Best part about the episode was the recap. Andy : “Oh you wanker!” LOL Priceless. The rest of the episode was rather a snoozefest. I can’t believe at final fucking four, teams are still nicey-nice to each other at this stage of the race. Maybe $100,000 means nothing to them, I don’t know.
They left India for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. I was really hoping they’d go to the Burj Al Arab again, but I guess that’s been done in the regular TAR before. It would be awesome to have a route marker within the hotel itself, but I guess the admission fee of $150 alone became a big hinderance for the production to even consider it.
They were cautioned that there were Yield ahead, so I was expecting a mad rush for everyone to get there first. There was a buzzkill as I get my first SERVICES CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE message from Asstro during the entire airport scene, but I don’t think I missed that much. I’m guessing the teams were discussing about their seating arrangements and how they could get off the plane quickest so that they can get to the Yield first. I dunno. I got a little lost there on what happened with the taxi at the airport.
However, much to my delight, Joe Jer & Zab were the first to reach the Yield! YAY! Followed by SanFran, then the M&Ms followed closely by Andrew & Syeon. And what a letdown it was to see no one using the Yield. Somewhere along the lines I got my second SERVICES CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE message from Asstro but I don’t think I missed much. Teams had to ride a boat towards their next roadblock, which was to complete a 9 hole course at a Golf Academy. The boat ride was interesting. The M&Ms’ boat almost had a breakdown, and Andrew & Syeon actually genuinely wanted to offer them a ride. Hello? You’re at 3rd and 4th place and you’re helping out the other team? WTF? I know I know they’re in an alliance and whatnots, but do they need to be reminded of what happened to the Chos? Geez! Andrew & Syeon lost a lot of points from me last night. There was also a short dialogue between those two - Syeon : “If I hit well, I can finish faster”, Andrew : “But you won’t hit well”. Someone give him Most Encouraging Remarks Ever Award quick. *rolleyes* In perfect contrast, you can see how JJ is showing a LOT of support to our dear friend Zab.
The golf course looked intimidating to me as I’ve never actually played golf before. Everyone did a WHOLE LOT better than I thought they would. Well at least much better than I personally would anyway. Okay well, maybe except for Marsio.. but that remains debatable. And once again, JJ proved to be a star in my eyes with her words of wisdom “Just keep inching your way” which is so true. They just needed to complete the task.. doesn’t really matter if they’re above or below par. BUT WHAT IS THAT FUCKINGLY ANNOYING 70s LOUNGE MUSIC THEY HAD PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND??? Francesca did a good work catching up with Zab (”but let her finish up first”.. again what the fuck is up with all the nicey-nice attitude? It’s Final Fucking Four!). Syeon got a hole-in-one which was bloody impressive, if I may say so. But then again, I found out later that her dad was an avid golf player. Marsio.. well… he sucked balls (as I probably would).
The next route marker was at the Dubai International Marine Club onboard a bitchin boat called the Leopard of Dubai. They then had to go to the Ski Dubai at the Emirates Mall. I loved hearing’s Zab’s determination when Joe Jer asked if she can ski and her reply was “No, but I WILL!”. Way to go! Andrew & Syeon.. well they were pissed at the taxi for parking so far away from the Ski Dubai, quite rightfully so. But why they left their backpacks in the taxi is beyond me. The malicious part of me actually wish every time a team does this, the taxi cab would drive away with all their belongings. Maybe the taxis in KL will do that. Well one can hope.
The detour was a choice between Hack (hack through a 150 kg block of ice with a pick to get their clue) or Hike (hike up a slope with a 25 kg bag strapped on their backs to get to the next clue). As they’ve been running all day, I would’ve expected all teams to go for the Hack, but JJ & Z made a good assessment that possibly by having Sandy hacking his way through the Great Wall of China next to you, that might have an impact on you mentally. So SanFran and Andrew & Syeon did the hack (they were the first two teams to complete) and JJ&Z and the M&Ms did the Hike (and they were 3rd and 4th to finish the detour respectively).
The final route marker for this leg was to find a shop called the Modern Jewellery in the Gold Souk. I’m sure it was pretty stressful for the teams but it was just plain boring for the viewers, in my opinion. In the end, SanFran got to the pitstop first (in the Margham Desert Camp), followed by Andrew & Syeon, then JoeJer and Zab and lastly Mardy and Marsio. I was not surprised that this was a non-elimination leg, as we still have one more episode before the finale.
Anyway, seriously, San Fran have no competition left in the race. The race is theirs to lose. And I just hope Joe Jer and Zabrina will at least outlast the M&Ms to be in the Final 3 (and Andrew & Syeon, if that’s possible). I miss Andy & Laura *sniff*
January 19th, 2007 at 10:28 am
m&m is getting on my nerves big time. Whining and Whining and even MORE WHINING.
actually andrew has been SOOOOOOOO supportive of syeon so far that i wish he would be my bf
Is it me or is this TAR ASIA pretty much useless? I love (some of) the people, but I don’t feel it’s as challenging or exciting as the usual TARS. and a big turn off for me is that the contestents don’t seem to take it seriously!!! with the exception of andrew and syeon, san fran and yesterday’s jj&zab. andy and laura also was competitive, they just bitched too much for my liking.
WTF?!?!?!?!?!?
January 19th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Bloody Indons still in it..
January 19th, 2007 at 10:56 am
whoa, man! i was in the middle of the golf scene when my 92-year-old great-aunt, who’s staying with us, turned off the tv. WTF?? & couldn’t cuss at her either cos she’s old & i’d be burning in the hell if i did.
January 19th, 2007 at 10:57 am
motif M&M still there….
January 19th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
suanie : cheh.. i know you actually like Andrew because he bared his well chiseled body a few weeks back rite? LOL Yeah I do feel some of the contestants lack the enthusiasm.. maybe it’s because the reward is $100K and not $1 million? But folks outside Asia are actually enjoying TAR Asia a lot more than most of the regular TARs. I think it’s because we have ‘normal’ folks on the show
Gallivanter : urghh tell me about it. They have so overstayed their welcome.
Freako : LOL well at least AXN will have the reruns like twenty thousand times before the next episode rite?
neo : tu la pasal… some more diorang end the episode dgn comment “.. can eat burger” Aiyo.. makan makan makan.
January 19th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
i love andrew when he carry syeon on his back! that was sooooo sweet!!!!
love the supportive JJ!
January 19th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
I look forward to your write up, then I replay the show in my head and relate to it! Keep up the good work. Oh, I had a short conversation with Zabrina when I had the pleasant surprise of meeting her at an event! She’s very nice and we chatted for awhile. My friend tried to ask about the winner! Obviously, sworn to secrecy, no answer. So,I guess we’ll find out in two weeks time!
January 19th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
someone left a spoiler at my blg. i hope it’s not true cos i don’t think they r that good as racers to win it.
100,000 is like chicken * these days isn’t it? what can u buy with 100,000? not even a decent semi-detached house here! those cost like 480k or so.
January 19th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
I was actually cheering when JJ and Zab were leading. But yet they got 3rd. I was quite disappointed that it wasn’t the elimination leg. Was really hoping for MM to get eliminated and for JJZ and Andsyeon to be in the top three. And although most might find their insanity of being ‘nice’ at this point, but I guess it was nice to see that they still have their values intact.
JJ and Zab!!!!!! All the wayyyy! 
January 19th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
I always see to miss it but hear good things from my friends esp abt the Msian teams.
Yippee that JJ and Zabrina is still in the show. I don’t know JJ personally but have met her sister in my friend’s parties.
January 20th, 2007 at 12:34 am
can the crew stop filming marsio stuffing himself?? we get it already. we can see the belly. (& the cheeks, & the bum, etc., etc.). i’m sure everybody eats in the show. yes it’s his angle but it’s rarely funny anymore.
January 20th, 2007 at 7:39 am
actually i think the others don’t eat at all, it’s only at eating roadblocks and the like that they eat. that’s why they stuff themselves so much at those tasks, it has to last them the entire run. haha yeah i’m tired of seeing the M&Ms eating all the time too, it was just like how they used to make fun of that plus sized AF4 (or AF5 or 6) girl, whatshername, latifah or sandra or something.
January 20th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Marcy and Marso or whatever their names are MUST GO. Watching them, I’ve reached my limit with them so they are now in my - pardon my French - “fuck off or die, I don’t care” list. It is painful to watch them bumble their way through and the last straw is seeing them wave their stubby arms in their boat. “Help us! Help us!” Yeah, let me come over and detonate that boat.
Sorry, have to get that off my chest. For the last few weeks, I’ve been watching the show and chanting to myself, “Let them be eliminated, let them be eliminated!” but they never do. They don’t budget themselves, they are incompetent, they constantly whine that they are “learning” something but they never do, and they are always saved by the bunch. If they win, OH MY GOD.
I am disappointed that JoeZab’s wise decision to call up and locate the store beforehand didn’t pay off while A&S lucked upon the shop. I’m really rooting for JoeZab not because they are homegrown gals but because I think those ladies are really tough and they do their best they can, like the Bowling Moms, instead of two bumbling fat gluttons I can think of.
Er… is it okay to say that I find Sandy really cute when he smiles? Francesca is a pretty cool gal. But I miss Andy and Laura - they bring an edge that this show really needs, kinda like how we need Mirna to play off Colin and how Colin becomes really boring without her around.
(OT: why has Colin impregnated his sourfaced girlfriend when he has all this pent-up sexual tension with Ms Hindoyan on TAR5? I thought he’d run off with Mirna for some hot hate-angry-sex after the show! At any rate, damn him for knocking his Barbie doll up in such an untimely manner. All-Stars ain’t the same if it’s just Mirna and no Colin.)
January 21st, 2007 at 12:57 am
Cely : you’re such a hopeless romantic :p Hehe
Wmw : Thanks! Zab sure looks like a fun and friendly person. You’re lucky to have met her!
Y : Exactly.. $100K is chicken feed. Especially after you split that in half… and god knows how much you’re left with after the taxes.
Latique : Yeah.. maybe that’s why the Chos acted that way too in the regular TAR.. you know, Eastern values and all that.. but it does get frustrating to see all these Hallmark moments between the teams. We need more drama! LOL
Boo : It’s actually a pretty good season. Even some of the viewers from out of Asia are saying the TAR Asia is better than most of the regular TAR put together, so that’s saying something. And we can be proud since 2 of the Malaysian teams made it all the way to the Final Four
And I bet JJ’s sister is as great as her sister too.
Freako : LMAO. Yeah that’s what I’ve been saying. Their ’schtick’ is getting real old. In the 1st episode was it endearing. 2nd episode was tolerable. 3rd episode it was getting stale. and 4th episode onwards it just became plain loathsome.
Y : Was it Violet? Sebab honest to God, I really did quit AF after season 2 ended. And don’t you just love how many people are writing in to complain about that person’s Astro Bonanza ad? LOL
Mrs G : It’s always great to hear a lot of French from you
The day M&Ms win this race will be the day I will start shitting ice cream. Seriously. I swear they keep recycling dialogues. “I’m hungry”, “I’m tired”, “My feet hurt”, “oh my god”, “We’re not fit”.. what else huh? I was going to comment on how smart it was for JoeZab to get the store address in advance.. but unfortunately luck was not on their side. Smart thinking though. And YES! They do kinda remind me of the Bowling Moms too (who should’ve been on All Star). I gotta say, I have only recently managed to notice Sandy’s ‘Kiwi’ feature, so I get your attraction to him (although I’m surprised you’re noticing his smile and not his bulges LOL). Francesca’s quite the character but without AndyLau.. there’s not enough catalyst on the show to bring her bitchiness out *sigh* And yes, I too wish Colin was on the show (i really wished they would go for a hybrid team of Colin/Johnathug instead of the lame assed Jeremy/Danielle) 
January 21st, 2007 at 5:36 pm
was her name really violet? i forget la, now that u mention it, it *was* her who they made fun of, i had the other ++ size girl in mind, i seriously can’t remember her name.
anyway, i wasn’t aware of the complaints (astro bonanza) but i googled it up and came across one in the Star. hehe, i too absolutely despise that ad!
January 21st, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Thanks for stopping by the website. Do you know, for the next issue of Contradictheory, I was thinking of writing about the Malaysian teams in the Amazing Race, and why they managed to make so far?
January 21st, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Y : mmm can’t remember which plus sized contestant other than her. As for the ad, I haven’t seen it being aired for the past few days. Perhaps some of them can take a hint after all.
Dzof : Hey! Looking forward to next week’s article. When I read it in today’s Star I was like.. hey I know this dude. LOL. Why exactly have the Msian teams made it this far? Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it. I’m glad you gave a shout out to Heroes. It really IS the best show on television right now (don’t forget to download the weekly graphic novels too!). Oh and speaking of new shows, I’ve just watched this new Canadian comedy - Little Mosque On The Prairie. IMO it’s pretty well done, though I’m not sure how people here will perceive it.
January 22nd, 2007 at 9:30 am
i always thought that andrew and syeon are only half malaysians?
if m&m win the race, i am boycotting the next TAR Asia
January 25th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Suanie : i think syeon is half-korean? or half-australian or something? I’m not sure. And you can stop your boycotting now that the two fat asses are gone. (And yes, I absolutely hate Ross too. LOL)