Category: amazing race asia 3

Brett & Kinaryosih hit a wall in The Amazing Race Asia 2 Episode 3 and were eliminated. Terri’s angry outbursts at Henry didn’t seem to harm them any, but Sophie’s hatred of Aurelia helped them get second to last, 8 hours behind the first place team.

Teams depart in the order in which they arrived.

First: Rovilson & Marc (6:30am)
Second: Adrian & Collin (7:40am)
Third: Ann & Diane (7:46am)
Fourth: Paula & Natasha (7:48am)
Fifth: Terri & Henry (8:25am)
Sixth: Daichi & Sawaka (8:30am)
Seventh: Vanessa & Pamela (8:55am)
Eighth: Sophie & Aurelia (2:45pm)

Teams must drive to Rotorua, best known for being the Thermal Wonderland of New Zealand, via the Tirau Caltex (okay, we get it already… Caltex is a sponsor).

Marc & Rovilson’s friendly banter this time is about the division of labor and reminding Marc to stay on the right side of the road. Adrian & Collin discuss that they’re at a slight disadvantage in terms of communicating navigational directions while driving.

While at the Caltex, Henry scratches Ann & Diane’s car while backing out. It’s not readily apparent who’s to blame here, though it could be argued regardless of any bad parking the others may have done, it was still Henry’s responsibility for hitting them.

After refueling at Caltex (did I mention they went to a Caltex?), teams will go to Okere Falls Scenic Reserve, home to New Zealand’s most famous river, the Kaituna, where they will go sledging (whitewater rafting using only boogie boards)… in New Zealand… in the middle of winter. Despite being a Navy man, Henry doesn’t want anything to do with the water.

The next stop is Lake Tikitapu (the Blue Lake), where they will find marked agrojet boats that they’ll have to navigate through a course. One team member will navigate, while the other drives. Like the previous task, it doesn’t appear there will be a great deal of difficulty with this one. Daichi is the only one to get it on the first try, though.

The road block is at Hell’s Gate mud bath. They’ll search through the hot mud, which smells like rotten eggs, for their next clue. Like Rob & Brennan, who won The Amazing Race 1 in the US, Marc & Rovilson are rotating, so Marc gets stuck doing the road block.

Road block (in the order in which they got the clue): Marc, Collin, Paula, Daichi, Ann, Henry, Pamela

The detour is a choice between flax and stick. In flax, teams must make a tipare, a Maori headband made from flax. In stick, teams must learn the titi torea (stick game), where they’ll toss sticks back and forth to each other in beat to music without dropping them.

Flax: Marc & Rovilson, Paula & Natasha, Terry & Henry (switched from flax to stick, then back to flax)
Stick: Adrian & Collin, Daichi & Sawaka, Ann & Diane (smart enough to ask a local what’s more difficult), Vanessa & Pamela

Everybody else is able to do the road blocks, despite the fact that they may be somewhat complicated. However, Terri & Henry both refuse to do the flax. He begs her to switch to sticks, but she tells him she won’t do that either. She reluctantly agrees to switch but doesn’t make it easy. While there, they again switch back to flax because it’s something he can do himself while she sits in the corner and pouts. Ultimately, though, she does have to help him with one step he’s not sure about, and they do eventually finish. They’re just lucky Aurelia & Sophie are ridiculously far behind.

Teams must make their way to the Pohutu Geyser, the pitstop for this leg of the race, where they will be welcomed with a traditional Maori greeting (a guy with a stick suddenly screaming at them). It’s pretty obvious who’s coming in last here. Now it’s just a question of whether they’ll be eliminated or not.

First: Marc & Rovilson (win Sony HD handicams)
Second: Adrian & Collin
Third: Paula & Natasha
Fourth: Ann & Diane
Fifth: Daichi & Sawaka
Sixth: Pamela & Vanessa
Seventh: Henry & Terri
Eighth: Aurelia & Sophie (eliminated)

As with the previous elimination, Aurelia & Sophie hit an hours of operation problem. They don’t even get to attempt the first task. Not that getting gas in the car didn’t prove challenging enough for them. Both of them blame each other for the loss.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Amazing Race Asia 2 episode 5, and don’t forget our live blogs of The Amazing Race 12.

The Amazing Race Asia 2 Episode 2 was fairly predictable due to the leg’s design. Both of the bottom two teams, either of whom it would have been great to see go home in the previous episode, struggled to not be eliminated. In the end, dating/bickering couple Edwin & Monica were the first team to be eliminated from the race. Rovilson & Marc continue to be a force to be reckoned with, which was pretty obvious pre-season.

Teams depart in the order in which they arrived.

First: Rovilson & Marc (2:42am)
Second: Paula & Natasha (2:47am)
Third: Diane & Ann (2:49am)
Fourth: Pamela & Vanessa (2:51am)
Fifth: Adrian & Collin (2:52am)
Sixth: Brett & Kinaryosih (3:21am)
Seventh: Aurelia & Sophie (3:50am)
Eighth: Daichi & Sawaka
Ninth: Terri & Henry (4:29am)

Next stop is Central Pier in Hong Kong, which is 1117km away and the home town of Sophie & Aurelia. All teams are bunched up on the same flight.

Terri says she’s getting angrier and angrier but that this is unusual because she’s normally not like this and just keeps it to herself. At least she didn’t blame it on the editing.

When they arrive in Hong Kong, the next stop is the Standard Chartered Bank in Causeway Bay, where they will count the local currency. This type of task has the potential to be particularly irritating. A quick glance at the clock tells us why. Two hours go by without anybody having finished. Daichi & Sawaka are finally the first to complete the task. Rovilson & Marc are second. Vanessa & Pamela are third. Ann & Diane are fourth. Terri & Henry are fifth, with Paula & Natasha right behind. Brett & Kinaryosih are next. Sophie & Aurelia finish eighth. Adrian & Collin are in last.

Apparently, the only reason they went to Hong Kong was to go to a bank. The next destination is Auckland, New Zealand, 9139km away. All teams are once again on the same flight. Once there, they will go to Howick Historical Village. When they arrive at the village, they’ll search through the buildings for various items and take pictures of them. There seems to be quite a bit of teams helping other teams on this task.

Marc & Rovilson tell us real men ask for directions. They stop to ask and find some people willing to take them all the way there.

The road block is a bungy jump off the AJ Hackett Auckland Harbour Bridge, 40 meters above the water. A problem for some people, but Rovilson & Marc both want to do it badly. Natasha’s thrilled as well. Most teams assume “take the plunge” means going underwater. They assume wrong. Terri, who quickly volunteered, gets particularly upset at Henry because she chose to do it. All teams, with the exception of last place Brett & Kinaryosih, appear to arrive within a close time frame of each other, though it is first come, first served.

Road block: Rovilson, Diane, Natasha, Sophie, Terri, Collin, Vanessa, Sawaka, Brett

The detour is a choice between wall and waka. In wall, teams must drive to Birkenhead Leisure Centre and scale a rock wall. In waka, teams must drive to Lake Pupuke and select an outrigger canoe, traditionally known as the waka ama, and paddle the course and collect flags.

Wall: Rovilson & Marc, Collin & Adrian
Waka: Paula & Natasha (switched from wall), Terri & Henry (switched from wall), Vanessa & Pamela (switched from wall), Ann & Diane (switched before going to wall), Daichi & Sawaka, Sophie & Aurelia (switched from wall), Brett & Kinaryosih (switched from wall)

Obviously, Rovilson & Marc blow right through the task. Natasha starts crying and is afraid of short heights, whatever that is, and they eventually head to the waka task instead. Terri tries the wall task for about two seconds, so they switch to the other task, where the boat capsizes. They’re not alone, though, as other teams have problems with their boats flipping over as well. Sophie stubbornly insists on Aurelia sticking with the wall task. She considers calling her a wimp to be motivational. Later, she says it’s just really hard not to be mean to Aurelia.

The next stop is Ascension Vineyard in Matakana, an hour outside of Auckland. Teams will receive their next clue after going through the former Kingseat psychiatric hospital, reputed to be more terrifying than The Exorcist. It’s now more commonly known as Spookers Haunted House.

Pamela & Vanessa are driving along, just heading straight and minding their own business, and out of nowhere, they’re sideswiped by someone apparently not paying attention to them. The other driver insists they stick around and wait for the police to arrive, which takes up about half an hour.

Sophie & Aurelia, arguing the whole time, go to the wrong Matakana. There are apparently two within a similar distance from Auckland. Considering the round trip time, this could potentially be up to a couple hours wasted. Sophie tells Aurelia she would rather quit the race than to trust her ever again. At this rate, I’m hoping they’ve lost enough time for Brett & Kinar to catch up because this is ridiculous.

Just outside the haunted house is the Forest of Fear, which for some reason is also the pitstop for this leg of the race.

First: Rovilson & Marc (win free gas for a year from Caltex)
Second: Adrian & Collin
Third: Ann & Diane
Fourth: Paula & Natasha
Fifth: Terri & Henry
Sixth: Daichi & Sawaka
Seventh: Vanessa & Pamela
Eighth: Sophie & Aurelia
Ninth: Brett & Kinaryosih (eliminated)

Brett & Kinaryosih, who performed reasonably well if not spectacularly thus far, just completely hit a brick wall this time. The initial seemingly easy task of finding a marked car proved problematic. They did hopelessly poorly on the historic village task. She was unable to complete the wall task, which was the case with all the women. Then to add to the problems, they hit an hours of operations problem with the boats and had to just skip the detour altogether. They’re pulled into the pitstop by the production crew. They wanted to do three things in the race: always have fun, be good to each other, and never give up. Hard to see such a likeable team leave considering some of the others who remain.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Amazing Race Asia 2 episode 4, and don’t forget our live blogs of The Amazing Race 12.

We started off the season with two teams nobody’s going to like both competing for last place. In the end of The Amazing Race Asia 2 Episode 1, the excessively loud Terri and her husband Henry came in 9th place. They were followed by bickering dating couple Edwin & Monica, but like last season, the first leg was a non-elimination, so we’re still stuck with both teams. On the other end of the spectrum, sisters Vanessa & Pamela managed to stay ahead of fitness enthusiasts Rovilson & Marc to take first place.

Teams depart in the order in which they arrived.

First: Pamela & Vanessa (7:19am)
Second: Rovilson & Marc (7:26am)
Third: Ann & Diane (7:32am)
Fourth: Brett & Kinaryosih (7:35am)
Fifth: Aurelia & Sophie (7:44am)
Sixth: Paula & Natasha (8:21am)
Seventh: Adrian & Collin (8:22am)
Eighth: Daichi & Sawaka (8:49am)
Ninth: Terri & Henry (9:40am)
Tenth: Edwin & Monica (9:53am)

Teams must take a taxi to the Green Star bus terminal, where they will catch a bus to the Pila Municipal Center in Pila Laguna, an hour and a half outside Manila.

Looking at their airport map, Ann & Diane see Marc (of Rovilson & Marc), who’s a TV host/model from the Philippines.

At the suggestion of the boys, the first two teams beg the bus driver to stop waiting and instead take off. It works. The bus leaves every 15 minutes, or whenver the bus driver feels like leaving.

Manila to Pila Laguna
Bus 1: Pamela & Vanessa, Rovilson & Marc
Bus 2: Brett & Kinaryosih, Ann & Diane
Bus 3: Aurelia & Sophie
Bus 4: Paula & Natasha, Adrian & Collin
Bus 5: Daichi & Sawaka
Bus 6: Terri & Henry
Bus 7: Edwin & Monica

On their bus, Paula & Natasha beg for money.

At the road block, racers must travel by tricycle to the rice paddy field, select a carabao, and plow a figure 8 through the field. Animal tasks are notorious for lack of cooperation.

Road block: Marc, Pamela, Kinaryosih, Diane, Aurelia, Natasha, Adrian, Daichi, Henry, Edwin

The road block turns out to be pretty straightforward, as these animals actually listen to commands. While everybody other than Marc struggles, there are no major breakdowns like the camel milking task.

Teams must then proceed to the Caltex Star Mart in Manila, since Caltex is a sponsor. When they get there, they must collect boxes of donations and deliver them to a children’s shelter. It’s a nice task, and the kids are cute… just not particularly willing to share or be patient.

Pila Laguna to Manila
Bus 1: Rovilson & Marc
Bus 2: Vanessa & Pamela, Brett & Kinaryosih
Bus 3: Ann & Diane
Bus 4: Sophie & Aurelia
Bus 5: Paula & Natasha, Adrian & Collin
Bus 6: Daichi & Sawaka
Bus 7: Terri & Henry
Bus 8: Edwin & Monica

Heading back to Manila, Vanessa & Pamela fail to read the entire clue (the part that says to go to Manila), and the boys leave them behind. Bus 2 breaks down, a potential break for the later teams. Vanessa & Pamela decide to take a taxi. Should be a penalty, unless there was something about this I missed.

Detour is a choice between heel or wheel. In heel, teams must match up all 250 pairs of shoes. In wheel, teams must assemble a bicycle. The task that requires no skill sounds more logical.

Wheel: Rovilson & Marc, Vanessa & Pamela, Ann & Diane, Aurelia & Sophie, Daichi & Sawaka, Terri & Henry, Edwin & Monica
Heel: Brett & Kinaryosih, Adrian & Collin, Paula & Natasha

Pamela & Vanessa get dropped off, well, they don’t really know where. Odd considering the show apparently arranged for the transportation and should have told the drivers where they were headed. It doesn’t seem to cost them too much time, though.

Rovilson & Marc assemble their bike first… with the handlebar facing the wrong way. After correcting this, they still manage to finish first. Paula & Natasha look forward to the shoe task because they have more shoes than that.

Paula & Natasha see a taxi with someone in it, get her out, and offer to pay her fare to take her cab.

The next pitstop is Paco Park & Cemetery in Manila, the original resting place of the Filipino hero Jose Rizal.

First: Rovilson & Marc (win $5000US)
Second: Paula & Natasha
Third: Diane & Ann
Fourth: Pamela & Vanessa
Fifth: Adrian & Collin
Sixth: Brett & Kinaryosih
Seventh: Aurelia & Sophie
Eighth: Daichi & Sawaka
Ninth: Terri & Henry
Tenth: Edwin & Monica (eliminated)

Not a particularly suspenseful leg, and not really well designed either. It was pretty obvious based on the leg design that Edwin & Monica had no prayer of catching up. Oddly enough, neither of these two teams that were so annoying last time were particularly annoying this time. Until the end when Edwin started yelling at Monica again and calls her useless.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Amazing Race Asia 2 episode 3, and don’t forget our live blogs of The Amazing Race 12.

Looking at The Amazing Race 2 Asia cast, it would appear we’re in for a competitive season.

We start season 2 in Singapore. Paula and Natasha expect to be underestimated and look forward to it. Marc & Rovilson look like one of the strongest TAR teams ever. Aurelia & Sophie are ex-roommates who had a falling out… uh oh. But at least it seems they couldn’t care less whether they hate each other after this or not. Henry & Terri are bound to be the new Jonathan & Victoria. Then again, Monica & Edwin have been dating for 10 years and appear to be looking at the race as a way to validate their relationship, a surefire sign of disaster.

Teams must first proceed to a taxi with a souvenir matching the photographs included with the clue. Each of these are located within a 300m radius of the Asian Civilizations Museum. Most seasons, the first thing to do is just drive to the airport, so having people run all around the city in search of taxis is different. Sisters Vanessa & Pamela are the first ones to find their cab, which has a merlion souvenir indicative of their next destination. Sophie & Aurelia, one of two teams that live in Singapore, are second. Rovilson & Marc are third. Adrian & Colin, the second Singapore team, are fourth. Dancing mums Ann & Diane are fifth. Childhood friends Paula & Natasha are behind them. Kinariyosih & Brett are seventh. Siblings Daichi & Sawaka are in eighth. If the editing is to be believed, the last two teams are way behind. And as obnoxious as I’d anticipated. Edwin’s whining about having to carry Monica’s backpack. Then there’s Terri. That mouth is going to get on my last nerve. Both teams finally figure out where their cabs are, apparently after some teams have already started the detour.

They will take their taxis to the merlion in Faber Point. Once they get there, they’re given the task of using GPS to find the next location, the towers of Suntec City. It’s a choice between Dare or Stair. In dare, teams must take an elevator to the rooftop of tower three, then Tyrloean traverse to the rooftop of tower four. These towers are 181m high. In stair, teams must climb 45 floors to the rooftop of tower three, then return to the lobby and climb 45 floors of tower four. Dare’s a lot quicker, so long as they’re brave enough to overcome the height.

Due to the amount of work involved in climbing so many stairs, nobody even considers that option, fear of heights or not. All teams finish the dare option reasonably quickly and with minimal problems, in roughly the same order in which they arrived.

The next destination is Manila, Philippines, 2394k away and home country of both Marc & Rovilson and Terri & Henry. After the flight, they will go to the Asian Promenade Park CCP Complex. When they get to the airport, all teams are hoping to get on the first flight, which leaves at 1:25. One of the teams in the middle of the pack says they have one hour, an indication that at least the last two teams will get the shaft. As expected, the first eight teams are all on this first flight. The last two teams must board the next available flight, whenever that is (they don’t give us a time, but we know it’s enough for it to be hopeless).

When they arrive in Manila, it’s in the middle of a storm, not the best weather in which to run a race. Their first destination in Manila is a balut seller in Plaza Miranda. There they must eat 8 balut, a fertilized duck egg with a nearly developed embryo inside, which Denise failed to eat during the gross eating challenge in Survivor: China Episode 6. Apparently, it’s also considered an aphrodisiac. Only flaw in this challenge design is it looks like one person could eat all 8 if needed.

Despite how disgusting this may sound to some, Vanessa & Pamela made quick work of it, with alpha males Marc & Rovilson still on their tails. For that matter, the first three or four teams seem to have a pretty easy go of it. It’s not until Ann & Diane that we get some throwing up into a bucket, but even they finish fairly quickly. Edwin & Monica show up as Terri & Henry are finishing their balut, making the only real question whether it’s a nonelimination like the first leg was last year or not.

The first pitstop is Fort Santiago. The first two teams find it no problem, but Adrian & Collin fall victim to a cab driver who doesn’t know where he’s going and takes them back the airport.

First: Pamela & Vanessa (win Nokia N95’s and N73’s)
Second: Rovilson & Marc
Third: Ann & Diane
Fourth: Brett & Kinaryosih
Fifth: Aurelia & Sophie
Sixth: Paula & Natasha
Seventh: Adrian & Collin
Eighth: Daichi & Sawaka
Ninth: Terri & Henry
Tenth: Edwin & Monica (non-eliminated)

As with season 1, the first leg is a non-elimination. If they do not arrive first next time, they will incur a 30 minute time penalty. While I like this and think it should be applied to the US version as well, I was really hoping to get rid of one of these two teams, as they’re both horrible. I’d rather get rid of Terri, though, as she talks (loudly) just for the sake of hearing herself talk (loudly).

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Amazing Race Asia 2 episode 2, and don’t forget our live blogs of The Amazing Race 12.

AXN starts this season off in an unusual but welcome way, with an entire show dedicated to a behind the scenes look at the interview process and an introduction to the teams who will be appearing in The Amazing Race Asia 2 when it premieres later this month. This is good because normally the first episode you’re trying to figure out who the heck is who more than anything else.

Following the success of the first season, there was a lot of interest in season 2, with over 2500 applications from all across Asia. Executive producer Michael McKay said they watch every video, but if you don’t get their attention within 30 seconds, you probably won’t. He says they look for a certain level of fitness and a chemistry between the teams.

One couple says they will do anything just to get on the show, including eating baby ducks. Another team used to date, but his current girlfriend hates the girl he’s auditioning with. Lots of really bad singing is followed by really bad rapping. They eventually sift through the hopeless and narrow it down to 10, who they say are a really competitive bunch.

Paula & Natasha
Childhood Friends
Thailand
Paula Taylor – Thai/Australian, 24, VJ/Actress/Model, fears being bored
Natasha Monks – Thai/Australian, 24, PR & Brand Development, fears heights and snakes

These two girls seem to be the typical bubbly model types, who are always smiling and joking. Likely to be underestimated, but this is the type of team that normally can make it to at least the half way mark.

Rovilson & Marc
Best Buddies
Philippines
Marc Nelson – Australian, 35, TV Host/Model, fears heights and drowning
Rovilson Fernandez – Filipino/American, 34, Magazine editor/TV host, fears ghosts and drowning

Typical alpha male team. Fit and should perform very well in physical challenges. Expect them to go far. Their audition is taken from the I’m a PC/I’m a Mac commercial, and Michael McKay said it’s the best he’s ever seen.

Vanessa & Pamela
Sisters
Malaysia
Vanessa Chong – Malaysian, 29, Artist Manager, fears lizards
Pamela Chong – Malaysian, 24, Dancer/Choreographer, fears crocodiles

The big appeal to the producers was that they are sisters, which is a relationship they were interested in exploring further.

Edwin & Monica
Dating Ten Years
Hong Kong
Edwin Lo – Canadian, 27, Concert Promoter/Nightclub Owner, fears heights
Monica Lo – Chinese, 29, Model/Actress, fears cockroaches and rats

This is one of those couples who uses The Amazing Race as a vehicle to prove their relationship and take it to the next level. Those are normally the teams who argue nonstop. Edwin claimed in the audition video that the racers from the prior season were too boring, but I’m getting a bit of a boring vibe from him as well since he’s so laid back. He does come off as so arrogant that I don’t expect this team to have a lot of fans.

Adrian & Collin
Gym Buddies
Singapore
Adrian Yap – Singaporean, 27, Business Development Manager, fears natural disasters
Collin Low – Singaporean, 35, Sales Director/Fitness Instructor, fears cockroaches

Adrian is the first deaf person on The Amazing Race. Because they communicate through sign language, there may be some potential advantage in terms of their ability to communicate without having to be within hearing distance.

Diane & Ann
Dancing Moms
Malaysia
Diane Douglas – Malaysian, 33, Teacher/Mother, fears snakes
Ann Li Lian – Malaysian, 40, Business Owner/Mother, fears nothing

They call themselves the Desperate Housewives and believe the challenges they face as moms have helped prepare them for the race.

Aurelia & Sophie
Ex-Housemates
Hong Kong
Sophie Teng – Singaporean, 27, Writer, fears failure
Aurelia Chenat – French, 27, Model, fears insects

We can expect these two to fight a lot, which may ultimately cripple them.

Daichi & Sawaka
Brother & Sister
Japan
Daichi Kawashima – Japanese, 26, Interpreter, fears heights
Sawaka Kawashima – Japanese, 28, Translater & Singer/Songwriter, fears disapproval

He ran off and got married without telling his family because he “didn’t think it was so important.” Despite that, they do have a close family. She will probably be the boss of the team.

Kinariyosih & Brett
Dating Two Years
Indonesia
Kinariyosih – Indonesian, 28, Actress/Model, fears heights
Brett Money – Australian, 26, Physiotherapist, fears small spaces

This isn’t Kinariyosih’s first reality TV show, as she previously won on Fear Factor Asia. Brett’s concerned about her short temper and stubbornness. Their goal is to hang in the middle of the pack until the end.

Terri & Henry
Married 13 Years
Philippines
Terri Reed – American, 44, Housewife, fears heights and snakes
Henry Reed – American, 48, Retired Navy, fears being trapped underwater

Another team I can see arguing a lot. They’ll probably limp through a few legs.

Overall, this looks like a good group of teams. There are a couple of iffy teams, but for the most part, it does look like it’ll be a really competitive season. Stay tuned to dingoRUE for continued coverage of the Amazing Race Asia 2.

Update: check out the Racers Revealed recap, which gets more in depth into the teams, and don’t forget to check out our weekly recaps.

Malaysia Star revealed the identities of the cast of The Amazing Race Asia 2. Season 2 follows on the heels of a highly successful run last year and will premiere November 22, 2007, meaning it will probably end shortly after The Amazing Race 12 begins in the US. The executive producer promised an expanded season, with visits to 4 continents. Allan Wu will return as host.

The 10 teams of 2 who will be running the race are:

Ann Tan & Diane Douglas
Dancing moms
Malaysia

Aurelia Chenat & Sophie Teng
Ex-roommates
Hong Kong

Colin Low & Adrian Yap
Gym buddies
Singapore

Daichi & Sawaka Kawashima
Siblings
Japan

Henry & Terri Reed
Married
Philippines

Kinaryosih & Brett Money
Dating
Indonesia

Monica Lo & Edwin Lo
Dating
Hong Kong

Paula Taylor & Natasha Monks
Friends
Thailand

Rovilson Fernandez & Marc Nelson
Best friends
Philippines

Vanessa & Pamela Chong
Sisters
Malaysia