Asian adventure sees Toronto couple ousted
Reality show now moves to Macau
If The Amazing Race Canada’s foray into China left you hungry for more international flavour, you’re in luck: there’s a second helping of Asian spice next week as the teams head to Macau.
Tuesday’s episode, however, is all about location, location, location as the action moves from Tofino on Vancouver Island to Hong Kong, a journey of more than 10,000 kilometres. It’s the first time the series has left Canada and the producers get plenty of bang for their buck.
While the vistas are new (A towering Buddha gazing serenely from the top of Lantau Island! The Bruce Lee memorial on Hong Kong’s Walk of Fame! A restaurant overrun by snakes!) — an old REALITYTV trope trips up one team: choosing the wrong task can cost you the Race. Just ask Jackie and Laura, the married couple from Toronto who plummet from third to last, and are eliminated.
But how did Rex and Bob, who took TWO penalties rather than finish challenges on the last leg, manage to bypass that six-hour penalty? That would be the Clean Slate manoeuver, wherein the playing field is levelled when teams stack up at a major transport hub. This time, that means all nine duos are on the same flight to Hong Kong.
And lo and behold! Bob and Rex are in the lead when the teams hit the tarmac in China. Smarty pants Bob did his research back in Vancouver, sussing out that Hong Kong taxis are colour coded. They catch the right one for their desired district and are first to the Po Lin Monastery.
Once they’ve been blessed by a Buddhist priest the next morning, the teams climb 268 steps to the 34-metre tall Tian Tan Buddha. Hockey goddesses Meaghan and Natalie turn on the jets, taking the never-ending stairs two at a time. At the Route Marker, the pair preserve their lead by using their Express Pass to bypass the Detour.
Other teams must choose between Kung Fu Master, in which they must learn and perform a complex kung fu routine; or Master Chef, where they must shop in a sprawling market for a list of specialized ingredients for Canadian chef Alvin Leung.
Everyone but Sukhi and Jinder and Laura and Jackie opt for Kung Fu Master, with mixed results. Despite Alain’s 20 years of martialarts training, he and Audrey take eight attempts to get it right. Cormac and Nicole power through, as do Rob and Ryan.
Over in the Wan Chai Wet Market, two items on the shopping list (Canadian maple syrup and vanilla beans) are holding up both teams. When Sukhi and Jinder bring in the wrong type of chilies, chef Leung sternly sends them back out. Laura and Jackie get it right the first time, but are still behind the siblings and the rest of the pack.
At the Road Block, game play enters the Race. Twins Michel and Pierre are standing in the road when Mickey and Pete come by. The twins wave them further down the road, despite knowing the restaurant they’re looking for is right in front of them. When it happens again (now Mickey and Pete have Ryan and Rob in tow), Mickey looks back and spies the brothers darting across the street into the restaurant.
“Oh wait, they just ran that way, dude!”
And snakes alive, this is a squirm-inducing task! In the restaurant, one member of each team must suck back a small bowl containing the bile from a snake’s gallbladder after holding the wriggling creature while it’s extracted. They must also chow down on a bowl of snake meat stew. Despite the gross factor, all the competitors get the snake down the hatch with minimal drama.
Next, it’s off to a statue of Bruce Lee for a few funny poses for a fake director, then it’s pit stop time. While The Terminators stay on top (and win two tickets for two to anywhere in Asia Air Canada flies), the rest of the field gets a good shaking up. But remember, this is The Amazing Race Canada. You don’t have to finish first; just don’t finish last.