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Racing report, TAR 20, Episode 11.2 is on page 1
maf:
Racing report
Amazing Race Season 20, Episode 9, "Bollywood Travolta"
Film date: 12-14/12 - 2012 (probably)
The episode starts with a scene from Bopper & Mark's hotel room 6 hours before start. A doctor comes to examine Bopper's knee. In the end he declares him fit for racing as long as he wears the brace.
Teams are released from the pit stop near lake Manyara in the following order:
1.Bopper & Mark 21:062.Rachel & Dave 21:07(+0:01)3.Art & JJ 21:32(+0:26)4.Brendon & Rachel23:55(+2:49)5.Vanessa & Ralph 01:31(+4:25)
Route info: "Make your way to India". Teams must now fly to Cochin, on arrival they should make their way to Rajiv Gandhi Municipal bus terminal and from there take a local bus to Sacred heart college in Thevara where they will find their next clue.
The clue also tells them to go to Rickshaw travel (a couple of minutes away) to get their tickets. This is probably yet another travel agency which the production have convinced to stay open for the racers.
Choice quotes:
"We're not about to do JJ's dirty work", Army Rachel did not feel compelled to U-turn in the last leg
"Art & JJ want nothing to do with us. They are treating us like we did a terrible thing to them, but we're not here to make friends, we're here to win", Army Rachel
At the travel agency Art & JJ completely ignore Rachel & Dave. Vanessa & Ralph arrive long after the other teams have gone. Vanessa starts researching flights on the internet and it seems like it is she who find the flight they end up using.
It seems as if Vanessa & Ralph travel via Nairobi and Dubai:
PW723 JRO-NBO 06:00-07:00
WK720 NBO-DXB 16:35-22:22
IX434 DXB-COK 23:55-05:20
And the others go via Dar es Salam and Doha:
PW435 JRO-DAR 07:40-09:00
QR535 DAR-DOH 11:38-19:13 (with a stopover in Nairobi)
9W555 DOH-COK 23:20-06:05
Vanessa & Ralph arrive first in Cochin, but as they are checking bus schedules at the airport they spot the other teams. So their lead is gone.
Teams quickly make their way to the bus terminal. Once there we learn that they are going on small local buses which seem leave fairly often. Teams end up on different buses:
Bus #1:
1. Rachel & Dave
Bus #2:
2. Brendon & Rachel
3. Art & JJ
Bus #3:
4. Vanessa & Ralph
Bus #4:
5. Bopper & Mark
Choice quotes:
"The traffic is really crazy around here", Ralph
"They're loving them horns", Art comments on the local traffic
"I wish I wouldn't get so sick", Mark needs his barf bag on the bus
"You stick your head out the window, it gets worse", Mark have problem with the warm and polluted air
Teams reach the clue box at the sacred hearth college in the following order:
1(+0) Rachel & Dave
2(+1) Art & JJ, at 07:55
3(-1) Brendon & Rachel, seconds after #2
4(+0) Vanessa & Ralph
5(+0) Bopper & Mark
--- Quote ---ROAD BLOCK
Who's got all the right
moves?
--- End quote ---
Teams must now master a long set of dance moves. Once they feel confident they, and their 30 extras, must perform it on a stage in front of a director. When the lead choreographer deems them to be camera ready they will receive their next clue.
Choice quotes:
"Rachel was a high school dance phenomen", Dave on why he immediately choose Rachel for the road block
"What, no dude, I did the last dance", Art does not want to do this road block (he did the bottle dance)
"I was in dance all through elementary school and junior high and then high school. But I've never danced Bollywood style before", Army Rachel has dance experience
"Had I selected this we'd probably been here for hours", Dave is glad Rachel is doing it
"I'm super excited about the Bollywood dance because I feel like they have fun outfits with sequins and glitter", BB Rachel
"This is a great day to have a female partner on your team", Brendon
"You've got no rhythm man", Art to JJ while he is practicing
"She's doing good", Bopper comments on army Rachel's dance
"Normally I'm the dance man but right now I've got to let him handle it. Old knee injury has definitely came back to haunt me at the wrong time", Bopper
"Wait a minute, man. I'm getting dizzy. Hold on", Mark feels the heat before he have even tries to perform once
"I'm telling you man, dudes do not move like girls", Art to Ralph, who isn't interested
"Mark really wants this you know. He's been a fan of the race a lot longer than I have", Bopper
"I'm gonna cost us this thing, man", JJ is about to loose it
"You're a Bollywood Travolta", Art gets the title (once JJ is done)
JJ is the first to try to dance in front of the judge, but he makes a mess of things and have to practice more.
A nice touch is that they have a live band performing the music as teams dance.
Mark is struggling with this task, and by the time he enters the stage for his third attempt all other teams have left. This time his dance instructor starts to dance in front of the stage so Mark can see the moves. Mark is really struggling and the sun is harsh. Boppers tries to convince him to give up the task. But Mark refuses to throw in the towel, even though it looks like he is about to pass out from heatstroke.
Choice quotes:
"I barely can raise my arms", Mark feels the heat after his third failed attempt
"To hell with that money. I want my buddy", Bopper want's Mark to quit (after his 7th attempt)
"We come here friends we're gonna leave here friends", Bopper tries to convince Mark to give up
"I had to sit back and reevaluate things what's important in life", Mark finally decides to quit
"No, I'm going home to my kids", Mark does not want to try again, even though his instructor pleads with him
After 11 tries Mark finally decides to give up. But his instructor follows him into the changing room and eventually convince him to try once more. There are lots of strong emotions, tears and pleading going on in the changing tent.
"Maybe if I'd stayed out there a bit longer we would get it done and our kids would be proud that we'd at least finished the leg and didn't quit on them", Mark
And on Mark's final attempt his dancing is approved by the judge. It is hard to judge since we did not see the entire performance from any of the players, but it feels like Mark's final performance was not really perfect. He was probably give the clue more for effort than for quality. Don't read me wrong here, I find it perfectly acceptable that the bar for passing gets lowered as time passes, as long as it is the same for every player. Anyway Mark & Bopper are approved and as soon as Mark can get away from the hordes of extras congratulating him they can continue on. But by this time all other teams have already reached the pit stop.
To summarize we can say that this was a tough road block out in the glaring sun. A big applause should go to army Rachel who was not only the only one nailing it on the first try but also did the IMHO best performance of all the players. The fact that she has been into dance for a long time may have helped quite a bit.
Teams complete the roadblock in the following order (* denotes team member doing the roadblock)
1(+0)Rachel* & Dave (4-3)on her 1st attempt2(+2)Vanessa* & Ralph (4-4)on her 3rd attempt3(+0)Brendon & Rachel*(3-5)on her 4th attempt4(-2)Art & JJ* (3-4)on his 4th attempt5(+0)Bopper & Mark* (3-5)on his 12th attempt
Route info: "Take auto-rickshaw to the Indian coffee house near Subhash park. Once there find the head waiter to get your next clue". park"
Choice quotes:
"Oh, nice eyes honey", Dave can appreciate his wife (when she spots the coffee house)
Teams reach the Indian coffee house in the following order:
1(+0) Rachel & Dave, at 09:05
2(+0) Vanessa & Ralph
3(+0) Brendon & Rachel
4(+0) Art & JJ, a minute or so after #3
5(+0) Bopper & Mark
Detour: Cricket or Clutch it
In cricket each team member must hit one cricket ball past the professional players to the boundary of the field.
In clutch it they must enter an auto-rickshaw driving school. They must drive an auto-rickshaw, with passengers, along a slalom course without hitting any of the markers.
Choice quotes:
"I have skill and ability in nearly every sport", Dave, who has confidence in himself, wanted to do cricket
"Ehhh", buts his wife doubts his abilities
"That was a lot harder than it looks", Army Rachel after her first attempt
"No, it's not", Dave disagrees (but is about to get to eat his own words)
"I made it a lot more fun, and I hit a lot of poles", Army Rachel thinks she did 'better' than her husband
"I failed drivers Ed.", Vanessa as she is starting the auto-rickshaw
"This should be easy for us", JJ has confidence as he is suiting up for the cricket
"Son of a monkeys uncle", Vanessa hits a marker with the auto-rickshaw
"Art, there's now way Rachel gonna do this", JJ when the cricket is between Art & Rachel
"It was a good feeling to know that they both got beat by a girl", BB Rachel is happy after she completed before Art
As Dave starts his first attempt we get to hear the first few bars of Ride of the Valkyries, really cute.
Brendon & Rachel try the cricket at the same time as Art & JJ, they are on courses next to each other, and there is no love between the teams. Eventually it stands between Rachel and Art, and Rachel gets it first.
Teams complete the detour in the following order:
1(+0) Rachel & Dave, clutch it, at 09:37, before the next team has even arrived
2(+1) Brendon & Rachel, cricket
3(+1) Art & JJ, cricket
4(-2) Vanessa & Ralph, clutch it
5(+0) Bopper & Mark, clutch it
Route info: "Make your way to the next pit stop". Phil is waiting at the Bolgatty palace.
As Mark & Bopper make their way to the pit stop, long after all the other teams, we get so see a clip of different things they have done during the race. It feels like a nice sending off and we are sorry to see them go.
Teams reach Phil in the following order:
1(+0) Rachel & Dave, win a trip to St Lucia
2(+0) Brendon & Rachel
3(+0) Art & JJ, probably at 11:05
4(+0) Vanessa & Ralph, a minute or so after #3
5(+0) Bopper & Mark, are saved by a non-elimination
Choice quotes:
"Always a gorgeous woman Phil", Dave comments the greeter
maf:
Racing report
Amazing Race Season 20, Episode 10, "I need hair to be pretty"
Film date: 15/12 - 2012 (probably)
Teams are released from the pit stop at Bolgatty palace in the following order:
1.Rachel & Dave 06:532.Brendon & Rachel07:20(+0:27)3.Art & JJ 07:28(+0:35)4.Vanessa & Ralph 07:32(+0:39)5.Bopper & Mark 10:38(+3:45)Teams get $25 for this leg.
Route info: "Make your way to Daiva...". Teams must now make their way to a temple where they will receive a blessing from the head priest, and their next clue.
The clue also states that "as a sign of respect, before approaching the head priest, you must remove your shoes". None of the players have any problems with this.
Choice quotes:
"We just have to focus on making sure that we are working together against other teams, rather than working against each other", Army Rachel
"We always race as if we're in last place", Ralph
"Which typically is the case", Vanessa chips in
"This isn't necessarily my religion, but experiencing it is amazing", BB Rachel
Art & JJ have a hard time catching a rickshaw from the pit start.
We also get a scene from the pit stop hotel where Mark is not feeling well. He suffered a heatstroke during the last leg so he needs some medical attention. He is eventually declared fit to race another leg. But they are way behind.
Teams reach the temple in the following order:
1(+0) Rachel & Dave
2(+0) Brendon & Rachel
3(+1) Vanessa & Ralph
4(-1) Art & JJ, around 08:55
5(+0) Bopper & Mark
This is where Bopper & Mark encounter their speed bump.
--- Quote ---SPEED BUMP
Paint the tiger on the
belly of a Pulikali Tiger
Dancer and prepare
them for the dance!
When the other Pulikali
Tiger Dancers are
satisfied with your work
and perform a dance for
you, you may continue
with the Race.
Note: as this...
Sp...
--- Quote ---
The Pulikli Tiger Dancers are dressed up as tigers and each have a big tiger face painted on his stomach. That is all but one. Bopper & Mark must now paint this. It is not hard but takes about half an hour. They can then continue with the race.
The clue envelope here contains a fast forward and a route info.
--- Quote ---FAST FORWARD
Engage in a traditional
Indian good fortune
ritual!
Make your way to
Mutharaman
Devasanam and search
for a priest.
First come, first served.
Remainder: If you have
already completed a
fast forward, you may
not use this one.
--- End quote ---
The route info reads:
--- Quote ---ROUTE INFO
Make your way to
Pattanacaud Coir Mats &
Matting.
--- End quote ---
Brendon & Rachel go for the fast forward. When they arrive, just before 09:00, there they find the priests and a sign:
--- Quote --- It is a custom in India to
express gratitude for good
fortune. Those who are
willing to express their
gratitude by sacrificing their
beauty are given blessings in
proportion to their sacrifice.
To win the fast forward
each of you must have your
head shaved.
--- End quote ---
This fast forward is a switchback from an earlier season. The last team to complete this, Uchenna & Joyce, ultimately won their season.
Choice quotes:
"For me, no doubt I'd shave my head", Brendon has no problem with the task
"I don't wanna shave my head", Rachel gets emotional
"Baby, this is your decision", Brendon let's Rachel decide
So Brendon & Rachel give up the fast forward and go to the coir mat factory instead.
Teams reach the coir mat factory, and find their next clue on a roll of rope, in the following order:
1(+2) Vanessa & Ralph
2(-1) Rachel & Dave
3(+1) Art & JJ
4(-2) Brendon & Rachel
--- Quote ---ROAD BLOCK
Who's at the end of their
rope?
NOTE: Brendon and
Bopper must perform the
Roadblock.
--- End quote ---
Team members must now use coconut fibers to spin 40 feet of rope. They must then spool four large bundles of rope onto one spindle. The making of the rope is fairly tricky and the second part is tedious and hard on the hands.
Choice quotes:
"It seems easy to get this going", Ralph has not hit the hard part yet
"Dave looks pretty sexy in a skirt", Dave's wife teases
"Ralph, why the hell are we doing this?", Dave finds the rope making hard
"Why didn't you go to the fast forward?", JJ asks BB Rachel
"I just don't want to talk about it", and that is a sensitive issue for Rachel
"I need hair to be pretty", BB Rachel gets the title
"Does anybody play the game strategically? Does anybody have a clue what is going on?", JJ is upset
"Man, this is killing my back", Art is spooling rope
"Babe, I don't need positive reinforcement. Please, I appreciate silence", Dave to his wife
"Art and I are leaving, you're the last one. The hammer's gonna fall on you. This is perfect for Mark & Bopper", JJ sows doubt and fear in Rachel
Dave is the first to complete the rope spinning part at 09:30.
Teams complete the roadblock in the following order (* denotes team member doing the roadblock)
1(+0)Vanessa & Ralph* (4-5)2(+0)Rachel & Dave* (4-4)Around 10:003(+0)Art* & JJ (4-4)4(+0)Brendon* & Rachel(4-5)
Route info: "Make your way to Fort Kochi. Once there search the area near the temple for a barber working under an ancient tree".
On their way out from the coir mat factory Vanessa twists an ankle. She falls down and it takes a couple of minutes before they are able to continue.
Choice quotes:
"I'm so much tougher than I look", Vanessa limps on
Teams find this barber in Fort Kochi in the following order:
1(+1) Rachel & Dave
2(-1) Vanessa & Ralph, seconds after #1
3(+1) Brendon & Rachel
4(-1) Art & JJ
--- Quote ---DETOUR
Detour: "Pachyderm" or
"Pack-A-Box"
Pachyderm: Decorate an
elephant for a local
festival, then clean up
after her.
Pack-A-Box: Pack &
Crate ten boxes full of
ginger. Then label the
...
--- End quote ---
In pachyderm teams must properly decorate an elephant with a golden head dress and decorative bells and ornaments. Then they have to shovel and transport 15 wheelbarrows of elephant manure to a nearby truck.
In pack-a-box teams teams must pack ginger. Teams must pick up 10 empty boxes, fill them with ginger, seal and stencil each box and finally deliver them to a nearby depot.
Choice quotes:
"We've been waiting on manual labor", JJ selects detour
"This is so cool", Army Rachel likes working with the elephant
"I love elephants more than anything", Vanessa also likes this detour
"So we thought we were playing with people who have half a brain, but no. They are the laziest group of people I have ever met", JJ is still upset about the fast forward
"Holy manure', Vanessa as she is shoveling elephant dung
"My dad is a bricklayer, so I grew up wheelbarrowing lots of bricks", Brendon on why he knew how to handle a wheelbarrow
"Dear lord, can we do any more slower than this?", JJ is frustrated
"Ah, I cut my hand wide open", JJ cuts himself loading boxes
The ginger packing turns out to be tedious, hot, labor intensive and slow while the elephant dressing looks very fun and is a lot faster. Art & JJ pass the time by pretending to be Dave & Rachel shouting at each other.
At this point in the telecast we get to see Bopper & Mark receive the clue at the first temple. They decide to go for the fast forward. Once they arrive they are unfazed by the head-shaving so they go ahead with it. This is a particularly easy decision for Mark since he is already bald.
Choice quotes:
"This fast forward could be a life-line for us", Mark
"You don't look as good as me, but you look good bro", Mark to a bald Bopper
--- Quote ---Congratulations!
You have won the Fast Forward!
Take a ferry to the next
Pit Stop:
The Vypin Cheena Vala.
Warning!! The last Team
to the check-in may be
eliminated.
--- End quote ---
Meanwhile the other teams complete the detour in the following order:
1(+0) Rachel & Dave, elephant
2(+0) Vanessa & Ralph, elephant
3(+0) Brendon & Rachel, elephant, about 3 minutes after #1
4(+0) Art & JJ, ginger packing
--- Quote ---ROUTE INFO
Take a ferry to the next
Pit Stop.
The Vypin Cheena Vala.
Warning!! The last Team
to check-in may be
eliminated.
--- End quote ---
Choice quotes:
"Hopefully it goes every few minutes. Because otherwise these others are all gonna be on the same ferry", Army Rachel knows the other teams are hot on their heels
"I'll give you rupees if we go", Dave tries to persuade the ferry to leave
"That's a team right there", Dave spots another team arriving as the ferry is preparing to leave
"There go Rachel & Dave", BB Rachel arrives just as the ferry leaves
As usual the episode is cut to make it look like there was a close race between the last two teams. In interviews later we learn that there was probably at least 30 minutes between them.
Teams reach Phil in the following order:
1(+0) Rachel & Dave, win $10.000 each
2(+1) Brendon & Rachel
3(-1) Vanessa & Ralph, seconds after #2
4(+0) Art & JJ
5(+0) Bopper & Mark, are eliminated
We learn that Rachel & Dave, who now have 6 wins, want to beat the record of 7 wins.
At the Pit Stop Phil nudges Vanessa a little and gets her to say that she think Brendon & Rachel did not transport enough elephant dung. But apparently the producers kept count and they did. But he gets a nice argument going between the girls. The boys however look uncomfortable and try to get the girls to stop. In the end both girls say they are sorry and shake hands.
Choice quotes:
"The Amazing Race is called the Amazing Race for one reason, everything about it is absolutely amazing", Mark
--- End quote ---
--- End quote ---
maf:
Racing report
Amazing Race Season 20, Episode 11.1, "It's a great place to become millionaires"
Film date: 17-19/12 - 2012 (probably)
This episode starts with an expose over the earlier legs and we get to see all previous elimination. Bopper & Mark get a special mention with a long expose over their accomplishments.
Teams are released from the pit stop, allegedly close to the Vypin fishing nets, in the following order:
1.Rachel & Dave 13:51?.Brendon & Rachel??:??(+?:??)?.Vanessa & Ralph ??:??(+?:??)?.Art & JJ ??:??(+?:??)
We only get to see the first team start the leg. They must now fly to Hiroshima, Japan. Once they land they must make their way, via bus, train and ferry, to Miyajima island where they will receive their next clue.
Choice quotes:
"Winning is very important to me. But my relationship with Rachel is more important", Dave claims to be human
"I don't necessarily view Rachel as my wife. I view her as my team mate", Dave tries to get a point across
"Soldier", But Rachel interrupts and interprets what he is saying
Everybody get on the same flight. Exactly which is unclear but they arrive at 20:10 the following night.
On arrival the first hurdle is buying tickets for the bus from the airport. Most teams find some kind local who helps them at the vending machines. But Brendon & Rachel go to the bus first where they find out that they must buy their tickets before boarding the bus. They have to go back to gets tickets and therefore miss the bus.
Therefore teams end up on two different buses. Bus #1 carries:
1. Art & JJ
2. Vanessa & Ralph
3. Rachel & Dave
Bus #2 carries:
4. Brendon & Rachel
During the bus ride BB Rachel berates Brendon for not listening to her on the airport. Apparently he ignored her suggestions on how to do things.
Choice quotes:
"Staggering that they're still here", JJ thinks team BB races poorly
"From now on I'm not making any decisions, you can make them all", BB Rachel is cross at Brendon who she feels ignored her at the airport
At the train station Rachel & Dave break off from the others to get tickets on their own. This is yet again quite hard and it takes them a long time to do. So long in fact that they miss the train, by a few seconds.
Brendon & Rachel find a nice local on the bus who helps them purchase tickets and navigate the station.
Train #1 which leaves at 22:00 carries
1(+3) Brendon & Rachel
2(+0) Vanessa & Ralph
3(-2) Art & JJ
Train #2 leaves at 22:20 and carries
4(-1) Rachel & Dave
Choice quotes:
"If there's something you can do about it, great do something. But if there's nothing you can do, don't be pessimistic about it", Army Rachel on how to deal with setbacks
After the train ride teams run to the ferry terminal to get tickets on the next ferry. Rachel & Dave are just a couple of minutes too late and miss the last boat for the night.
Boat #1 leaves at 22:45 and carries:
1(+0) Brendon & Rachel
2(+1) Art & JJ
3(-1) Vanessa & Ralph
The next boat is not until the next morning at 06:25 and carries:
4(+0) Rachel & Dave
There is much rejoicing on the first boat since they know that they are more than 7 hours ahead of Rachel & Dave. Meanwhile Rachel & Dave are feeling down back on land. Eventually Dave stops pouting about it and they find a backpackers place where they can get some sleep.
Choice quotes:
"So three teams got on, Big Brother, ourselves and Conan & Kardashian", JJ gives nicknames
As the first teams arrive they start searching the grounds of the gorgeous Tori gate. Here they find a sign:
--- Quote ---Your clue arrives
with the Rising Sun
--- End quote ---
The next morning Dave & Rachel are much relieved when they encounter the other teams and learn that the clue hasn't arrived yet. So all teams are waiting as a man pulling a cart walks up. He starts handing out clues.
Route info: "Make your way to the Hiroshima Peace memorial park and find the Atomic Bomb Dome". This is in downtown Hiroshima so teams must travel by boat and train or taxi to reach it. None of this is shown. Instead we get to see all teams arrive at the site at the same time and then stand around as a bell is rung.
Choice quotes:
"It does make you take a step back and try to be more responsible to prevent things like this from ever happening again", Vanessa
After the ceremony teams receive their next clue from a local guard. For once there is no trampling each others to get the clue but rather a calm and orderly process.
Route info; "Travel by Shinkansen to the city of Osaka". When teams arrive they must make their way to the TV8 studio, where they will find their next clue.
All teams end up on the same train. When they arrive in Osaka, around 10:30, Art & JJ and Vanessa & Ralph jump into taxis which Rachel & Dave and Brendon & Rachel opt for the subway.
Choice quotes:
"A hundred locals on one train car can not be wrong. So hopefully this is the quickest mode of transportation", Dave in the subway
"We're running around like chickens with our head cut off, our taxi driver took us to the wrong building", Ralph
The subway teams all reach the studio, only to discover that they have gone to the new TV8 studio when they needed to go to the old studio. So they jump into taxis to get to the right place.
Teams eventually reach the correct studio and find the next clue box in the following order:
1. Art & JJ
2. Vanessa & Ralph, Taxi took them to the wrong studio first
3. Brendon & Rachel
4. Rachel & Dave
--- Quote ---ROAD BLOCK
Who wants to bring home
the chicken?
Note: Brendon and Vanessa
must perform this
Roadblock.
--- End quote ---
In this roadblock teams must compete in a crazy Japanese game show, They must run on a long treadmill and jump up and grab three rubber chickens hanging from the ceiling. Once they have all three chickens they may run to the end of the thread-mill and jump onto the mat there. If they fall they have to go back to the starting line again. One catch is that the thread-mill goes faster for each chicken they grab.
This roadblock is very hard on Vanessa with her sprained ankle. Ralph is totally prepared to take the penalty, but Vanessa soldiers on. In the end the producers make the task a little easier by slowing down the thread-mill while she starts running, but once she is running on it they bring it back to normal speed before she can catch the chickens.
Choice quotes:
"This is so absolutely ridiculous", JJ
"I'm not gonna die doing this am I?", Vanessa is shown the protective gear they have to wear
"It's not worth it, just stop", Ralph wants Vanessa to quit
"I can't tell you how proud of her I am", Ralph after Vanessa completes
"I'm hurting so bad, and the only think I can think about is I need another eyelash", Vanessa shows her prioritizes after the road block
Teams complete the roadblock in the following order (* denotes team member doing the roadblock)
1(+0)Art* & JJ (5-4)Before team #2 even arrives2(+1)Brendon* & Rachel(5-5)3(+1)Rachel* & Dave (5-4)4(-2)Vanessa* & Ralph (5-5)
Route info: "Find the Umeda sky building". Here at the floating garden observatory on the roof teams will find a pair of computer screens, each screen show one side of the upcoming detour.
Teams reach the computers in the following order:
1(+0) Art & JJ
2(+1) Rachel & Dave
3(-1) Brendon & Rachel
4(+0) Vanessa & Ralph, arrive at the building as #3 are leaving
Detour: Bingo Shout-Out or Photo Cut-Out
In bingo shout-out teams must travel to a sushi restaurant. Here a chef shouts out names of sushi, in Japanese, and teams must pick up corresponding plates from a conveyor belt and place it on their bingo card. Once they have a line which spells Sushi and the staff approves they must eat their Sushi to receive their next clue. To help a bit the restaurant is filled with locals. So there are plenty of people to ask for help in identifying the sushi sorts.
In photo cut out teams must pick up two life-sized cutouts of sumo-wrestlers and bring them to the photographer. Here they can pick up a camera and must then convince locals to pose for photographs in the cutouts. They need 10 groups of three people. Actually getting random people on the street to agree to this turns out to be fairly hard.
As they leave the Umeda sky building Rachel & Dave have a meltdown. It is triggered by Dave accusing Rachel of unzipping his bag.
Vanessa & Ralph have bad luck with their taxi and get a driver who have trouble finding the sushi place.
Choice quotes:
"I never unzipped your bag Dave", Rachel shouts at Dave
"Just stop, silence is golden", Dave tries to get her to stop
"Then why don't you shut the *** up", But that is like puring gasoline on the fire
"Eat those five pieces? Oh god, lets eat something. I'm so exited about this", Vanessa is hungry while reading the clue
"I've no idea what is going on Art. It's all in Japanese", JJ is frustrated at the detour
"You're great with people", Dave wants his wife to get locals for the photos
"You need to work your charisma", Rachel tells Dave he needs to help as well
"Seriously, we need an U-unago, Shouted by BB Rachel, who is stressed out at the sushi bingo
"Wow, we caught up", Vanessa find team Big brother at the sushi bingo
Art & JJ arrive at the sushi restaurant around 12:15.
Teams complete the detour in the following order:
1(+1) Rachel & Dave, photo
2(-1) Art & JJ, at 12:57, sushi
3(+0) Brendon & Rachel, sushi
4(+0) Vanessa & Ralph, sushi
Route info: "Make your way to the next Pit Stop, Osaka castle... Warning!! the last team to check-in will be eliminated". Teams must now make their way to Osaka castle and find the pit stop, which is located on the grounds. Actually finding the pit stop turns out to be harder than expected and a number of teams spend quite a lot of time searching for it.
Choice quotes:
"This place is huge", JJ is searching for Phil
"I hate to wish misfortune on anybody, but I'm really hoping that another team got lost or got abducted by aliens", Vanessa
"Good hiding place Phil", JJ finally find the pit stop
In the end teams check in in the following order:
1(+0) Rachel & Dave, win a trip to Queenstown New Zealand
2(+0) Art & JJ
3(+0) Brendon & Rachel
4(+0) Vanessa & Ralph, are eliminated
Choice quotes:
"This was a wonderful experience for us", Ralph
"From here on out, it is smooth sailing... unless there are rubber chickens", Vanessa
"Just got one more leg and that's it. And we win a million bucks", JJ
"We hope to beat Art & JJ because they've been *bleep* to us", Army Rachel
"We have the fire in our eyes and the passion and the drive to win the Amazing race", BB Rachel
To be continued in the next report...
maf:
Racing report
Amazing Race Season 20, Episode 11.2, "It's a great place to become millionaires"
Film date: 19/12 - 2012
Teams are released from the pit stop near Osaka castle in following order:
1.Rachel & Dave 16:152.Art & JJ 16:47(+0:32)3.Brendon & Rachel17:05(+0:50)
Route info: "Fly to your final destination, the island of Oahu in Hawaii".
Choice quotes:
"It's a great place to become millionaires", Dave gets the title
Teams seem to be directed to take an Hawaiian direct flight so all teams end up on the same plane:
HA450 KIX-HNL 21:16-09:32, note that due to the international dateline this flight lands before it started :)
As teams run for the taxis in Hawaii we seen that Brendon & Rachel are the only ones still carrying their backpacks. The teams leave the airport in the following order:
1. Rachel & Dave
2. Art & JJ
3. Brendon & Rachel
Teams have received a new clue in the form of a riddle. It says something about twins facing the water. It seems they got this on arrival since otherwise they would have solved the riddle via the net in Osaka.
Rachel & Dave look for a taxi driver who looks native since they think he might know the area better. Art & JJ just jump into the only cab they can find and ask their driver to follow Rachel & Dave. The irony here is that they often accuse Brendon & Rachel of only following other teams, but now it is Art & JJ who is doing the following.
Brendon & Rachel solve the riddle at the airport with the help of the taxi dispatchers.
After a while Art & JJ loose sight of Rachel & Dave, so they go to a hotel to get help solving the riddle. Here they get sent to a pair of status, which turns out to be the wrong place. Eventually a nice local directs them to the right location.
Choice quotes:
"If we could loose the guy behind us, that would be preferred", Dave to their taxi driver, who happily obliges
"We lost him. Should've never just grabbed a cab", JJ realize they are toast
"And knowing Big Brother, They'll just just stumble upon it out of pure dumb luck", JJ does not have high opinions about Brendon & Rachel
Eventually all teams figure out they need to go to the twin towers known as Mauka & Makai at the waterfront. They arrive at the clue box here in the following order:
1(+0) Rachel & Dave, around 10:12
2(+1) Brendon & Rachel, around 10:25
3(-1) Art & JJ, around 11:03
The clue they find here tells them that they must make their way to the top of this 45 stories tower the hard way. They must ascend to the top by using their arms to pull themselves up a line, which is stretched diagonally from the top of the tower to the ground. The task is made much simpler by the fact that there is a counterweight which helps to drag them along. The rigging and briefing on the ground takes 15-20 minutes and the ascent takes about 10 minutes.
Once at the top they must look around to find their next route marker. This is a big red and yellow banner in a park just across the water in Sand Island park and is fairly easy to spot.
Once they have spotted this they must rappel down the side of the building, face first. This is quite scary.
Choice quotes:
"You're gonna need a lot of upper body strength", Dave
"Holy balls, that's a long climb", Army Rachel
"As long as we can beat them, I'm happy with whoever", BB Rachel to Army Rachel, about Art & JJ
"Holy crap, it's getting really windy up here", Army Rachel gets close to the top
"It's always a little concerning when you are stepping off the ledge of a 44+ building", Dave
"I fear that I'm about to pretty much die", BB Rachel prepares for the descent
"I just wanna live Art, I just wanna live", JJ is scared of heights
Teams complete this task in the following order:
1(+0) Rachel & Dave
2(+0) Brendon & Rachel
3(+0) Art & JJ
They then jump into taxis and make it for Sand island. They arrive here in the same order, and in the clue box here they find a road block. Art & JJ arrive when Brendon is almost done.
In this road block contestants must shave ice. They are given a big block of ice, a samurai sword (with a wooden support rack) and an empty bucket. They must use the sword to shave ice from the big block and fill the bucket up to the 13L line.
Choice quotes:
"It looks tall from here even", Army Rachel looks at the towers
"Art & JJ are hanging right now. They look like little bugs, I want to squish them", Army Rachel see Art & JJ descending
"They're catching up", BB Rachel is an pessimist
"Hey guys, did you have fun", BB Rachel greets Art & JJ (and gets ignored)
Teams complete the roadblock in the following order (* denotes team member doing the roadblock)
1(+0)Rachel & Dave* (5-5)2(+0)Brendon* & Rachel(6-5)3(+0)Art & JJ* (5-5)
--- Quote ---ROUTE INFO
Make your way on foot to
one of the Helicopters
waiting in the outfield for
a flight up the North
Shore to your next
destination.
Note: When you get to
your next destination,
follow the marked path.
--- End quote ---
Rachel & Dave almost jump into their taxi, but Rachel saves the day by remembering what the clue says.
Brendon & Rachel jump into their taxi and have their driver take them to the Aloha stadium. He obliges, but this turns out to be the wrong place. Here they read their clue again and realize they have to go on foot so they drive back and make for the helicopters. But they have lost a lot of time.
Choice quotes:
"No no, we have to go on foot", Army Rachel stops Dave from jumping into the taxi
"Brendon stop freaking out", Rachel tells Brendon to pull together when they realize their mistake
"You don't wanna jog?", Brendon to Rachel when they are making their way on foot
"No, I don't", But Rachel is tired of the whole race
Brendon & Rachel proceed to have a meltdown on their way to the helicopters.
Teams reach the helicopters in the following order:
1(+0) Rachel & Dave
2(+1) Art & JJ
3(-1) Brendon & Rachel
Choice quotes:
"The helicopter ride was gorgeous", Army Rachel
When teams land they follow a marked path until they find a surfboard with clues attached.
"Become North shore lifeguards and take part in an open water rescue training". Teams must now rescue a distressed swimmer. One team member must drive a wave-runner through the violent surf while the other is towed on a sled behind. Once they scoop up their victim, they must negotiate their way back through the treacherous waters.
Rachel thinks ahead and forces Dave to ride the sled since she thinks it will take strength to pull up the swimmer. She is probably right. At least they complete the task, seemingly without difficulty.
Choice quotes:
"Honey, are you sure you know how to operate a wave-runner", Dave is reluctant to give up the driving
"I used to do the search and rescue stuff for the Border patrol. So, I think it's gonna be pretty easy", Art
Rachel, JJ and Brendon did drive the Wave-runners.
Teams complete this task in the following order:
1(+0) Rachel & Dave
2(+0) Art & JJ
3(+0) Brendon & Rachel
--- Quote ---ROUTE INFO
Make your way to the
Coral Kingdom Gate to
Hakipu'u Valley. Then
follow the marked path
to your next clue.
Note: When you arrive at
the Coral Kingdom Gate,
take all of your
belongings and release
your taxi.
--- End quote ---
Production have arranged taxis which are waiting by the rescue location.
Choice quotes:
"Unbelievable frustrating to have the fate of, completely in the hands of a stranger", Dave does not like having to trust the taxi driver
Rachel & Dave are dropped of at what they believer is the right location. They follow the path and come across a sign in race colors:
--- Quote ---RIDE A STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD
ACROSS THE
FISHPOND TO THE
MARKED DOCK
YOU MUST RIDE YOUR
PADDLEBOARD
STANDING UP!
--- End quote ---
There are six paddleboards here as well. They ride across the pond, find another marked path and follow it. Eventually they reach the finish line, run past all the teams and are greeted by Phil:
"Rachel and Dave, you are the first team to arrive. However, you have not completed the road block. And you must complete the road block before I can check you in at the finish line", Phil
Rachel & Dave are flabbergasted. When they finally realize that Phil isn't joking they start wondering what they missed. Eventually they make their way back across the water and back up to the road. They ask around and eventually learn that the real coral kingdom gate is half a mile away. They start jogging to it.
Meanwhile Art & JJ are dropped of at the right location, follow the marked path up a steep hill. Here they are greeted with native music and their next clue stands in a tree above a wooden statue.
Eventually Brendon & Rachel are also dropped off at the wrong location. After asking around a bit they get good directions, but they have to run half a mile to the right gate.
Teams reach the clue at the Coral Kingdom gate in the following order:
1(+1) Art & JJ
2(-1) Rachel & Dave
3(+0) Brendon & Rachel
--- Quote ---ROAD BLOCK
Who want to take a
Papa Hôlua to a `Ulu
Maika?
Note: If you did the
Shave Ice Roadblock,
your partner MUST do
this one.
--- End quote ---
Teams must now ride a traditional Hawaiian narrow sled down 150 feet on the grass and across a marked line. They must then pick up a disc-shaped lava rock and roll it 50 feet into a small goal.
The sledding is much harder than it looks. The sleds are narrow and the hard part is keeping your balance as you ride on the grass. And it hurts a lot when you fall and slide on the grass. To make the sled go faster teams must oil it first.
We get to see lots of footage of contestants falling off their sleds. Specially Art is having a hard time. Both Rachel's complete the sledding part before he do. To be fair, this task seems to favor small racers with good balance.
Choice quotes:
"Which one is the fastest", Art selects the narrowest sled
"Not how we wanted to finish, that's for sure", JJ sees Art fail time after time and is still believing they are second
"Are you freaking kiddin' me?', JJ find out they have been in first for a while
"That hurt, I think my back is probably all bleeding", Army Rachel falls on her first run
"You have this baby, you have ridiculous balance", Dave encourages his wife
"Un-believable", JJ when Army Rachel completes the sledding
"Ungh, Ungh, Ungh", Art pounds the ground in frustration when Army Rachel beats him
"We were one stupid sled-ride away from a million dollars, that's hard to stomach", JJ
"Taxi-drivers suck", BB Rachel as they arrive at the correct gate
At the lava disc rolling each team have five discs. When they have rolled all the non-participating team member must run them back to the thrower.
Choice quotes:
"You've gotta fricking focus on your technique", Dave
"Dave, shut the *sound_effect* up right now. I swear to god, I'll throw one of these at your *sound_effect*", Army Rachel does not appreciate the pointers
That last sentence from Rachel makes the judge loose his composition.
BB Rachel finishes the sledding before Art but then has a hard time with the lava discs. She almost gets it, but that is not enough. Eventually Art completes the sledding so they have to take turns throwing rocks. Art manage to hit the goal first so he and JJ leave in second place.
Teams complete the roadblock in the following order (* denotes team member doing the roadblock)
1(+1)Rachel* & Dave (6-5)Around 15:202(-1)Art* & JJ (6-5)3(+0)Brendon & Rachel*(6-6)
The next clue tells team to rive an ATV to the shore and from there paddle to Secret island and then run to the finish line.
Choice quotes:
"Good luck guys". Army Rachel to Art & JJ as she and Dave sprints away.
"Thank you, good job on that sled, that was awesome", JJ acknowledges their defeat
"I'm proud of you no matter what", Dave is not sure if Brendon & Rachel are in front or behind as they paddle to the finish line for the second time
"I need to win a million dollars so I can spend a week at a spa", Army Rachel feels the race has worn her down
Finally teams complete the race after 5 continents, 9 countries, 22 cities and more than 36.000 miles, in the following order:
1(+0) Rachel & Dave, win the $1.000.000
2(+0) Art & JJ
3(+0) Brendon & Rachel
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