The Amazing Race Asia 3 - Episode 3

Are you kidding me? A 25-hour Bus Ride?

Henry and Bernie head out first at 5 AM. The first task is to travel to the city of Hue by bus. When they arrived at the bus station, they couldn’t believe that it would take around 25 hours to get there. Not only that, the buses are not the luxurious type and they will be traveling with boxes and sacks of goods so it’s gonna be a bit cramped.

Here’s how the distribution of buses went:

Bus 1 had Henry and Bernie and Niroo and Kapil. Niroo thought it’s going to take only 1 and a half hours since TARA let them ride on such buses. Not only that, they encountered a flat tire and had to wait for awhile on the side of the road allowing Bus 2 to pass them.

Bus 2 is an air-conditioned one with three teams on board. Sam and Vince, AD and Fuzzie and Geoff and Tisha.

Bus 3 is also air-conditioned with only Ida and Tania as the team on it.

Bus 4 had Mai and Oliver and the Beauty Queens. Not only were they last but they also encountered a flat tire as well.

Finally Arrived at Hue!

After an uncomfortable bus ride, Bus 1 managed to arrive first followed by Bus 3 at around 6 AM. Henry and Bernie got to the clue box first. The teams must walk on foot towards the local Caltex service facility which opens at 9:30 AM. This allowed the other teams to catch up except for those in the last bus.

They could’ve caught up but they got lost looking for the service center. The 4 Thailanders headed onto the wrong direction before they found out that the service center is just near the clue box.

Automobile Maintenance

At the service center, teams must choose a jeep where they must put on some tires and change the oil. I thought all-girl team would have some difficulties here but Ida and Tania and AD and Fuzzie didn’t seem to have any problem.

As usual, Mai’s role is to just hand over the tools to Oliver who knows his way with cars. Pailin however has to do most of the work as Natalie doesn’t even want to help lift the tires. Anybody here thinks that Oliver and Pailin should be the one to team up?

Sam and Vince finished first followed by Niroo and Kapil. Henry and Bernie went third and the beauty queens were the last to finish.

Let’s Ride Them Jeeps

Teams must then ride their jeep along with the driver to Khai Dinh Tomb to find the next clue.

Henry and Bernie were unlucky with their jeep when it broke down and they had to push for it to start.

Anyway, Niroo and Kapil were the first to get to the tomb with the other teams arriving shortly.

ROADBLOCK: Coin Collecting

In this roadblock, a racer must ride the jeep again to a nearby ancient grounds. Once there, he must search the grounds for 7 different coins each representing an emperor and bring it back for the next clue. This will allow the other team member to rest for awhile in the shade.

Niroo, Vince, Henry, Ida, AD, Geoff, Oliver and Natalie head out for the roadblock while their other halves rested nearby. This was the time when the teams confronted Tisha about Geoff saying that he was being mean or rude to them. Poor Tisha.

The coins were laid out on stone benches with a brief story about the emperor. Niroo was the first to collect all coins and went back. He got the next clue which is to arrange the coins in the order of the reign of the emperor it represents.

Henry and Vince however, didn’t take any chances as they wrote the info on each emperor. Same goes with AD and Geoff. Going back, Henry’s jeep won’t start so he had to push it again. Good thing Bernie didn’t do the roadblock.

As the teams arrived back at the tomb, Niroo was begging the others to help him out but everyone is busy with their task. Henry was the first to arrange the coins in the correct order and got the next clue. He gave his notes to Vince who was having a bit of trouble. He said it’s a sign of gratitude to Vince for lending him his pen. You’re a good guy Henry.

At this point, Niroo rode his jeep again back at the ancient grounds to take down notes. AD finished the task next and gave her coins in the correct order to Ida. Vince finally got his coins right but didn’t bother to mess the order up prompting Sam to say that they’re not a happy family.

DETOUR: Sticks or Stalks?

The next task is a detour where teams must choose whether to create 10 incense sticks by rolling the sticks thinly on some clay (takes skill and patience), or thresh a bunch of rice stalks (hard work under the sun).

Henry and Bernie got to the incense making task first followed shortly by the others who also chose “stick”. Geoff doesn’t have the patience for the task after a few tries so they switched to “stalks”.

Back at the Detour Task

Back at the tomb, Natalie had to go back to the ancient grounds to get the correct order while Pailin waits patiently. Oliver finally got his coins right as Niroo just got back from taking notes.
Bad Jeep

Henry and Bernie finished the stick task first and went to the next task where they had to ride their jeep again to Quoc Hoc Park to search for the next clue.

When they got to their jeep, they saw the hood open with their driver trying to fix it. This cost them time as Sam and Vince were able to finish their sticks and went past by them. When they finally managed to get it to start, AD and Fuzzie and Ida and Tania also just finished their task.

Sorry Pailin

At this point, Natalie just got back to the tomb but still can’t arrange the coins correctly even after going back to the ancient grounds to jot down notes. Niroo finished the task as Natalie went to a corner and sulked.

She finally decided not to complete the task and just take the 4-hour penalty when they reach the Pit Stop. When she got the next clue, Pailin was ecstatic only to find out that Natalie didn’t complete the task. What a letdown for Pailin who can’t do anything about it anymore.

Can’t Find the Clue

When the teams arrived at Quoc Hoc Park, they scattered to find the clue. They were looking for a clue box not knowing that the clues are on some cyclos parked near the entrance.

Sam and Vince were the first to saw where the clues are but the others quickly noticed them.

Cycling to the Pit Stop

cyclo Their next task is to ride a cyclo to the Pit Stop at Hue Citadel. A cyclo is some sort of reversed trike where the passengers seats at the front and the driver pedals from behind. It’s pretty hard to maneuver and some teams didn’t know how to use the brakes.

Geoff’s temper flared up as they try to maneuver the cyclo. Luckily for Tisha she’s already used to his temper.

Henry bumped a vehicle along the road and their cyclo flipped over. Good thing Bernie was alright. They quickly gathered their belongings and went on their way.

After a bit of argument on how to handle the cyclo, Fuzzie sat down really tired and wanting to give up.

Vince was having a hard time too and lashed out on Sam who just let him be and allowed him cool down a bit. Good for them.

At the Pit Stop

Nothing dramatic here. Henry and Bernie arrived first again and won themselves a Sony HD cam each. Sam and Vince were a close second followed shortly by Ida and Tania.

Expectedly, Pailin and Natalie were the last team to arrive and were eliminated.

Position of each team after the 2nd leg:

1st Henry and Bernie (won 2 Sony HD cam)
2nd Sam and Vince
3rd Ida and Tania
4th AD and Fuzzie
5th Geoff and Tisha (still 5th)
6th Mai and Oliver
7th Niroo and Kapil
8th Pailin and Natalie (eliminated)

The Amazing Race Asia 3 - Episode 2

Flight of the Gibbon

Their first task is to travel to the village of Mae Kompong and do the Flight of the Gibbon Treetop Adventure where they will ride zip lines over the rainforest.

Mai and Oliver found a willing passerby to let them stay in her house for the night thinking that the venue won’t open till morning. Geoff and Tisha and Henry and Bernie took their time going there as well.

The rest of the teams who left at around midnight headed straight to the Flight of the Gibbon immediately. Sam and Vince got there first and was able to get the first slot! It seems that the task can only be done by one team at a time. Oops too bad for Mai and Oliver.

In the morning, the first team to finish the task was Sam and Vince followed by AD and Fuzzie then by Ida and Tania who were onto the next task. Expectedly, Mai and Oliver finished last.
ROADBLOCK: Paintball

Next task is to go to a banana plantation to search for a backpack somewhere which has the clues in it. However, they have to avoid getting hit by paintball snipers hidden in the area or else they have to go back to the starting point.

Even though Sam and Vince finished the previous task first, they were unlucky with their taxi driver who got lost. Same with AD and Fuzzie and the rest who just followed the lead taxi. Geoff and Tisha got a good driver and they were the first to arrive at the plantation with a comfortable lead.

Geoff who was in a good mood for being first set off to the plantation in search for the backpack. Problem with being first is that all snipers are focused on you so he wasn’t able to get past them and quickly lost their lead… and his cool.

Guess who arrived second? Mai and Oliver!

Anyway, the rest of the team finally arrived and the first to finish was Ida with a nice lead from the others. She was followed by Fuzzie despite being a big target. Mai finished 3rd and Bernie was 4th who was bruised badly by a paintball. Guess who finished last? Sam and Vince!

Going to Vietnam

Next task is to go to the Saigon Opera House in Ho Chi Minh City for their next clue.

Ida and Tania arrived at the airport first and were able to secure the first earliest flight to Vietnam via Bangkok before other teams could arrive.

Next fastest flight is via Siem Reap, Cambodia. Henry/Bernie, AD/Fuzzie, Geoff/Tisha, Niroo/Kapil and Sam/Vince boarded that flight.

Even though Mai and Oliver arrived at the airport early, they weren’t aware of the plane to Cambodia. They got a ticket to Vietnam via Bangkok but it will leave Bangkok in the morning. Fortunately for them, they were joined by the Beauty Queens and the Koreans.

Ida and Tania arrived in Ho Chi Minh early in the evening well ahead of the others and promptly find their next clue.

Let’s Play a Video Game

Their next task is to go to Saigon Pho Cafe and play a Nokie space racing game called System Rush. Each member must complete a level to get their next clue.

No problem for Ida and Tania who got their clue even before the second batch of teams landed in Vietnam.

Where’s The Flower Vendor?

Teams must then make their way to Ben Thanh Market where they will get their next clue from a flower vendor.

Since it was already late, Ida and Tania were informed by the locals at the market that the flower stall opens at 7 AM so they just called it a night and check in into a hotel.

Second Batch Has Finally Arrived

The next batch of teams finally landed at Ho Chi Minh City. Only AD and Fuzzie had problems locating the Saigon Opera House so they were left behind by the others.

Vince and Sam had no problems with their video game. Tisha and Bernie had a bit of difficulty with theirs while their male counterparts just waited unable to do anything.

Henry or Geoff?

Here’s the difference between the two during the task. While Tisha is having troubles completing the game, Geoff kept on goading her to the point that Tisha is getting annoyed.

Henry however, just allowed Bernie to concentrate even though it’s frustrating him every time Bernie had to start all over again. Henry was kinda amusing as he made funny faces at the camera out of frustration.

Anyway, Geoff and Tisha finished ahead of  Henry and Bernie. When they got to the market, they saw the Hours of Operation sign on the flower stall that actually opens at 6 AM!

Not good for Ida and Tania. Sam and Vince somehow missed the sign as well.

Meanwhile, Back in Bangkok

The Koreans and the Thailanders are stuck in Bangkok waiting for their flight to Vietnam at 9 AM in the morning. Only Pailin and Natalie chose to stay at the airport where Natalie broke down crying not able to bear the thought of her sleeping inside an airport.

It’s A Brand New Day

At 6 AM, the first teams to get the clue and leave for the next task were Geoff and Tisha, Niroo and Kapil and AD and Fuzzie. So far so good for the Pinoys.

They’re to travel to Cai Be Bus Terminal where they will get their next clue.

DETOUR: Sampan or Some Walk

Next task is a detour. In Sampan, teams must fill a boat with fruits and transport it to a fruit vendor via the river. In Some Walk, teams must find a chicken coop and capture 20 chickens to put into baskets. They must then carry the baskets and deliver them to a nearby market.

Rowing is tricky and very hard but Geoff and Tisha, AD and Fuzzie still chose to do it. Tania has phobia handling chickens so they chose to row as well.

Niroo and Kapil chose to capture chickens and so does Henry and Bernie who found the chicken coop first.

Meanwhile, Sam and Vince got kicked out of their bus on their way to Cai Be. They lost some time walking on the road until they were able to hitch a ride.

Hard Headed Geoff

Geoff and Tisha had difficulties loading the baskets of fruits on the boat and Geoff was clearly exasperated at the situation. When they finally finished loading the fruits, he’s finding it hard to control the boat with the oars. Out of frustration, he smashed a fruit (was it a watermelon) onto his head and broke it open.

AD and Fuzzie and Ida and Tania were not having fun as well and they decided to switch and do the chicken task instead. Geoff and Tisha followed suit. Sam and Vince were able to catch up as well at this time.

Chicken Run

The chicken task is no cakewalk either. Bernie had a hard time carrying the baskets on her back. Getting lost on their way to the market vendor did not help the tension between her partner either. Same goes with Niroo who was not physically fit to carry a heavy load in such a distance.

Anyway, Henry and Bernie were the first to finish the detour and got their next clue. By this time, you could see that the teams are really, really tired.

Time For A Bit Of Charity

Unfortunately, it’s not yet the Pit Stop. Instead, they must travel back to Ho Chi Minh City by bus to this church with a long, weird name where Red Cross volunteers are waiting. Each volunteer represents a charitable organization and teams were given $500 each to buy things needed for the charity.

Back at Chicken Task

Back in Cai Be, Geoff took Ida and Tania’s chicken baskets by mistake. Or was it intentional since Ida’s baskets were full of small chickens? Anyway, Ida chased Geoff and he had to go back to switch baskets. Tisha was really tired at this point and Geoff was getting impatient.

Sam and Vince were able to catch up with Niroo and Kapil so they left for the next task at the same time.

Ida and Tania and AD and Fuzzie boarded the same van leaving Geoff and Tisha behind.

Whistleblower

When Geoff and Tisha arrived at the bus terminal, Geoff kept blowing his whistle looking for a driver. Tisha who was already tired wasn’t in the mood to argue anymore and just let Geoff do his thing.

Last Three Teams to Vietnam

Nothing special to report here. The beauty queens were the last to finish the video game. On their way to Cai Be, Natalie broke down again. It seems that she can’t bear being dirty and wants to quit the race. She called being dirty the lowest form of existence.

A Friend in Need

Back at the church with the long, weird name; Henry for some reason suddenly broke down crying as they were just about to leave for their charity. He said that its because of the stress and that he’s really tired.

Anyway, they bought a couple of sacks of rice and some food for their charity and got their next clue well ahead of the others.

Pit Stop

Yup! Finally it’s the pit stop where teams must make their way to the Museum of Vietnamese History for a well-deserved rest.

Henry and Bernie arrived first and won themselves a year’s supply of petrol from Caltex. Good job guys! You deserved to be first!

So What Did The Others Bought For Their Charity?

Sam and Vince raided a supermarket and bought groceries. AD and Fuzzie had it easy just buying a keyboard (piano) with their money. Geoff and Tisha, did some more heavy lifting to add to their frustration as they had to buy baskets of vegetables. The Indians also bought some groceries. Ditto for Ida and Tania.

And The Last Three Teams?

All three teams went to do the chicken task since it’s too late and dark for rowing. As usual, Oliver did all the work gathering the chickens while Mai just stood there crying and made a good job being practically useless.

Same goes with Isaac who can’t bear handling chickens. They were left behind by the other teams considering that they should breeze through the task for being fit for heavy lifting. Got beaten by three girls and a guy.

Poor Volunteers

Pity the volunteers for having to wait all evening for the last three teams. Anyway, Mai and Oliver just bough a laptop with their money. Pailin and Natalie simply gave the money to the head of their chosen charity.

Lagging behind, the Koreans still had to buy some groceries and arrived at the Pit Stop last and were eliminated.

Position of each team after the 2nd leg:

1st Henry and Bernie (won a year’s supply of petrol from Caltex)
2nd AD and Fuzzie
3rd Sam and Vince
4th Niroo and Kapil
5th Geoff and Tisha
6th Ida and Tania
7th Pailin and Natalie
8th Mai and Oliver
9th Isaac and William (eliminated)

Over-the-top reality

Manila, Philippines - Reality shows rarely appeal to me, for on the whole I find them boring (that’s why we watch TV entertainment shows, after all, to escape from our boring “real” lives). But I make exceptions of shows that are over-the-top in concept and execution, involving high-strung folk engaged in endless intrigue and drama.

An old favorite and perennial Emmy award winner is “Amazing Race,” but lately, especially after its second season, I’ve found that the “Asian” version holds more appeal. Apart from the fact that there are Filipino racers, thereby hiking up the interest factor, I find it refreshing to “see” the world, or at least the destinations where the racers are assigned, through Asian eyes. One of the things which riled me while watching the original US version was watching racers, most of whom come from the United States, encounter the Third World and pass judgment on the people, places, scents and food they were meeting for the first time. It struck me as simply astonishing that in this globalized world, some folk could still be so sheltered and parochial as to be gobsmacked by poverty, squalor, flies, near-naked children and unfamiliar food. Why join The Amazing Race if not to see the world and all its splendors?

With many of its racers themselves coming from the Third World—save maybe for Japanese, Singaporeans and Koreans—The Amazing Race Asia (TARA) shows a more harmonious meeting between the racers and the places they are visiting. There is less “exoticizing” of poverty and less condescension from the racers, though this isn’t always the case.

During the inaugural episode of the third season of TARA, the first challenge was to find a food stall in a public market in Bangkok and there each team was expected to finish a bowl filled with, uhhmm, exotic ingredients, like fried beetles, locusts and assorted insects. I thought that since the racers were all Asian, or married to Asians, or living in Asia, everyone would find this challenge a piece of cake. Asians, after all, are known for “eating everything,” and possessing iron stomachs.

But I guess the younger generation has truly been “Westernized” not just in dress and manner but in their diet as well, as many teams couldn’t seem to get around to biting into the crisp shells and wriggly antennae and, once ingested, keep them down.

My own children, who are both young adults, couldn’t help exclaiming “yeecchh!” with each mouthful of critters. When I told them how much I loved eating camaru, the field locusts that are caught in nets spread over rice fields and then prepared adobo-style, they looked at me like I was Hannibal Lecter.

Another sort of “culture clash” surfaced in the next challenge which involved teams cleaning up dirty tourist buses. A team from Malaysia, composed of an actress and a “socialite-heiress,” was particularly annoying. At one point, the socialite was mopping the bus with a vengeance and uttering under her breath: “My maid would be so proud of me!” Noblesse oblige, indeed.

It’s a point of pride among Filipino viewers that the Philippine team, former beauty queen Tisha Silang and her boyfriend Geoff Rodriguez, placed second at the end of the episode after a well-fought race that they played with integrity. This, after the local team in the last season: Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez, consistently ended up in first place in every episode (though they finished third overall) in the last season, winning over new fans.

This year’s version is said to be the most grueling race ever, and I for one look forward to many exciting shows and amusing confrontations.

Drama and intensity in Race 3

With its gruelling challenges, The Amazing Race Asia Season 3 promises intense action and drama.

Prepare yourself for more drama and heart-pumping action as AXN brings you The Amazing Race Asia Season 3.

It is said to be the toughest race ever as the teams will be experiencing a harder journey and intense challenges.

Close to 19 million viewers across Asia tuned in to this award-winning reality travel competition last season.

The third instalment of the Asian edition promises more excitement from the contestants. It also has the highest number of family ties compared with the previous seasons.
Geared up for the challenge are 10 teams from Malaysia, India, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Korea and the Philippines.

The Malaysian contestants are model and TV host Bernie Chan who teams up with her brother Henry and actress Ida Nerina who teams up with Tania Khan.

“The main thing is to be physically fit because you have to run with a backpack that weighs 10kg,” says 39-year-old Bernie.

For Ida and Tania, the hardest challenge is packing light, as neither have backpacked before.

“I found a big bag of sweets, a story book and a copy of Hello! Magazine inside Tania’s backpack,” jokes Bernie.

“I think we did pretty good since we usually have people carrying our bags when travelling,” said Tania.

This time, it would be different as many of the contestants are not used to the demands of high adventure.

With beauty queens, model and actors joining up for this highly anticipated programme, viewers would be seeing many dramatic and funny moments, meltdowns and actions.

Actor/host Allan Wu, 36, returns as host of The Amazing Race Asia Season 3.

The winning team stands to win US$100,000 (RM350,000).

The Amazing Race Asia Season 3 premieres on Thursday on AXN (Astro channel 701) at 9pm.

For details, visit http://amazing-race-asia.axn-asia.com.

Driving force behind ‘Amazing Race Asia 3’

CaltexTM, one of Asia’s leading energy brands, is the driving force behind "The Toughest Race" – "The Amazing Race Asia Season 3" as it presented an exclusive preview of the show’s first episode to its VIP Star Card customers and media recently Caltex also plans to host a variety of activities that will allow fans to demonstrate support for their local team. Team Philippines is being represented by model Geoff Rodriquez and former beauty queen Tish Silang.

The exclusive advance screening recently held at the Fiamma Restaurant along Jupiter St., in Makati City, treated VIP Star Card customers and media to "The Toughest Race" in three editions which highlighted values that match the values behind the Caltex brand.

"‘The Amazing Race Asia’ series demonstrate talents, patience,determination, resilience, strength of character and integrity, which are values that are also shared by Caltex and Chevron employees. Chevron Corporation, which owns and markets the Caltex brand, strongly believes in harnessing the sheer power of ‘human energy,’ and this sponsorship is a demonstration of that commitment," said Randy H. Johnson, country chairman and general manager of Chevron Philippines Inc.

This sponsorship makes Caltex the first and only energy company to be featured prominently in regional entertainment. "The Amazing

Race Asia" is the Asian edition of the 15-time nominated, seven-time Emmy Award winning reality travel competition. Caltex is a proud sponsor of the third season, which comprises 10 diverse teams from the Philippines, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Korea.

Sponsorship of "The Amazing Race Asia" enables Caltex to reach out to customers and audiences across the region. Last year, the series was watched by over 19 million viewers across Asia, covering all key markets in the region.

In conjunction with "The Amazing Race Asia 3," Caltex will be organizing a series of activities such as promotions and contests to rally the support of viewers for Team Philippines.

"The Amazing Race Asia 3" airs on Thurdays at 9 p.m. on AXN.

New Zealand boy and Canadian girl are RP’s bet in TARA

Though most couples strive for harmony believing that it ultimately makes for a good foundation to a solid relationship, there are those who think otherwise.

Geoff Rodriguez and Tisha Silang, after three blissful years of being together, are eager to rock the boat and test their relationship. And they’re doing it on international television.

The couple is among nine others in The Amazing Race Asia, or TARA.

“Tisha and I have had a sound relationship, from the time we have met. And now we are testing that by entering the race”, the 26-year-old Rodriguez confirms.

Silang, 32, admits too much of unanimity is a cause of concern for both of them.

“We never really fight. The past three years was just a great big ball. By joining the race we’d get to know more of each other.”

The couple says their relationship is a classic example of “opposite attracts.”

”Nobody would have thought that we would end up dating. We have very different personalities but [we] have managed to make it work so far,” notes Silang.

”Hopefully, this will continue during the race”, Geoff adds smiling.

This is the second time that the couple has auditioned for the show. The couple missed the deadline the first time. They almost missed the deadline for this season too.

“We were in such a rush to submit the video. I can’t say we did anything really spectacular”, Silang discloses. Some find it ironic that the two are to represent the Philippines.

Silang is a Canadian by citizenship, which 10 years ago caused her to give up her title as Bb. Pilipinas-Universe.

Geoff Rodriguez (whose real name is Geoff Briz) is from New Zealand who came to Manila a decade ago to seek opportunities in modeling. He is now an occasional actor and model, but mostly a fixture in social events that require model types.

The Amazing Race Asia, is apparently not keen on citizenships among its participants. There is. [Other non-Asians representing an Asian country in the race like Silang and Briz (we mean Rodirguez), like Natalie Glebova, representing Thailand, and Vince Chung, representing Hong Kong. Sam Wu, Chung’s partner, is originally from Singapore .

According to Rodriguez, another big reason they joined the contest is to “counter the loss of the team from the Philippines in the previous season”.

Last season, the team from the Philippines placed third. Australian Marc Nelson (who has been living in the Philippines for years) and buddy Rovilson Fernandez nearly topped the race but bogged down in the last task.

“Our plan is simple—we will just have fun. What I offer this team is unpredictability—that’ll keep the others guessing”, Rodriguez shares.

Silang counters, “Yeah, and I will be the one who will keep him from making a fool of himself.”

Allan Wu returns to hosting duties, as he guides teams along their adventure to reach the finishing mat to take home the $100,000 prize.

'The Amazing Race Asia' is back

'The Amazing Race Asia' is back with its third season and 'Outlook' followed the teams on their first leg in Thailand.

Are you ready? Go!" Fans will hear this catchphrase from hunky Allan Wu, host of the reality series The Amazing Race Asia once again as the programme is back on TV screens in its third season.

As many may remember, last year Thai sweetheart Paula Taylor, who strikes a pose on almost all advertising boards and TV screens, teamed up with her childhood friend Natasha Monks. Both girls represented Thailand in The Amazing Race Season 2. Unfortunately, they didn't bring home the first prize, but did flaunt the signature Siamese smile during the show, winning many hearts.

This year Thailand may get lucky, as AXN Asia, producer of The Amazing Race Asia, says, "The third time is always the charm."

Take the word of Ricky Ow, senior vice-president and general manager of SPE Networks - Asia, parent network of AXN. Ow says the race, which hits TV screens tomorrow and ends on November 23, is the toughest race ever. "Teams will have shorter resting times, the journey will be harder and the speed of the race will be faster and more intense than previous seasons," he adds.

The race comprises of 10 teams, each chosen for their uniqueness and different backgrounds. However, this season many of the contestants are celebrities or TV personalities in their homeland, so it may be disappointing not to find "the man-on-the-street" run the race. On the other hand, casting celebrities does makes the show juicier - seeing them get down and dirty, and do whatever it takes to win the $100,000 (3.4 million baht) prize.

Another reason to watch the show is because the first legs of the race were filmed in the Kingdom.

Thailand is being represented by two teams this season. The first team consists of Miss Universe 2005, 26-year-old Natalie Glebova, and Pailin Rungratanasunthorn, 25, first-runner up Miss Thailand Universe 2006. The two beauty queens are expected to spice up the show with their flawless skin, sexy, long legs and gorgeous faces, but that's not why they joined the race.

"We would like others to change the perception about beauty queens," says Pailin, in her sweet kitten-like voice. "Nat and I can do more than just walking on a runway."

But why The Amazing Race?

"I have always been a fan of the show since I was in Canada," says Glebova, the blue-eyed Russian Canadian, originally from Tuapse, Russia, who represented Canada in the Miss Universe 2005 contest.

"Over dinner one day, one of us talked about the race. So, we both agreed to give it a try and that's how it started, " says Pailin.

From high heels to sneakers, Pailin and Glebova have always been globetrotters. "We both enjoy a fast-paced lifestyle, and since we have travelled around the world that could be our strength in the game," explains Glebova.

Pailin also says that since they were chosen, both girls began to learn intensively about how to become good racers. "We watched the old seasons together and talked about what each of us is capable of, "says Pailin.

''Then we divided the tasks. For example, one of us is better at eating, while the other is good at sporty missions,'' notes Glebova.

So can fans expect to see them look stunning at all times?

''No way,'' says Pailin immediately. ''This race is tougher than we imagined. And I have never felt as dirty as when I was in the race. Sometimes, we didn't even get a chance to shower the whole day.''

Pretty faces are not limited only to the Glebova-Pailin team. The second Thai team also has its share of pretty faces.

Actress Visa ''Mai'' Sarasas chose her brother's friend, Oliver Faivre, 26, half French and Thai model, to run the race with her.

''I chose him because, first, I could not name any of my girlfriends who could really get through the race with me, so I turned to look for guys,'' says Mai, as she is known among friends. ''Second and the most important is that we're friends. We're not in a relationship. So we won't end up fighting like lovers from the previous races.''

Many couples who have run the race in the past have called it a ''test of true love''.

However, Oliver revealed their secret. ''Don't worry about our fighting because that what we always do, we fight a lot,'' laughs Faivre. ''I think the show will be fun when you see us yelling at each other.''

Even though Mai has a petite figure extreme sports are her favourite activity. ''I am an outdoors person. And to be part of the race, it gives me a chance to travel the world. Isn't that amazing?'' Mai remarked.

''Oliver is a very competitive guy,'' she added. ''Although this is the first time we work together as a team, I am very sure that we will have a good time. I also hope our fans will wish us luck, as well.''

Mai used to think that this show was a set-up until she was selected. ''It's the real deal,'' she insists. ''Prepare your body, as well as other survival skills because this game is not just about fast running. If you're good at booking a flight, for example, that is one way to win the race.''

'The Amazing Race Asia 3' debuts on AXN (True Visions 25, True Visions 19) tomorrow at 9pm.

Amazing Race Asia Season 3 starts

The Amazing Race Asia (TARA) Season 3 is on.

The Asian version of this award winning reality show will start airing on September 10, 2008, and will run Thursday nights at 9 p.m. on AXN channel, Sony Productions Entertainment Asia announced in a launch early this week.

A total of 22 teams registered for the TARA Season 3 promotional event; but only 8 teams were left standing. From the 8 chosen teams, only three were awarded by the Sony Productions Entertainment Asia during the event in the Trinoma mall in Quezon City.

This year’s Philippine team is composed of Tisha Silang and Jeff Rodriguez. They were invited to talk during the launch about how they discovered each other’s strengths and competitiveness while both rekindled the challenges they have had as individuals.

Season 2 Filipino contestants Marc Nelson and Paula Taylor were also at the event to share their experiences.

During the launch of TARA Season 3, a mall-based race was also simulated inside the mall with obstacle courses built within the activity area while some participating merchant stores and boutiques served as pit stops.

The Amazing Race Asia 3 - Episode 1

A Bug’s Life

The first task is for the racers to make their way to Khao San Road and look for a food stand where they have to finish two bowls of assorted fried bugs, frogs and scorpions.

The first team to finish the task were brother and sister, Henry and Bernie, followed shortly by the Beauty Queens, Pailin and Natalie then by Geoff and Tisha. After a lot of puking, all teams finished with Niroo and Kapil, the father and son tandem being the last.

Car Wash

The next task is to travel by taxi to a Caltex station to do some car washing. Or so the teams thought. First team to arrive at the station were friends Mai (actress) and Oliver and they were surprised to find a huge 2-story passenger bus to wash. Second to arrive were Geoff and Tisha.

Henry and Bernie got lost and became the 7th team to arrive when it was starting to get dark. Luckily, everybody’s still washing and it started to rain too so a huge cheer came from the teams.

Even though being late, Henry and Bernie were still the first team to finish the task. They were followed shortly by Oliver (who did most of the cleaning) and Mai then by Neena and Amit.

Read the Clues Carefully!

After washing, teams must ride a bus right there at the station to Wat Pai Rong Hua. There are only three buses available and each bus will leave once three teams are already boarded (3rd bus will leave when the last 4 are done).

Not reading the instructions carefully, Oliver and Mai hailed a cab to get to their next destination. When they realized their mistake, they went back to the Caltex station only to find out that the first bus had already left with Henry and Bernie, Neena and Amit and the Beauty Queens.

Only a few minutes behind, Bus 2 carried Geoff and Natasha, Oliver and Mai and Ida and Tania.

Buddha Bless You

It was already dark when Bus 1 arrived at the temple where there are lots of Buddha statues. Teams must search the statues for a clue which is kinda hard to do at night. They must find the clue within 20 minutes in order to board the bus that they came with otherwise, they have to board the next available bus.

Bus 2 arrived and teams from Bus 1 were still without their clues. Oliver and Mai were the first team to find a clue and they managed to board the first bus. They were followed shortly by Geoff and Tisha who also managed to get into the first bus before it left. Go Team Philippines!

Henry and Bernie finally found a clue and they were the sole passenger of Bus 2. This left Neena and Amit and the Beauty Queens to wait for the third bus and for every one to finish. It was a long wait for them.

The buses took an 8-hour trip to Chiang Mai Bus Terminal where the teams will find their next clue.

Detour: Race or Rice?

The next task is a detour where teams must choose whether to ride an off-road buggy on an 8-kilometer rough terrain track, or pound rice into paste to make two sticky rice bowls.

Not familiar with the area, Geoff and Tisha just followed Oliver and Mai and they went to board a taxi-jeep to go rice pounding. They had a nice lead from the third team, Henry and Bernie, who also did rice.

The first two teams didn’t have a problem with the task and were able to finish almost at the same time. They boarded the same taxi again to get to their next destination, the Pit Stop.

Pit Stop and the $5,000 rock-paper-scissors

At the pit stop, the teams were greeted by the beautiful Paula Taylor from Season 2. Team Thailand (Oliver and Mai) and Team Philippines arrived at the same time but they had an agreement that the first team will be decided by rocks-paper-scissors. Unfortunately, Tisha lost to Mai so the Thais went first and won $2,500 each.

Oh well, number two on the first leg is not bad. Great job Geoff and Tisha! As expected, Henry and Bernie came in third.

First Fight

After they checked into the Pit Stop, Mai was shown bickering with his teammate, Oliver. She said that she wants to quit the race. It seems that she can’t handle the stress and she’s blaming Oliver for it. Huh? Oliver’s the one doing all the dirty work. I guess Mai’s not really used to doing physical and tiring tasks.

Meanwhile…

Bus 3 arrived and they went on to their tasks. Neena and Amit’s driver got lost going to the race track and that cost them a lot of time. A.D. and Fuzzie gave up pounding rice due to blisters and switched to do the race task instead.

Fourth team to arrive at the Pit Stop were the Beauty Queens followed by Sam and Vince. However, Sam and Vince didn’t pay the taxi before sprinting to the Pit Stop. Allan asked them to go back and pay the taxi before they can check in. Hmm, how did Allan knew that they didn’t pay the fare? Anyway by that time, other teams were able to get past them.

Last Team

Last team to arrive at the Pit Stop and was eliminated were Neena and Amit. This really sucks for them since I think they are one of the strongest team this season. They were really unlucky with their taxi driver. After doing the race task, their driver got lost again heading to the Pit Stop and had to stop and ask for directions. 

Placement of each team after the first leg.

1st - Mai and Oliver ($2,500 each)
2nd - Geoff and Tisha
3rd - Henry and Bernie
4th - Natalie and Pailin
5th - Ida and Tania
6th - Isaac and William
7th - Vince and Sam
8th - A.D and Fuzzie
9th - Niroo and Kapil
10th - Neena and Amit (eliminated)

AXN to launch 3rd season of Amazing Race Asia on 11 Sept

Mumbai, India: The third season of the adventure-based reality show The Amazing Race Asia 3 is set to kick off on AXN on 11 September. The show will air every Thursday at 10 pm.

As has been the case in the past, 10 teams linked by a relationship, will travel to various locations across Asia and the winner gets $100,000.

AXN, Animax India senior VP, business head Rohit Bhandari notes that this time there are two Indian teams – a father son duo and an ex air-hostess and her cousin. “What makes this edition exciting is that the tasks are more difficult. We are pushing the event as being ‘The Toughest Race Ever’.

The fatigue level was so high that even one of the production crewmembers was hospitalised. There are shorter rest periods while a faster pace between challenges thrown to teams at a more intense speed.

Bhandari says that the USP of this show is that it takes viewers across different locations. “Other reality shows tend to be studio based and are song and dance talent shows. To do well on The Amazing Race Asia, one requires physical stamina and mental agility. So, to win this race is harder than most other reality competitions. It takes a lot more character. We also look for character among participants. From India we got around 550 entries, this time compared with around 460 for the previous edition. Across Asia we got around 5000 entries. The participants must have the ability to generate excitement for our viewers.”

The other contestants include two teams each from Thailand, Malaysia and India, and one team each from Singapore, Philippines and Hong Kong.

Malaysia and Singapore had won the first two seasons respectively.

Bhandari adds that the show will turn in a profit this year. The partners for the show, which include hotels, will help defray production costs to an extent. Maskargo, which is the air cargo division of Malaysia Airlines, is one of the partners as well as an advertiser. The other companies that have come in as sponsors are Nokia, Standard Chartered Bank, Caltex, Singha Beer, Sony Electronics and Sony HD World.

Bhandari says that products are integrated into the show. For instance, participants use a Nokia phone to navigate their way to the next location. Mascargo is used to transport equipment while Caltex is used in a Go Kart Challenge.

Bhandari rules out the possibility of doing an Amazing Race in India. That is because it would get repetitious after the second season, as one would have to keep visiting the same locations.

“We are, however, looking at possibly doing an adventure reality show sometime around the festive season. We are also to take a decision on whether we would air the show or just do it as an on ground activity to bring the AXN experience closer to fans. Things like the cost factor and how fast we can possibly air the show on television also come into the equation. Our aim going forward is to look at new concepts instead of merely going back to things that have been done before like Guinness World Records,” Bhandari quips.

Amazing Race Asia Season 3 on AXN

HONG KONG - AXN on Friday launched the third season of "Amazing Race Asia" in Hong Kong, counting on local relevance to compel Asian viewers to watch, said Jack Lim, vp advertising sales and marketing at parent Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Shot in Asia and Europe, the series featured contestants from Hong Kong, Thailand, India, Korea, Singapore and the Philippines. The Asian promotional tour of Season 3 began in Hong Kong, after Bangkok, the original starting point, was ruled out because of political turmoil in the Thai capital.

"The performance of (boxing reality series) 'Contender Asia' and previous seasons of 'Amazing Race Asia' has surpassed expectations," Lim told The Hollywood Reporter.

Ratings in Asian markets for these two shows were higher than the ratings for the original U.S. versions when they were shown in Asia, "proving that original programming is the way forward for the network," he said.

In addition to running on AXN, the two previous seasons of "Amazing Race Asia" were syndicated to China, Malaysia and New Zealand. "Contender Asia" also has a broad appeal outside Asia in Sweden and Australia, Lim said.

Apart from adapting for Asia "Contender" and "Amazing Race" for AXN, SPE has been producing local content, including the animated TV movie "LaMB" for Animax.

Tisha, Geoff join Amazing Race Asia 3

Couple Tisha Silang and Geoff Rodriguez is the Philippines' representative in the next season of Amazing Race Asia.

Tisha was crowned in 1998 as Binibining Pilipinas Universe but resigned because of her Canadian citizenship. Geoff meanwhile is a model and actor who was a member of defunct male group "Powerboys."

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Tisha also had a past relationship with Survivor Philippines' host Paolo Bediones.

Lovers Tisha and Geoff are two of the 10 brand new contenders in Amazing Race Asia 3 who will vie for the US$100,000 prize.

The two have been a couple for three and a half years. In their short biography in the official website of Amazing Race 3, the two described their relationship as "the classic definition of opposites attract."

"We have very different personalities but we have managed to make it work so far," Tisha said.

This would be the second time the couple auditioned for the show.

The two said they are pressured not only because they will be competing with other brawny players from different Asian countries but also because of the stint of Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez during the Season 2 of Amazing Race Asia where the two finished third-overall.

"We have huge shoes to fill after the stint that Marc and Rovilson pulled off," Geoff said.

The two expect more intense and tougher challenges in this latest season but they said their love and determination will guide them through the obstacles.

This season brings together the usual siblings, father and son team, cousins, and lovers.

The Amazing Race Asia 3 premieres this September exclusively on AXN.

Michael McKay - Executive Producer, Director, The Amazing Race Asia

Michael McKay is a highly experienced television production executive with over 30 years of network television experience.

Michael heads up ActiveTV and is the Executive Producer and Director of The Amazing Race Asia for AXN, a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

The third in the series premieres in September and is based on the original 10 time Emmy Award winning US version created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri.

"The first series of The Amazing Race Asia scored record ratings and immense critical acclaim and the second series achieved even more viewers so now it's time to take the series to a whole new level" McKay says.

Michael was Facilitator / Producer of the Australian episodes of The Amazing Race series 2 and the Emmy Award winning series 4. Michael was Consulting Producer on series 5 and 9 before taking on the Asian version of the production and following up with a producing stint on the All-Stars U.S. version. He is also Executive Producer of an upcoming Israeli version of The Amazing Race.

He is President of activetv which operates in Australia (founded in 1988) and Singapore. He was a Partner in the Hong Kong based CSA, an advertiser funded specialist that was purchased by the Interpublic Group in 2004 and was based in London for 2 years.

He created Ultimate Escape which saw unsuspecting couples airlifted into an exotic action and adventure holiday location. The series premiered on AXN in 2007.

Michael is also a multi award winning sports production executive. He says his live sports coverage experience is a great asset on The Amazing Race Asia. He was the Host Broadcast Consultant for the 2006 Commonwealth Games and oversaw the 2004, 2006-2008 World Superbike Championship rounds in Australia. He has produced countless hours of motor sports, football, golf and boxing.

The challenge of executive producing The Amazing Race Asia is one McKay obviously relishes.

"I wanted the third series to look and feel different to the others. I didn't want it to focus so much on the big travel legs of series 2. I wanted to set a route that tested the stamina and endurance of the teams and their smarts. I was keen to establish it as an extremely tough race right from the outset and one that focuses attention on the teams and their relationships. I really do hope fans of the series will love The Amazing Race Asia 3 as much as we love producing it for them" he adds.

Sam and Vince

Both started out as teachers but in their spare time, one is a master of words while the other is plays with words. Meet Vince Matthew Chung, the former primary school teacher turned full time comedian cum host, and his best bud Samuel Wu, a university lecturer who ranks as one of the top players on the online word game, Prolific.

For those wondering, Prolific is a word puzzle much like the classic Boggle game and yes, this shows how quick thinking the duo, who make up Team Hong Kong, can be. Having met three years ago while working in Hong Kong, the 32-year-olds became fast friends due to similar passions in a variety of things, from acting, hosting, stand-up comedy, and most importantly, partying.

They actually met via mutual friends at a party and things since then have been a blast. Recalls Vince jokingly, Sam "wouldn't leave the area where the food was being served."

This also will not be the first time that the friends have participated in a competitive event together. Vince once made it as a finalist in the first ever nationwide stand-up comedy competition, "The Funniest Person in Hong Kong", and if you hear Sam tell the story, the jokes were all Sam's. "I was very proud of him," enthuses Sam. "They were all my jokes of course, but he denies it vehemently."

One thing that does stand in their way though is their hot headed nature, which has led to confrontations. Sam too has to deal with physical fears as he is terrified of needles and bees.
He says, "I was hospitalized after getting stung in the head by a hornet when I was four and since then, I've had a major phobia and if anything flies near or around my head, I freeze instantly."

This is why Sam reckons that Vince is the more physical one, whereas he is the thinking part of the group. And what is their overall strategy? Sam says it is to, "always be part of the pack, and then break away to lead the pack in the middle legs of the race".

But what if it doesn't work? Vince jokes, "I want to bring banana peels to throw onto the ground so that teams running behind us will slip on them."

Yes, Vince is the more competitive of the duo, but it's because being on top is in his blood. Vince has also joined various sports teams, from softball, baseball to football throughout his life and swam competitively from age six to university.

Don't dismiss Sam either as he too can be single minded in his endeavors. Back in 2001, a desire to lose some weight made Sam go on a diet that saw him shed 20kg over a five month period. "I went from an obese 80kg to a 60kg, through rigorous exercising and dieting," he recalls.

The one thing the duo will do however, is to soak up every experience on this race because this could be their last hoorah, since Vince might be leaving Hong Kong in the near future. You might say they have nothing to lose, but everything to strive for.

Allan Wu - Host, The Amazing Race Asia

A ship can only sail as well as its Captain guides it and returning to the helm of The Amazing Race Asia is Singaporean heart-throb Allan Wu, who steered 10 teams towards the grand prize in the race’s inaugural season.

A charming mixture of style, looks, brawn and charm, the American born Chinese has been a staple in the Asian entertainment industry, since moving to Singapore. Fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, the six foot tall hunk is also a constant fixture in magazine as well as a spokesperson for Tag Heuer and more recently, for Swenson’s Restaurant.

Aside from starring roles in Singapore drama serials and films, the University of California-Berkley graduate has also hosted a string of programs, from MTV Taiwan’s Party Zone to MTV International Top 20. When he’s not busy travelling the world, or indulging in his passion for snowboarding, skiing, tennis and Shaolin Wushu, the father of two is at home spending some quality time with his wife, Singapore actress/presenter Wong Li-Lin and his daughter, Sage and son, Jonas.

Mai and Oliver

Oliver started out as a friend of her brother, and Mai first got to know him when she was dating one of his friends. Fate threw them together, but not in any romantic way, but as best friends.

In a way, actress and model Visa Sarasas, or Mai, as she is known to her friends, is the one person that Oliver Faivre can behave naturally in front of.

"She is the only girl friend that I have who I can talk normally to," says the 26 year old model and student, adding, "She is someone I don't necessarily have to be polite to."

Such honestly is the culmination of seven years of friendship and the friends have decided to celebrate by taking part in the race simply because Mai asked and Oliver agreed.

"I picked him because I think he has the most potential to go on this race and be able to cope with all the situations that will happen," describes the actress, who has made a name of herself starring in movies and television shows in Thailand.

In case you think of her as a celebrity who is more used to assistants and an entourage of helpers, think again. For her audition video, Mai simply tied up her hair (sans make up!) to speak to the camera, and in fact, her real life persona is nothing like her sultry on-screen roles on TV and magazine covers.

She proclaims, "I joined The Amazing Race Asia because I want to travel around the world and compete with myself."
Given the history of male/female pairings in race history that have led to explosive confrontations during the competition, Mai is thankful that her team does not fall within the usual stereotypes of such pair ups.

"The fact that my teammate is a guy, and we're not in a relationship so I don't think we're going to fight like lovers do," she says as a matter of fact.

"I have a very strong teammate and I think I'm a very strong girl as well. Our weakness would probably have to be the fact that we have never worked together as a team so I cannot predict what's going to happen when we do."
Assure Oliver, "You don't have to worry about the fighting. We fight a lot, but it's for fun. We will make the show interesting."

Not that it matter to Oliver, who is looking at the race as more of a chance to meet new people, and maybe do something for a good cause.

A.D. and Fuzzie

Colourful does not begin to describe long-time friends A.D. Chan and Fuzzie Sirajudin. As one can tell, normal does not describe the default buddies, as they describe themselves, who oddly define their relationship as "an old married couple". "We're like that, except we're not old, we're not married, and we're not a couple!" says Fuzzie, 34, a partner and teacher in an English language centre.

Having met in school 15 years ago, Fuzzie was nothing that A.D., 34, now a freelance writer-director for TV and T-shirt designer, saw as a potential friend. She says, "But look how far we've come! It must have been written in the stars that we should become default buddies. And I suspect this is what we will be for the rest of our lives."

So it was only natural that when auditions for The Amazing Race Asia 3 came up, choosing each other was well, a default choice. Referring to the race as an opportunity to do something different, Fuzzie says, "It's to do something outside the mundane, to do something to challenge myself and something to define the year."

"It's always been a dream to be on it someday. But all that talk finally led to some action only this year, when I felt an inexplicable impetus to just go for it," A.D. concurs.

The duo are also the first to admit that they are not perfect for the race, with the many shortcomings that they have, but adds, "We're perfect for TV."

And the first thing Fuzzie has done is to lose some weight for the race. A.D. too dusted off some dumbbells for the big event, but reasons that her secret weapon for the race is her complex character, much like a sheep in wolf's clothing. "My character is layered with contradictions and complexities, which make me idiosyncratic, inimitable, and hard to categorize," she notes gamely.

Despite their 15 years of familiarity, hard habits are hard to break and one thing Fuzzie will have to contend with is A.D.'s obsessive compulsive controlling behavior, as A.D. says that while she has a low tolerance for imperfection, she tends to "over-analyze everything to death and can be indecisive".

On her part, A.D. will have to contend with her buddy's lack of physical fitness and general slothful ways, among other things jokes Fuzzie, who adds, "There’s also my 'over-drama-ness' which makes me easily excitable, and my lack of attention to details and my poor memory."

Their goal in joining the race isn't about the fame or money, but the fun they think they would be enjoying. Says A.D., "Who wouldn't want to watch two highly unlikely people run the race? Everybody loves the underdog."

To which Fuzzie gamely adds, "Did we mention that we're unfit?"

Geoff and Tisha

You can call this her second chance. A technicality led to her resignation as Miss Philippines Universe 10 years ago and Tisha Silang is making sure that history does not repeat itself.

In 1998, Tisha won the Miss Philippines Universe crown but had to give it up because of her Canadian citizenship. While that win has remained the proudest moment of her life, she's hoping that taking part in The Amazing Race Asia will trump that.

Joining her is her boyfriend of three and a half years, Geoff, and by all accounts, participating, much less winning the race will be an uphill battle says the couple. For one thing, their relationship is the classic definition of opposites attract.

"Nobody would have thought that we would end up dating. We have very different personalities but have managed to make it work so far," notes Tisha.

Quips Geoff on the first time they were introduced by a mutual friend," I was interested in Tisha for obvious reasons. And Tisha wasn't interested, for obvious reasons."

This is also the second time that the couple has auditioned for the show and the couple almost missed the deadline too. "We were in such a rush to submit the video I can't say we did anything really spectacular," Tisha admits.
The last and most important reason against them has to do with their horrible track record when it comes to traveling.

While on vacation in Boracay, the couple missed not once, two but three consecutive flights back home to Manila. And by that time, they were broke as well. Tisha says with a laugh, "And now we want to race together...should be interesting." Fingers are crossed but hopefully, the two won't be making the same mistake again, especially on the show.

"Missing a flight, I think that is the most embarrassing thing you can do while traveling," admits Geoff. But rather than to lay blame, the couple made the best of their situation. "Tisha was shooting for FHM and we were supposed to be there only for the weekend. By then we had spent all out money in re-booking and extension fees. But time flies when you're in love and having a ball."

And the other reason for wanting to be in the race is of course, to counter the loss of Team Philippines from the previous season, jokes Geoff. Marc and Rovilson came in third in the last show. He says, "We have huge shoes to fill after the stint that Marc and Rovilson pulled off."

Nonetheless, the couple is certain that they will bring to the race the love and respect that has been the foundation of their relationship. Geoff says, "Tisha and I have had a sound relationship, from the time we have met. And now we are testing our relationship, by entering the race."

Henry and Bernie

Fans of Asian reality television might recognize model and host Bernie Chan – she was the face of Project Runway Malaysia last year. But few would recognize her race teammate and elder brother, Henry Chan.

It is not because the 43 year old isn't famous, but rather because the chef and restaurant owner has had reconstructive surgery done in late 2006. "In Aug 2006, I fell over and broke my jaw very badly. I've had reconstructive surgery on my face and mouth, but I'm all fixed up now," says Henry Chan with a gleaming smile that shows no record of his accident.

But it is what's inside that counts and the siblings are hoping that their 39 year old relationship will give them an edge. Says Bernie, 39, "Finding the right partner to do it with is half the race won and Hen is the only person who understands what I'm trying to say half the time."

Hen, of course, is her nickname for her brother, in response to the name Bernie he coined, since he could not pronounce her actual name, Bernadette, as a child.

"I thought it would be fun, stressful but fun. I love traveling and I thought, if I get in, it would be the biggest challenge of my life," she adds.

Sums up Henry on the natural choice of picking each other as teammate, "We don't really fight, we think alike and we get on crazily well."

But if there is one thing the siblings do not share, is their behavior. Henry is the more contemplative of the two, preferring to sit back and analyze the situation while his sister leaps at every available opportunity. Like Henry says, "I tend to think about things too much, while she tends to just act and think about things later."

Explains Bernie, "I'm too impulsive! If I want to do something, it has to be done now," and adds, "My strategy is to try and stay calm but with have a sense of urgency and just go with our instinct. Luck plays a big part too which to me comes with being positive and happy, which Hen and I are."

As for preparing, one thing Henry did have to pick up was learning how to drive a manual transmission. Naturally, his coach was his baby sister and given their hectic schedule, it wasn't the best of lessons. Groans Henry, "Bernie gave me a crash-course in the pouring rain, at night, in peak hour Kuala Lumpur traffic.

But learn he did and the driving lessons show the extent that the duo has worked together. Admits Bernie, "Even though I shout at Hen, he will know it's not personal and in the next second we will be buddies again. And he won't quit on me."

Quitting is the last thing on Henry's mind though, as he had already mapped out a plan on how to celebrate if they win. "We go back to one of the favourite countries we visited in the race but this time round, we do it in five-star style."

Ida and Tania

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, or make that a group of 13 females who were shortchanged. Such was the case that involved Malaysians Ida Nerina, 44, and her best friend Tania Khan, 36, in, of all places, a luxury resort! Throw in a hen's party, a burnt rug, hotel management and even the police and the mixture is a potent one that shows what these two will do to get what they deserve.

Recalls Ida, "All 13 of us were held hostage by the hotel who blamed us for a carpet burn that we did not cause. Even the police got involved. It was so traumatic."

The ladies insisted on their innocence but the hotel refused to let them leave and even locked the gates. "Due to the trauma, we caused a ruckus on the plane," adds Tania, a mother of an 11 year old daughter and a 10 month old baby, who despite her sheepishness at admitting the event, displays an inner strength. So just because there are now only two of them doesn't mean their combo is any less potent. If history is anything to go by, they are not pushovers simply because of their age or reputation.

On paper, they are two very different people – Ida is a homegrown actress with 16 movies under her belt, Ida is a media star compared her more corporate driven, property developer buddy. "We're both bubbly, dramatic, kind-hearted, fiercely loyal to our friends and klutzy. We're often the first to jump into the deep end of any adventure," describes Ida on their similarities.

"Tania and I just thought it would be fun to try out together too. Tania is so game for adventure and is always fun to be around and just as dramatic as I am," says Ida.

One thing they both hope to achieve, other than taking home the top prize, is the chance to see the world from a new perspective. Ida admits, "We've shared some great trips together and who better to see if you can backpack the world with as neither of us have ever done it (referring to backpacking)."

Viewers if not their fellow racers are in for surprises with Tania and Ida joining the race. These fans of The Amazing Race Asia have many natural talents they can count on to stay in the game. Tania comments of this, "I'm pretty good at finding handy short-cuts to all kinds of things. I'm very friendly which always helps in getting things done when you need help."

Hopefully, these attributes will make up for some of their shortfalls which includes indecisiveness on Tania's part, and weak ankles for Ida, which are not good for running she says jokingly.

Underneath the playful exterior though is a person who bears grudges more than she wants to, so the other teams better not cross Ida, less she unleashes her anger on them. "I'll scream my head off, then apologise to whoever's in the way."

William and Isaac

These brothers know how to score a goal when they spot an opening, seeing as how the siblings are a staple in the Korean football arena – They are sports commentators and football agents for professional players in what is arguably Asia's favourite sport. William and Isaac Hong are definitely looking at bringing their A-game to The Amazing Race Asia, as this is the first time that a Korean team is participating in the race.

"Nationalism is big in Korea and William and I believe that we can be on the show, and show everyone our positive and energetic attitude," says the older of the two Isaac, 29.

It is this attitude that has brought the brothers huge success in their lives, from when they were both actively involved in the football scene during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea, to when they, as football agents, successfully negotiated the transfer of a Korean player into the Spanish Primera Liga.

So yes, working together and counting on each other has been a backbone of their relationship, as they not only grew up together, they are now working in the same office and sharing the same apartment.

"Even though we are brothers, we have very different personalities. I guess it's because we lived apart from one another for quite some time. However, that works out well for us, since we can look at things in different ways," says William, 26.

And it does help that Isaac is the biggest "TARA freak" he knows of. To his credit, Isaac claims to have watched all The Amazing Race episodes ever produced, from both the US and Asian versions. Coupled with his confidence and past travel experiences to over 38 countries in the world, taking part in the race just seems right. He gushes, "TARA is my favorite TV reality show, and it is only a lifetime opportunity to be part of it."

"Since I have been to many countries in the past time I do know the quick way to get close to the local people so I think this could be a secret weapon for me," says Isaac.

"Winning the race would mean a lot to me since The Amazing Race is my favorite show in my life," says Isaac, who is clearly very excited about joining the show, and being a role-model to viewers just as previous contestants were to him.

"I have learned so much from contestants that positive attitude can bring you so many great things and they taught me how to live with bigger passion and greater energy. Hopefully at the end, not only Koreans but Asian can see what two brothers are capable of doing, to achieve our ultimate goal with our positive effort."

William however, does not have such lofty ideals. His idea of celebrating would be a nice long break. "I'll take a nice vacation somewhere where I don't have to race around."

Niroo and Kapil

Life is about taking chances and sometimes, having to learn fast when thrown into the deep end. For father and son team Niroo and Kapil Asrani, the latter cannot be more true, or literal.

As a child, Kapil wanted to learn how to swim and his father did it the only way he knew how, by picking up his son and tossing him into the pool. "The way my dad had thrown me into the swimming pool in order to teach me how to swim, it communicates a lot about the person he is," recalls Kapil with affection.

The good news is, Kapil managed to learn and the success fostered a great father and son relationship that has since grown beyond the familial, to that of friendship. In fact, one glance at Niroo and Kapil would conjure the image of two friends hanging out, despite the fact that the elder man, currently enjoying his time as an actor, is all of 53 years old.

At 25, Kapil is less than half his father's age, but the HR executive has the same level, if not more of the enthusiasm towards the race.

One of the reasons Kapil wanted to take part, aside from seeing the world in the race format, is to bond more with his father. This probably explains why the duo has yet to plan on race strategies and would rather run the race one step at a time.

Explains Kapil, "Our strategy is to go by gut feeling and take each thing as it comes. If you are prepared for anything, everything comes easy." And Daddy concurs on this point. "We do not like to copy. We will cross the river when we reach there."

When it comes to challenges, Kapil has no problem with Dad taking control, because he is used to it, but not in the way you think. Outside of the family, the duo is also part of the same acting company, where Niroo serves as actor cum director, with his son as one of the actors. Notes Kapil, "Although we share a father-son relationship, we are more like friends. That's rare to see in such a relationship."

This act of following the father stems from the fact that on the one occasion Kapil never listened and allowed his overconfidence to take over, his actions "messed up a show", says Niroo. Those days are gone and Kapil has grown into his own as an actor, and his proudest moment as a father and director was when Kapil won accolades during a performance directed by Niroo.

Despite having a short fuse, Kapil is looking to keep cool under pressure. His strengths, he says, is to enjoy even a stressful situation, depend on his communication skills and rely the ability to think on his feet.

Balancing him will be Niroo, who despite his recent acting foray, is an engineer by trade. "My engineering background, my analytical skills, & my sense of direction are my true strengths," he notes. And if they win, the duo is also looking at the prize money to expand their theatre group. "We will utilise this money in building a theatre stage which I want to build in the name of my mentor," say Niroo.

Neena and Amit

If one half of this team can "betray" even family to get what he wants, what chance do the other teams have? Take Amit Rai, 27, for instance. One thing he has never forgiven his cousin, Neena Rai, 24, who used to be an air hostess, for is never introducing him to any of her model and air stewardess friends. So rather than rely on family help, he took matters into his own hands.

"I stole her mobile phone and took down all the numbers of her model friends, and called them up as a model-coordinator," quips the media and real estate consultant. Now, whether he got lucky with those numbers is another thing, as his only goal now is to represent India and if he wins The Amazing Race Asia, make Indians everywhere proud of his achievements.

But he adds, "The prize money is very tempting too." And while his cousin is thrilled to experience the rush of the race, the reality TV fan also hopes that the increased profile of being on The Amazing Race Asia will boost her modeling and art career.

Having known each other all their lives, and having spent the better half of that time seeing the better and worse of each other, the duo believe they are ready for whatever the competition throws at them. In fact, watching them together, it seems they too have a need to outdo each other, and are behaving more like siblings than first cousins. They say, "We have gone though life, education and stress together and we have this bond."

But with family, there is always the drama to expect. Summing it up, Neena explains, "We both are poles apart in everything but still get along like a house on fire. We both are melodramatic people as well. While my reaction to a particular situation could be loud, his reaction to calm me down is even louder."

However, there are elements that only she can bring to the team, such as her vast airport hopping experience during her time as a flight attendant. Her game plan is to have other teams underestimate her. "I intend not show my competitive side to the other racers and let everyone think I am all beauty and no brains," she professes.
One thing she would have to master is her patience though. "I am very impatient and tend to think negatively. And God help me with my punctuality." She also has to deal with a cousin who more often than not, prefers to give up on things.

"He deliberately starts giving up or loses a winning game because he is either annoyed or impatient," she says.  As for Amit, he credits Neena for getting him hooked on the show and intends to play the role of the underdog, and of course, work on his impatience. "I intend to show the other team that we guys are good for nothing and then like tortoise win the race, slow and steady."

His intent is to stay chilled out, calm and focused, while having fun. "I can handle stress and people who are under stress," he says.

The Amazing Race Asia 3 Is The Toughest Race Ever

Asia has been eagerly anticipating the return of The Amazing Race Asia on AXN since the thrilling second season that brought viewers many exciting moments. It was also the program to tune-in to for close to 19 million viewers across Asia. So gear up for an absolutely intense third installment of The Asian edition of the 15-time nominated, five-time Emmy Award winning reality travel competition that debuts exclusively on AXN, 11 September, every Thursday @ 9pm (EA) 10pm (HK).

Expect a whole lot more drama and adrenalin-rushing excitement as The Amazing Race Asia 3 unfolds "The Toughest Race". Mr. Ricky Ow, Senior Vice- President and General Manager of SPE Networks - Asia, the parent network of the AXN channel explains, "It will be the toughest race ever as there will be many challenges the contestants will not expect and be mentally prepared for. The teams will have shorter resting time, the journey will be harder, and the speed of the race will be faster and more intense. This combined with the new cast, you can expect many dramatic moments, tears, twists and turns, and an overall thrilling ride for viewers!"

The Amazing Race Asia 3 has a totally new and exciting cast to look out for. Besides the first Korean team joining the race, season 3 also has the highest number of family relationships in all seasons of The Amazing Race Asia. And unlike their predecessors, many of the contestants are not used to the demands of high adventure. Yet this vibrant and spirited group of contestants is simply brimming with energy and an eagerness to win. They are definitely just as colorful and competitive as the previous season's; and under the toughest race's intense conditions, they will provide many valuable TV moments and a whole lot more drama.

Up for this tough challenge are 10 diverse teams from India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Korea and the Philippines that guarantee to turn heads, not just because some are the best looking people around. The contestants are: 3 beauty queens counting a former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova and wife to Thailand's highest ranking (and once world #9) tennis player Paradorn Srichaphan; the first-ever Korean team made up by sporty brothers; famous Malaysian faces - Bernie Chan who pairs up with her brother, and actress Ida Nerina (Serpet) with her heiress pal Tania Khan; a comedian who can't help but crack jokes on-and-off screen with his teacher buddy; a beautiful ex air-hostess and cousin from India; and a dramatic father and son team with theatrical antics.

AXN is proving to be the leading original content creator in the region with two successful past seasons of The Amazing Race Asia under its belt. The Amazing Race Asia 3 is also boosted by leading global brands, Caltex, MASkargo, Nokia, Singha Corporation, Sony Electronics Asia Pacific and Standard Chartered Bank.

Mr. Ricky Ow notes, "The Amazing Race Asia is a mega production and we have only been able to create this world world-class production because of the faith of our valuable partners. Many like Sony Electronics Asia Pacific, Caltex, Nokia and Standard Chartered Bank are long-time supporters of Asian franchise, and we are proud to bring in our new partners Singha Corporation and MASkargo to the Race."

Get to know the new contestants of The Amazing Race Asia 3 when the season premieres on AXN this September! For more details about the race, visit the official website http://amazing-race-asia.axn-asia.com, and watch the special Racers Revealed episode to find out more about the teams. Racers Revealed will debut on AXN 4 September, Thursday @ 9pm (SG, MY, PH, TH), 10pm (HK, South Asia), 8pm (JKT).

Amazing Race Asia Sponsors

Caltex
Chevron Corporation is one of the world's leading integrated energy companies with subsidiaries that conduct business across the globe. The company's success is driven by the ingenuity and commitment of approximately 59,000 employees who operate across the energy spectrum. Chevron explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and other energy products and services; manufactures and sells petrochemical products; generates power and produces geothermal energy; and develops and commercializes the energy resources of the future, including biofuels and other renewables. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

MASkargo
Malaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo) is the air cargo division of Malaysia Airlines. It operates four B747-200 and two B747-400 freighters covering the world's major cargo hubs. It also offers belly space capacity on Malaysia Airlines passenger fleet serving almost 100 destinations worldwide.
At KLIA, its home base is the Advanced Cargo Centre, a 108-acre complex designed especially for MASkargo's sophisticated state-of-the-art cargo handling facilities with the ability to handle up to one million tonnes of cargo annually. These features have given MASkargo the recognition as a major regional cargo hub within a free commercial zone.

MASkargo has been selected to host the Air Cargo Forum 2008, the largest air cargo industry gathering in the world after winning the bid against Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Osaka and Melbourne. The event will be held in Kuala Lumpur from 4 to 6 November 2008 and is expected to be attended by some 5,000 senior executives from the supply chain of the cargo, airline and logistics industry. More information is available at www.maskargo.com.

Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games, business mobility and more. Developing and growing our offering of consumer Internet services, as well as our enterprise solutions and software, is a key area of focus. We also provide equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

Singha
Singha Corporation Co.,Ltd., is a subsidiary of Boon Rawd Brewery Co. Ltd., the first and largest brewery in Thailand established in 1933. The company was incorporated to oversee the beverage business of Boon Rawd Brewery Co.,Ltd. And is responsible for the operation and marketing of beer, soda water, drinking water, and various energy drinks under brand names such as "Singha", "Leo", and "B-Ing".

At present, Singha Corporation Co.,Ltd. Operates 3 breweries and 6 soda water and drinking water factories located in strategic regions across Thailand. Moreover, the company's vast distribution network further enhances its ability to serve the customers throughout the kingdom as well as in 40 countries worldwide under full compliance with FDA regulations and approval of each country, including European and North American countries.
Singha Corporation Co.,Ltd. conducts all its businesses under the principals of good corporate governance and in a social responsible manner. As an integral part of Thai Society, Singha Corporation Co.,Ltd. actively participate in local environmental support programs, educational scholarship programs, cultural events, traditional festivals, and sport sponsorship.

Sony Electronics Asia Pacific
Based in Singapore, Sony Electronics Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation. It serves as the regional management and marketing headquarters for Sony's consumer electronic products overseeing S. E. Asia, Oceania, Middle East and Africa regions. For more information on Sony's products and services in Asia Pacific, please visit www.sony-asia.com.

Sony HD World
Sony Electronics Asia Pacific is spearheading the next generation in home entertainment, with picture quality in Full HD (1920 x 1080). Leveraging on Sony's expertise in professional technology, Sony offers consumers the most comprehensive range of high-definition products including BRAVIA LCD TVs, Blu-ray players and optical discs, Handycam® camcorders, Cyber-shot™ and Alpha cameras, VAIO® notebooks, PlayStation®3 consoles, as well as broadcast and professional products. Championing various advanced formats and technologies including Blu-ray, AVCHD and x.v.Colour, Sony is leading the electronics industry with the latest high-definition products, offering consumers a complete and integrated solution.

Standard Chartered Bank
Standard Chartered PLC, listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, ranks among the top 25 companies in the FTSE-100 by market capitalisation. The London-headquartered group has operated for over 150 years in some of the world's most dynamic markets, leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its income and the number of employees have more than doubled over the last five years primarily as a result of organic growth and supplemented by acquisitions.
Standard Chartered aspires to be the best international bank in its markets through leading by example to be the right partner for its stakeholders. The group now employs 73,000 people, representing 115 nationalities, in more than 1,700 branches and outlets located in over 70 countries. The bank derives more than 90 per cent of its operating income and profits from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with balanced income derived from both Wholesale and Consumer Banking.

The group is committed to building a sustainable business over the long term and is trusted worldwide for upholding high standards of corporate governance, social responsibility, environmental protection and employee diversity. For more information, please visit: www.standardchartered.com.

Natalie & Pailin

No Amazing Race season is without its resident eye candy but with leggy beauties Pailin and Natalie, their team has one credential none of the previous good looking teams in race history ever had – being in a Miss Universe pageant and winning one!

25 year old Pailin Rungratanasunthorn was the first runner up in 2006 Miss Thailand Universe and represented her country as Miss Thailand Earth 2006 as well.

As for her good friend Natalie Glebova, the 26-year-old actually was a Miss Universe. Natalie took home the gleaming crown and title from the competition held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2005. The Russian Canadian beauty originally from Tuapse, Russia represented Canada in her winning event and is the second Canadian to claim the title.

It is no wonder that beauty pageants are part of their blood, having met in the 2006 Miss Thailand Universe pageant and becoming fast friends after that. Pailin was also one of Natalie's bridesmaids when she married Thailand's highest ranked tennis player, Paradorn Srichaphan, in November 2007.

But beauty is not the only thing that links the Thailand team together. Both have acute business sense as they are running their own business. Pailin's company makes toys, t-shirts and gifts for sale online, while Natalie's company sells beauty products across Thailand.

Describing herself, Pailin notes of her decision to participate in The Amazing Race, "I am really competitive and I want to do something where I can put my energy in it."

Agreeing, Natalie adds, "We're both very competitive and cannot stand to lose. We love to travel, love to do adrenaline like things, love to experience new cultures and learn."

And with both their credentials, travelling has become second nature to them. Pailin has travelled to Japan, China, South Africa, and Egypt while Natalie, other than gracing beauty pageants around the world, has attended the G8 Summit in New York, and as a HIV/AIDS awareness advocate, has travelled extensively to India and Africa.

Having spent their formative years in the beauty circuit, the damsels know a bit about what it takes to stay ahead. And having seen the show on television, the duo is also gunning to experience the thrills and tumbles that only the race can deliver. Exclaims Natalie, "We love to try new things. Give us bungee jumping, parachuting, paragliding and parasailing any day!"

She adds, "We are competitive, we're in shape and we're going to kick ass."

The girls have started preparing for the trek around the world based on what the previous Amazing Race Asia seasons were like. Surprisingly, their strategy for winning is to be the underdog and "fly under the radar". "Let's hope that no one will take us too seriously so we won't be recognized as a threat until it's too late!"

Girls like to have fun

Ida Nerina and Tania Khan embraced the motto of having fun and enjoying the race, which they really did.

It was the case of second-time lucky for friends and self-confessed The Amazing Race (TAR) fans Ida Nerina and Tania Khan.

“This was not the first time we applied. We actually tried out before but we did not make the cut,” says Ida, 44.

Tania, 36, adds: “Yes, the first time we applied, I was pregnant and I thought it would be OK because I would have delivered by the time the race started. But obviously the producers did not think so.”

Tania who is in property development is profiled as “the heiress” in the race while Ida is, naturally, “the actress” .

When they found out they made the cut this time, the duo were thrilled.

“We were completely stoked and really excited,” says Ida.

But they soon found out that the challenges of The Amazing Race Asia (TARA) begin way before the actual chase kicks off.

“We were anxious about everything ... even about filling in the application forms. That proved to be a challenge too,” says Ida.

The next challenge they faced was cooking up stories to tell their families and friends to explain their month-long disappearance – one of the conditions of being on TARA is that you have to keep your participation a secret until the entire Race has been run.

“That was really hard ... maybe even harder than the race. I told everyone that I was going away for a property convention in London for a month,” says Tania.

“And I went to Europe,” interjects Ida.

Another challenge? Packing light especially since neither of the ladies have been backpacking, ever.

“Figuring out what to take with us was a challenge. For us, travelling means checked in luggage. We usually have people carrying our bags,” laughs Ida.

“Actually, I think we did pretty good. We got together (before leaving) and had our lists and ...,” says Tania.

“Yes, we were quite proud of ourselves ... until we saw the other teams’ bags! Some of them had such small bags!” exclaims Ida.

(Bernie Chan, from the other Malaysian team joked that when she opened Tania’s bag she found “a huge bag of sweets, a story book and a Hello magazine”!)

Nevertheless, as nonplussed as they may have been preparing for the Race, the duo feel they ran a good race and did themselves proud.

No, try as I did, they would not divulge any details about their performance on the Race, having signed an indemnity disclosure that would cost them millions of dollars if breached. Sigh.

“Really, our motto was to have fun and enjoy the race and we really did. We are quite funny actually and we had our moments. I think people will enjoy the Race with us,” says Tania.

“Of course we wanted to win ... otherwise why join, right? I don’t think there is a team who joins thinking they don’t want to win,” says Ida.

“Yeah, we wanted at least to be in the final three. And to finish all the challenges. But it was always one step at a time,” continues Tania.

Did they have a strategy on how they would run the race or attack the challenges?

“We had no strategy whatsoever,” says Tania.

“Well, we pretended to have a strategy. And then we would wait for the others and then we would figure it out,” says Ida with a laugh.

Adds Tania: “We were always in the deep end. We’d go like, ‘What? We’re supposed to be doing what?’ ”

It is hard to tell if they are being totally serious. Having followed past seasons of both TAR and TARA (The Amazing Race Asia) closely, the two were more or less prepared to do the tough challenges that have become synonymous with TAR.

“We were very gung-ho. We were kind of ‘bring it on’, you know?” says Ida.

“I think if you are a fan of the Race you would vaguely know what to expect and we were ready for anything. But you don’t really know how tiring it is when you watch it on TV,

“If you ask me to name five places we went to ... I think I won’t be able to remember. On the race, we had no idea what day it was or what time it was or even what realm we were in. The only thing on our minds was finishing the challenges,” says Tania.

Though they are glad to be back (“I missed my bed and my pillow,” says Tania), the girls miss the “high” they got from being on the race.

“I miss the adrenaline rush and I miss the other racers and the whole experience, really,” says Ida.

“I miss starving and scrimping on a tight budget,” jokes Tania. “And I miss not having to reply e-mail and SMS-es. Actually, that was very liberating. It was a bit strange at first but it was nice.”

Girls like to have fun