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The Amazing Race Asia
The Amazing Race Asia 1 is the first season of the reality television game show The Amazing Race Asia. The show features ten teams of two, with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around Asia and Pacific Rim to win US$100,000. Applications were accepted through 31 March 2006. The season began on 9 November 2006 and the season finale aired on 1 February 2007. Malaysian workers Zabrina Fernandez & Joe Jer Tee are the winners of the race. They were the first all female team to win in the "The Amazing Race" franchise and at the time were the first team to win without relying on a Fast Forward or a Yield and also the first winners to win only the final leg of the race.
The first leg of The Amazing Race Asia started off in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, The two Malaysian Teams took home ground advantage although Andrew & Syeon made a last-minute blunder that let Mardy & Marsio take first place. Francesca & Sandy, nearly made an early departure from the race, but fortunately for them, this was a non-elimination round.
From Kuala Lumpur, the Teams headed off to Jakarta, Indonesia, where they faced giant snakes and pushcarts. Mardy & Marsio slipped to second place, while the Indian Team took first place after winning the Fast Forward. We also say goodbye to the first team eliminated from The Amazing Race Asia.
The next stop on The Amazing Race Asia was beautiful Bali, Indonesia. A routine Roadblock on Kuta Beach turned into a monumental task that made some of the teams quit ... and led to the elimination of the second team from the Philippines.
Once again, after a mandated rest period, the Teams set off to the destination for the next leg of the race, Sydney, Australia.
From Sydney its a short hop to Auckland, New Zealand. A new city, with new challenges, and a simple task turns into a real complication for the teams. One team finds out how easilly winning can turn into losing as they unknowingly break the rules that could cost them the race.
The seven remaining teams started the next leg at the Auckland Museum in the centre of Auckland, New Zealand. To the South Island they go, arriving in Queenstown the extreme sport capital of the world. Teams face heights and extreme challenges in this leg.
The six remaining Teams set out from Chard Farm Winery, the Pitstop from the previous leg of The Amazing Race Asia. The Teams left in the order that they arrived at the Pitstop, with the exception of Andy & Laura, who had to wait an extra 92 minutes as a penalty for Andy's speeding ticket in the last leg. Through Singapore and then to Bangkok, Thailand even Thailand residents Andy and Laura face language barriers on this leg.
The remaining six Teams departed from Wat Pho, the temple of the Reclining Buddha, which was the Pit Stop from the previous leg of The Amazing Race Asia. The Teams were to travel to Krabi in Southern Thailand to find their next clue. Joe Jer & Zabrina were the last team to depart and had the additional penalty of not having any money because they finished last in the previous leg. Fortunately, the other teams had left them enough money to get to the bus terminal and buy bus tickets - and once they got there, Joe Jer & Zabrina begged some kind strangers for financial help. In southern Thailand the teams hit the beach, but not in a fun way, as physical challenges from coconut smashing to rock climbing stood in their way.
The five teams left are off again, minus Howard & Sahran who were eliminated in the last round, to Kolkata, India. The Teams were in for even more challenges this time, as they shone shoes, lighted a candle for the dearly departed, and squeezed in a giant meal. As tension between Andy and Laura and the rest of the teams emerge, the racers are greeted by a surprise from Allan as they near the end of the leg.
No mandatory rest period this time, as the leg continues to Delhi, India. Five teams remain, with three teams still on the way to check in with host Allan Wu, at the Kolay Market. This leg the teams face dungcakes, donkeys and sacks full of chillies on The Amazing Race Asia. Tension between everyone and Andy and Laura build on the race to a yield marker. When the extended leg ends, one team will go home.
There are only four Teams left, and they seem to be equally matched, judging from how closely spaced their timing is. As the Race beings its end, the teams depart for Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The instructions also include a significant warning: caution, yield ahead. A new destination presents a new set of challenges, and with some teams the cracks are beginning to show.
Mardy & Marsio, having finished last in the previous non-elimination round found themselves stripped of their money. This time, the Teams were all business as they battled to make it into the top three. The Teams began from the Margham Desert Camp, after a rest period, and as usual, left in the order that they'd arrived the previous leg. Sandy & Francesca were the first to leave, having come in first place, but were very conscious that the gap between them and the next team was only a few minutes. No new destination this time – the game was going to be played in Dubai, with new challenges. The mix of challenges included camel-riding, treasure-hunting, and an eating challenge that pushed a couple of contestants to the limit. One team said goodbye, but which one? With only three teams left, who will win the Amazing Race Asia?
The pulse pounding race to the final pit stop and US$100,000 begins with the three final teams: Sandy & Francesca, Andrew & Syeon and Joe Jer & Zabrina. Starting from the Mina A' Salam Beach in Dubai, the teams quickly learn that they will return to where it all started to get to where it all ends: Malaysia. From Kuala Lumpur, its an exciting and suspensful ride through the final detour and road block to the final pit stop in Kuching, Malaysia. There Amazing Race history is made and the winners crowned!
