The Amazing Race Asia 3 Spoilers/Speculation

[JonLover]

Hi apskip, I am interpreting TARA3 started filming on 18 May 2008 based on the blog of Andrew. (Sorry, I am still familiarizing with the features here. I still don't know how to put a link.LOL)

He posted the picture of the racer eating bugs in an entry dated 19 May 2008. But he gave an account on what he saw in a blog written on the 22nd. When Georgiapeach and I e-mailed him, he told us that the date he saw them was either on the 20th or 21st. He mentioned that "he can't exactly tell  the date". He is really confused!

Why did I say 18th of May? Well, what I understood from reading his blog written on the 19th, he was in Bangkok on the 18th at noon. Then, he went to Khao San Road in the afternoon where he saw the filming.

Take a look at this statement "So since today (19th) is a holiday that means no alcohol being served, so we're going to have to find something else to do... we heard from a girl that they sell scorpions to eat on the street at night, so maybe I'll have to see if I can find some of those, we might go see some Thai boxing we heard about also. "

Note: Alcohol is not served on the evening of 19th.

But on these first lines of his blog, "Got here around noon yesterday, the flight was long but could have been worse. We got in a taxi to Khao San Road, it's where pretty much all the tourists stay, and it is crazy. Thousands of people walking around, everyone trying to sell you something, but everyone is friendly about it. We took it easy yesterday during the day, bought a few things and got to know the area. I had my first massage too... it was alright, alot of elbows just digging into your back though... I dont think they knew exactly what they were doing. Then we decided to grab a bucket from a cart on the side of the street. A bucket is Red Bull, Coke and some sort of Thai alcohol poured into a bucket, and it is gooood. We sat there for a few hours talking with the locals and joking around with the kids that sell things on the street. Then we got the kids to point us out a real live ladyboy across the street, with a guy sitting there with his arm around her acting cool... little did he know... "

So I am seeing that he went and saw the filming at Khao San Road on the 18th and had alcohol on that evening.

We'll Slowhatch can see the exact time the photo was taken. Maybe he could tell us.

[apskip]

Based on what I know and identifying speculation as such, here is what I have for the update ARA3 Timeline:

before May 19 unknown if it exists at all; might possibly be Colombo Sri Lanka
May19/20 Bangkok

choice of 4 flights Bangkok to Beijing:
TG614 1040 1620
MS960 1300 1830
TG674 0035 0615
AC980 0120 0645

May 20/21 Beijing (note - the sighting in the PEK airport was before 935am on May 20)

PEK BKK TG675 0830 1215  connecting in Bangkok to TG116 BKK CNX 1715 1825

May 22/23 Chiang Mai - differences of opinion on whether this was really ARA3

CNX BKK TG103 0945 1055 connecting Bangkok to AF164 1325 1450

May 24/25 Saigon(Ho Chi Minh City)

trains leave Saigon 1900, 2300, 1305 and 1545 and arriving Hue 1551, 1636, 0808 and 1520

May 26/27/28 Hue/Hanoi

Vietnam Airlines 240 HUI HAN 0800 0910
Vietnam Airlines 244               1210 1320
Vietnam Airlines 246               2135 2245

Vietnam Airways 790 HAN HKG 1105 1355
Vietnam Airways 792 HAN HKG 1910 2000

May 29/30 Hong Kong

HAN HKG Vietnam Airways 790 1105 1355

May 31/June1 Singapore airport(does not mean stopping in Singapore, although that may have happened)

either Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific HKG SIN at 0855, 1050, 1120, 1330, 1415, 1600, 1615, 1830, 2000, 2015

Between Saigon and Hue, I have left a blank until I cen find the schedule for the train. Teams could have flown that leg, but reports were that they did not. Vietnam Airlines has 100 minute nonstops between SGN HUI at 0730, 1130 and 1630.

[JonLover]

I am having connection problem here.

Anyways, I have to agree with apskip that the Beijing sighting was probably on the 20th or 19th based on my interpretation of the blog.

I just would like to add this. This is maybe just an speculation but who knows this might help us.

I visited Allan Wu's blog at  http://www.alivenotdead.com/allanwu#return-xspace-entry159157 and the last entry he made was on the 17th of May. He stopped writing from that time on.

[puddin]

Thats good info JonLover as well as good detective work, thank you.
Your linking is fine, if you need help navigating the forum feel free to private message me or email me puddin.pies@gmail.com  << don't laugh! its's all I could come up with at the time 

[georgiapeach]

Okay, I am going to jump in here too.

The race starting on either May 18 or 19 is nearly 100% certain based on private info from someone in contact with production. 
It definitely did not start sooner, and I have no idea where Sri Lanka came from. 

The race almost certainly started in Beijing and we see them leaving there on the 20th.

We have photo evidence from 2 separate photos dated 5/20 in Khao San Road Bangkok already so there are no doubts about that date at all for the eating task.

I agree w/ apskip that I am also not willing to discount the Chiang Mai sighting yet. That race is a 6-8 hour adventure challenge more along the lines of an IronMan race. There would be no reason for them to be in the airport at all, and I can find no evidence that they are filmed. I have written the race organizers for confirmation on that and have sent a message to the blogger asking for further info as well, so perhaps we will find out?

[puddin]

It definitely did not start sooner, and I have no idea where Sri Lanka came from. 
 

From password  , you know the member who thought Georgia was a leg of TAR13 because of seeing "georgiapeach" in the timeline thread

[JonLover]

Okay, so are we saying that TARA teams were in Beijing Airport on the 20th en route to Bangkok (Bangkok pictures say it was taken on the 20th as per georgiapeach) and Chiang Mai on the 22nd?

What if the Beijing sighting is not correct??? I just found this out to confuse us more! I posted it here (http://entermyworld.heavenforum.com/spoilers-corner-f1/tara-3-speculations-t7.htm)

 Maybe, you can also read the time it was taken.




This is the host of the Chinese version of the Amazing Race. We talked to them, did an intro. for the show, and found out the contestants were coming in about a half hour. We had to leave but we hoped we would run in to the contestants at the bottom of the mountain.

Besides, it just popped up in my mind that last year we were talking here about a sighting of the Amazing Race in Bangkok, Thailand. I can't find the thread but we all thought that the final city of TARA 2 was Bangkok.

That was a blog of someone named Jon (namesake! but definitely not me! LOL). Apparently he saw from his hotel lobby some sorts of Amazing Race contestants taking cab with cameramen and audiomen following them.

How many Amazing Race are there in Thailand and in China?

PS: Thanks Puddin, I noted down your  e-mail address. LOL

[puddin]

I know that picture JonLover, it is at Picasa, its Blaze mountain I think? brb

[puddin]

Actually "Flame" Mountain  , the pictures are in this album~

Oct 16, 2006
http://picasaweb.google.com/dan.dzo/FlamingMountains

[georgiapeach]

JonLover--if you wouldn't mind sharing  the link to the blog we might be able to find out more? And we need the original blog photo to figure out the dates...

I find the "did an interview" part strange ...have never heard of an interview in mid race...and IS that Allen Wu??
Very intriguing!

But stand by for incoming from Chiang Mai!
Back in a minute!

[JonLover]

For sure, Puddin, you know that.  

What I am saying here is what if that Beijing sighting is a local Chinese version and the Chiang Mai sighting is another local Thai version?

[georgiapeach]

 

And our Chiang Mai blogger has sent a quick and wonderfully detailed response!

Re: Chiang Mai Amazing Race

Hey Peach,
Well I'm definitely a little surprised that you some how found my one reference
to the amazing race in my blog.  I'd love to know how you found it?

so the details that I have:
-There were three couples.  one was two shorter women.  they had black backpacks
on and on the packs were yellow stickers that had an army slogan (i.e. "you can
do it").  I remember them as wearing all black as well.  They were rather short
5'5"or less and while I don't want to sound prejudicial my two friends that I
was traveling with (who are both gay) totally thought these two women were too. 
i actually never saw their faces.  i will fwd to my friends and see if they have
any info.  the second couple i think was two younger (20s/30s)guys...will have
to double check.  the third was definitely a guy and a girl (prob. dating). 
they were both white.  she had longer brown/black hair and was really skinny and
wearing a little tank top.  he had a british accent b/c he's the one that said
"" i don't know what you're talking about"  THey looked to be in their early
30s. 

-We were at the Chiang Mai airport on May 22.  Our flight was scheduled to land
around 2pm so I think that's roughly the time.   Our bags were the first off the
carousel. 

-We were the only flight in baggage claim at the time and I really really don't
think they were on our plane (it wasn't very full and I hope I would have
noticed them).  They ran past us as we were waiting for our taxi to pull up at
the curb outside of baggage claim (they were running from right to left as you
have your back to the terminal...woah that's a lot of detail).  Oddly the third
couple (guy/girl) were pushing their gear on a trolley and she was definitely
looking for something whereas the other two couples were just running by.  I
also distinctly remember that they came from further down the curbside and not
from in the terminal...may help with the coming vs going issue.  All three ran
past us to the end of the terminal.  I was actually confused about whether they
were coming or going.  i think I would eliminate coming but whether they were
going or passing through i can't tell you.  the trolley thing threw me off. 

I'll pass along anything else as it comes to me.  Sorry no pics. 

happy tracking!

Chiang Mai airport Photo Gallery

Another Airport terminal Map

Airport location:


And of course, I have already asked some more questions but please do let me know what else we want to know.

I think it is safe to say now that Chiang Mai was NOT a local race ! 

[JonLover]

Wow, georgiapeach. You rock! Nice one. That's great 

[puddin]

An army sticker? No mention of camera crews following them and no Asians? I dunno it doesn't sound very TARA to me.

[apskip]

Here is the Vietnam train schedule. There are 4 major trains each day, leaving Saigon at 1900, 2300, 1305 and 1545 and arriving Hue 1551, 1636, 0808 and 1520 after 21, 18, 19 and 24 hour trips:

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) ► Danang ► Hué ► Hanoi
 
Saigon depart: 19:00 day 1 23:00 day 1 13:05 day 1 15:45 10:05 19:40 21:30 06:15
Nha Trang 03:01 day 2 05:40 day 2 20:11 day 1 00:57 19:03 05:12 08:32 13:33
Dieu Tri (for Qui Nhon) 06:42 day 2 09:06 day 2 00:06 day 2 05:23 00:56 10:04 12:38 -
Quang Ngai 09:58 day 2 | | 08:38 04:03 13:40 16:47 -
Da Nang (for Hoi An) 13:00 day 2 14:12 day 2 05:38 day 2 11:52 07:50 17:40 20:09 -
Hué 15:51 day 2 16:36 day 2 08:08 day 2 15:20 11:39 20:32 23:03 -
Dong Hoi 19:12 day 2 19:27 day 2 11:16 day 2 18:55 15:19 00:34 03:17 -
Vinh 23:52 day 2 23:05 day 2 14:57 day 2 01:17 20:32 05:42 08:06 -
Thanh Hoa 02:29 day 3 | 17:26 day 2 04:24 23:30 08:20 10:32 -
Ninh Binh | | 18:35 day 2 05:42 00:59 09:35 | -
Hanoi arrive: 05:38 day 3 04:30 day 3 20:45 day 2 08:15 03:25 12:05 14:30 -

[georgiapeach]

An army sticker? No mention of camera crews following them and no Asians? I dunno it doesn't sound very TARA to me.

Whoa!   This place is getting confusing!

 Here is her original blog! from your own post here:
http://forum.realityfanforum.com/index.php/topic,15379.msg302284.html#msg302284


Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The Land of Smiles

Northern Thailand has been one adventure after another and is certainly the highlight of my time in Asia.
The adventures started at the airport in Chiang Mai when three sets of couples ran past us, each trailed by a camera guy and an audio guy. We are pretty sure that they were part of the show The Amazing Race but when we asked them all one guy could say was "I don't know what you're talking about." Yeah, right.

BLOG

[puddin]

So the 2 shorter woman in all black with Army stickers were apparently in the army at some time?  Would they be allowed these stickers?

one was two shorter women.  they had black backpacks
on and on the packs were yellow stickers that had an army slogan (i.e. "you can
do it").  I remember them as wearing all black as well.

[georgiapeach]

Which army?

Maybe they are on active duty and their army let them do it for publicity? Or maybe they just like the army? or maybe they have family in the army?

Maybe some of the AXN folks can comment on the TARA rules about this kind of thing...

Did Ron the ex-POW in TAR ever wear any military gear/logos?

[puddin]

I thought "you can do it" was a USA thing but what do I know?

eta: actually isn't our saying "be all that you can be" ?

[puddin]

What is I can do it - You can do it?
The Goal: To improve the health of the six million American children who have disabilities by encouraging increased physical activity and healthy nutritional behaviors-a major priority of Secretary Thompson, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).




You Can Do It!: The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls

[apskip]

I thought it would be interesting to identifly all the places in Asia(not including thailand or China) and Oceania that one can fly to from Singapore Changi Airport:

Adelaide
Auckland
Balikpapan
Bandar Seri Begawan
Bangalore
Brisbane
Cairns
Chennai
Colombo
Darwin
Delhi Denpasar
Dhaka
Fukuoka
Haikou
Hyderabad
Istanbul
Jakarta
Jeddah
Kaohsiung
Kathmandu
Kota Kinabalu
Kuching
Lahore
Langsaw
Male
Manalo
Manila
Maturan
Medan
Melbourne
Mumbai
Nagoya
Osaka
Palanbang
Pekanbaru
Penang
Perth
Port Moresby
Riyadh
Surabaya
Taipei
Tokyo
Trivandum
Yangon

[georgiapeach]

 

Chiang Mai is for sure and one challenge was at an X-centre!

I wrote to the reporter who wrote the excellent summary of the Chiang Mai Adventure Challenge that we read about HERE. I wanted to sort out the question of whether or not that race had any filming done. Just received a response from him (thank you Andrew!!) :

Regarding the Chiang Mai Adventure race featured in our news:  no the competitors were not filmed, other than from a local camera crew who used footage from the start and interviews with competitors for a 10 minute new documentary for Capital TV, but it wasn't an 'on the fly' thing like the Amazing Race, since most the time they were in the jungle. It was a proper 'multi-discipline' triathlon type event, organised by Active Asia .

As a matter of interest the Amazing Race Asia did pass through Chiang Mai recently, it's yet to be aired and no one locally knew about it at the time except the owner of the X-Centre where part of it took place.


Hope this helps

Andrew

I'm of course hoping for more information...
 




But aside from that race being on 5/18 and our racers being spotted on 5/22, if the first race wasn't filmed then it rules that out as a case of mistaken identity anyway...

[puddin]

Okay now I believe peachs, good job!

[Slowhatch]

Thanks Peach! 
The X-Centre. Lots of activities, but bungy or off-road seems a safe bet.

[georgiapeach]

Thanks Slowhatch for finding that!

oh my...