Topic: TARAus 1 Episode 11 (Sri Lanka) Episode Discussion *SPOILERS*

[BayBay]

Timeline below! Thank you 

[zipley]

EP11: Jerusalem, Israel to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
EVIDENCE: Promo

Film Date: N/A
Air Date: 25th July

Leg Route/Tasks:
ROUTE INFO: Make your way to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
EVIDENCE: Promo

DETOUR: Carry ice blocks across the fish market OR (Count Fish?)
EVIDENCE: PROMO and TARA 4

ROADBLOCK: Sew a shirt.
EVIDENCE: PROMO and TARA 4

ROUTE INFO: Make your way by train to Galle.
EVIDENCE: PROMO and TARA 4

ROUTE INFO: Discover a password to unlock a chest on the beach.
EVIDENCE: PROMO and TARA 4

ROUTE INFO: Make your way by bus to Ambalangoda.
EVIDENCE: PROMO and TARA 4

ROUTE INFO: Find a person wearing the same mask as a photo on the crowd of dancing people.
EVIDENCE: PROMO and TARA 4

PITSTOP: Independence Square
EVIDENCE: PROMO and TARA 4

Safe from Elimination at End of Leg:

• Nathan and Tyler - Leaked to be in Final 3

Possibly Eliminated:

• Tom and Matt - Last spotted on route to Sri Lanka
• Sam and Renae - Last seen in Sri Lanka
• Jeff and Luke - Last seen in Sri Lanka

Eliminated:

• Liberty and Ryot
• Anne-Marie and Tracy
• Richard and Joey
• Mos and Mo
• Alana and Mel
• Chris and Anastasia
• Kelly and Dave

[zipley]

Would this place be Gangaramaya Temple?

[BayBay]

i demand a u-turn on jeff and luke!

[Aussie]

i demand a u-turn on jeff and luke! Nathan and Tyler

Fixed 

[BayBay]

i demand a u-turn on jeff and luke! Nathan and Tyler

Fixed 

you MUST be mistaked

[RichInSydney]

From the TV guide:

Tonight, the teams make a mad dash for Sri Lanka to secure a place in the finale. The Detour has some teams acting fishy; while deciding which carriage to ride in on a train trip could prove costly for one team. All teams struggle with their history; but are given the opportunity to make up some lost time at a masked street parade. And a final sewing challange proves to be a disaster for all.

[Lutpay]

Hey guys! Have you read this?

http://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/perth-confidential/perth-set-to-star-in-the-amazing-race-australia-finale/story-e6frg30l-1226097751562

Sam & Renae were doing task in Singapore before heading to Perth. This leg were said to secure a place in the FINALE. So, it means Sam & Renae are one of our final three teams.

Note: Oh no, the statement about Renae conquers her fear of tightrope crossing was already deleted. I read that like 12 hours ago.

Oh, here is the original article.

CHANNEL Seven has confirmed that The Amazing Race: Australia ends in Perth.

Since the show was filmed last November, there have been rumours of a WA leg after Amazing Race backpacks were spotted at the airport.

After a journey taking in four continents, 12 countries and 22 other cities, three teams will race to the final pitstop on Heirisson Island, in the episode airing on Monday, August 1. The winners will collect a cheque for $250,000.

Details about the Perth tasks are sketchy, but we do know the teams will head to Fremantle Prison, and our bet is the underground tunnels will form part of the challenge.

After last night's episode in historic Israel, four teams remain in the race: WA models Sam and Renae, surfers Tyler and Nathan, father and son Jeff and Luke and cowboys Matt and Tom.

Before they get to Perth, the teams compete in Singapore where Renae is once again forced to confront her crippling fear of heights in a 55-storey tightrope crossing. If she and Sam make it through, it would give them the advantage of racing in their home town in the final.

In 2006, Perth featured in season nine of the US version of The Amazing Race. In a blow for WA tourism, contestants said it was the worst city in the world for finding a taxi.

[BayBay]

I have a theory the models win, surfers 2nd not far behind and cowboys get really lost and come in third. and we say bye bye to jeff and luke this week due to a u-turn <3

[Aussie]

I have a theory the models win, jeff and luke 2nd not far behind and cowboys get really lost and come in third. and we say bye bye to jeff and luke nathan and tyler this week due to a u-turn <3

Fixed 

I can't stand the surfers...

[Jobby]

And a final sewing challange proves to be a disaster for all.

Reasons why an all-male team might not make this leg. HOWEVER, I thought this leg is a Non-Elimination Leg as well?

Okay, I think this leg is definitely an elimination. The leg in Singapore is a mega leg and teams will fly directly to Perth afterwhich, I think.. this all fits in to a 90 minutes finale!!

Oh dear.. Singapore featured in a TAR edition finale episode for the 3rd time. (Surprising huh?)

[Jobby]

Before they get to Perth, the teams compete in Singapore where Renae is once again forced to confront her crippling fear of heights in a 55-storey tightrope crossing. If she and Sam make it through, it would give them the advantage of racing in their home town in the final.

Nathan and Tyler leaked to be in Final Three. With this, this confirms the girls are in the finale too, especially seeing that they removed the line in the article.

Here's praying that Jeff and Luke gets eliminated. Luke is <3, Jeff is... weird.

MATT AND TOM <3 Maybe they will do a hat-trick and win another leg? I think.

[redskevin88]

Post Deleted

[ovalorange]

Promo here.

Not too much new is shown, just that Matt, Tyler and Jeff are doing the Sewing RB.

And this definitely is the penultimate leg and final elimination leg, as the promo voiceover says, "because whoever makes it through this (meaning the RB task) will running to be the first ever winner of the Amazing Race Australia". 

[RichInSydney]

Would this place be Gangaramaya Temple?

This looks like the pitstop to me with the big flag in the background. If this is so, it appears from the body language that they didn't not finish 1st but either 2nd or 3rd and wishing each other good luck that they beat the 30 min time penalty 

[BayBay]

Promo here.

Not too much new is shown, just that Matt, Tyler and Jeff are doing the Sewing RB.

And this definitely is the penultimate leg and final elimination leg, as the promo voiceover says, "because whoever makes it through this (meaning the RB task) will running to be the first ever winner of the Amazing Race Australia". 

Don't trust the promos. ever

[tarflyonthewall]

Well, yes, but you could say that about any leg, even the non-eliminations. The only way you can be taken out of the running is to be eliminated, and if it's a NEL they're all still in the running.

[Lutpay]

This is definitely final elimination leg

Tonight, the teams make a mad dash for Sri Lanka to secure a place in the finale. The Detour has some teams acting fishy; while deciding which carriage to ride in on a train trip could prove costly for one team. All teams struggle with their history; but are given the opportunity to make up some lost time at a masked street parade. And a final sewing challange proves to be a disaster for all.


Sewing challenge will be second-to-last roadblock

[Declive]

I think that this leg in Sri Lanka is a Yield + TBC.

[Lutpay]

I think that this leg in Sri Lanka is a Yield + TBC.

Yield is very possible (based on TARA 4), but TBC I think not, they have greeter in Sri Lanka pitstop

[redskevin88]

This leg how eh?

[ovalorange]

I didn't know there wasn't any commentary here for you internationals, otherwise I would have done some myself

I'll give a run down of what happened, try to bring you all up to speed.

All teams depart, and basically there's two flights, one through Rome with a risky connection which Nathan and Tyler gamble on and one through Jordan with a big layover which Tom & Matt and Jeff & Luke take. Sam & Renae attempt to take the one through Jordan, but there's no seats so they are forced to take the one through Rome. The connection works fine and Sam & Renae and Nathan & Tyler arrive 5? hours ahead of the others.

Constant reminders of Sam & Renae's MFE penalty throughout the entire leg.

Once they land, they travel to a temple and receive a blessing and their next clue. HoO here, but it doesn't allow Matt & Tom and Jeff & Luke to catch up.

Detour: Count or Carry. Count a number of fish or carry large blocks of ice through fish market.

All teams chose carry. Sam & Renae finish the same time as Nathan and Tyler and Matt & Tom finish just before Jeff and Luke.

Then all teams take the same train to Galle. (Sam and Renae thought the train might leave before the other arrived so they could via for places 1 or 2, but sadly it didn't work out)

In Galle, teams needed to find out the year of Sri Lanka's independence from Britain and the year of some emperor's reign? I can't remember the details of what they were looking for, sorry Teams all complete it in the order they arrive. Surfers, models, farmers and then L/J.

Then, teams took a bus to Ambalangoda and match a mask with a dancer.
Bus #1: Models and Surfers.
Bus #2: Farmers and Father/Son

The masks are actually all similar and it looks difficult but only Matt & Tom need a second try, everyone else gets it on their first go.

Roadblock: Sew a fluro orange bowling shirt to receive your next clue.
Matt, Renae, Jeff and Tyler do it.

On the way to the RB, Sam & Renae and Tyler & Nathan take an unauthorized taxi... which spells PENALTY!

They all struggle, with Matt struggling the most. Renae seems fairly good and gets it done well before the boys.

Pitstop: Independence Square.

Sam and Renae breeze ahead....however they incur a 20 min penalty for the taxi being unregistered.

Tyler finishes the RB next, they head to the pitstop and also incur the 20 min penalty.

Sam & Renae's penalty is over, they are the first team and their MFE penalty does NOT count. They're team #1, the first team in the finale racing for the $250K. They also win a $5000 Bing Lee home entertainment system.

Nathan & Tyler's penalty expires, they check in 2nd.

Jeff & Luke's Tuk tuk stops to be repaired....

Two shadows cross the ground of the temple...

Jeff & Luke check in 3rd, they're the last team to arrive that will continue into the finale leg of the race.

Matt & Tom arrive last and are eliminated..

Next week: Tight ropes, Singapore flyer and a finish line!  I'm so excited!

[ovalorange]

And OMG, they need innovative detour names. They're too short and simple and like seriously, two "Carry"s in one season? It's driving me nuts 

[LoveRocked]

NO!!!!!! I'm sad Matt and Tom are elimination.

[north09]

I have to wait until this episode is online to view it, but I'm glad to read that Matt/Tom were eliminated. Best of luck to the remaining 3 teams! All of them deserve their spot and I will be happy with whoever wins.

[Kamineko]

I'm glad that Matt & Tom were eliminated...
Is it just me, but I think that Sam & Renae were the first team that didn't receive the MFE penalty in the pit-stop...
So, it's like TARA again, huh? The final 3 are female/female, alpha-male, and parent/child teams..

CMIIW

[valor boreal]

I'm glad that Matt & Tom were eliminated...
Is it just me, but I think that Sam & Renae were the first team that didn't receive the MFE penalty in the pit-stop...

David and Mary didn't receive the MFE penalty when they won the stage in Kuwait in TAR10.

[Telepek]

First of all thanks to my google search, because when i tried to look for some links to watch this episode, instead of sites which i wanted it gave me a link with the title "Matt and Tom Final Interviev" [so basically the evidence of their elimination].
Argh... ~~


Sad to see Matt and Tom go - they were my favorite team, no doubt about it. I'm rooting for Luke and Jeff for the win . I can't stand the surfers, i'm neutral when it comes to blondes, but i have a bad feeling that they'll win this.

And the episode - pretty much like other episodes, i liked the tasks with the history of Sri Lanka [i've always wanted the tasks to be more asking people, searching in the internet], detour was ok [i kind of expected a Yield or U-Turn after it], roadblock was fun to watch :-). Pretty much all.

[Polaroid]

The end bit of the episode was pretty suspenseful. There were a lot of equalizers in this episode.

I expected a 30 minute penalty for Jeff & Luke when they bought the wrong tickets. I thought it should have been 30 minutes. (That's just probably because I wanted Matt & Tom to win.) And I was surprised that they were to wait out their penalty at the train station.

I wonder how long Matt & Tom or Jeff & Luke were at the roadblock. The place was practically empty when Matt & Tom left.

I think the final 3 are all super deserving of the $250,000 but it would be pretty great if Sam & Renae won.

[Jobby]

When Jeff and Luke brought the wrong tickets, I thought they should have been accessed a 30 minutes penalty at the pitstop.. not 10 minutes on the spot?? With so many equalizers, that was unfair.

SAM AND RANAE <3

I was so angry when they were caught up by teams who were on the slower flight. Then they proved themselves again by pushing through the Ice Detour. GOSH, they finished the same time as Nathan and Tyler.

I know finally, the Roadblock is a gender discrimination one against the guys.. I didn't like how the guys struggled with it, but seriously if there's so many physical tasks on the race, surely one that required more of patience and details should be okay right.. especially if a guy actually know how to sew, he would have nailed that one too.

SAM AND RANAE <3

The last 10 minutes of the show was the BEST EDIT EVER. I honestly thought Jeff and Luke were going home this leg. But I had a gut feeling Matt and Tom were done.. but seriously, when they couldn't do the RB.. and seemed to be struggling.. I knew all was over. At the pitstop, I also knew there's no way Nathan and Tyler are going to catch up with the girls since they had a 20 minutes penalty too. I guess it was a blessing in disguise that the girls actually got the boys to go on the private vehicle with them as well.

SAM AND RANAE <3

Oh..... the suspense.. great leg.. I'm actually feeling sad that this season is going to end. It doesn't even matter if Sam and Ranae don't win (okay i'm lying) but seriously.. one of the best seasons of The Amazing Race ever.. maybe CBS should buy it and air it in the US???

Next leg.. Singapore in the middle of the night... that's an AMAZING RACE FIRST! Hope ya all like the night scenes here. It's as good as Hong Kong and any other parts of the world! <3 (maybe not, but decent!)

Marina Bay Sands agaiaiaiaiaian!

SAM AND RANAE <3

[ct03]

I expected a 30 minute penalty for Jeff & Luke when they bought the wrong tickets.

They take a 10 minute penalty to not be 2 hours behind. Quite a bargain if you ask me. And when the other two teams get into a cab whose driver assured them that it's official, both teams get a 20 minute penalty. Whaaaaat?

I couldn't even enjoy this episode. The train equalizer p***ed me off (what the hell is the point of this? Give them a car or let them take a cab, there was already an equalizer at the 6 a.m. temple). And that editing during the last 15 minutes or so was too exciting for me to bear. I died a million deaths while figuring out that I've never rooted for anyone as much as I did for Sam & Renae.

[Jobby]

I expected a 30 minute penalty for Jeff & Luke when they bought the wrong tickets.

They take a 10 minute penalty to not be 2 hours behind. Quite a bargain if you ask me. And when the other two teams get into a cab whose driver assured them that it's official, both teams get a 20 minute penalty. Whaaaaat?

I couldn't even enjoy this episode. The train equalizer p***ed me off (what the hell is the point of this? Give them a car or let them take a cab, there was already an equalizer at the 6 a.m. temple). And that editing during the last 15 minutes or so was too exciting for me to bear. I died a million deaths while figuring out that I've never rooted for anyone as much as I did for Sam & Renae.

They would still have made the train if they went immediately to get 3rd class. What pisses me off is the accessing of Jeff and Luke's penalty. They should have been given a 30 minutes penalty at the pitstop instead. They sort of got equalized at the bus.. like WTH?

[ct03]

They would still have made the train if they went immediately to get 3rd class.

The way I understood it they were at the wrong booth and would have had to go to another (where they would have had to wait in line again).

What pisses me off is the accessing of Jeff and Luke's penalty. They should have been given a 30 minutes penalty at the pitstop instead. They sort of got equalized at the bus.. like WTH?

Good point, I didn't even realize this at the time. That's just stupid ruling. I love TAR AU, but at least in the US version the rules are very clear: if you break one, you get a 30 minute penalty at the pit stop.

[Elven6]

It was a pretty suspenseful race, at the end I think the teams were probably at least 5 to 10 minutes apart from each other. I'd say it was more suspenseful than the much hyped Unfinished Business season finale where there was still a pretty big gap between the teams.

It sucks to see Matt & Tom go since they were pretty good racers and their learning experience was awesome to watch. But hey, they placed first a few times so asides from the race experience they aren't going home empty handed! Also kind of funny that if Tyler & Nathan stuck with their "we won't be working together" mentality from last episode they could have easily eliminated their better competition by locking in the 30 minute penalty.

I think the train penalty was kind of useless since it didn't really put anyone at a disadvantage having someone on another part of the train (the cabins all looked the same anyway) but either way, it's better than a 2 hour wait.

[ct03]

Also kind of funny that if Tyler & Nathan stuck with their "we won't be working together" mentality from last episode

You mean the mentality that helped Jeff solve the code?

[Jobby]

Okay. Nobody mentioned about Sam and Ranae checking in 6mins after Nathan and Tyler in Israel. WTF?

[Elven6]

Also kind of funny that if Tyler & Nathan stuck with their "we won't be working together" mentality from last episode

You mean the mentality that helped Jeff solve the code?

Yeah they brought it up after that basically saying they didn't want to help anyone at that stage of the race then in this episode they worked with Same & Renae, if they hadn't "partnered up" thus taken a different cab they wouldn't suffer from the same 20 minute penalty the girls did.

[Jobby]

I think the girls would have been team number #2 or #3 even with the 30 minutes penalty.

[kiki]

I think the girls would have been team number #2 or #3 even with the 30 minutes penalty.

I agree with that. I got the impression that the farmers were more than 30 minutes behind. Even Jeff and Luke I think where at least 10 min behind the surfers.

[Jobby]

The girls were 10mins in front of the surfers.. so with that if surfers didn't have 20mins penalty, the girls would have been left with a total of 50 more minutes penalty to serve. I think Jeff and Luke might have checked in during the time.. definitely not Matt and Tom.

However, it could be fun if the girls came in THIRD last week and Surfers fourth.. and Nathan and Tyler has to serve 50 minutes penalty.. that could be interesting to watch.

[apskip]

I know finally, the Roadblock is a gender discrimination one against the guys.. I didn't like how the guys struggled with it, but seriously if there's so many physical tasks on the race, surely one that required more of patience and details should be okay right.. especially if a guy actually know how to sew, he would have nailed that one too.

Actually, Joab, both the DETOUR and the ROADBLOCK were throwbacks to Amazing Race Asia 4 episode 3 and 4 in Sri Lanka. Here it is as reported in Calvin's recap:

Colombo (Gangaramaya Temple)

Detour: Count or Carry

In this detour, teams must make their way to the Peta commercial center which is really a fish market.

In Count, they must count the number of fishes in a fish crate. The fishes are iced so they must get it right in the first try or risk getting numb fingers. In Carry, teams must transport 12 blocks of ice via trolley to a stall. Each block of ice weighs 20 kilos each.

Roadblock: Reap What You Sew

In this roadblock, teams must make their way to the Trendy Connection shirt factory where one member must follow a pattern to sew a shirt.

Colombo (Independence Square) >Pit Stop (Leg 3)

Continuing to ARA4, leg 4, here are additional throwbacks:

Railway: Colombo (Fort Railway Station) to Galle (Galle Railway Station)
Roadblock ("Who can unlock the past?")<
Bus: Galle (Galle Bus Station) to Ambalangoda (Ambalangoda Train Station)
Ambalangoda (Mask Stall Vendor)

[Elven6]

The girls were 10mins in front of the surfers.. so with that if surfers didn't have 20mins penalty, the girls would have been left with a total of 50 more minutes penalty to serve. I think Jeff and Luke might have checked in during the time.. definitely not Matt and Tom.

However, it could be fun if the girls came in THIRD last week and Surfers fourth.. and Nathan and Tyler has to serve 50 minutes penalty.. that could be interesting to watch.

It didn't seem like Jeff and Luke were that far off after the surfers had checked in so I think the girls could have placed either third or fourth with a 50 minute penalty since Matt & Tom showed up shortly after but the show is always edited in a way where it's difficult to keep track of time.

[ct03]

It didn't seem like Jeff and Luke were that far off after the surfers had checked in
(...)
Matt & Tom showed up shortly after

There is no way to tell how close it was. The surfers had already left the pit stop area when Jeff and Luke checked in, so they could have been minutes or hours apart. Impossible to say.
It did appear however that the cowboys were way behind Jeff and Luke, because the sewing place was almost deserted and closed up by the time they left.

[WalterC]

So happy that the final 3 will not be all-male teams. At this point, it would not really matter who would win, as I don't really hate any of them.

I did hate where the 10 minute penalty was assessed, as there could be so many variables between the train station and the pit shop. Jeff & Luke probably caught a huge break there, as they ran into more trouble after that.

These teams did not seem to have nearly as many problems with cab drivers as TARA4.