The Amazing Race Asia 2 Episode 11

Adrian & Collin outsmarted the other teams by finding a train nobody else did, allowing them to remain in the lead and finally take the first place position away from Rovilson & Marc in The Amazing Race Asia 2 Episode 10. Pamela & Vanessa somehow finished third, despite Vanessa’s nervous breakdown. Paula & Natasha, who ran a good leg for the most part, got lost on the way to the final clue (apparently), putting them in last place. However, they were saved by a non-elimination leg (the fourth one this season, which is a really good indicator of the show’s success).

Teams depart in the order in which they arrived.

First: Adrian & Collin (5:08am)
Second: Rovilson & Marc (5:35am)
Third: Pamela & Vanessa (6:51am)
Fourth: Ann & Diane (7:01am)
Fifth: Paula & Natasha (8:01am)

Teams will drive to the little princess statue in Budapest (they are not told it’s a statue). Despite a rough leg last time, Rovilson & Marc actually did a pretty good job closing the 90 minute gap from the train, and with Adrian & Collin starting off the day by getting lost, both teams arrive at the first clue at the same time. Both teams decide they want to head to Elizabeth Bridge for the fast forward, which will be bad news for the one that doesn’t get it first. Rovilson’s well aware of this and says he has to assume Adrian & Collin are trying to do it as well. This far ahead of the other teams, doing the fast forward is not a smart idea, but for these teams, they’re not interested in just staying in the race… they want to finish in first place.

The fast forward is to count the vertical bars in the handrails within a flagged area. Adrian & Collin arrive slightly ahead. Both teams are writing on the bridge to mark their way, and Rovilson & Marc have another strategy of using a belt to count multiple bars at a time. Adrian & Collin are first to finish, but their initial guess is incorrect. Likewise, Rovilson & Marc’s first guess is wrong. The belt and markings allow them to move faster this time, but their second guess is wrong as well (off by one). Adrian & Collin get it on their second attempt, and Rovilson & Marc have wasted about an hour.

The road block is to search the Buda Castle labyrinth for a treasure chest containing a clue.

Road block (in order of arrival): Rovilson, Pamela, Diane, Paula

Paula & Natasha are having some success flirting with men to help them out, but they’ve got a sizeable hour and a half they need to make up.

The next stop is Margaret Island (otherwise known as Rabbit Island), where they will use pedicabs to go to the place where St. Margaret of Hungary used to live. Once they finish this task, they’re told to go to Hero Square, and they find out there’s a yield ahead. Rovilson & Marc already have a plan with their alliance partners to yield the moms, which is probably smart since they’re a stronger team than the other two. As expected, Rovilson & Marc yield Ann & Diane. It should drop Paula & Natasha’s time they need to make up to about an hour, but it’s no small task on a leg where they’re just driving around one city.

The detour is a choice between say it or play it. In say it, teams must correctly pronounce the names of all 14 kings at Hero Square (they can ask the lcoals for help). In play it, teams must solve a Rubik’s Cube (one color at a time, alternating colors), which was invented by a Hungarian named Erno Rubik.

Play it: Rovilson & Marc, Ann & Diane (switched from say it)
Say it: Pamela & Vanessa, Paula & Natasha

Rovilson & Marc have a message for their moms: the Rubik’s Cube did help them in life after all.

The Freedom Monument at the citadel on Gellert Hill is the pitstop for this leg of the race.

First: Adrian & Collin
Second: Rovilson & Marc
Third: Pamela & Vanessa
Fourth: Ann & Diane
Fifth: Paula & Natasha (eliminated)

Pretty obvious outcome here. Considering the leg’s design, there was just no way Paula & Natasha were going to catch up. They’re happy to have been able to share this amazing adventure with their best friend.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Amazing Race Asia 2 episode 12.