The Final Six Teams Race Around Mountains and Markets in Oman

It's another Leg of The Amazing Race - let's get moving!

Nat & Kat leave first from St. Petersburg Russia, at the Peter and Paul Fortress. The clue tells them to fly to Muscat, Oman, and go to Burj Al Mubkharah. Once there, a man will give them an ingot with a time on it, which is when they can climb a multitude of stairs in a fortress to get their next clue. The Doctors will stop at a travel agency for tickets before going to the airport, and so will Brook & Claire, who leave second. Nick & Vicki leave third and Nick tells us that he’s always stressed out of his mind. (I’ll go along with the out of his mind part, anyway). We get to hear Mallory scream once again as she and Gary open their clue - she screams a LOT!

Brook & Claire and Nick & Vicki show up at the travel agency as Nat & Kat are booking their flight. The earliest arrival time is 8:55 p.m. on a flight through Amsterdam. Gary & Mallory are soon at the travel agent followed by Thomas & Jill. Chad & Stephanie are supposed to leave the Pit Stop at 2:45 a.m., but all we see is a hotel room door and hear major snoring (which I hope is Chad!) Brook & Claire get the same flight at the Docs, but as Nick & Vicki sit down to book the flight, they’re told it’s full. The remaining teams won’t make it to Oman until 10:35 p.m. Again we hear snoring and see that they’re 1 hour and 52 minutes late to the starting Mat. They wake up in a panic and finally get their clue open at 4:45 a.m. We see “highlights” of their various arguments and Stephanie tells us that the Race is taking a toll on their relationship. When they get to the travel agent, they find out there are no seats on the second flight. Chad tells us that they haven’t been beaten in a Leg so far, but they’ve beaten themselves. They manage to find a flight that lands at 10:45 p.m., only ten minutes behind the second flight.

Landing in Oman, the first two teams get a weather shock - it’s nighttime and Kat tells us “it’s 90 degrees and very humid. Just think of what it will be like during the daytime.” The other teams land and feel the heat too - and Chad & Stephanie find luck of the Race gods and their flight lands early, catching them up with the other teams from the second flight.

The Docs and the Shopping Hosts get to the guy with the ingots, and he gives them both one that says 7:30 - so they get to spend the night outside in Oman! Thomas & Jill get 7:45 as to Chad & Stephanie. Gary & Mallory and Nick & Vicki’s time is 8:00.

We see the teams in the morning - the Docs are stretching, Nick looks like ten miles of bad road, and Brook & Claire are doing their beauty routine with hair and makeup. Chad tells Stephanie to take a walk with him, and at 6:00 a.m. they wander off. Chad tells us that his mom passed away while he was in college and his stepfather gave him his mother’s ring, which he’s been dragging around this whole Race. He’s very sweet, telling her how he can’t spend his life with anyone but Stephanie, and gets down on one knee and asks Stephanie to marry him. The other teams see what’s going on and cheer them as they come back and congrats abound. I’ll admit, I got a little snuffly myself, it was very nice. Especially remembering what an ass Chad can be at times!!!!

The next clue tells the teams to drive to Jebel Shams, which is the tallest mountain in Oman. A safety driver will take them to the top because of the treacherous drive, and the clue box will be waiting. Chad & Stephanie stop and ask directions, and after sniping at each other, so do Thomas & Jill. They both seem to get the same directions. Thomas comments how nice the people are even though “we’re up in their face.” Nick makes one of his few-and-far-between smart comments that “it takes just as long to look at a map and try and figure it out as it does to ask a local who for sure knows where it is.” They stop at a gas station and Brook & Claire pull in behind to ask directions, and Vicki tells the Shopping Hosts that “it’s this way, we’re going in the right direction.” Nick then proceeds to tell her to shut up and that she has no common sense in her whole body.

Chad & Stephanie find the mountain first and the driver climbs in the car to take them up the road. Gary & Mallory are driving around and Gary is thinking they’re lost, and Mallory insists it’s right. The clue asks “Who wants to add a little magic to their life?” They’re 10,000 feet above the ocean floor, and the Roadblock has a team member rappel down the side 500 feet onto a narrow ledge, and search among hundreds of lamps to find one with Aladdin’s magic ring. Once they deliver it they will get their next clue. Stephanie tells Chad she wants no part of this one, and he walks off to do it. He tells us he has no problem with heights, but they’re “in the freaking Grand Canyon of Oman.” Thomas & Jill show up and Jill will attempt this task. Chad’s loving the scenery and Jill is almost hyperventilating as she goes down.

Nat & Kat are thinking they’re lost, as do Gary & Mallory. As Jill shows up to look through the lamps, Chad finds his and gets their next clue, which tells them to go to Nizwa and find a giant Stack of Books, which is a monument in the middle of a roundabout. Jill finds the ring shortly after, and they take off as Nick & Vicki show up. As they read their clue, a goat comes by and rips part of their clue folder off and eats it. Nick is petrified of heights (add that to the list with clowns) and Vicki tells us she’s not scared of anything but bugs, so off she goes. Brook & Claire read the clue and Brook is amazed that Claire wants to do it.

Nat & Kat stop for directions, and we see Gary asking locals while Mallory prays in the car. We see Vicki making short work of the rappelling, saying she feels like Spiderman - “or Spider woman, whatever.”

At the Stack of Books, Chad & Stephanie run for the clue with Thomas & Jill right behind. It’s a Detour - Water Table or Wedding Table. For Water Table, they’ll have to pump water from an ancient well. When their truck is full they’ll drive through Muscat to find the house to deliver it to and once delivered, they’ll get their next clue. In Wedding Table, they’ll go to a market to purchase 25 frozen chickens and other ingredients for a traditional wedding soup which symbolizes health and virility. Once they’ve made the soup and presented it to the wedding couple, they get their next clue. (Sorry, after a little internet searching, couldn’t find the name of it, which Phil pronounced as “maklouf.”) Chad & Stephanie will try Water Table, and Thomas & Jill will try and follow them.

Vicki has found the ring, and Claire is right behind her. Nick realizes that they have a leaking tire which really ticks him off, having to change it. Chad & Stephanie and Jill & Thomas get to the water trucks and Chad & Stephanie are just ahead of Thomas & Jill, filling their truck and taking off. They have a driver, and Chad asks if he’s going to help them but he says no. Thomas & Jill overfill their truck (way to waste water in a desert, folks!)

Brook & Claire get to the clue and decide cooking isn’t their thing either. Nat & Kat get to the Roadblock and Kat takes off to rappel down the side of the mountain, because they had a deal that Nat wouldn’t be involved in any heights-challenges. Gary & Mallory are still really lost.

Thomas & Jill stop to ask a local for directions and he offers to let them follow him to the location. Nick & Vicki find the Stack of Books and decide to try Water Table as well. Kat rappels down the mountain and says “I’m trying not to look down” as she looks down. Chad & Stephanie drive through a neighborhood and stop to ask a local, asking him to lead them to the location. The local that is helping Thomas & Jill tells them that their delivery house is that of his cousin. They hook up to the house and get their clue as Chad & Stephanie drive by and see them. The clue tells them to drive to Muttrah Souq, which is a large market, and search for a vendor who gives them Frankincense. They must take it to “the famed” Ali Baba and exchange it for their next clue.

Nick & Vicki get to the water pumping station and get their truck full as Brook & Claire start filling theirs. Gary & Mallory finally get to the base of the mountain and tell their driver they’ve been driving for almost 9 hours! As Thomas & Jill are driving away from the water pumping station, Chad & Stephanie show up and Thomas is amazed that they got done so quickly. Kat is having major problems finding the ring in the lamp as Gary & Mallory get up the mountain. Gary mentions he’d like to see just one team having problems with the challenge, and it looks like he’ll get his wish as Kat looks through the hundreds of lamps. She finds the ring, though and they pass Gary & Mallory on their way down, giving Gary some hope that they’re still in the Race.

Thomas & Jill get to the market with Chad & Stephanie right behind, and manage to find the correct vendor and then Ali Baba pretty quickly. We see Mallory start looking in lamps and Brook & Claire asking a local for directions to deliver their water. Nick & Vicki also get a local’s help as Nat & Kat get to the Stack of Books and decide to do Water Table. Mallory finds her ring as we see Thomas & Jill getting their clue from Ali Baba, which tells them to drive to the next Pit Stop. It’s the Al Alam Palace. Thomas & Jill tell a cabbie that he’ll pay to follow him and it seems Chad & Stephanie are not far behind - alas, they won’t get to the Mat first. But they may still make it in first place, as Phil tells Thomas & Jill they’ve incurred a 30-minute penalty. They broke a rule by paying a taxi driver to lead them to a location (I guess it must be a fairly new rule, because teams in Races past have done it without problem). And they do check in first, and hop around screaming when Phil tells them they’re first. They’ve won a trip to Belize - sounds like a good honeymoon!

Brook & Claire are driving around looking for Muttrah Souq market when they turn the wrong way down a one-way street. As they try and turn around a cop hits the lights and siren to pull them over. Nick & Vicki use this mistake to get ahead of them to the market, and get their Frankincense and go looking for “Ali Baba in a suit.” Somehow they find the correct shop and Brook & Claire are right behind. It’s a race to the Mat, and Nick & Vicki make it to the Mat in third place.

Gary & Mallory fill their truck with water as we see Nat & Kat get their clue after delivering theirs. Kat is soaked and says “that’s the best shower I’ve had in a couple of days.” Gary & Mallory see Nat a& Kat driving back and Gary is pretty happy that they’re not far behind. The Docs get their Frankincense and deliver it to Ali Baba as Gary & Mallory get theirs. It seems like the teams are really close together, but it could all be the magic of editing.....Nat & Kat are having problems finding the Palace and Gary & Mallory see it and drive right by the Docs. Nat & Kat make it to the Mat in fifth place, and Gary & Mallory are eliminated. Mallory says it’s been a very special experience because she did it with her dad. Hey, 6th place isn’t much to sneeze at (although it’s not a million bucks!)


1 - Chad & Stephanie
2 - Thomas & Jill
3 - Nick & Vicki
4 - Brook & Claire
5 - Nat & Kat
6 - Gary & Mallory - eliminated

With the teams all taking turns making the Mat first, they all seem pretty able to win this thing. Nick & Vicki may just stumble their way at least into the final three and have a great shot at the money. The previews show a “Double U-Turn” in the next Leg, and that should be interesting!