Culturally Preconditioned

Okay let me be the first one to eat my words. As much as I wanted to watch this show with much despise and hatred, I can safely say that there ARE, at least, a couple of teams on this cast that is worth rooting for. The premiere wasn’t all that great, but it wasn’t as sucky either. Right now, I’m just thankful that we’re getting a double dosage of The Amazing Race on television right now, since a couple of the regular TV shows will be stalled due to the Writer’s Strike (do they fucking think they’re in France?)

SO.. The Amazing Race Asia - Episode 1. Zabrina told me that they were having some sort of gathering at Zouk for the premiere. Unfortunately, I’m working the US shift this week so I had to let that one go. But even if I didn’t, it’s not as if I would go anyway (since I don’t even know if it was a ’special invitees only’ event). Just imagine me scribbling down notes while everyone is watching the show.. and they’d ask me what am I doing.. and I’d go “oh you know.. compiling shit so I can bitch about these media whores on my blog later”. LOL

I found the team introduction helpful, cause even though AXN has practically tried to shove them down our throats for the past gazillion weeks, I haven’t even remember all their names. I’ll try to keep this entry simple for now with a play by play on their tasks and route info in this first leg :

The race started off in Singapore where teams were all given pictures of ornaments/souvenirs. They then had to find a taxi near the Asian Civilisation Museum that holds the ornaments/souvenir to get their next clue. It was kind of funny seeing most of everyone running around like headless chickens, not knowing where the taxis are located. Once they’ve found the taxi, they needed to get their next clue on top of Mount Faber. The clue gives them a Nokia N95 phone which they have to use (using the GPS function) to find their next clue (which turns out to be Suntec City). And holy shit on a fucking stick, batman. Is this some sort of a record when it comes to shameless product placements? Oy.

There is a detour at Suntec City where they had to either (1) Dare - take the elevator to the rooftop and traverse between the two towers, or (2) Stair - climb up over 40 floors up, and then back down again. Not surprisingly, none of the teams took Stair. It’s time like this that I’m thankful that I’m not actually on the show, cause we had to sign an agreement with a clause saying that we can’t sue the production in the event DEATH during the shooting of the race. Well, of course not. You’d be dead. Anyway, it was quite a challenging and fun detour, but I can’t help but notice that they had a similar height-related challenge in the first episode of the first season (oh how I miss watching Sahran cry).

Teams next received a clue to fly to Manila, Phillipines! This took me by surprise cause it seemed like the time they spent in Singapore (the first country) was too short. Anyway, all teams except for Henry/Terri and Monica/Edwin got on the same flight to Manila (and the two remaining teams took a later flight). Once in Manila, they need to go to the Asian Promenade Park to receive their next clue - which is to eat 8 Baluts near Plaza Miranda. I have to say that BALUTs are the most overrated and fucking over-exposed ‘exotic’ food ever. I’m so sick of watching these on Fear Factor, Survivor, Bizarre Foods etc etc etc. I’m still waiting for TAR to have a similar challenge involving the durians. Hmm. After the balut challenge, they may proceed to the first pitstop of the race.

In the order of their arrivals at the pitstop

 (1) Vanessa & Pamela (Team Malaysia) - These sisters surprised the hell out of me! Initially I was very meh on them when the cast was announced. But after watching the episode.. wow. I was very impressed that they were constantly in the top four position at all the challenges/detours/route markers, and was even impressed when they got to the pitstop first. Seeing them gorging down the 8 baluts like nobody’s business impressed me more. This is definitely a team that I’ll be rooting for. This team’s performance is one of the main reasons I’m eating my words right now. Bravo! They definitely showed that they are in it, to win it!

 (2) Marc & Rovilson (Team Phillipines) - I definitely did NOT like this team after watching their badly scripted audition video. However, they seem to actually have a good sense of humour, and that I like. They were some funny quips by them here and there. And it was funny seeing them checking out the hot girls while traversing between the two buildings. They also had an interesting mantra - “You live and die by the hand of the taxi driver” - which is oh so true, given what we’ve seen in most circumstances in The Amazing Race. I also wonder if this will be a premonition to their downfall or victory in this race. I guess we’ll see. That said, I have to say that their inability to gorge down the baluts was fucking embarassing, since (1) they were both Pinoys (2) they were beaten by a girl/girl team. So far, I have no complains about this team. Love or hate, it could still go either way.

 (3) Anne & Diane (Team Malaysia) - They’re pretty cool. I did not expect them to come out near the top, but they did, so good for them. I certainly hope they will last long in this race.

 (4) Brett & Kinar (Team Indonesia) - No strong feelings about this team yet. Still just another boring mactor team in my eyes. They may be this year’s Andrew & Syeon. And does she really not know what Aphrodisiac means? And did she really say LAMB is an aphrodisiac too? Oh fer fucks sake. The only thing LAMB will raise is the blood pressure.. not the peens.

 (5) Sophie & Aurelia (Team Hong Kong) - Shouldn’t this team be called team Singapore/France ? Anyway… Sophie surprisingly had quite a number of funny quips (”There’s Ed.. looks like he’s lost. Hopefully they ARE lost”, “(re Aurelia) I hope she gets too knackered till she wont be able to speak”) LOL. I hope she gets more and more snipy as we go along. And Aurelia.. omg.. can she just STFU? I mean.. watching her speak and eating those baluts? Ew. And this is another one who needs a dictionary.. for a girl who cant stop talking, it’s a wonder that she doesn’t know what an embryo is.

 (6) Paula & Natasha (Team Thailand) - but they sure sound American to me *rolleyes*. Not feeling much on this team yet. At least they show that they have a competitive side  on this race.. so that’s fine with me.

 (7) Adrian & Colin (Team Singapore) - I love this team! They rocked the shit out of the challenges. I liked them pre-show, and I still like them after watching this episode. Definitely a team that I will be rooting for. It sucks that they got screwed by their cab driver, but hey.. shit happens. I just hope their luck picks up soon.

 (8) Daichi & Sawaka (Team Japan) - They’re okay. May turn out to be another Andrew & Syeon. Not much to say about them right now.

 (9) Henry & Terri (Team Phillipines) - I love this team. Their bickering is fun to watch. Terri so reminds me of Sandra Diaz-Twine from Survivor Pearl Islands.

 (10) Edwin & Monica (Team Hong Kong) - please.. he’s Canadian. The Asian Romber? More like the Asian Jonathug & Victoria to me. I hate his nonchalance. I hate the fact that he wanted to give up after they failed to get on the first flight to Manila. And I hate the fact that it seems like he don’t give a fuck about this race. Terri & Henry bickering = entertaining. Edqin & Monica bickering = Not. Meh.. whatever. They got in last at the pitstop.

UNfortunately, this is a non-elimination leg. But if they don’t get into 1st place at the next pitstop, they will incur a 30 minute penalty *crosses finger*

And that’s it. Oh.. and apparently Allan Wu listens to the viewers. NO MORE AWKWARD WTF PAUSES WHEN HE ANNOUNCES THE TEAMS ARRIVAL AT THE PITSTOP! YES!!!