" If someday you'll find yourself thirsting for comfort, 'coz you're in deep pain and frustration, remember that next to God, i could always be your refuge when everyone doesn't hear your cries. "
The Amazing Race Asia 2: Finale Episode
February 16, 2008
EPISODE 13
After crossing multiple continents, and gracing the shores of 10 countries, from Singapore, New Zealand, Germany, Hungary to South Africa, three teams have made it to the top three spots, but only one team can win The Amazing Race Asia.
Will it be hunky Marc and Rovilson, whose charm and ability have put them in first place in eight of the eleven pitstops, or will it be buddies Collin and Adrian, who, despite Adrian’s hearing impairment, have managed to creep up and give Marc and Rovilson a run for their money? Or will sisters Pamela and Vanessa repeat history, and be the second Malaysian team to win The Amazing Race Asia?
GAME ON
Knowing that this is the last time they will get to be the first team to leave the pit stop, Marc and Rovilson are now gunning for the top prize. So far, the hunks have fulfilled two of the four goals they set for themselves, namely not to get eliminated and to be in the top three teams. Their third goal was to win the leg in Philippines, but they were beaten by Pamela and Vanessa for that.
Competitors Collin and Adrian are also looking to see this race through to the end. "One of our goals was just to reach the top three and we did it," notes Collin.
And even with the same objectives, which is to win, Pamela points out that there is another common experience shared by the three teams. "All top three teams are teams who have won a leg," she points out.
From the Aquila Game Reserve in Cape Town, South Africa, teams must head to the District 6 Museum to receive their next clue. Named after the Cape Town area where residents were forcibly removed from their homes, the museum serves as a reminder of those events.
Using a Sony Vaio notebook, teams must unlock password on the notebook using the original street names found in District Six. Rushing to the museum, teams are immediately struck by traffic woes. "I’m ready to win and we’re stuck (in traffic)," says Pamela, "Do you think it would be terrible if we break the law of the city?" And right on cue, Vanessa cuts out of the main road and starts driving on the road shoulder towards District 6.
Marc and Rovilson are the first to the museum, and immediately start keying the street names into the notebook, hoping to unlock the clue. After a few random tries, the duo unlocks the clue, which tells them to read one paragraph off the wall, which describes the history of the district, before they will be given the next clue.
Collin, Adrian, Vanessa and Pamela arrive at the museum together, and both teams are working side by side, trying to be the first to break the password. But both teams have to be careful, in case the other team overhears the street name that happens to unlock the notebook.
WHAT’S THE FREQUENCY?
The next challenge is a Detour and teams must head to the Vitoria and Alfred Waterfront, more commonly known as the V & A Waterfront.
In Search, teams must head to The Scratch Patch, where a collection of tens of thousands of tumble polished gemstones lie, waiting for visitors to bring them home. Within the sea of multicolored stones, teams must pick up three specially market stones for their next clue.
In Assemble, teams must make a traditional wire radio out of a collection of parts. Once the completed unit is able to receive radio signals, teams will receive their next clue.
Marc and Rovilson pick Search and head to the Scratch Patch, but are immediately overwhelmed by the vast number of stones located in the patch. The objective is to pick out three yellow stones with a red dot on it. "You know what? That radio thing is looking real good right now," says Marc. His partner agrees and the duo switches to Assemble.
The second team to get the password, Adrian and Collin read the paragraph and receive their next clue. It seems that the guys do think alike as the gym buddies also pick Search as their choice. Meanwhile, Pamela and Vanessa complete the museum task and pick Assemble.
Arriving at the Scratch Patch, Adrian and Collin as equally overwhelmed by the thousands of stones in front of them. "When we saw the pebbles, we thought, how on earth can we find the three marked pebbles?" exclaims Collin. "We gave ourselves 10 minutes." But it took them less than that to locate their first marked rock. This sealed the decision for the buddies and they continue to try and locate the other two.
In just one try, Marc and Rovilson complete their radio, which proves to be music to their ears when they were handed their next clue. At the radio shack, the sisters find themselves sitting along with the radio parts and figure that Adrian and Collin must be searching for their rocks.
GOAL! (PART 1)
Teams must now head to the soccer field at FC Kapstadt, which is located next to the site of the 2010 World Cup. They must score three goals from the penalty line to get the next clue.
But it seems that soccer isn’t the pastime of the two Filipinos. Despite multiple tries, both Marc and Rovilson fail to score even a goal. In the end, Rovilson jokingly tries to bribe his way to the clue. "Listen," he tells the goalkeeper. "We’re going to win $100,000. If you lay down, I’ll spot you 10 grand." He then quickly corrects himself. "Pesos," he quickly adds.
As luck would have it, Adrian and Collin locate the remaining two rocks and are headed to the soccer field. Pamela and Vanessa try desperately to complete the radio, but Vanessa pricks herself with a tool. "I should win the award for the most injured," she laments. "I lost my memory. What else? I lost my memory right? I can’t remember the others."
But they sisters soon fine tune their radio, and are rewarded with the clue as well.
Teams must now head to Atlantis Dunes and ride an All-Terrain Vehicle, or Quad Bike, around a sand course. Located in the course are 18 possible containers, with only one containing the necessary clue. The other 17 contain an hourglass. If teams open a container with the hourglass, they must flip it and let the device run its course, before continuing to their next clue.
The first team to Atlantis Dunes, Rovilson is in awe of the jaw dropping beauty of the sand.
"We were like, on another planet, it was indescribable." Naturally, the first clue they open contains an hourglass and the duo have to wait for the sand to run out. Rovilson responds, "I feel like a storm trooper."
Adrian and Collin get to the dunes, as Marc and Rovilson open up yet another hourglass.
"This is insane," points out Rovilson, as they sit waiting for the sand to run its course and see another team tearing across the dunes. "Collin and Adrian are here, hot on our heels."
Upon realising it is yet another driving task, Pamela cannot help but roll her eyes. "Anything can happen in the sand dunes, anything can happen on the road," she says.
Her sister chimes in, "Anything can happen on the road while I’m driving."
GOAL! (PART 2)
As Marc and Rovilson open yet another hourglass filled container, Adrian and Collin have their own problems. The back wheels of one of their Quad bikes sinks in the sand and is unable to move. The duo tries their best to free the vehicle, only to free the back wheel and lodge the front wheel in the sand.
Soon, the sisters arrive and six drivers are now roaming around the area, searching for the correct container.
As Marc and Rovilson sit waiting for another hourglass to empty, they see Adrian and Collin zip past not one, but two containers in a row. Puzzled, the duo can only wonder what the Singaporeans are up to. "What are they doing? They didn’t pick up the last two pods," Marc wonders. "I don’t know what their strategy is actually, but it has us concerned."
It seems the gym buddies do have a strategy that counts on watching for the tracks on the sand, to see if another team has already opened it. Explains Collin, "We came up with a strategy for alternate ones. If we keep on opening all, it will be difficult." "The ones they have stepped on, it means it’s not there."
Realising their strategy, Rovilson is already forming a plan to outsmart the gym buddies.
"Now, it’s become a chess game. Sneaky little guys." As it turns out, Marc and Rovilson open up their next container, to discover the clues within it. Instead of jumping for joy though, the hunks simply sit down in the sand.
Why? Adrian and Collin are just right behind them, at another container. Their intention is to act as if they uncovered another hourglass, and as waiting for the green light to move on. "I don’t mind waiting until they pass us," says Rovilson. "We’re testing our acting skills by pretending we have an hour glass, waiting for time to go by, explains Rovilson. "Hopefully, Adrian and Collin pass by this and onto the next one."
(more…)
The Amazing Race Asia 2: What the executive producer/ director have to say? Week 12 (Audio)
podcast-wk-12b
