode, we’re still in Europe. See you soon.

The Amazing Race Asia 2 – Ep. 9 Preview

New promo for next week’s episode.

The Amazing Race Asia 2 – Ep. 7 Recap

As we did with the Amazing Race 12 recap, we return with a new Amazing Race Asia recap, fresh off our full-fledged endorsement from Executive Producer Michael McKay. So without further delay, we go into the recap.

We know from the previous episode that Daichi & Sawaka were eliminated after failing to catch up to the Dancing Moms and not yielding them when they had the chance and Terri & Henry for some strange reason yielded Bald Fuck and Crackhead. So six teams still remain as we go into this recap.

Continuing our policy of not mentioning the Arrogant Assholes by name nor putting their pictures into the recaps, we start off in Busan, South Korea and one of the leading Buddhist temples where we begin this leg of the race.

The Jerkoffs who were the first to arrive at 10:30 p.m. will leave the Pit Start at 10:30 a.m. They get instructions to drive to Seoil, a soybean farm in Anseong, South Korea. This is some 80 km south of Seoul. It is at this farm where teams will find their next clue.

Bald Fuck says it’s always scary to be in the first position because he has no idea whether he’s doing the right thing or there is not another team to pass to validate what they’re doing. This is why the Arrogant Assholes are going down because they’re concerned with others. In comparison, the Beauty Queens didn’t worry about what others were doing and just raced. Bald Fuck and Crackhead are worried if they’re doing the right thing. Just race and you’ll be fine. However, they find a cop and ask for directions to Anseong.

Adrian & Collin leave minutes behind and Adrian says finishing first or second doesn’t matter, but they want to do well. This is the right attitude to have. Don’t worry what the others are doing.

Unfortunately, the police decide to escort the lead team to the farm and it’s obvious that these officers were either paid off or are just plain corrupt. In any event, Bald Fuck and Crackhead get what is essentially a free ride to Anseong.

Terri & Henry leave in third. In the last episode, this team got along well and did a minimum of arguing. But will they maintain the good feelings in this leg? We shall see.

In the meantime, the Arrogant Assholes are following their police escort, but close behind are Adrian & Collin. However, unaware that the Inane Idiots are being escorted to the next destination, Adrian says he will closely at the directions when they hit the highway.

Fourth to depart are sisters Vanessa & Pamela. This team has had its ups and downs and this leg will be down for them, but overall, they have raced well and managed to stay close to the leaders. Vanessa has to get used to driving, US-style and being on the right hand side of the road. This will come into play for the teams in this episode.

The teams that are on the road all comment on how different the driving is, foreshadowing perhaps. And all of the signs are in Korean so just as the American racers had to deal with the Japanese street signs, the Asian racers will have some difficulty here today. I would have liked to have seen how Andrew & Syeon from the 1st season would have dealt with this. Syeon is Korean so I would have loved to see how much of an advantage she would have had had the teams gone to South Korea, but I digress.

Both the Assholes and Adrian & Collin have gotten out of their car to ask for directions to get to Seoil Farm. Henry says he has to get out and Terri has started to yell which is not good. She begins to bully Henry in what will become one of the longest emotional legs in TARA history. She yells, “We don’t have a map!” over and over again. Meanwhile, Henry just keeps going in an attempt to shut her out. I hate to say this, but Terri is just annoying. I thought this team was going to be a fun entertaining team, but instead, Terri has been a bully and it’s obvious to me that she doesn’t want to be in the race.

Seventeen minutes after Bald Fuck and Crackhead have left, my favorites Paula & Natasha are heading out of the Pit Start. Natasha says they overthink things too much and Paula admits they have to do things faster. And Natasha admits it’s a challenge driving on what she calls “the wrong side of the road.” We in the States are used to having the steering wheel on the left and driving on the right hand side. Those coming over certainly have a lot getting used to just as Americans have to adjust when they go to Japan and Australia. And we focus here on Natasha because we know something happens farther up the road.

The last team to leave is Ann & Diane. Now, we did see the Dancing Moms be deceptive last week when they tried to mislead Daichi & Sawaka, but again, does it warrant the venom from the other teams? We’ll see in this episode.

Now all of the teams are on the highway. Vanessa presses the pedal and Pamela notices that Collin looks really serious, but I call it being focused. Vanessa says they’re trying harder in a country that is totally unfamiliar to them and they don’t want to make enemies. Cut over to Ann & Diane talking amongst themselves and Ann feels they haven’t made war with anyone and she feels they’ve been nice to everyone.

Henry doesn’t seem to like them and calls them the “Desperate Housewives” and says they’re driving like “Old Desperate Housewives” as Diane is driving all over the place trying to prevent the other teams from passing them. Henry calls Diane a “white knuckle driver” and he shows us what he means. That is actually pretty funny.

So the teams are driving in and out of traffic to Seoil Farm. It’s here where we start to get some separation. Terri inexplicably tells Henry to get off the highway and hide from the other teams. Henry doesn’t understand, but then she raises her voice stating, “I want them to get lost. I know how to play their game.” What? I don’t understand. Maybe it’s because I’m tired and I’m trying to decipher Terri’s insane logic.

But through all this maneuvering, the AA’s get to the farm first. And they find that they’ve reached a Road Block. As we know, a Road Block is a task that only one person may perform. In this Road Block, each team must search 1,500 soybean jars for their next clue. And one jar holds a bonus of US$50 from (dreaded product endorsement ahead) Standard Chartered Bank. Bald Fuck decides to do the task, mugging for the camera all the way.

As Arrogant Asshole #1 searches the jars, Arrogant Asshole #2 razzes him telling him to hurry up. This is annoying. I actually wish they would find the clue so I won’t have to see them, but with so many jars and so few clues, this is going to take a while.

As Natasha is driving on the highway, she reaches a tollbooth and then crashes her van into the abutment. This leaves her tire torn to shreds and in a very big bind because neither Paula nor Natasha know how to change a tire. They manage to get a policeman to help and being hot chicks, the police have no problem changing the tire for Paula & Natasha.

But Adrian & Collin drive by without stopping to see if they can help. Terri & Henry also pass them and the Dancing Moms look over and think the best friends have been apprehended. Diane also bangs into the abutment, but doesn’t cause as much damage to her van as Natasha did.

The tire gets changed and Paula & Natasha are on their way to the soybean farm. Vanessa almost takes the wrong exit, but Pamela gets her to the right direction. Meanwhile, Bald Fuck continues to search the soybean jars and there’s no luck. Vanessa & Pamela turn into the farm’s parking lot. Then we see Adrian & Collin at a gas station asking for directions. Just as Vanessa & Pamela shut their van door, Bald Fuck finds the clue.

Vanessa decides that Pamela is more patient than her so the younger sister will look for the clue amid all of the soybean jars.

The Jerkoffs rip open their clue and find they have to drive to Woncheon Resort, an amusement park in Suwon, where they will look for a flagged boat and paddle to a buoy to find their next clue.

So as the sisters run towards the jars, the Extremely Unfunny and Untalented Shitheads run to their van and drive towards Suwon.

Somehow, Adrian & Collin have become sidetracked and have a long ways to drive to Seong. At Seoil Farm, Pamela is looking underneath the jar lids and manages to chip one. She won’t be the last to do this. And she begins to get frustrated in this notorious needle-in-a-haystack task.

Finally, gym buddies Adrian & Collin have arrived at the farm and after looking at the clue, Collin decides that he’ll do it.

Over to married couple Terri & Henry, they’ve stopped to ask directions from the cops as well. This begins a nightmarish leg for the both of them. And she decides that it’s time for her to drive.

At the farm, Pam continues to search for the clue and here comes Collin to look. Pam is now wondering if she’s looking in the wrong place. Collin ignores her complaining and just plows ahead.

Natasha turns into the farm and as she Paula read the clue, it’s decided that Natasha will do the Road Block. Finally, Pam finds the clue and runs off. The sisters drive to Suwon as Paula & Natasha run into the soybean farm and find the 1,500 jars waiting to be searched.

Then Collin finds the clue with the money bonus, holding it up so the camera can get a nice shot of Standard Chartered Bank, a nice stroke for the client. As they take off for the amusement park, Collin wonders how the sisters caught up and overtook them as they were so far ahead, but that circuitous route that the gym buddies took hurt them.

Natasha continues to search the jars and finds nothing. The Dancing Moms taking a page out of the Charla & Mirna rulebook totally kidnap a local riding a moped and order him to lead them to the soybean farm. You can tell he doesn’t want to do it, but Ann & Diane essentially browbeat him until he agrees. This is one part of the race I don’t like, the literal kidnapping of locals. It’s one thing if the local wants to help like Fern during TAR2 did with Oswald & Danny in Hong Kong, but kidnapping or forcing a local to help is something that should be stopped.

As Natasha looks through the soybean jars, the local on his moped is leading the Dancing Moms under protest to Anseong. They get there as Natasha continues to look under the hot sun of Korea. Diane decides that she will look for the clue amid the sea of soybean jars. Then she takes off a lid and puts her arm into the soybean paste which is immediately stopped by a worker, not before both of Diane’s arms are covered in paste.

Over to the Inane Idiots who are driving to the amusement park. Crackhead is driving in the breakdown lane which Bald Fuck saves them three days. Oh ho ho! You’re so funny, Bald Fuck. Shut up!

Let’s go to Terri & Henry who are now hopelessly lost meaning that the meter in Terri’s head is about to go into the red. She’s yelling about Henry’s navigating, but he suggests to her that she be a bit nicer instead of yelling her head off. He’s trying to be patient while driving, but she’s yelling something incomprehensible. I don’t know how this couple has stayed together, but they seem to love each other. But when it comes to situations like these, it’s tough to watch.

Diane and Natasha continue to search the jars for the clue and Paula says Diane had gone to another field where she was able to find the clue despite arriving to the farm after the best friends. Paula then suggests to Natasha that she go to that field to search for the clue.

Ann & Diane kidnap another local to lead them to Woncheon Resort and he does so under protest as well.

Natasha becomes the second to break a jar lid. They’re made of ceramic so if you use even a small bit of force to close the lid, they’ll break and this is what happened. Finally, Natasha finds the clue and the best friends are now free to drive to the amusement park.

The Dancing Moms are happy they’ve kidnapped the local to take them to the next destination. Ann says it isn’t their looks that’s convincing the locals, it’s their experience. No, it’s your taking the locals by force that’s making them lead the way.

Vanessa is afraid of making a wrong turn while on the way to Suwon. Henry has already made 30 wrong turns and Terri’s voice is so annoying, I’m trying to block it out. They arrive at a library where a local leads them to Seoil Farm where Terri proceeds to yell at Henry to hurry up. I would be making plans for the divorce right here and now, but I’m not Henry. He’s a saint for putting up with Terri’s yelling. So after they look at the clue, Terri decides she’ll do it.

While the Arrogant Assholes are asking for directions, Adrian & Collin have made it to the park and start searching for the marked boat. Soon enough, they find a paddle boat with the familiar red and yellow flag and they start to make their way to the buoy.

The Jerks have finally made it to the Woncheon Resort and the gym buddies are continuing in the water to search for their next clue. They see it and turn towards the buoy’s direction.

Back to Bald Fuck and Crackhead, they have trouble getting into a boat as they’re rather big and tall, but they finally squeeze into one. Adrian & Collin who have finally gotten the Assholes’ respect, reach the buoy first, take their clue and head back to dock. Getting their clue next are the AA’s.

Adrian & Collin rip open their next clue and find that they must drive to the Korean Folk Village in Yongin, a living open air folk museum, where they will find their next clue.

The Increasingly Annoying Big and Tall Jerks get to the dock and get ready to go to Yongin.

While the the Filipino team reads their clue, Adrian & Collin feel good about making it through the paddling task. Collin says it was like training for a half Iron Man triathlon.

Baldie says he likes having a team in front of them so they know where they are. He’s so annoying.

Back at the farm, Terri is searching for the clue. Henry tries to make a suggestion, but Terri yells back so Henry says, “She’s gotta do it her fucking way and that’s why we fucked up.” Terri hears him and this leads to a Terri Death Stare which is not pretty at all. In fact she just stands there and glares at Henry. He tells her to keep going so they can get out of there, but she just stands and stares. She finally resumes her search, but not after staring at Henry for a short amount of time. That was ugly.

Vanessa & Pamela make it over to the amusement park and shove off towards the buoy. Right now, this is a cohesive team. They’re working together and making good progress in the leg.

Finally, Terri finds the last clue and it’s time for the married couple to leave, but as we know, this team and driving in South Korea don’t mix. Henry says he has to find out where they are and he can tell Terri where to go.

Collin & Adrian appear to be close to the Korean Folk Village. Paula & Natasha have nicely asked, and the key word here is nicely, a local to lead them to the Woncheon Resort. I didn’t catch this the first time, but Vanessa & Pam mention that they’re steering a balut. Funny stuff. If you remember the first episode, the teams had to eat baluts in a Filipino market.

The gym buddies have made it to the Korean Folk Village to the amazement of Bald Fuck and Crackhead. As Adrian & Collin open their clue, they find that they’ve reached the Detour. As Allan tells us, a Detour is a choice between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons. In this Detour, teams will have to decide between Too Ho or Too Heavy.

In Too Ho, teams must toss three bamboo sticks into a cylinder from four and a half meters away. Teams with good aim can finish quickly in this traditional Korean game.

In Too Heavy, teams must deliver 30 logs to a house using a traditional Korean carrying device known as a jigae. This task is purely physical, but teams with strength and stamina could finish quickly. This is the task that Adrian & Collin choose. They start stacking the jigae with logs.

The second place team, the Big and Tall Annoyances have arrived and they choose Too Ho. They find their task and begin to strategize on how to complete this task.

Collin has the heavy jigae on his back and ask for directions on where to deliver the logs. It’s important on who finishes this task first as most likely, the next clue will tell teams to go to the Pit Stop.

Vanessa & Pamela have reached the buoy, get their clue and head back to the dock.

The Ginormous Shitheads start to toss the bamboo sticks at the cylinder and find that this task is not easy.

The Dancing Moms have reached the amusement park and give their local a hug, but he runs away screaming. No, this didn’t happen, but it should have. He should have looked for the local police and pressed kidnapping charges, however, it didn’t happen so we move on.

Henry tells Terri to get off the highway based on the map and she does. Ann & Diane find their marked boat and start to paddle. Vanessa & Pam get to the dock and they leave the amusement park in 3rd place.

The Moms are singing as they press towards the buoy. Vanessa & Pam are wondering who might have caught up to them. They don’t realize two teams are ahead and the rest are behind them. But they can’t be blamed for not knowing. Everyone is now on their own and there’s no bunching.

Ann & Diane are close to the buoy now. Bald Fuck cannot get throw his bamboo stick into the narrow cylinder. He and Crackhead continue to alternate throws and their sticks are hitting the rim of the cylinder and falling out. Adrian & Collin have reached the house and the woman waiting for them starts counting the logs. The Dancing Moms have now obtained their next clue.

Realizing they don’t have enough, Adrian & Collin run back to the Too Heavy start point to get more logs.

At the Woncheon Resort, the moms have finished their task and are getting ready to go to their vans. As they’re preparing to leave, Paula & Natasha are arriving. Ann spots them and tells Diane that the girls are not very far behind them. In fact, Diane walks right past them as the best friends get out of their van. Natasha points out that the moms didn’t wish them good luck as they walked past them, no team spirit she says.

So the girls get into their boat and try to push off only to find that they’re still tied into the dock. As Natasha says it was such a blond moment. Here they are trying to paddle and they can’t move a centimeter. Then Paula asks if they’re tied up and indeed they are. Natasha unties them and they’re finally off. These two girls are genuine and funny unlike another team in this race.

As Adrian & Collin are delivering their second batch of logs, Baldie and Dipshit have finally figured out the right touch to throw the sticks into the small cylinder. They have two of the necessary three sticks in the round container. Adrian & Collin are stacking the logs for the lady waiting for them. But Yogurthead throws the final stick into the cylinder and the Arrogant Assholes are the first to get their clue. Adrian & Collin get their clue, but they’re farther away from their van as opposed to the Giant Piles of Human Waste who will be able to leave the Village quicker.

Both teams are instructed to drive from Youngin to Seoul and to Olympic Peace Park, which was featured prominently in the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. The Park is the 7th Pit Stop of this leg of the race. The last team to check in may be eliminated. So the Giant Gag Reflexes and Adrian & Collin race towards the Pit Stop.

We then go to team number three, Vanessa & Pamela. They’re speeding towards the Korean Folk Village when we see them in their post-race confessional.

Pam says she told Vanessa to stay to the left, but instead, she veered right and that is where the trouble began for this team. Pam says she was looking at the map just to make sure and then, Vanessa went to the right and because the roads are confusing, they had a hard time getting back on track. They start to fight as sisters have a tendency to do. Pam is mad over the situation. Vanessa is upset. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.

Over to Terri & Henry now and they haven’t reached the amusement park. Just as Terri is about to enter the driver’s side, Henry says he’ll back them out and get them out of there. Terri’s angry about going to the backseat. This isn’t pretty at all. She starts spitting venom at Henry. Goodness.

The yelling continues as we cut back to Vanessa & Pam. Both are upset for different reasons. Pam is angry at Vanessa for veering off the beaten path. Vanessa is beginning to cry for making the wrong turn and disappointing her sister. Vanessa asks Pam to calm down. Then Vanessa called herself stupid for making the mistake. She says, “I told you I’m a stupid person, right?” Pam says no, and Vanessa says she’s sorry for going in the wrong direction, but in the meantime, they’re getting farther and farther away from their destination.

And after a commercial break, Pamela says she doesn’t know what to do. She’s frustrated. Vanessa asks her to look at the map to find a way out. But Pam says there’s nothing she can do. Vanessa asks Pam to swap places. Pamela is panicking. She says they’re falling farther behind so Vanessa does the only thing that a sister can do when the other is panicking. She tells Pamela to shut up.

Back to the other bickering team, Terri & Henry. He says he doesn’t know they’re going and she doesn’t know where they’re going so they’re going to ask someone where to go. He says, “Don’t yell at me when I stop to ask somebody.” Her blood boiling and Terri looks like she’s about to blow.

Over to the lead team, they somehow find a local who helps them and writes the directions to Olympic Park. Ann & Diane are talking to a local to find out where the Korean Folk Village is and Adrian & Collin are also talking to a local about Olympic Park. It appears to me that the streets of South Korea are quite confusing unless you’re a native. Henry is in a local grocery asking for directions and he’s told where to go, but it’ll do no good unless you somehow retain the instructions. It appears this does not happen. Ann says getting from one place to another is the hardest part, not doing a task.

Paula & Natasha are close to the buoy and are able to get their next clue.

Over to fighting sisters Vanessa & Pam, Vanessa asks how to get back, but Pam seems to have shut down, thinking that their chances of staying in the race are out the window.

Reaching the dock, Paula & Natasha now know they have to go to the Korean Folk Village to get their next clue. We realize here that we have true separation. The strong alpha male teams of the Giant Dickheads and Adrian & Collin vying for the top spot. Then it’s the girl-girl teams of Vanessa & Pam, the Dancing Moms and Paula & Natasha fighting to stay in it. And bringing up the rear, it’s Terri & Henry who are hoping just to find one destination without having to ask someone.

Paula & Natasha are on their way to the Village. Natasha says she saw a sign for it so they can head in the proper direction. Ann tells Diane not to go into town to get to the Village. And Pam says she’s disappointed over the wrong turn and feels their race is over. Vanessa apologizes again and Pam says they have to go back, but she doesn’t know which exit to take to start backtracking.

Ann tries to show Diane the map of where they’re going, but Diane says she can’t look while she’s driving, but Ann is insisting before she gives up. Finally, Vanessa & Pam catch a break. A tollbooth taker allows them to take a U-turn so they can head back to the right direction. But Pam is still angry.

Speaking of angry, we cut back to Henry & Terri and Terri’s just yelling. That’s all you need to know.

Pam is now crying in the van, thinking that everything is over, but she must realize that anything can and will happen in the race. Pam continues to complain about the wrong turn, but Vanessa asks her to calm down otherwise she can’t drive.

Over to the bellowing elephant, Henry can’t take any more. He gets out of the van as Terri yells at him for being afraid of getting lost again. I really feel for him.

The top two teams are now stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic in Seoul as they try to reach Olympic Park. It’s not going well for either team as both teams are stuck in what amounts to a parking lot. They can’t weave in and out of lanes, so they’re pretty much stuck for the most part.

When they reach the Korean Folk Village, Paula & Natasha are surprised to see some clues still inside the box. They decide to do Too Ho. But after taking a wrong turn, they reach the Too Heavy task instead. Paula looks over the jigae and correctly surmises how to do it and Natasha says she’ll carry the logs on her back.

Over to Pam & Vanessa, Pam says they’ll just finish as fast as they can and fall wherever they may. In a bit of a surprise move, the producers start to show the times and in the sisters’ van, it’s 7:22 p.m. Vanessa is crying once again saying what happened isn’t fair to Pam.

The Annoying Asses are now driving in Seoul, and they spot Olympic Stadium, hoping that Olympic Park is nearby, but it appears they’re driving away from the area. Crackhead says they’re not coming in first. Oh, I hope that’s true. In fact, I hope they crash into a tree forcing them out of the race, but I guess that won’t be happening.

Paula is stacking logs onto the jigae which is now on Natasha’s back. She gets all thirty into the jigae, but the stack is looking rather vicarious.

Back in Seoul, Adrian & Collin and the Two Slimeballs are asking for directions. Adrian & Collin have hired a taxi driver to lead them to Olympic Park. The Slimeballs have enlisted a local who’s a slow driver to take them to the Pit Stop.

Paula has finally put all 30 logs into the jigae, but the logs are not stable and some fall right onto Natasha’s head. Paula decides to take some out and they walk over to the house to make two trips. They get to the house and as Natasha sits down, the logs fall out. Poor girl. The woman starts to count them as the Best Friends leave to get more logs.

Ann & Diane have finally reached the Folk Village and they decide to take on the Too Ho task.

Paula & Natasha make their way to the house once again and this time without and logs hitting Natasha’s head. They indeed have 30 logs and are given their next clue.

Ann & Diane reach the Too Ho task and start to throw bamboo sticks at the cylinder. They find the going as tough as the Jerkoffs. So they decide to switch tasks.

Pam & Vanessa finally reach the Village and see Paula & Natasha leaving. The sisters tell the best friends they got lost in passing. So the sisters decide to do Too Ho. Paula takes the wheel and pulls out to drive to Seoul.

At the Too Heavy task, it’s now totally dark as night has fallen in Korea. Ann & Diane try to stack the logs into the jigae, but it falls over. Vanessa & Pam get started on the Too Ho task.

And the Giant Dung Beetles finally make it to Olympic Park, are directed into a parking spot and make a run for the mat where they are told they are first for the fifth straight time. Because they’ve won so many times, the producers do not give them a prize.

At the Village, Ann is carrying the jigae and Diane asks for directions on where to go to deliver the logs. Vanessa & Pamela continue to throw sticks at the cylinders. Vanessa has one go in, while the Dancing Moms are walking around with their logs.

Adrian & Collin hit the mat in second, happy to be there, but Allan tells them they have to find a way to beat the team in front of them.

Ann & Diane have finally reached the house and make their first delivery. At Too Ho, Vanessa keeps apologizing for the wrong turn and Pam tells her to stop and just throw. They finally get the three sticks into the cylinder and get their next clue. What happens next is totally surprising. But we’ll get to that at the end.

Diane is now taking the second load of logs on her back.

Terri is back in the driver’s seat and hopefully she won’t be yelling this time. As you can see, it’s now almost an hour later since we first started getting timechecks from the producers. This is the van being driven by Terri. We’ll see how late they arrive at the Pit Stop.

Ann finally gets the rest of the logs into the jigae and they walk with Diane leading the way, but Ann following her propping up the logs. However, she walks too closely to Diane stepping on her shoe. They argue a little, but they get their clue after bringing the correct amount to the right house.

Finally, Terri & Henry reach the amusement park. It’s quite dark, but for some reason, they get into boat #13. I guess they’re not superstitious. And they eventually reach the buoy and thus get their next clue.

At 9:21 p.m., Ann & Diane are stuck in horrible traffic. They’re not moving, but they still find the time to shout at a local wondering if they’re close to Seoul. Hopefully, the local got out of his car and ran away. We don’t know.

Paula & Natasha are seen driving past the Olympic Stadium, but as we know, it’s not where Olympic Park is located.

As Terri & Henry get into their van, Henry drives and says he has to figure out what road they’re on so Terri just throws the map at him. Very nice. I’m now sick of this couple.

At Olympic Park, Vanessa & Pamela hit the mat and are told by Allan that they’re team number three illiciting this reaction from the sisters. Pam is relieved, Vanessa is in shock. Despite the wrong turns, the sisters are solidly in the game.

Ann & Diane now know that they won’t be eliminated. Ann says she’s confident that the Moms are ahead of one or two teams.

Natasha finds a local who accompanies them to Olympic Park. And the Dancing Moms check into the mat in 4th knowing that they passed Paula & Natasha on the way to the Pit Stop.

Natasha now realizes that her fern is drunk. But he’s directing the girls to the Park.

At the Village, Terri & Henry have arrived and have decided to do the throwing task. She curses whenever she misses. He nudges her to the side and she gets mad. Hoo boy.

At Olympic Park, Natasha pays the drunk some money and she and Paula run to the mat to be informed that they’re 5th. This team always seems to have a smile and I believe this is why they’re quite popular on the AXN-TARA forums. They’re so delightful to watch. I do hope they make it to the final three.

And we’re just going to cut to the last scene because transcribing the yelling of Terri is just sickening to me. I can no longer handle this team and I do hope they get eliminated, but it won’t be in this episode.

After they get lost again and Terri yells at him for the umpteenth time, in their confessional, Henry cries, Terri then says she has low self esteem and is angry over the way Henry treats her. They have a lot of issues to get through. But they arrive on the mat in last place, only to be spared by a non-elimination leg. But instead of being Marked for Elimination as Edwin & Monica were in the season premiere, they were mugged at the mat. I don’t understand this. Why not have the Marked for Elimination and be consistent instead of having one of each? I don’t know. Perhaps Executive Producer Michael McKay can explain this to me. The mugging at the mat is so unfair to teams and it forces them to beg for money in the next leg. I don’t like it at all.

Anyway, I want to finish this recap and go to bed so our Order of Finish is as follows:

1. Arrogant Assholes – 5th straight first place finish. They’re boring. I hope they’re eliminated in the next episode.
2. Adrian & Collin
3. Vanessa & Pamela – Despite a wrong turn and massive bickering, they recover and get third.
4. Ann & Diane
5. Paula & Natasha
6. Terri & Henry – Saved by non-elimination, mugged at the mat. They should be eliminated as well.

In the next episode, the teams go to Europe and there’s some unexpected difficulty for the Jerkoffs.

Fang’s Bites is Officially Endorsed by The Amazing Race Asia!

I received this very nice comment today from Michael McKay, Executive Producer of The Amazing Race Asia:

“You spend a lot of time on your recaps, top stuff. I found them highly amusing especially the number of different Team Names you were able to come up with for Marc and Rovilson – LOL

Thank you for taking such a strong interest in the series. Regards Michael McKay, Executive Producer”

Thank you, Michael. I truly appreciate it. And anytime you want to e-mail me about doing an interview on the series, feel free.

He never asked me to stop calling the Arrogant Assholes names. So you fans of the AA’s, expect more venom from me. HA! HA!

The Episode 7 recap should be up Monday, US time.

The Amazing Race Asia 2 – Ep. 8 Preview

Could the Arrogant Assholes finally be eliminated?