Racing Through Smelly, People-Packed Bangladesh

Five teams left! Who will get ever closer to the million dollar prize? Can an all-female team finally win this thing?

Muscat, Oman is the beginning point for this Leg of the Race. Chad & Stephanie will be leaving first (and they’re not oversleeping today, they leave at 11:10 a.m.). They must fly to Dhaka, Bangladesh (the world’s most densely populated city) and find the Sundarban Square Supermarket. They have to find a sugar cane press, fill a glass with sugar cane juice, and one team member has to drink the glass before getting their next clue. (I’m feeling queasy just thinking about drinking pure sugar right now! Ick!) The clue tells them that somewhere on the Leg there will be a Double U-Turn. Chad & Stephanie say that if given a chance, they’ll U-Turn Nat & Kat because they are big threats. Chad doesn’t want to lose “to a pair of girls.” Thomas & Jill mention that they might be a team that’s U-Turned by other teams. Nick & Vicki leave next, followed by Brook & Claire. Nat & Kat bring up the rear (obviously a big threat, eh?)

Chad & Stephanie find a flight landing tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. as Thomas & Jill show up at the travel agency and get the same tickets. Nick & Vicki get seats on that flight also, as do Brook & Claire. Nat & Kat go to Oman Air for their tickets. Chad decides that he wants a cheeseburger and Blizzard so he and Stephanie wander off as Thomas & Jill hang around hoping they can get an earlier-landing flight.

Nat & Kat decide to fly to Dubai and take their chances on getting a ticket to Bangladesh because they didn’t have time to get other connections before their flight left. This could either be a big mistake or big reward - we’ll wait and see! Thomas and Jill may be getting tickets that land at 5:00 a.m. and Brooke & Claire see them and decide to find out what they were doing. The agent booked Thomas & Jill on Qatar Airlines but Brook & Claire find out the flight is full. The shopping hosts tell Nick & Vicki, who wonder if Chad & Stephanie got the same flight - but they’re off eating. Nick & Vicki find out from another ticket agent that there is a flight that lands at 8:40 a.m. - but there’s only one seat. Somehow a seat frees up and they get the tickets - and Brook & Claire find out in the travel agency they’re at that the one seat is gone and realize that Nick & Vicki got it.

Brook & Claire run into Chad & Stephanie sitting and waiting for the flight and feel better that they’re not alone. Nat & Kat are in Dubai and find a flight that lands at noon in Bangladesh.

Thomas & Jill land and are amazed at the number of people in the city at 6:00 a.m. as well as the heat. Jill remarks that it’s a normal rush hour amount of people and traffic. They’re grinding away on the sugar cane, and Thomas downs the full glass and as they read their clue, Jill grabs a swig to taste it. The clue is a Detour concerning some time-tested traditions in Bangladesh: Balanced Meal or Balanced Brick. They must pick up a snack call a “tiffin” (which after a perfunctory search online, couldn’t find out what it was, exactly - and it looks like mush) which is held in interlocking containers (I did find some places where I could buy the containers). They must take them to a ship and load 30 containers, and bring back ten empties for their clue. For Balanced Brick, they must put a loaded basket on their heads and take it from a supply barge to a shop. They have to deliver 100 unbroken bricks for their next clue. (I can imagine the headaches now!)

Jill loses her first load of bricks off her head, and gets laughs from the locals. Thomas remarks at how the locals are taking twice as many bricks and barely breaking a sweat.

Nat & Kat get to their next connecting airport and see Brook & Claire and Chad & Stephanie sleeping in some seats. They feel better that there are two other teams with them.

Thomas & Jill get their 100 bricks delivered and their clue tells them to go to Dhaka River Port. Back at the airport, the teams wake up and see Nat & Kat. Thomas & Jill find the U-Turn and talk about Brook & Claire. The Double U-Turn means that two teams can be U-Turned to do both Detour tasks. Thomas & Jill decide to U-Turn the shopping hosts. The next clue tells them to take a bicycle rickshaw to Nazira Bazaar. On the plane, Brook & Claire have some ESP because they say “If they U-Turn us they’re the biggest idiots in the world.” (Creeps, maybe, but not idiots. You two are a team to be reckoned with!)

At the Bazaar, the clue is a Roadblock. They must go to a bicycle shop and assemble a rickshaw. When the rickshaw maker is happy, they will get their next clue. Obviously they didn’t teach building/mechanics/how to use tools at Notre Dame so Jill takes this task on. She mentions there are a “lot of nuts and bullets.”

Nick & Vicki land and Vicki loves the “little buggies” and hopes that they have to rent one. (You’ll have to build one, honey!) They interview that it smells bad in Bangladesh - “everyone has nasty body odor.” Vicki mentions that the sugar cane juice looks good but when Nick asks “do you want to drink it?” Vicki says no. Jill is still working - and sweating - on her rickshaw and making pretty good progress. Nick & Vicki are taking off for the Detour Balanced Meal and she remarks that she feels bad for their rickshaw driver, because their “bags weigh almost as much as we do.”

Jill thinks she is done with the rickshaw, but she’s forgotten the chain and gets a thumbs-down from the shop owner. Nick & Vicki have their tiffin containers loaded and are off in the boat. Chad & Stephanie are the first to leave the airport, followed by Nat & Kat, while Brook & Claire are still hanging around looking for a taxi. Brook mentions that the people are staring at them a lot, and Claire says “you stick out like a sore thumb.” Jill finally realizes that she’s missing the chain, puts it on and gets their clue. They must go to Lalbagh Fort, a 300-year-old castle, which is the Pit Stop for this Leg of the Race.

Nick & Vicki get to the ship to deliver the tiffin, and are hoisting ten canisters at a time and feeling that they’re “on their game” today. They do hate the smell of it, getting it all over them. Kat, Brook & Chad are the drinkers of the sugar juice and they all decide to do Balanced Meal. Chad & Stepanie take off in the opposite direction as the female teams, after asking their driver if he’s sure he knows where to go. Somebody is gonna be wrong!

Thomas & Jill get to the Fort and are greeted by a horrible military-style band. Phil tells them they are team number one, and have won a $15,000 gift card.

Vicki sees kids swimming in the water and mentions that she wouldn’t do it - “the water is brown.” They make short work of the task and are off to get their clue. They see that Brook & Claire were U-Turned, and say that they’re surprised considering that everyone was so far behind from Thomas & Jill. Nick wants to U-Turn Chad & Stephanie, but Vicki talks him out of it saying it’s pointless because they were behind them - and Nick says she’s too nice.

Chad & Stephanie have to stop to figure out where they’re going, as do Nat & Kat, and the local the doctors ask says he’ll help them and leads them on foot. They get their boat loaded and are off as Brook & Claire get to the shop, and Chad & Stephanie can’t find anyone who knows where to go. They finally find someone and off they go.

Nick decides to build the rickshaw (he built bikes as a kid) and Vicki thinks that Nick listening to her about not U-Turning anyone is a big deal. Nat & Kat packed some extra stuff, and used straps they brought to hoist the containers to the ship. Chad & Stephanie finally show up to the shop as Brook & Claire start hoisting their tiffin containers to the ship. Nick thinks he’s done with the rickshaw but he also forgot the chain, and is told he’s not done. Brook & Claire see Chad & Stephanie show up and remark that they can U-Turn them.

Nick is having problems trying to figure out what he missed. Vicki tells him to stay calm - good advice, because he finds the chain and they get their next clue.

Nat & Kat finish their task and get to the U-Turn, and decide to U-Turn Chad & Stephanie. (Ooh, Chad’s gonna bitch something fierce!) They’re happy that they’re not on the U-Turn station. Brook & Claire get to the clue box and find out that Thomas & Jill U-Turned them, and see that Chad & Stephanie are in the same boat, and get moving to finish the Balancing Bricks before Chad & Stephanie can catch up. Brook is the eternal cheerleader, yelling at Claire to keep moving, “no complaining.”

Nick & Vicki make it to the Mat in second place, getting their best finish, and Vicki tells Nick that him being nice pays off.

Brook & Claire are shuffling bricks and Brook keeps yelling “c’mon Claire!” She’s been a little more toned down but I can see how Claire would want to stuff Brook’s mouth with a sock right about now. She’s getting really tired and Brook tells her that she’ll take more bricks the next time. Nat & Kat get to the rickshaw building, and Nat will be doing this Roadblock. Nat mentions that she buys things from Ikea so she feels that she can put this together. (?)

Brook mentions to Claire that she’s surprised that they haven’t seen Chad & Stephanie yet. That’s because they’re wandering around looking for the clue box. Their rickshaw driver offered to drive them, but the clue told them to go on foot - you’d figure they’d at least find out where they had to go from him! Chad is pretty ticked and they find someone who speaks English, and find out they’re in the right direction. They finally find the clue box, and Chad sees Brook & Claire have been U-Turned, but then notices that they are also. As they take off for the bricks, Brook & Claire finish the task and Claire pleads with Brook to just “speed walk” instead of running. “I’m not going to be a very good teammate if I’m passed out.”

Chad & Stephanie are lugging bricks and Chad is being positive again (not!) and yelling at Stephanie to keep moving. She finally tells him to “shut the hell up.” Brook & Claire get to the clue box and take off to the Roadblock, bickering a bit as they go. Claire tells Brook “I don’t run marathons like you. If you wanted a partner like that you should have picked someone different.” Brook interviews later that in the moment, it’s hard to be empathetic but later realizes that it’s really hard. They get to the clue box and see that Nat & Kat are still there building their rickshaw. Chad is being better and telling Stephanie to keep pushing, and not take so many bricks the next time.

Brook will build the rickshaw, and she’s pretty happy that after doing both Detours, they’ve caught up with Nat & Kat. Chad & Stephanie finish and walk off holding hands, with Stephanie apologizing and Chad telling her “don’t be sorry. You busted your ass.” (Good boy.)

Kat interviews that it took her forever to put the rickshaw together, and she gets a “no” from the shop owner because she forgot something on the wheels. As she goes back to check, Chad & Stephanie show up and Stephanie will do the task. (Two of our remaining three guys neglected to do this one. I’m a bit surprised). Chad gets snarky with the doctors after being U-Turned, yelling that Nat should be better with her PhD, and “big, smart doctor can’t put a bicycle together.” She tells Chad that it wasn’t personal, they were the only team behind them. Chad figures he’s trying to help by getting in someone else’s head. He yells to Stephanie that she’s doing great and they can pass Nat & Kat. Nat tells Chad “I love you” which doesn’t impress Chad. Brook is kicking butt and Claire says she’s proud of Brook. Nat finishes, and they take off telling the other teams good luck, and especially mentioning Chad, saying “no hard feelings.” Stephanie is having problems with the back seat and Brook is getting nowhere putting the bell on.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love TiVo and being able to blast through the commercials?

Brook manages to get the bell on the handlebars and gets her clue. She hugs the guy (what, no kiss?) Stephanie finishes shortly after and they ask where the Fort is. Brook & Claire see Chad & Stephanie right behind them and decide to run faster.

Nat & Kat get to the Mat (sounds like a Dr. Seuss book) and they tell Phil they have no regrets about using the U-Turn. It’s now dark as we see Brook & Claire and Chad & Stephanie running around looking for the Fort, and Brook & Claire make it to the Mat in fourth. Brook tells Phil she can’t believe that “two little girls” got U-Turned and Phil laughs. “Don’t tell me that you’re not a threat!” Chad & Stephanie finally show up, and Phil tells them they are eliminated from the Race. Chad says he wasn’t really surprised that they were U-Turned, being the last team there. He says he still feels rich because he has Stephanie. Awwwww!

Here are our standings:
1 - Thomas & Jill
2 - Nick & Vicki
3 - Nat & Kat
4 - Brook & Claire
5 - Chad & Stephanie (eliminated)

So two out of the four remaining teams are female. And our rocket scientists are still in this! After such a nice working-together week, the previews show Nick being a butthead and making Vicki cry so maybe this will be their undoing. When will teams learn, that the better they get along and work together, the better they finish? Tsk!