When the going gets tough* - Boyzone

I've been following The Amazing Race Asia season 3 quite closely. Well, if you can't fly, you can at least watch the birds!

To be honest, i dun think the teams are as entertaining as they used to be. But then again, i'm thinking of last year's M'sian finalists, Vanessa and Pam! It was a real joy watching them. They were so... Malaysian! So... us! I dun think they were a strong team as in ability wise. But they made it up with sheer determination and grit. Kinda like the underdogs. They never fail to make us laugh!

But i must admit that this season has been really tough. Before the show started, they were saying about how this was gonna be "the toughest race ever". I dismissed it as just an advertising ploy.

But man, it's really tough!!!! Imagine a 25 hour bus ride! I'd just die! And my heart just went to Ida as she tried to down the HUGE bowl of stinky tofu with tears of agony streaming down her bloodshot eyes.

Still, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. And our racers have proved that they can be tough! Well, most of them!

Anyways, after 5 episodes, only 5 teams remain. Here's me take on them (in the order of how they came in in Episode 5):-

Vince and Sam

They were first time winners. In my opinion, i dun rate them very high. They are also neither entertaining nor interesting. Strange as Vince is supposedly a comedian! Boring team.

And they only won the round due to pure luck! The teams had to go thru thousands of blu-ray discs to look for the clue. No skill involved. They were just lucky to come across the right disc, and they went to do the fast forward - meaning they did not have to do the rest of the grueling tasks. All they had to do then was just go and get a tattoo.

Further, Sam lost some respect - from me anyways. He said as a matter of principle and religion, he disagrees with having a tattoo. But for TARA, he would do it. He would compromise his principles and religion!

Still, luck favours the brave and they have not been pushovers.

Henry and Bernie

They were my team from the beginning! they are M'sians and they're around my age! Well, older. They're older. They gave me the impression they will be a strong team. And they lived up to expectations.

They have won 2 rounds. In the last round, they came in second as the Hong Kong boys did the fast forward. In the first episode, it was down to bad luck that they did not win.

They have been impressive. In spite of bad luck - like when their jeep was the only one that has problems so they had to jump start it each time - they pushed on doggedly.

But i'm losing interest in them. Other that the aforesaid, they are not that interesting to watch now. It is a little amusing at times when Henry shows his frustration at Bernie - but not to her knowledge! Like how i would at me sis! But tt's it.

AD and Fuzzie

This team has won my respect - one of the 2. The second is mentioned below. I shamefully admit that i looked down on them and expected them to be out quickly. They have proved me wrong and i stand corrected.

Their strength? Their frenship! While other things may get to them, they are always united. No squabbles, no blaming, no tantrums. They have this understanding of each other and a good teamwork going on for them.

Geoff and Tisha

Well, every race needs a couple like Geoff and Tisha. The baddies. Actually, it's just the baddie.

It's quite sad tho - Geoff is such a stereotyped baddie. Rude, uncouth, determine to win at all costs. At one point of time, he just stood in public and starting blowing his whistle to get attention and help from anyone.

Unfortunately, people like him do get far in these kinda races. We'll see. So far, it's Geoff doing everything and Tisha is even less than a sidekick - more of a damsel in distress. Something which she doesn't like and to be fair, she always insists on putting in her fair share.

Ida and Tania

The 2nd Malaysian team! And i'm proud of them. They are slowly forcing their way to be my favourite team. Not yet, tho...

Again, i have to admit that at the beginning, i din think much of them. i thought they won't get far. They appeared to be rich, pampered and spoilt. No way they are gonna get thru the tough race. But they have, so far, even winning the 4th leg! Good job!

Don't be like me and look down on them. They may be rich and have lived sheltered lives(?) but when the going gets tough, they get going! No pushovers. Catching chickens, washing buses, digging coal etc. As mentioned earlier, the sight of Ida in tears but going on determinedly was really impressive.

And they are entertaining! Slowly becoming the Vanessa and Pamela for me. They are used to the comfortable life! So while others were trying to navigate a sampan across the river, they took a break and were buying cold drinks from another boat! While others rushed off to the next task after getting the right blu-ray disc, they went to buy food. Hehe. They would make jokes and even laugh at themselves! It is clear that while they take the race seriously, they are also there to enjoy themselves!

And the relationship too - they have something strong there. I like their attitude. Very positive. When things are not going their way, they do not turn negative and spew out expletives like some others. they just go on. they would encourage each other. You can tell how Tania's heart must have gone out to Ida as she watched Ida suffer with the tofu. She sat with her encouraging her all the way. And when Tania was looking for the coin in the coal, Ida reciprocated the encouragement. And it was good teamwork which saw them carry the pail of water up the hill.

And they are always polite and frenly to all! Well done!

Mai and Oliver

Ah, the team which i was glad was finally eliminated. I'm not going to hide my disgust at Mai - prolly the worst and weakest racer i've seen. in the first episode, Oliver had to carry her bag all the time! Poor guy.

In the second episode, Oliver had to catch all the chickens by his own while she just stood by and cried!!!! She din even help by keeping count of how chickens were caught.

And she's not very bright, is she? She was so confident that Ho Chi Minh City was in China! That was a hoot! A pity they din end up in the wrong country! In the last episode, she was quoted saying that they were like Dumb and Dumber. I could not agree more! I will miss their stupidity, tho.

What really turned me against them was in episode 4 when they found the clue but pretended they did not and went away quietly. If i am not mistaken, there was an agreement earlier with other teams that whichever team finds the clue, they would share it. They din.

Natalie and Pailin

OK. Special mention for this team. Yes, they were hot to look at. But they weren't pushovers either.

They were a classic example that TARA is a team race. It takes two. It was no surprise when they were eliminated - altho i was hoping it was going to be a non-elimination round. It was the round when Pailin just lost it. She basically gave up - in spirit. She was complaining and whining and saying that she did not sign up for this.

Perhaps the editors were nice to Natalie - she portrayed to be entirely patient with Pailin. She just went on. When Pailin just complained that changing the jeep tyres were too difficult and walked away, Natalie went on, struggling on her own.

We miss you, Natalie. You deserved a better partner!

Anyone wanna partner for The Amazing Race season 4? ;-)

*Their remake of Billy Ocean's classic