Culturally Preconditioned

Amazing Race Asia 3 : Episode 03

by Izad @ 1:47 am. Filed under Amazing Race

Before I start, can I just say….

yeah I made those notes as I was watching the show tonight, even though I already saw it last week in the previews. But still.. the scene caught me by surprise… and another time, when they showed it again for the second time tonight. Yes, you know which scene I’m talking about. But first, a short recap of the episode :

Teams start off at Ho Chi Minh with about 2 hours separating the first team and the eight team. They needed to get to Hue, a city about 1000 km away from Ho Chi Minh, by bus. The journey takes more than 25 hours, and it kinda reminded me of the challenge they had in the first TARA (where they travelled from Bangkok to Krabi.. I think). Anyway, the condition of the buses were kinda bad, with crammed seats, and people sleeping on the bus floors.. so kudos to all of them for going through that torture.

Teams headed to Hue in four separate buses. Once in Hue, the next clue tells them to head to the local Caltex Service Facility on foot. The first three teams to arrive (Henry/Bernie, Niroo/Kapil, Ida/Tania) lost their three hour lead since the operating hours starts at 9:30am.. bunching. Ick. Once the service facility opens, teams had to choose a marked jeep with an assigned driver, change a tyre and change the engine oil. Messy.. but I give this challenge a better score than the washing buses task in episode 1.

Once the task is completed, teams had to instruct their drivers to drive to Khai Din Tomb. The roadblock (who’s in line for a King’s Ransom) instructs them to search across the 28 acre grounds for seven coins, and place them in order of the reigning kings. For what it’s worth, I think this was an awesome challenge. It challenges the racers, both physically and mentally, with a little bit of luck thrown in. Personally, this is the perfect formula for TAR challenges, and there should be more of it. Not just dumb luck, or physical tests. Oh and I think the producers made a major snafu here when they showed Bernie and Pailin together complaining to Trish about Geoff, cause that practically gave away the fact that Pailin/Natalie (who were trailing far behind) actually caught up with the other teams. Oh well.

Once the roadblock is completed, a detour awaits the teams, where they had to choose either (1) Sticks - where they had to make 10 incense sticks, or (2) Stocks - where they had to thrash stalks of paddies into 2 buckets of rice. All teams chose to do Sticks (although Geoff and Trish eventually gave up and did the Stocks detour). They next had to go to Quoc Hoc Park and search for the clues (which turned out to be on the rickshaws that they were supposed to ride). Once they read their clue, they need to ride the rickety rickshaws to the next pitstop, the Forbidden Purple City. Now this was where we can see the awesome footage - where Henry swerved the rickshaw into a jeep, sending both him and Bernie flying through the air and onto the cold (actually I’m pretty sure it was hot) hard concrete. OUCH! I’m just super glad no one was seriously hurt!

So, in the order of their arrival at the pitstop :

Show Me The Spoiler

1. Henry/Bernie : You know what? If McKay keeps on casting people like these from Malaysia, I’ll be happy with his decisions. I don’t care if they’re mactors or what.. just as long as they doing as great as the Malaysian teams on this show right now. Henry and Bernie has just been awesome, awesome, awesome throughout the show.. and that’s something coming from a super critical asshole like me. From their interactions, their way they regained their leads despite their bad luck, their everything.. they have officially surpassed Hank and Azakiel as the best brother/sister team on a TAR franchise. Ever.
2. Sam/Vince : These boys gained a LOT of points with me on the show, by helping out the other teams. I love their camaraderie with the other teams. Still not loving them as I thought I would.. but they’re getting there.

3. Ida/Tania : My comment for Henry/Bernie goes out to Ida/Tania team too. They have totally surpassed my expectations by, not only still being on the race at this stage, but also by placing such high rankings! And they are totally not overdoing their antics. I have the feeling they are just being themselves, and it kinda shows that they’re not really playing it up to the cameras unlike ACTTSNBNFLSWADMFITF (also known as A Certain Team That Shall Not Be Named From Last Season Which Almost Destroyed My Faith In This Franchise). I love them to bits.. they are totally in my Top 5 favourite TARA teams of all time. I’m also loving their positive outlook on things in this race (like AD and Fuzz below)
4. AD/Fuzzie : I love the fact that this team is actually doing so well, against many people’s expectations. I absolutely LOVE their positive look on things (how they don’t care if they finish the tasks last, the fact that they actually DID it, is a huge personal achievement, and they’re proud of it - and this is applicable to Ida and Tania too). I would love to see them stick around much much longer.

5. Geoff/Tisha : I liked Tish last week and kinda felt sorry for her. But after listening to her comments this week, I kinda felt sorry that I felt sorry for her.

6. Oliver/Mai : Starting to like this team again. They kinda made up for their loss by actually doing the tasks, instead of whine whine whining. Good for them. Hopefully they’ll keep up the pace.

7. Niroo/Kapil : hands down, the worst dad to be on the TAR franchise after Christina’s Dad in the last TAR. and the son is no better. I just cannot stand people with condescending tones towards others (and this has been going on since episode 1). go fuck yourselves.

~~8. Pailin/Natalie :~~ eliminated. Whoa… they had separate confessionals earlier in the episode.. blatant foreshadowing, or just plain laziness from the producers? I pick the latter. My level of respect for Pailin is sky high, because I wouldn’t be able to handle with a team mate like Natalie. Seriously. Although I must say that towards the end, Natalie did seem like she tried her best at the failed roadblock. But still, I think everyone can tell that she has shut herself down and out of race mode since her darkest hour (sleeping at the airport ordeal.. will she ever wake up from the nightmare?). Hmm I had high hopes for this team, and was kinda rooting for them in the beginning. Their demise from the race is just so.. disappointing.

It was a really good episode IMO, especially the rickshaw footage. Dayum! I know I’ve been bitching about this show.. but three episodes in, and this season has officially surpassed the second season. My only gripe now, is the excessive product placements on the show. Have you seen my official TARA4 audition video? Well, I’m in two minds of actually burning that video to a DVD and courier that shit to the producers. I mean, if we get one an episode, that’s fine (it would be best if they were focused on the gifts to the first placers at the pitstop).. but this is just too much. I swear, if we get that final recap episode focusing on Bintan Lagoon Resort again… I’ll.. I’ll… well I haven’t made up my mind yet on what I’m going to do.

[link]

10 Responses to “Amazing Race Asia 3 : Episode 03”

Mrs Giggles Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 5:43 am
I agree about the casting of Malaysian teams. Apart from the rather dull Andrew and Syeon (who really weren’t that bad in the first place, just rather boring on TV), the Malaysian teams cast have been fabulous. I try not to be biased, but I end up rooting for them every season.

Can Mai do ANYTHING? And can Tisha? Apart from complaining or making one-liners? They won’t do Roadblocks, won’t even try, they won’t help with physical tasks, they are just there to be albatrosses around their male partner’s neck. As much as one can bag on Kendra from TAR6, she actually helped out Freddy until that pizza thing, even then, she was eating as fast as she could. Mai and Tisha are just dead weights on this show.

And Natalie. Oh my god. If Mckay doesn’t learn anything from his debacle of handpicking Mai and Natalie for this show, he deserves to have that bloody camera shoved down his throat until it comes out the other end. Had Natalie watched this show before she was signed up to it? I suspect not. In a fair world, Pailin would have teamed up with Oliver and they would be a very pretty team that actually wants to race. Instead of being on camera or whining that they need their beauty sleep. Natalie and Mai = EPIC FAIL. At least Tisha is amusing to watch.

Geoff wants to be Colin from TAR5, and in a way he can be one, but he’s also Adam from TAR6, heh. He’s an annoying fellow, but still adorable to watch nonetheless because he brings on the funny.

Ida and Tania are FABULOUS. Divas with the right attitude. I love them. Henry can be a little too hammy towards the camera, but he and Bernie are fun too. Bernie rocks, by the way. I love how the Malaysian women are so much different from those wilting Thai and Filipino beauties that won’t do anything for fear of breaking a fingernail.

AD and Fuzzie are fine, and they have outlasted my expectations of lasting this far on the race, but Fuzzie is really at her last legs, I fear. This episode, they are lucky in that they are buffered by Natalie’s “OH NO, I AM DIRTY!” meltdown and the Indian team’s incompetence, but I suspect that they are on borrowed time.

Niroo and Kapil are annoying, but I have to say, like Geoff and Tisha, they are amusing to watch when they are bickering. Their exchange during the rickshaw thing had me laughing so hard!

An excellent episode indeed, as fine as Alan Wu’s biceps.
Romeo Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Dude, It was actually Bernie and Tania that confronted Tish. Pailin/Nat weren’t there yet at the Roadblock!

Indeed a great episode, Roadblock challenge was awesome! One of the best yet on TARA franchise. And the rickshaw footage of HnB was scary. I think I heard Ida and Tania screamed when they saw the accident. They were just right behind them.

Next episode, I really wonder whether Niroo and Kapil really quit the race. That is so NOT Top Model!
Its going to be either China/Taiwan next week, I think.
Gallivanter Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 9:10 am
I’m throwing my support behind Henry/Bernie and Ida/Tania!
hcfoo Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Missed another episode of TARA3 again. I can’t wait to sit down comfortably on one of the Saturdays and catch up with the marathon episodes.
y Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
was it really that good? maybe i should try n find it on youtube or some place.
Latique Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Indeed, this is the best race ever - so far. My support to our Malaysian teams! They make me proud. I pitied at Pailin, Nat just wanted to quit it all and couldn’t care less. That’s a heartbreak for any partner to have in any race or competition.
synical Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I was SOOO rooting for Henry and Bernie last night, despite their malfunctioning jeep, their crash… I’m still rooting for both Malaysian teams.

I feel bad for Pailin - she SO wanted to race. Susah lah got partner like Nat. Even Dustin and Kandace also better (and that’s saying something). Every week I hope that it’s a non-elimination leg for no real reason, haha.

Oh yeah - there should be more Allan wearing a tank top… LOL.

I also wonder if the father/son team really quits the race next week. Oh, the suspense…
Izad Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
MrsG : LOL I love your summation - AllanWu is still droolworthy. Great summary! Now tell me again why you stopped doing recaps? Survivor Gabon starts today! And I totally agree on your point.. Natalie being EPIC FAILURE for McKay.

Romeo : You know, I actually thought Geoff’s SO NOT TOP MODEL comment was funny. btw, are you sure it’s Bernie and Tania? Okay must be my eyes then.. hehe

Gallivanter : I think this is the first time I’ve been super excited and super supportive of BOTH malaysian teams on the show. The casting folks did a perfect job when it came to choosing the Msian teams this season/

HCfoo : I think you’re going to enjoy this season. Well at least I’m enjoying it a lot more than the last season.

Y : I really loved watching the rickshaw scene… it’s the sort of stuff that you just can’t make up.

Latique : I know. You can basically feel Pailin’s disappointment since Natalie’s breakdown at the airport the last episode.

Synical : I for one, sure hope the previews for next week’s episode is not 100% deceiving. Oh, and I wondered about Henry/Bernie’s malfunctioning jeep. I thought if team’s vehicle breaks down, they would get a replacement? Oh well. All that matters is they managed to overcome their bad luck, and still come in first place!
yi07 Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
yea mrs g… i agree on most points… but…

maaaaaan… allan wu sux!!! he aint no phil and he cried on fear factor after drinking some blended worms or sumfin and bullshitted roegan giving him some fake ass translation of “fear is not a factor” in chinese!!! hahahaha

yea!!! some how always end up rooting fer malaysian teams. bernie was so calm after the accident!!! wow!!! hats off woman!!!

niroo n kapil!!! i love them!!! they are such dicks that they crack me up!! i love their bickering!!! cant wait to see them blow up at each other again!!! tee hee (i call them the love to hate team… there r a few)

so sad bout nat n pai lin… there goes the eye candy team

mai??? hah??? OMG she’s so… nevermind!!! but i love it when they fight!!! hope this drama team make it far!!! i love to hate mai!!! hahaha

yea the singaporeans have got my supp too… surprisingly!!!
foongpc Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Hi there! Thanks for dropping by my blog! I like TARA but unfortunately not able to watch it everytime. Yes, Bernie/Henry has my fullest support. Hope they win! Looks like this really is the toughest season for the contestants.