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| Eleven teams of two, joined by family or relationship, follow a path of twists and turns in a frenetic race around the world for $1 million. Who will be the first to cross the finish line? Recaps by Chris Wolvie, GSNN
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We Love Your Country
Already, It Is Very Spacious PREVIOUSLY ON THE AMAZING RACE: Eight teams traveled around Phuket, Thailand, riding elephants, diving for ceramic koi fish, disassembling and reassemling small shrines and then taking a LONG bus trip to Bangkok just to feed REAL koi fish. In the end, Amani & Marcus (Team Hut-Hut!) won their first Leg and a trip to Bali. Liz & Marie (Team Twin Grads) had to deal with a SPEED BUMP, giving ALL their money to a cabbie, nearly missing their bus and having to BEG to be driven around Bangkok before learning that it was all for naught and they were eliminated. Seven teams continue their trek for the million...who will be Philiminated NEXT?!! PIT STOP
#5 It feels GOOD to be in the front of the pack...even if it's only a minute's lead. But Amani & Marcus will take it as they rip-and-read THIS clue to start Leg 6:
Amani seems VERY pleased
to be going to Malawi. That's because they've never been there before...so
we'll see how that works out for them. The other teams' deaprture
times (local time): With all seven teams seperated by two hours...and what could be an inevitable "Great Equalizer" coming up, it's ANYBODY's Leg as the fourteen Americans head for... SUVARNABHUMI
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Team Hut-Hut!, as expected, arrive at the airport first. And they learn that Star Alliance Airlines has the only flight to Malawi, connecting through Singapore and Johannesberg, South Africa (connecting with their partners at South African Airways there)...and there's only ONE flight per day! That means whoever gets to the airport before the flight leaves at 4:25pm will be tied with them...and those who don't will have to find a more roundabout route. No drama here. EVERYONE is on the flight. Everyone is on level pegging. And it's gonna be frantic when they land in... LILONGWE, MALAWI At one of the less-populous world capitals (less than one million people live there)...but certainly one of the WARMEST (average annual temp of about 81 degress F), the plane touches down from its long trek. Out pour the wacky Racers onto the runway. The first ones to get a cab is Team Get-To-Know, with Team Georgia Siblings right behind and enjoying the view. Team Contradiction leave in third, followed closely by Team Snowboarders, Team Drake Wannabes, Team Hut-Hut!...and Team Sexagenarians taking up the rear (and complimenting on how "spacious" the country is. LIMBE
TOBACCO WAREHOUSE Lilongwe is divided into over 50 "Areas" with "Gates" along the borders of the city. Hence Gate #7 is near the outskirts. One by one, the teams arrive at the warehouse (though the last two get stuck behind a wedding engagement celebration), grab their clues and come across their next:
(Wouldn't it be ironic if one of the commercials during this Leg was on of those "Tobacco-Free State" PSAs?) And the BLOCKers for this task, in order of appearance at the warehouse: Jeremy, Justin, Ernie, Laurence, Tommy, Bill and Marcus. The ACTUAL workers in this warehouse are NOT very cooperative; they always some to get in the way of the BLOCKers as THEY transport THEIR bales to OTHER areas of the warehouse. Blocking, shoving and not-so-artful dodging seem to be the norm here. The GOOD news is the pathway to the holding area is marked with red-and-yellow Race flags so...at least they know where to go...they just need to GET there. Jeremy LOVED the chaos, especially the singing from the workers standing on large piles of bales. Ernie & Justin could make the sharp turns well as their payloads fell off the dollies. tommy likened it to bumper cars as he moved his first bale. Laurence...well, being an older guy, he was more like Gmili than Legolas: not built for long runs but, as long as he keeps breathing, he felt he'd be fine. Bill, who showed up about half-way through everyone else's task, has experience with hauling hay bales so he's comfortable with this. And Marcus (who arrives even later due to the cabbie missing the place at first) is just trying to make up time....while Amani laughs at his orange jumpsuit. Soon, the smell of tobacco reminds some of the Racers of the smokers in their families...and it's NOT too pleasant to the adamant NON-smokers. Marcus felt like a rookie pushing a blocking sled. In the end, it's Jeremy who brings the tenth and final bale to its rightful place. As a reward, the foreman give him this clue:
He and Sandy depart in first just as Ernie finished his task and he & Sandy leave in 2nd. Behind them are Justin & Jennifer in 3rd. As Justin gives commentary about how easy or hard each BLOCKer has it, Tommy gets HIS tenth bale down and he & Andy depart in a long 4th. MEMORIAL
TOWER CBS decided not to tell us what the tower is a memorial TO (and Wikipedia ain't helping matters, either) so...heck with it. Team Get-To Know shows up in first and arrives at a...:
Since Sandy "can't sew to save my life", the dating friends choose NOT GROWN UP. As they head for it, Laurence finishes the ROADBLOCK and he and son Zac depart for the tower in 5th. Ernie & Sandy arrive at the DETOUR in 2nd and choose ALL SOWN UP (though the cabbie is clueless as to the locale). Justin & Jennifer pick NOT GROWN UP, as does Andy & Tommy when they arrive. Laurence & Zac go that way, too...but not without Laurence saying the girls will "speed by them" with the sewing challenge (chauvenist much?). Back at the tobacco warehouse, Bill and Marcus are coming down the home stretch. But, as Marcus unloads his 8th bale,...Bill unloads his 10th. He and Cathi depart in 6th, leaving Team Hut-Hut! in the rear again. Needless to say, Amani thinks this STINKS! Still, Marcus pushes and pushes (with the workers cheering him on) and finishes the task. The workers sing in celebration...and that make Amani & Marcus feel really good. They're confident they can pull a "worst-to-first" job as they head out to the tower. LILONGWE
LEA SCHOOL Team Get-To-Know arrive at the school, pass by some of the school children singing and get to the pile of detritus that they have to make into toys. Milk cartons for the bodies, nails and bottle caps for little wheels. The children remind Jeremy of his six-year-old son, whom he misses terribly now. About half-way through, Team Georgia Sibs arrives and starts the task. Justin, being a physician, breaks down each piece so they can build it back up. As they work, some boys accidentally kick a football (soccer ball to us Yanks) into the pile and nearly wreck Jeremy & Sandy's work. But a nice little "header" by Sandy gets the boys back on the field. As Team Contradiction's cabbie asks for directions to the tailor shop, Team Sexagenarians decide to do ALL SEWN UP when they arrive at the tower. When Amani & Marcus arrive at the tower, they choose ALL SEWN UP as well, hoping it will be faster and allow them to catch-up. Team Drake Wannabes pass Team Snow Shredders in traffic as they both head for the school. At said school, the four men get to work on their trucks. They're all wondering what Sandy, a nurse, is doing AWAY from sewing...and she explains PATIENTLY that she sews BODIES, not FABRICS. WHITE
HORSE DE-SIGNS TAILOR SHOP As Ernie & Cindy arrive at the Market, Bill & Cathi are already out of the cab and looking for the shop. They both find it and each take a customer. Now... the sewing machines are NOT the latest from Singer or whatever. They are OLD...and they are powered by a pedal manually. Bill pushes the pedal while Cathi pushes the fabric. Ernie wonders if the machine's even threaded, but Cindy is there to watch him and help him. Some time later, Amani & Marcus arrive to start THEIR sewing lesson. The thread breaks on Cathi's machine but they decide to re-thread instead of just going to another machine. Team Contradiction does well, hoping not to use the EXPRESS PASS they won way back in Taiwan. But it's Team Sexagenarians who finish the pants first and get to work on the jacket. Team Hut-Hut! works both fabrics at once, Marcus confident he can carry on his mother's and grandmother's seaming legacy. Back at school, Jennifer helps Justin make the truck correctly. She thinks we take for granted the fact that more "advanced" peoples can just BUY a truck and is grateful to learn that those in Malawi know how to make due with what they have. Tommy hopes he remembers how to do this so he can do so for his OWN son when he returns. Team Get-To-Know and Team Georgia Sibs both finish their trucks at about the same time. But it's Jeremy & Sandy's truck that gets the nod first. They depart the DETOUR in first with this clue:
Before they run off, Sandy kicks the ball around a little with the boys. As they leave, Justin & Jennifer get THEIR trucks inspected and tested and leave in second. Shortly, Team Snow Shredders get approved and leave in third. They were happy with the toys they made saying the kids were "stoked" for them. Back to the Market. The three ALL SEWN UP teams are working feverishly but efficiently. After all, if the seams aren't right, they'll have to find another customer and start over. Bill & Cathi's machine gets unthreaded again...and that leaves it open for Jeremy & Sandy to finish their clothing first. The customer tries the pants and jacket on...and they fit very well. The couple leaves the DETOUR in fourth, heading for... R-K
FURNITURE SHOP Teams Get-To Know and Georgia Sibs almost literally stumble onto the shop in the town just outside of Lilongwe. The brother-sister team pass by the other team to get this important clue first:
(At the PIT STOP, Phil will let the teams know they NEED the beds...to SLEEP on overnight in the village.) Justin & Jennifer are first to get the owner to call a truck for them, leaving Jeremy & Sandy behind. As they wait, Andy & Tommy arrive to get their clue. Meanwhile, at NOT GROWN UP, Laurence & Zac get their trucks tested and leave the DETOUR in 5th. And, at ALL SEWN UP, Bill & Cathi finish the jacket and get the fit checked. They get the nod and leave in 6th...leaving Amani & Marcus like the Colts that Marcus used to be on: dead last and hating it! As Justin & Jennifer load up their truck and get hauling, Jeremy & Sandy and Andy & Tommy await THEIR trucks...and Laurence & Zac arrive to receive THEIR clue about the PIT STOP. Another truck arrives, but Team Snow Shredders take it for themselves, which upsets Sandy to no end. Team Contradiction and Team Sexagenarians arrive and get their clues. As they await trucks, Team Hut-Hut! finally finishes the sewing job, leaving in last...again. Team Get-To-Know finally gets their truck...while Team Drake Wannabes finds OUT they need a truck (they were trying to fit the bed on top of their taxi). One by one the teams load up their beds and haul off. When Amani & Marcus arrive, they're alone and last AGAIN. But they find a pick-up truck driver who could take their beds for them...and they are JUST BEHIND Laurence & Zac! Or...at least they WERE...until the cab breaks down! Ut-oh...they'll have to go in the truck, Amani in the cab, an angry Marcus in the bed WITH the beds. PIT
STOP #6 The truck stops at a sign saying that no vehicles can continue, so Justin & Jennifer hop out, put the beds on their shoulders and jog to the sound of distant drums. They see the mat, Phil and the local greeter (surrounded by singing locals) and haul their beds to them. Right behind them are Andy & Tommy. Phil lets both teams know they will be sleeping on the beds they just hauled. And then Phil says: "Justin & Jennifer, you are the first team to arrive." Already, Jennifer knows this isn't good. As it turns out, the siblings didn't pay the truck driver. they need to go back and settle up with him before they can be checked-in. As they leave the beds and their packs behind, Team Snow Shredders find themselves in very familiar territory: lucked into Team #1 status! And they get a 5-night trip by Travelocity(TM) to a private island in the British Virgin Islands! The dudes LOVE Africa, and are happy to win their fourth Leg! Back at the drop-off point, Teams Contradiction and Sexagenarians unload...but Cathi thinks they only need to pay the truck driver "at the end". Woops. Cindy doesn't do well balancing the bed on her head...but she laughs at her own ineptitude. Team Georgia Sibs pass them and Team Get-To-Know going back...but only Jeremy & Sandy hear that they have to pay. As they arrive back, Laurence & Zac unload. Justin & Jennifer pay their driver $40...and learn ANOTHER team didn't pay. As for said team, the two sixty-plus teachers pass Jeremy & Sandy en route to the PIT STOP, as Sandy bemoans her bleeding shoulder. Laurence is huffing and puffing as he & Zac pass Ernie & Cindy. Team Georgia Sibs arrives BACK at the PIT STOP and are officially checked-in as Team #2. Next time, pay your drivers, 'kay? As they are checked-in, Team Sexagenarians and Team Get-To-Know arrive. Bill & Cathi are turned around to pay THEIR driver, meaning Team Get-To-Know is back as Team #3. And there's Team Hut-Hut! at the drop-off point, paying their driver and hoisting their beds. Hmmm...very interesting... An exhausted Laurence & Zac are Team #4. And a nearly-as-exhausted Ernie & Cindy hit the mat as Team #5. And there're Bill & Cathi zipping by Amani & Marcus. Team Hut-Hut! realizes that they still have a chance! But, of course, they're not going to try to run with the heavy beds. They just keep up the pace and hope for the best. Bill & Cathi get to the driver and pay up...Amani & Marcus keep hauling...Team Sexagenarians run as fast as they can back up the road...Team Hut-Hut! try to move a bit faster, hoping against being passed... A married couple reaches the mat, exhausted from the day's events. And Phil says... "Bill & Cathi...you are Team #6!" As the football player/coach and his wife haul their beds up to the mat a few minutes later, Phil informs them they're the last team to arrive. Amani doesn't want it to be over. Well,...it isn't! This is the last N.E.L. of the Race! They're gonna use those beds tonight after all! Of course, that means a SPEED BUMP awaits them on the next Leg. Unlike the LAST to get the BUMP, they're still VERY close behind the next-to-last team...so an NFL-style comeback is NOT out of the question!
To see this episode in its entirety, or to apply to be a contestant on "The Amazing Race", visit the official website at www.cbs.com/amazingrace. |
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