Culturally Preconditioned

What in the hell exactly was the point of having that Hong Kong leg? Just so that they can boast they TARA2 went to x + 1 countries? HK truly is the new Singapore (where they had the useless car wash challenge in TARA1). Absolutely pointless to the viewers (even though I bet it must’ve been fun for the racers).

Okay, let me go back where the episode started. Teams left Manila, their last pitstop, and had to travel to Hong Kong. All teams were bunched up on a CATHAY PACIFIC plane out. There was some unnecessary, forced and scripted drama by Terri and Henry at the airport (Terri mostly). Seriously, that woman needs to STFU and tone it down. Anyway, once in Hong Kong, they had to find their clue at the Central Pier.

Now, you’d THINK that having the ‘home advantage’ to the Hong Kong team (technically, Sophie’s Singaporean and Aurealia’s French.. so whatev), but surprisingly, they were the last one to get the clue. I guess, sometimes being on your own turf can backfire you if you overthink stuff. The next task is to go to the STANDARD CHARTERED Bank to correctly count the local currency. GOD! I fucking loathe counting challenges.. Kudos to all teams who finished it, cause I sure as hell would sucked mucho at it. After that challenge, teams had to fly out to Auckland, New Zealand. All bunched up again on bloody CATHAY PACIFIC.

Now, I fucking ask you again. What the HELL was the bloody point in having that leg??? #%@^!%RAGE!@#&@!&*

Once in Auckland, they had to drive themselves to the Howick Historical Village in Pakuranga. Once there, they had to use a SONY CYBERSHOT to take three pictures of (1) Rob McLane - which turns out to be a portrait (2) Mary Syms - which turns out to be a tombstone (3) A Poke For A Pig - which turns out to be a little signboard. Now  I must say that this was a really interesting challenge! The not so interesting aspect of it, was the clue giver with his wooden and robotic “Your Evidence Is Correct. Here is the next clue” speech. Mmm no, I’m not referring to Allan Wu for once (who’s actually getting better - wow..  It doesn’t actually hurt me to say that now).

After that challenge, teams are faced with a roadblock where they had to Bungee Jump off Auckland Bridge - which looks so awesome! And editing has not been kind on Terri this week, cause I absolutely abhored her edit. She wants to do the roadblock, and once she finds out it was a bungee jump, she wants out of it.. and was quickly to point fingers to other people. Man, what a beeyotch. But to her credit, she manages to go through it. I was laughing hysterically when Henry’s lines of “You’re goddamned right I should be the one to do it” was translated to “JAHANAM”. OMGFLMFAO. The bungee jump was nice, but I would’ve loved it even more if they did the Zorb thingy (not sure if that’s in Auckland or not though). Also.. Aurelia had her lovely snarky comment of “Hmm no sound”.. when the apparently emotionless Sophie jumped off the bridge.

The detour comes next.. a task between (1) Wall - to scale a rock climing wall, or (2) Waka - to paddle through a canoe course. I’ll be the first one to say that I know for a FACT that my lardass won’t be able to do the rock climbing. I’m surprised that many teams even tried it out in the first place. Rock climbing is hard, people. And I knew I would’ve aced the canoeing challenge. Hey, I did not practice in the Muar River (complete with shards of broken glass) for two years for nothing, alright. Once the detour was over, I started to think if this episode was ever going to end.

But it went on. They needed to find the Ascention Vineyard along the Matakana road. Once there, they get a clue saying they needed to go through the super lame-o Spookers Haunted House to retrieve their next clue. The clue then points to the next pitstop for this leg of the race, which is only a foot path away from the Haunted House to the equally lame-o Forest Of Fear. The editing tried to fool us that there would be a close race between the 2nd last team (who got lost really bad) and the last team (who were trailing badly since they started the New Zealand race).. but I’m guessing most of us, aren’t fools.

In the order of arrival at the pitstop :

1. Mark & Rovilson - I still think they are TOO aware that the cameras on them and are trying their best to come off as.. I don’t know.. the perfect team to root? Not for me though. Rovilson articulating every single word is starting to grate on me. Scripted. Scripted. Scripted. That said, they came in first again this leg.. so I have to admit that they’re pretty good racers. Don’t mean that I like them though.
2. Adrian & Colin - I’m super glad this team finally got their big break. The hours spent at the gym really gave them an added advantage at the rock climbing detour. That detour boosted them from 5th place to 2nd? Pretty impressive, I must say.
3. Ann & Diane - 3rd place for 3 weeks in a row. Wow.. is this some kind of record? Not only on TARA, but on TAR as well? I’m super super impressed by this team. Go dancing mommies! I hope they’ll waltz their way into the 1st place next time.
4. Paula & Vanessa - I’m still finding this team a little meh. It’s unexplainable. But they did relatively well in this leg too. Bravo!
5. Terri & Henry - She reminds me of Sandra Diaz Twine - which is a bad thing, cause I happen to like Sandra. I do NOT like Terri. She spouts off too damn much for my liking. It was endearing and funny to watch the first two episode.. but after this episode… I’d rather be stuck in a room with Blackadder the Third and tortured with a VERY SHARP PENCIL again and again and again, than hear her whine and scream.
6. Daichi & Sawaka - Not getting a lot from them this week. They’re okay I suppose.
7. Pamela & Vanessa - The accident was unfortunate, cause it looked like they were in 4th place going into this final task. Not exactly sure what happened, but it kinda looked to me like it WAS their fault, but who knows. It’s amazing that whenever TARA is in New Zealand, the police always gets called, huh? Remember Andy and Laura? Yep.. ANDYLAU FOR AMAZING RACE ASIA ALL STAR!!!!
8. Sophie & Aurelia - I liked Sophie a lot more than Aurelia in the first episode, but that turned really quick. Sophie looked like a seriously uptight bitch in that episode.. always whining and complaining about her teammate. But in all fairness, I think that’s exactly how I would be if.. I mean, when, I get on this race. But for her to say that “I would rather give up this race”.. I’m sorry but that is SO NOT COOL in my books.
9. Brett & Kinar (eliminated) - *yawnsies* give me a thousand Mardys and Marsios over a boring mactor couple any time, any day. I was snickering on their closing statements, that ‘we never ever give up’, when just two minutes before that, they showed Kinar saying she’s quitting the task. Mmmm okay.  I’m not exactly sure how this team got delayed so damn far behind, but honestly? I’m not bothered by it.