Wayne and I are back early this week in an attempt to time-shift our viewing time and free up our evening for some liquid libation. Tonight's task, to watch and review the show side by side. This should be fun. Of course, with all our editing it'll probably post at the same time.
We start tonight's leg with the usual recap and the reminder that Rex & Bob quit two tasks, only to be saved by Shawn's dislocated shoulder. Most of the viewers weren't really happy with that and Rex defended their decision in a Twitterchat with Wayne last week (check out his blog post), but if it hadn't been for Shawn's accident they would have been gone.
Natalie & Meaghan are the first team out once again at 11:01am and get the first clue leaving from Tofino to Hong Kong, China via Vancouver. 18 hours away, Hong Kong boasts one of the largest Canadian communities abroad.
Alain & Audrey are right on their tail and everyone is really excited to be getting out of Canada, despite all the people who seem to feel the race should stay inside Canada. Those are the same people who whined last year because the racers never left Canada. There's no pleasing everybody, but we called it right at the start.
Laura & Jackie leave at 1:26pm and we get the background video which never bodes well, but they did get engaged there so it may be fine. I'm hearing foreboding music in the background though. Anyone else?
As we guessed, everyone is on the same flight so it's an even start for all teams when they arrive in Hong Kong, which really sucks for those at the front. it does however makefor good television.
Arriving in Hong Kong, teams need to find Lantau Peak and ride a cable car to Ngong Ping Village. They need to seek out a blessing from a group of monks. Rex & Bob actually managed to make it out of the airport first and get a taxi thanks to a little research back in Vancouver. Natalie & Meaghan are right behind while Jinder & Sukhi decide to take a bus after asking a local, but then they miss it. This could be interesting.
Rex & Bob are first to the cable car, with the Olympians dogging their tail. Oh look, another levelling spot . . . gates open at 8:00am. Everyone has to sign up on the sheet for one of three morning blessings and then look forward to a 268 step ascent to the TianTan Buddah to find their next clue. Signed up for the first blessing is Natalie & Meaghan, Rex & Bob, and Laura & Jackie. Ryan & Rob, Alain & Audrey, and Cormac & Nicole. Which leaves Mickey & Pete, Sukhi & Jinder, and Pierre & Michel.
Time for the first blessing, followed by Rex complaining about the 4,000 steps. The Olympians find the next clue to . . . Locate the Golden Dragon Statue on Hong Kong island, followed by Laura & Jackie in 2nd. The second blessing commences.
Natalie & Meaghan are now in search of Causeway Bay for the Dragon, but once again somehow get passed by Rex & Bob. they may be stronger competitors than they look. Maybe.
Detour: Kung Fu Master or Master Chef. Which one is Rex going to quit. In Master Chef teams must locate the restaurant Bo Innovation, where they'll be greeted by Master Chef Canada judge Alvin Leung who will give them a shopping list with 10 ingredients to create one of his signature dishes, they need to purchase the ingredients from the Wan Chai Market . . . in Kung Fu Master teams must suit up in traditional Kung Fu uniforms and master a routine to get their next clue. What, no cooking? Wayne and I would take Master Chef anyway, I'd hate to pull a muscle in Hong Kong.
Rex wants to do Kung Fu but Bob wants to do Master Chef, so they're doing Master Chef, as do Laura & Jackie, while Natalie & Meaghan debate on using their Express Pass. Hmm, seems like a waste to me. Rex eventually overpowers Bob's decision and he may be right on this one.
Laura & Jackie get to the chef first and he throws down his shopping list in a dramatic flurry so off they go in search of anyone who speaks English. Rex actually looks good in his Kung Fu attire but apparently that Order of Canada, and dance career isn't much help to him.
Natalie & Meaghan decide to use the Express Pass and are now off to She Wong Lam restaurant on Hillier Street to get their next clue. Wayne and I both think it's a little early for that but I kinda understand their reasoning. Hope it works for them.
Nicole, Cormac's a big boy now. He can handle it. They decide to do Kung Fu Master, as do Alain & Audrey (no surprise for Alain). The Bartenders are stuck in traffic and dropping into last place. Pierre & Michel decide to do Kung Fu Master, while Jinder & Sukhi are going shopping.
The hardest item on the shopping list is likely the Canadian Maple Syrup. Everything else looks pretty simple. of course, if you've never shopped before it may be more difficult.
Despite being in first place the Olympians seem to have taken a wrong turn somewhere and are now completely lost. Time to find a map girls. That or someone who speaks English.
Laura & Jackie luckily find someone who agrees to help them with their shopping list. In the meantime, Cormac & Nicole have mastered the Kung Fu Master task and received their next clue. This may give them the chance to pull into first place.
The Olympians finally found the next clue . . . Roadblock: Time for one team member to get in touch with their inner foodie, the Snake Master will show them their snake, remove its gall bladder and empty the bile into a shot glass. This would be my task, and it's followed with a delicious bowl of snake meat soup. Yummy. I'm getting hungry already.
Natalie decides to do the Roadblock but looks less than pleased with her decision when she realizes she has to drink the gall bladder bile. Wait until she gets the bowl of yummy soup. I wonder what he pours in with the bile. Natalie had no problem downing her shot and now it's soup time. No problem again.
Teams must now find Hong Kong's Avenue of the Stars to locate the Memorial dedicated to Kung Fu Legend Bruce Lee in his classic pose. Teams then need to meet with a film director to recreate a scene and when he gets the perfect shot they get their next clue.
Back at the Detour Pierre & Michel, and Alain & Audrey are still at it. As are the Bartenders and the Old Couple, until Rex & Bob complete the task and move on. Laura & Jackie, and Jinder & Sukhi are both still searching for the Canadian Maple Syrup.
After a little back and forth, Nicole decides she can handle the snake soup. It looked a little touch and go to start with but she got through it like a Mom. Meanwhile, Pierre & Michel and Mickey & Pete finish their Kung Fu task, leaving the Bartenders and Alain & Audrey behind, until the Bartenders moved on. Audrey doesn't want to lose The Amazing Race Canada because of Kung Fu, but it my be too late for that as they start to stress out at the task. Finally, the pressure of feeling last pushes them through.
Laura and Jackie messed up on their shopping when they brought fresh peppers which were'nt on the list. Back they go to the market.
Natalie & Meaghan raced through the Director's Shot and got their next clue . . . Make your way to the Kowloon Walled City Park and search the grounds for the Pit Stop for Leg 3. The girls are kicking butt. Let's hope they keep it up and don't make another wrong turn.
While looking for the snake restaurant Mickey & Pete where on the wrong side of the street and when they saw Pierre & Michel, the twins motioned for them to go the other way. I can't believe the Dudes would actually listen to them. One of the twins decides to do the task (no idea which), while Mickey & Pete are off in the wrong direction. Rule # 617, Never listen to another team.
The Dudes realize the twins lied to them and race back, where they bump into the Bartenders, only to believe them again. What is wrong with those boys? Eventually they catch on and catch up to Pierre & Michel as one of them finishes his soup and asks for another one. That'd be me.
Nicole and Cormac made equally short work of the Director's task, but once again it was Natalie & Meaghan who arrived first at the mat. Hat trick. They also win two roundtrip tickets to anywhere Air Canada flies in China and another $2000 on their ScotiaBank Amex Card.
Cormac & Nicole have raced up the pack to be Team Number 2. Way to go.
Laura & Jackie return with the right item and they're off, just before Sukhi & Jinder arrive to complete the task. Bob's turn for the bile and snake soup, finishing up as Alain arrives. Audrey is so glad Alain is doing this one.
Uh oh. Rex & Bob have made a wrong turn and are once again not sure where they're going. Luckily they run into someone who recognized Rex and helps turn them around.
The Bartenders and Dudes also made the Director's task look easy, which it really was. Not so easy was Jinder trying to be supportive of Sukhi as she ate the yummy snake soup. She was still trying to swallow as she was handed the next clue.
Pierre & Michel are Team Number 3.
Jackie being a vegetarian may have a small problem with the soup.
Ryan & Rob managed to move into Team Number 4, Mickey & Pete are Team Number 5, and Alain & Audrey are Team Number 6. While Rex & Bob managed to move up to Team Number 7. I'm happy to see they didn't quit anything.
It looks close for last place between Sukhi & Jinder, and Laura & Jackie, but Sukhi & Jinder are Team Number 8 and still in it. Bringing up the rear is Laura & Jackie and they are the last team to arrive and have been eliminated from the race. Sorry to see you go girls, chat with you soon.
Called it. Apparently Wayne and I have figured out a formula to the edting that gives it away. We're not always right, but more often than not.
Next week, the teams are leavingHong Kong and now race to the gambling capital of the world . . . Macau, China, where gambling decisions lead to big mistakes. Any gambling is a mistake, but add in a language barrier and things should get interesting.
Look for Cory Mitic's opinion on tonights episode later this week, as well as our video recap which we may even attempt to do this evening. Think of it as a task.