Survivor South Pacific - October 19/11 Episode Recap

Free Agent

The episode opened at...

Savaii - Night 14
-Returning from Tribal council after blindsiding Elyse (and Ozzy) and Ozzy's pissed off - feels like he had a good thing with Keith & Whitney and they went behind his back and betrayed him (kinda... they didn't actually vote for Elyse - but they didn't warn them either.)  He gives a speech saying he's done playing the alliance way, he's now what's called a free agent.  (He shouldn't try to talk smart, doesn't really work for him.)  I'm playing for myself and you play for yourselves.
-Keith - so that's how you want it now - you against us?
-Whitney - I don't know why you're taking it so personal, it wasn't against you (oh honey, it so was.)
-Ozzy - of course it was against me, if you don't tell me about it...
-Dawn (the voice of reason) - Oh stop being a baby. You're with-holding and you know it.
-Ozzy - Yeah, I have the idol.  How bout that? (oh, you're stupid) And you're forgetting the other part of this game - it's called Redemption.
-Keith - You want to go there, just let us know man. (Yeah, b-bye.)

Savaii - Day 15
-Ozzy(is out fishing) and still saying it doesn't make sense to him that they felt they needed to get rid of Elyse and keep him in the dark. "I'm a big part of this tribe" - he wiggles the fish on the spear (ug, me bring food), "And if they want to keep winning challenges they need to trust me."  (Dude, you can't just expect them to trust you when all you do is fish or sit around camp with your Survivor girlfriend - you gotta be working it - keeping everyone happy... no one said it would be easy.)

-The rest of the tribe is sitting around the fire saying how disappointed they are in Ozzy's attitude - he should be apologizing today - what a child - he needs to man up and get over it.
-Jim is ecstatic with how things are going - his plan has succeeded beyond his wildest dreams, not only is Ozzy no longer seen as the leader - he went and threw a Hissy Fit (perfect!  That is exactly what it was.) He could not have made any worse moves than he did. (They show Ozzy off by himself, still pouting.)
-Keith still deluding himself that they didn't set out to blindside Ozzy or he would be out (whatever.)
-Cochran for once is being quiet.  He sees Ozzy's temper tantrum as a huge advantage to him and (hopefully) is going to keep his mouth shut.  Until he says, "In all seriousness, he's behaving like a stupid b*tch." (Ha.)

Upolu - Day 15
-Coach is still feeling on top of the world.  They still have lots of food having won reward and he has the hidden immunity idol.  Only Sophie and Albert know about it and he struggles with that because he likes to have all the cards on the table but Brandon has proven to be a loose cannon and (for once) he's being cautious.
-Brandon has decided he's going to go looking for the clue / hidden immunity idol (oh, too late Lil Hantz) and he proves to be a bloodhound like his uncle - and finds the clue to the idol.  Right away he goes and shows Coach & Albert, they all read the clue and neither of them lets on they already have the idol.  Coach wonders if with-holding information is lying - it's a grey area... (No, I think it's lying.)  They split up to search... well let Brandon go search.
-Coach is playing it up, "I'm having flash backs right now."  Brandon is determined and looking everywhere and he moves just like Russell (shutter, it's creepy.)
-Albert says to Coach that they can't tell him now, he's so emotional and if he knew we let him search like this and didn't tell him - game over.  Albert says, "He may not be the sharpest tool in the shed" but eventually it's gonna dawn on him that someone probably has it.
-Brandon, "You don't think someone already has it?"
-Coach - "I don't think so."  Watching Brandon's walk and dogged pursuit of the idol is so reminiscent of Russell it scares Coach.

REDEMPTION ISLAND
-Ozzy & Keith and Sophie & the Marlboro Man (Rick - I never remember his name cause he doesn't speak and they rarely show him) are the witnesses.

-Christine & Elyse enter the arena and Rick doffs his hat (aw, I like the rancher man).
-Jeff asks Elyse how she feels having her former tribe mates there to watch.  She says it's bittersweet - she would hope they were wishing her well but they were also the ones that thought it was your time to go.
-Jeff pulls a Barbra Walters on Christine and makes her cry - just by pointing out that she's spent more time on Redemption Island than actually in the game.  (You broke the B*tchy One, way to go Probst.)  She said it's just really hard - she appears strong but Redemption Island can break you.

Duel - Survivor Shuffle Board.
-They each have 4 pucks on the board and must knock the other person's pucks off the board before they can get yours.  Last person with a puck still on the board wins - the loser is gone for good!
-Off they go - Rick actually speaks, "Go Christine, you can do it." and she scratches her nose with her middle finger at him... Oh great, he'll never talk again now.  Sophie & Rick definitely catch the message though.
-Christine is the first to knock out one of Elyse's pucks and they go back and forth - Christine is up at one point when Elyse knocks out one of her own but they end up tied -and with one puck each left - Christine wins another Duel and sends ELYSE packing.
-So with the vapid pretty girl gone - "I'm really proud of myself", blah, blah, blah - that also knocks Steve H, Lee G and Maddy D out of the pools.

-Rick actually does a spot with the camera - says Christine has fire in her eyes, if she comes back she'll be ready to kill us.  (Though she does leave sniffling - off by herself again.)

Upolu - Day 15
-Sophie & Rick tell everyone how bitter Christine is- "She flipped us off"- she has no alligence with the tribe and would be the worst person to come back from Redemption Island.
-Edna is continuing her campaign to cozy up to Coach ever since Brandon told her she wasn't really in their alliance.  Coach is eating it up - he feels she is the only one out there that would lay down her Survivor life for him (I don't know if she'd go that far - she's using you to save her Survivor life.) But it is working, in so far as he will definitely vote out Mikayla before her.
-Edna says she's ready to follow him into battle, even if it gets ugly (oooh, ugly I like.)

Savaii - Day 15
-Ozzy's finally figured out he made a mistake with the temper tantrum.  He approaches Keith first and says he's willing to look past it... (mighty big of you) and Keith is in - we can still go to the end together.  Ozzy, "Probably shouldn't have told everyone about the idol."  And they laugh (so stupid.)
-Then Ozzy continues in his contrition tour - apologizes to Dawn, Jim & Cochran - tells them he'd rather be with them than by himself - that's why I told you guys about the idol. (Sure it is.)
-Jim is buying it though, "he has nowhere to go but with us" - he says he wants Ozzy on his side - he wins challenges and after the merge is a bigger target than him... (hmm - did Ozzy out smart him?)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
-They will race to assemble a wheelbarrow then push it through a series of obstacles, stopping along the way to collect two loads of coconuts - they will dump the coconuts in a trough and the remaining tribe members with disassemble the wheelbarrow and use the pieces to build a sling shot - they will then shoot the coconuts at targets - first tribe to knock down all their targets wins immunity  - Reward: get to go to sliding rocks, natural waterslide and picnic lunch - and another hidden clue at camp.
Upolu sits out Edna - again.

-Off they go - Brandon, Sophie & Rick/Marlboro man for Upolu and Ozzy, Cochran & Dawn for Savaii.  They get the wheelbarrows together at the same time but Savaii apparently can't drive the thing and Upolu gets out to an early lead.  Ozzy & Dawn cannot drive the wheelbarrow - it's weird.  Upolu dumps their nuts and the next three Coach, Albert & Michayla start on the slingshot.
-Upolu (Albert) gets first target knocked down before Savaii even has the coconuts dumped.
-Ozzy & Dawn continue to have trouble to the end but they finally move on to the slingshot portion and Jim, Keith and Whitney start shooting.
-Mikayla hasn't hit the target yet and Coach says to Albert, "No more Mikayla, just you and me." Then he says to Mikayla, "Do you want to take a break." To which she says, "NO, I'm not tired."  (Coach is an a-hole - micromanaging the challenge - really?)  She is trying to use one hand and misses again - again he's trying to push her to sit out (she's a competitive athlete, you're just making it worse.) She says, "Coach, I got it."
-Savaii is catching up - they tie at two - then they tie at three and Upolu/Mikayla still not getting any - Coach getting madder - Savaii runs away with it - they get on a roll and knock them all down - boom, boom, boom.  SAVAII - Wins Immunity, Reward and a useless clue.  (Dawn's screaming was really annoying - I'm just saying.  "Whoo - Yes!"  Shut it lady.)

-And it looks like curtains for Mikayla.  Coach says it's her fault they lost - he gave her direction and she didn't take it (to sit out, really?) "If I'm to coach this team, I need people, in the heat of battle, to listen to me." (You're not there to coach the team, but actually giving her pointers on how to aim would have helped more than trying to pull her from the game - and reviewing the tape - HE DIDN'T HIT ANY TARGETS EITHER! Like they say, those who can do, those who can't, COACH.)

REWARD
-They are one big happy again.  Whoo - Yea! (she's killing me.)  Ozzy says the Reward really did bring them back together - and he definitely wants someone from this tribe to win (hopefully him.)  Then there is rock sliding.  Cochran says the sweater vest is a barrier between him and nature so he stripped it off and slid down the rock -  They were all doing the water slides to a constant chorus of "Whoo - Whoo!"  (Dawn, shut up!) 

Upolu - Day 16
-We win together, we lose together they say but Coach isn't feeling that way - he says it's either Edna or Mikayla and she proved uncoachable in the challenge so Mikayla's going home tonight.
-Albert goes to Mikayla and says he's going to go to war for her - Brandon and Coach will want her out but he can get Coach to listen to him. (ORLY?)
-Mikayla doesn't get it - we have to be all about strength and you are putting my name up against a woman that is half my size and double my age - you have to be kidding me.
-She tells the camera that she really does trust in ALLAN and I hope he trusts in me (Hahaha - his name is ALBERT - yeah, they're really tight.)

-Albert talks to Rick and Sophie first - he says Edna has zero challenge value, that's why we sat her - they don't need her.  To Albert it's a no-brainer.  Plus Edna is a smart tactical player who knows she's 6th which could make her act out desperately at the merge.  Rick agrees Edna is the smart vote tonight and Sophie is on board - they just have to convince Coach & Brandon.
-So, they approach Brandon first and he says he regrets trying to get Mikayla out early in the game, he's come to respect her - and he doesn't trust Edna, he thinks she's trying to play them - but he wants to be a radical for God and he's going to stick by his word that Edna is their sixth and hope they respect that. (Shaking my head - what?)
-Sophie had the same reaction I did.  Mikayla is no longer the whore and he wants Edna out but he's still going to vote Mikayla - He's nuts.  He's absolutely nuts. (Amen sister.)
-Albert says you can't talk strategy to Brandon, more than 5 minutes he's clutching his head and ready to cry.  He and Sophie head to Coach and Albert lays it out - Keeping Edna at this stage is a mistake - the next challenge is make it or break it and they need the strength.
-Coach argues that they lost the challenge because Mikayla wouldn't listen to him and at the merge if he tells Edna to follow Ozzy and wipe his butt when he poops, she'd do it.
-Albert argues that he thinks she's playing them with the loyalty thing but there's no changing Coach's mind.
-Coach now starts his campaigning - if he has anything to say about it, Edna is not going home tonight.  He goes and tells Rick that Edna is loyal and he wants Mikayla out tonight.
-Albert tells Rick he & Sophie will not agree with Coach & Brandon on this point so it leaves Rick as the deciding vote - he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.  "This sucks."

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Coach, big loss today - you could have taken the numbers advantage but you blew it (nice) - What happened?
-Didn't compete as a team today. Lots happening, everyone yelling, neither Mikayla or I were hitting anything and I said, Let's just let Albert do it. (No you didn't.)
-Mikayla - I was hot and at no point did he say 'let Albert do it' - neither of us just stopped. (Exactly.)
Edna, your tribe sat you again - what message does that send you?
-No one wants to be the scrawniest or last picked - but that's just the way it is with me. (Oh, poor little tiger lady - I'm not buying it.)
Brandon, is there much talk of the merge and being up or down in numbers?
-Absolutely - we have to be up in numbers going to the merge - this next challenge is absolutely detrimental to how this game turns out (I don't think that's the word but we get the gist.)
So, do you keep the members that will help you get to the merge or keep the player who will be loyal after the merge.
-You've got to get there, but you want to get there with people who will be loyal (Edna's got a little pleased with herself smirk on her face) Numbers, if one or two people are not loyal, don't mean anything.
Albert, what if the person you're worried about being loyal is the same person that helps you get there with numbers?
-If the one person that helps you get to the merge isn't the most loyal, that is something we have to compromise because in this game it is of the upmost importance to get to the merge with numbers and with an edge...  (Brandon keeps rolling his eyes and looking up to heaven - ugh.)
So, you're saying what good is loyalty after the merge if you don't get to the merge.
-Right.
Sophie, where to you stand on this merge argument?
-If you go into the merge down in numbers it doesn't matter if everyone is loyal, it doesn't (more Brandon theatrics) You have to go in with as many as you can and be as strong as you can.
Coach, a divided tribe - some say strength some say loyalty.
-And you know what my answer would be - honour, loyalty, integrity.
-Albert pipes up - The one thing that worries me though... loyalty can be faked, you can't fake strength. (That hurts Brandon's head and he can't keep his mouth shut...)
-Brandon - We made a pact that there would be a 6th  and we agreed it would be Edna.  Last Tribal Council it was loyalty, loyalty, loyalty and this time too, yet we're split.  I love you Mikayla, but I want to keep everybody to their word.  As far as I'm concerned there should be only one vote - we're divided and this is not loyalty.  Vote me out today if this is the way you're going to play.  Money, you can throw it in the fire and it's gone - Character you'll have for the rest of your life. (Well played 'Lil Hantz, well played.)
Mikayla, it looks like you're in the middle here.
-Well, obviously Brandon's had it out for me from the beginning...
-He jumps in again - Because I don't trust you or Edna strategically.  I would rather keep Mikayla here but because I said I would not vote Edna out of this tribe, I am bound to what I said. Period.
Brandon, one of the things you said is 'If we are not going to play this game based on loyalty, vote me out tonight.' (Oh, gotta love Jeff to keep stirring that pot.)
Coach, explain to Brandon the downside of telling somebody you're going to vote them out before the vote.
-The problem is, there is such a thing as being too honest.  There are some cards you reveal and some you keep hidden for a time but it doesn't mean you're being disloyal or dishonest. (Oh yeah, Coach is feeling guilty - haha, you should have seen his face.)
-Brandon - it's funny, now-a-days people have the conception that you can tell a half lie or a little bit of a lie - it's just a game or it's just one cigarette - that's laciviousness (whoa, big word) because there is no grey - it's black or white. Period.  (And he's busting out the spoken puncuation again - I think they should take Brandon at his word and vote him out.)

Time to vote:
Brandon votes Mikayla
Mikayla votes Edna - I don't even know how you got this far.
Alberta votes Edna - I hope it's you tonight or we're in a world of hurt - come on Cowboy.
Edna votes Mikayla - I hope your time here helps your modelling career. (Oh, meow.)

Tallying the votes:
No one plays a hidden immunity idol
Mikayla - 1
Edna - 1
Mikayla - 2
Edna - 2
Mikayla - 3
Edna - 3
And the deciding vote goes to... MIKAYLA.  (Wow, the power of the ponytail and self-righteous piety is guiding this tribe.)  And with Mikayla, Susan M, Virginia D and Elaine/Kevin also head to Redemption Island.
Coach and Brandon whisper, "I love you, man" to each other (and I threw up a little in my mouth.)

Next time - Ozzy talking to Cochran says he doesn't want to go to Redemption but he'll do it.  And Coach leads his tribe in a prayer circle but says if Brandon becomes a liability he'll put a bullet in his head (figuratively, I hope.)

Mikayla final thoughts:  She feels like whenever Brandon has a crazy blow up it's always directed at a stronger woman -she can't believe Edna's made it as far as she has.  She just hopes the next challenge is something super physical (so she can laugh.)

Have a great rest of the week everyone,

Coleen

Amazing Race 19 - October 16/11 Episode Recap

This Is Gonna Be a Fine Mess (Phuket, Thailand)

In this leg the teams are heading out from Indonesia to Phuket, Thailand - Tommy & Andy(the Snowboarders) are the first team out at 8:17am - once they touch down in Phuket, they must race to the floating pier at the marina to get their next clue. 
-This was Andy & Tommy's second 1st place in a row but they want a real 'clean' first place, not to get it because of another teams mistake.
-Zac & Laurence head out 10 minutes later and Laurence says he's going to make sure they don't make the same mistake as last leg  (yes, reading the clue is very important.)

-At the airport, the Snowboarders are talking to a travel agent, she tells them there are no direct flights to Phuket, they will have to fly to Jakarta and get a connecting flight.
-Zac & Laurence go to a different window and Tommy tells them to go to the same place they did and get the tickets to Jakarta - they just do it - very little questions asked.  Huh.  They also don't have a flight booked on to Puck-it (as they are calling it... no, it Poo-ket.)  They board the flight to Jakarta.

-Sandy & Jeremy are the next team to head out at 9:40am with the clue to head to Phuket. (They call it Puck-it too - argh!  That's pretty annoying.)  Jeremy tells us he's learning that they still have a lot to work on in their relationship on the race... (Oh, that doesn't sound promising for her.)
-9:41am - Fighting Siblings Justin & Jennifer head out - she doesn't want to go down the sidewalk cause "those are steps, that would kill me."  (Yeah, walking down the middle of the road is better, where cars can kill you.  Sheesh.)
-9:42am - Ernie & Cindy next, and yes, she does know how to pronounce Phuket. She's excited because they were just in Phuket (knowledge of the area is always an asset.)
-9:46am - Marcus & Amani - they have 4 kids and want to make them proud.
-9:56am - Ma & Pa (Bill & Cathi) they may be older but every morning they wake up raring to go - they think they'll be around for a while (Argh - knock on wood - quick.)
-10:05am - Liz & Marie - they say Poo-khat... close - Their dad suddenly passed away of a heart attack not long ago and he would be so excited they were doing this.

-Teams start arriving at the airport - they are told there is a 12:45pm flight to Jakarta and the Jakarta to Phuket flight is at 4:00pm - arriving in Phuket at 6:50pm - the 3rd through 8th place teams will all be on these flights.

-The first 2 teams get to Jakarta and go to book their connecting flight on to Phuket - well, the direct flight is now fully booked - CRAP!  They book a flight to Bangkok and a connection to Phuket that will get them in at 7:40pm.  There goes the lead guys.

-The first flight arrives in Phuket and the 6 teams hit the ground running.  Everyone is in taxis and Justin & Jennifer's taxi driver says, "I fight for you." and he passes Ernie & Cindy - Oh, they got a good one.  Bill says our driver will get us there in "chop chop, good shape." There driver is up for it too - "#1" and he also passes Ernie & Cindy... yup, her head's going to explode.  They also pass two more teams - maybe they got the best taxi driver!

- Second flight gets in and at the taxi stand they find out that the other teams were all there about an hour before them - oh, sad Snowboarders make me sad.

-Sandy & Jeremy are the first team to the marina and see the sign that it doesn't open until 8:00am -so all the teams will have time to catch up before they continue in the morning.
-Everyone is shocked that the boys weren't at the marina before them - this game is unbelievable.

-8:00am - they are all lined up to make a run on the wobbly floating dock for the clue - Jennifer tells us she's going to puke on a speedboat though (nice.)  Off they go and Tommy & Andy prove to be as sure footed on the floating dock as they were in the rice field and get out to a lead - they are the first to read the clue to the DETOUR - Coral Reconstruction or Beach Preparation.  Both tasks will give them the chance to help rebuild the tourism industry decimated by the 2004 tsunami.
-In Coral Reconstruction: they must construct a coral nursery then load it on a kayak with a tray of live coral "seedlings" - then they must paddle out to the buoy then dive underwater and load their live coral into the nursery.  When the marine biologist is satisfied with their work he will hand over their next clue (which looks like a medallion and compass? stop watch?)
-In Beach Preparation - they must collect 20 chairs and 10 umbrellas marked with the corresponding sticker found in their clue - then they must set them up to the resorts exacting standards to receive their next clue.

-Andy & Tommy choose Coral Reconstruction and choose a marked speed boat to take them on to the task - WHOO HOO!
-Marcus & Amani, Justin & Jennifer, Jeremy & Sandy and Zac & Laurence all choose Coral Reconstruction.  Oh, and Ma & Pa as well.
-Ernie & Cindy and Liz & Marie are the only teams heading to Beach Preparation but they are all in the same place so it turns into a boat race to get to the little island where the tasks take place.
-Andy & Tommy get to work putting the nursery scaffolding together.
-Liz & Marie lifeguarded for two summers so they feel this is their Detour.  They start to gather their yellow fish marked chairs & umbrellas.
-Laurence proves he still can't read as they miss the sign for the Coral Reconstruction and head over to the Beach Preparation instead.  I guess they're setting up chairs instead.
-Amani & Marcus said they gravitated to the coral reconstruction because they saw it as a way to give back after seeing a program recently about the tsunami and the destruction of the reef.

-And now we see how well the teams work together putting the puzzle of the nursery together.  Most are doing okay except... you guessed it - the Fighting Siblings - who are again fighting.
Jennifer - You're not listening to me.
Justin - Yes I am
Jennifer - don't raise you're voice to me.
(Oh man, he'd probably be better off to just keep his mouth shut and let her do it.)

-Back at the beach set up - the twins are having trouble finding their marked chairs & umbrellas.  Ernie says you have to have some strength to yard out the chairs & umbrellas, they're heavy and they're all stacked on top of each other in the hut.  (Yeah, they don't make anything easy for them.)

-Andy & Tommy are the first one's out on the water with the nursery and their coral.  Getting into the kayaks with all the gear and having to paddle - challenging - once they get to the buoy, they have to jump in the water, the current starts to take the kayak away - they have to drop the nursery - tie off the kayak, then dive down and anchor the nursery with a rock... good thing they're surfers as well so they're used to currents and the water.  I think this is going to be really hard for some of these teams.
-The other teams just trying to get the nursery down to the water it starts falling apart. (Ho boy.)
-Justin & Jennifer nearly tip the kayak - at the buoy, she's just going to keep the boat there (while he goes in with the nursery.) (Yes, Princess.)
-Marcus takes the nursery into the water and it falls apart again - he's having problems diving down to pick up the pieces... he says he swims but he's not a competitive swimmer... (um, doesn't really look like he swims, I'm just saying.)
-Andy & Tommy finish quickly and get the next clue- what the heck is that thing?
-Jeremy & Sandy had trouble getting the nursery together - but they finally head out for the buoy about the same time as Ma & Pa and as Tommy & Andy are coming back in.

-Tommy & Andy now have to use the compass and head off in the speed boat 13 min North to reach the islands depicted on the medallion.  There they will get their next clue.  They know the other teams may struggle with the current in that challenge.

-Back at the beach - Liz & Marie are struggling to gather their equipment and to set it up - the locals are laughing at twin #1 when she couldn't figure out how to unfold the chairs (this does not look good for Blondie's.)

-Jennifer won't get off the boat and she's not keeping it close to the buoy at all - Justin tells her he needs more coral and he can't keep swimming out to their drifting boat - p*ssily she says I'll have to get in the water then - Yes! You need to actually help!  (I officially cannot stand Jennifer.)
-Once she gets in the water and helps they finish quickly and get the next clue - but she's not happy.

-Sandy gets in the water and their nursery falls apart - again - Jeremy gets in too but the thing is in pieces and with the current they can't put it back together - she says she can't do this one - SHE CAN'T SWIM. (WHAT?!  Why would you have chosen this task then?)  Oh, he chose the task.
-Same thing happens to Ma & Pa - theirs falls apart and he can't get it back together - they head in to go do the chairs.
-Marcus & Amani also have the nursery fall apart - she doesn't get off the boat until it capsizes - he can't swim well enough to get it back together... they get back to shore and he's exhausted. "Golly.  Golly." (I'm still love the old man cursing.)
-These three teams all head over to do the Beach Preparation.  Jeremy is barking at Sandy - "Come here - Now."  She's shocked by his negativity.  He says he didn't really want to switch tasks but she did - (She Can't SWIM! He's kind of a d*ck.)

-Meanwhile, the wind has kicked up and the umbrellas are proving impossible to get deep enough in the sand to have them stand up and not blow away.  (I'd be so frustrated.)  Laurence & Zac, working together are able to strong arm the things in but Liz & Marie - not so much.  An umbrellas falls over and hits Marie - and there is crying.

-Tommy & Andy get to the islands on the medallion and read the clue to the ROADBLOCK: Who wants to be the king of the hill?
-One team member has to rock climb the sheer limestone cliff to reach a birds nest where they'll retrieve the next clue.  Andy is going to be the king of the hill.
-Justin & Jennifer get to the island next and Jennifer is going to climb (really?)

-Back at the beach task - Ernie & Cindy are trying to wet the sand around the umbrellas to make them stand up.  Good luck with that.
-Marcus is "Goin' Crazy" - Amani says he picks up catch phrases all the time, "I guess we'll be 'goin' crazy' all day."  Marcus, "I'm just goin' crazy."
-Liz & Marie say they were beach lifeguards but it was someone else's job to set up the umbrellas, they have respect for them now.  Sandy comes over and gives them some pointers and helps them put up an umbrella... she might as well help them because Jeremy won't let her do anything.
-He's frustrated that she didn't set the chairs up properly - she thinks it's no big deal. (yeah, these two are doomed.)

-The snowboarders get to the cliff island and the bearded Andy starts climbing the wall - "Look at him up there, he's like a little monkey."  He makes short work of the climb, retrieves the clue and they head out for the Pit Stop: Koh Panyi, a floating village built over 200 yrs ago to provide easy access for fishing - at the edge of the village is a floating soccer field - the Pit Stop for this leg of the race.  That would be a challenging soccer game - on a floating platform.

-Jennifer is now heading up the wall and they are actually not fighting - she does well, gets the clue and they are off to the Pit Stop.

-Back at the beach - Ernie & Cindy are the first team to finish and get the compass clue.  Zac & Laurence finish right behind them and head off for the islands on the medallion.

-Jeremy asks Sandy if the rungs matter on the chairs (she hasn't set all the chairs up properly) she says they don't matter - but when the guy comes to judge - they fail.  (Yes, I'd be mad at her too - come on lady haven't you noticed attention to detail matters on this Race? Sheesh.)

-Marcus & Amani finish and as they head off he stops to give Liz/Marie pointers about spinning the umbrellas down, kind of screwing them in - (he's a nice guy) - they are still working on it.
-Jeremy & Sandy have now fixed her screw up and received the clue.

-Ma & Pa and Liz & Marie are still working on the Beach.

-Ernie & Cindy don't seem to be heading in the right direction - they don't see anything lining up with the medallion.

-Zac & Laurence get to the islands and get the clue for the Roadblock: Zac is climbing.

-Liz & Marie's umbrellas are all falling over still - Ma & Pa finish and offer them encouragement as they leave.  More crying.

-Ernie & Cindy still lost on the water.  They were a little off North and can't see the islands - they are far off on the horizon though, they just don't spot them.

-Marcus & Amani get to the islands and decide she's going to do the climbing... I want to be king of the hill?  Okay.

-Jeremy & Sandy get to the islands and read the clue - Who wants to be king of the hill - she says, "You."  There you have it. 

-The twins are arguing on the beach, You are going so slow - You do it then.

- Ernie & Cindy are sitting in the middle of nowhere.  Then Ernie finally spots the islands.  He was reading the compass backwards!  They headed South instead of North (Really? Ernie's pretty.)

-Twins - arguing.  They finally finish.  Are you going to cry - No, I'm not going to cry.  They head out for the islands.

-Zac finishes the climb and they head for the Pit Stop - they get a map and have to direct the boat driver - they brag that Zac has sailed around the world so they're good at navigation... and you guessed it - they get lost.  We're used to marine charts... Uh huh.
-Amani climbs the wall and Jeremy is right behind her - they are all heading out. 
-Ernie & Cindy finally get there and Ernie is climbing the rock.  He practiced rock climbing before the race... of course he did.
-Ma & Pa get the clue and Pa is going to do the climbing.  Cathi says they're going to use Bill in as many Roadblocks as they can to build up speed and try to keep them in the Race longer (hopefully that doesn't blow up in their face when she has to do all the Roadblock on the back end.)
-The twins get the clue and one of the twins is doing it :) (At least I have an excuse not to know which one is which :)

-Laurence & Zac don't know what to do to find their bearings, but spot another boat and just follow it, Laurence: "what a bunch of pathetic sailors we are."
-Marcus & Amani get to the village right ahead of Jeremy & Sandy - they don't see the signs though... now lost in the floating village.

Here's How They Finished:
1) Andy & Tommy - win $5000 each.  They say they are going to continue to play smart, be aware and... Andy: Praise in God.  We feel really blessed to be here today. (Huh.) 
2) Justin & Jennifer - She says it's been a tough day - Phil says he judges if it's been a tough day by if she uses her look or not - then she does the look - yikes - I know that look - Run.  (Hahaha.)
3) Jeremy & Sandy - Have a lot to work on, we just have to remain positive and cut each other a little bit of slack sometimes.
4) Laurence & Zac
5) Cindy & Ernie
6) Amani & Marcus - lost 3 places by not seeing the signs to the stadium.
7) Bill & Cathi (Ma & Pa) - Is 7 a lucky number for you?  Must be, but it better change tomorrow.
8) Liz & Marie - on the boat ride to the village, said it felt like they were riding to their deaths - aw.
Phil tells them they are the last team to arrive - are you glad you came on the Race?  Yes, it's been unbelievable, it's just really sad... Well it's your lucky day because this is a NON-ELIMINATION leg.  More crying.  They will face a Speed Bump next leg - but they are glad they'll have another opportunity to prove they do belong there - it's not as easy as it seems.

Next week: They ride elephants, Jeremy & Sandy fight through Bangkok and the twins have no money for cab fare or bus tickets.

So, we're all still in it :)  Have a great week everyone.

Coleen.

Survivor South Pacific - Oct 12/11 Episode Recap

Taste the Victory

The episode opened at Redemption Island -  Night 11
-Stacey catches Christine up on what's been going on at Upolu - tells her it's Coach running everything.  He says everything's hunky dory, it ain't hunky dory. "All y'all gonna go straight to Hell with gasoline drawers on." (ah haha)
-She says Coach acts holier than thou but it's all a load of crap - she's going to stir up a bee's nest and let the red tribe know Coach is running things over there.

Upolu - Day 12
-Brandon is crying again - says Michayla's answer about him being a Hantz showed she has no class.  These are real people and they have feelings, ya know. (Are you listening to yourself?)  Blubber, blubber, I don't care what people think about me, I'm a good person and if I can't win like that then I don't need to win it. (Oh, bull-pucky!)
-They gather to decide who's going to watch the duel - Albert and Michayla are going - Coach is most worried that the other tribe is going to gather intel today from Christine or Stacey - he hopes they'll keep their mouths shut. (You hold your breath and wait for that to happen.)

Redemption Arena:
Witnesses: Bug-eyed Dawn & Whitney (who? I know, I forget about her too - blond country singer) and Albert & Michayla.

Jeff asks Stacey how she feels seeing two of the tribe members that voted her off and... she's off... (honestly, I couldn't transcribe most of what she was saying) - She was calling Coach, Benjamin - she's not going to give him the satisfaction of calling him what he wants to be called - he was born Benjamin, she'll call him Benjamin.  Then there was lots of eye rolling, hand talking - oh, and she and Christine made sure the Red team knew Coach was running things with Albert & Sophie.
-Michayla looked confused and Albert disgusted, "sour grapes."

Duel: It's the balls in the spiral chute challenge.  They put a ball in the chute, it spirals down and they have to catch it at the end and put it back in at the top - every few minutes they will add another ball and they will alternate going down the left or right spiral - first person to drop a ball is out of the game for good.
-Stacey seems to be in the zone but she's not paying any attention to spacing the balls out - Christine is a little more hesitant and makes a couple close saves... but it's STACEY who drops a ball and is out of the game.  And with Stacey: Kelvin H, Sharon R and Katie L are out of the pools.   Stacey says she challenged herself - she's a funeral director, she's a diva - who lives like this? - she's proud of herself for coming out there and doing this (B'bye.)

-Albert is p*ssed off about Stacey's rant - "Benjamin's running things and Albert's his right hand man - that was something we had hoped to keep under wraps."  He knows Coach is going to be p*ssed (so, don't tell him - make a move of your own... that would be AWESOME!)

Upolu - Day 12
-Albert & Michayla get back to camp and Albert tells them about Stacey's rant, kind of chuckling about the Benjamin thing and Coach has NO sense of humour about it - says, "If anyone calls me Benjamin to my face, I'll go NUTS.  My parents call me Coach.  I've been Coach since I was 18." (Whoa, dude, I guess Stacey did know the right buttons to push - too bad she's gone.) He says this news just ruined his day, it sucks.  "Could this day get any worse?" (Uh oh, tempting fate.)

Savaii - Day 12
-Elyse is talking about how it's all good in pretty people land - our 5 is strong and Ozzy & I are on the same page... we haven't really had to talk about anything. (Playing the hell out of this game I see... complacency is going to let Jim & Cochran vote your butt out of there.)
-Cochran seems to be the only one working - he's bringing in armloads of wood and Ozzy is just laying in the shelter with Elyse dutifully by his side- they tease him about how to spell his name, she calls him "The little Cochran that could" like she's so clever.  Cochran says everything they do annoys him now. (Yeah, I'd want to kick them both.)

-Dawn & Whitney return from witnessing the duel and tell everyone that Stacey (purple dress) went home.  They tell them that the other tribe is not voting to keep strength but it's team Coach - "they called him Benjamin" - that it was Coach and Albert and Sophie running things. 
-Ozzy pipes up that if he's smart, Coach will get rid of Albert soon.  That resonates with Jim - If Ozzy thinks Coach should get rid of one of his strong guys that means Ozzy will look to get rid of him and/or Keith before the merge.
-Jim now has his leverage to get Keith on board to voting Elyse out next - "nothing sells like fear."

Upolu - Day 12
-Albert feels Stacey's put a target on his back with the other tribe and decides he's got to go find the hidden immunity idol.  He finds a clue pretty quickly - it tells him it's just barely out of reach by the beach and he could stay dry if the tide is out... He tries to find it on his own but he's getting more and more frustrated so he decides he'll garner good will with Coach and Sophie by sharing the clue and getting them to help him look (you still better hope you're the one that finds it - I think Coach would hold on to that thing with a death grip if he got it in his hot little hands.)
-So, Albert tells them and Coach takes matters into his own hands - he prays for God to help him find the idol and then he finds the idol (UGH!) He's giddy as a schoolgirl and referring to himself in the third person all over the place.  "Coach Wade has found the hidden immunity idol.  A golden little gem for Coach Wade to hold on to."  (I knew it - Albert is never going to have that thing.)  Coach does tell Albert & Sophie he found it - "we have this game by the b*lls" but he holds on to it.

Savaii - Day 14
-Ozzy is trying to teach Cochran to catch fish. Cochran hopes this will be a bonding experience with Ozzy and he won't' continue to be thought of as being a girl, sitting around camp.
-I don't see anyone else fishing though - Ozzy says he's the one providing for the tribe - fishing is really hard, he gets cut up and has to hold his breath for a long time - takes a lot out of him... and makes him the only provider - sounds like it giveth as much as it taketh away.
-Cochran says besides his moments of glory each day when he goes and gets fish, Ozzy is turning into a lazy ass around camp - acts like he's entitled to our deference - and it's going to bite him in the *ss.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
-They see the Roasted Pigs on the spits and are actually looking excited (oh no, it's not for eating.)  Jeff tells them, each tribe will have a roasted pig on a spit - their hands will be tied behind their backs and they will have to chew off as much meat as they can then come spit it in a basket.   The tribe that has the most meat in the basket (by weight) after 10 minutes, wins immunity and Reward: fresh veggies, spices, bread ... and another clue will be back at their camp.

Off they go - and it's disgusting - ugh.  Keith gets a big chunk stuck in his teeth - Dawn has to pull it out of his mouth for him...with her mouth.  Oh, that happens to a couple more of them - this is so gross!  Rick drops a big piece on the ground and leaves it - Michayla picks it up.  There is as much spit (hopefully it's just spit) as meat in that basket (Ugh, I feel a little sick.)

Savaii - 22lbs 12oz
Upolu - 22lbs 14oz... WOW, that was close.  Team Coach wins immunity!  As part of their Reward they get to keep all the meat they 'collected' off the pig.  (Do you know how much spit is in there?)  They are excited, they'll wash off the spit and be thankful for the feast. (You know they're starving.)

Upolu - Day 14
-Brandon is cookin' up their bounty - he comes from Cajun stock - they just cook, cook, cook. (Hey, maybe he is good for something.)
-They are all stuffing their faces and Coach treats us to a bunch of talking with food in his mouth - he feels like they are back in the driver's seat.  "This is unbelievable man."

Savaii - Day 14
-They are all cataloging their pig gnawing injuries - Dawn lost half a molar - Ozzy's lips hurt so bad - Elyse is going to have pig gut break outs (see how their whining decreases in importance... really? A pimple is what you're worried about? - Yes, I rolled my eyes.)
-Cochran proves his social ineptitude by bringing up oral herpes - saying he's going to get a cold sore from them... uh... Anyone want a coconut?  (Yeah, you did just put your foot in your mouth - again.)
-Elyse & Whitney talking about how hard he's trying - Ozzy also notices his pathetic attempt to NOT be the one voted out - but as far as Ozzy's concerned it's too late - he's the weakest link.  Ozzy tells Whitney & Dawn it's Cochran tonight.
-Dawn doesn't agree - she's on board with Cochran & Jim and thinks it's time to break up the Ozzy/Elyse duo by getting rid of Elyse tonight.  She confirms with Cochran who confirms with Jim - and Jim says the lynch pin will be Keith.
-Jim goes to work on planting the 'piece of fear' he got from the Redemption Island information - that Ozzy will try to get rid of one of them before the merge.  Jim says if they get rid of Elyse first, Ozzy won't be able to do anything. 
-Keith says yeah, definitely she needs to go first. (Oh, that was easy.)
-Jim tells him they have four votes, with Dawn & Cochran...
-But then what happens when Ozzy...
-We don't tell Ozzy.
-Errrchhh - I see the brakes come on as Keith realizes what's going on - But then Ozzy won't trust us.(oh, Keith's pretty.)
-So, now Keith's torn, he made an alliance with Ozzy and if they blindside Elyse it's like Ozzy gets blindsided.  He doesn't know what to do.  He goes and talks to Whitney and there is a lot of "I don't know" going on- proving neither of these two are willing to step up and sieze the day.  They are not the brain trust.  Whitney says they are trying to find a way to weasel their way around voting Elyse now and still remaining in an alliance with Ozzy. (Good luck with that.)  She wishes they could just let the three vote Elyse and they two vote someone else (wussies!)

Meanwhile, Jim is telling Cochran they are definitely on for voting Elyse tonight and I think Cochran wet himself a little.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Ozzy, where are we at from a game point of view?
-A third of the way in, merge is still too far off to be worried about - we still have to keep the group as strong as possible.
Elyse, how do you define a strong tribe member?
-Somebody who is strong across the board.  Strong in challenges, strong around camp, has social skills and graces to keep the group together.
Cochran, you've gotten votes every time you've been to tribal council, does Elyse's definition make you nervous you'll get votes again?
-And Cochran talks too much - novelty of tribal council has worn off -alarming to have his name come up every time -  in terms of challenges they cover such a wide range of things - today it came down to two ounces.
Two ounces is one - extra - bite.  Jim, did you go over in your head what you could have done...
-Every one of us did and we all say we gave 100%, but it's would, coulda, shoulda.  This was the least finger pointing challenge - ironically we had the most injuries in this one than the others combined.
Jeff asks for a rundown and they list:
Jim - cuts on inside of mouth and lips
Elyse - bloody cuts & gums
Ozzy - Cuts on my lips, chipped tooth and my jaw's a little dislocated (someone punch him please - even his injuries have to be the best - come on!)
Dawn - Broke a tooth
Whitney - just lips
Cochran - I haven't been wearing my retainer as blah, blah, blah... felt my teeth shifting.
Jeff - are you being serious or funny?
Cochran - I realize it's not on the same level as a dislocated jaw but I am working on realigning my teeth...
Jeff asks Dawn if she finds Cochran's constant analysis endearing or annoying.
-(Bless her, she tries to be diplomatic) Part of this game is being with people you wouldn't normally spend time with.  I'm learning tolerance.  Like today when he said we could get a communicable disease swapping spit - it was hilarious but not.
Keith - everyone else was laughing but you had a different reaction.
-Yeah, I don't want a disease.  His intention was to be funny but in the end he grossed everyone out.
They pick on Cochran some more.
You can't catch a break.
Cochran - yeah, it hurts.
Elyse - feels for him - we've all been in the position of being picked last for soccer. (Sure you have.)
Cochran - I don't put myself in that position.  Yeah, I may have some quirks that people find annoying but I think most people take to me. (Oh boy, he's the annoying puppy that you just can't kick.)
Elyse, after what Cochran has gone through at past tribal councils will it be hard to vote him out?
-One thing you can appreciate about him is that he has such an appreciation of the game that he will enjoy the experience no matter what.  (I would say that is a No, Jeff.)
Jim, is this vote personal or is it just strategy?
-There is always something personal even if it is a strategic vote because I know how it will affect the person whose name is on there.

Okay, Time to Vote:
Jim votes Lys - says it has more to do with keeping Ozzy weak
Ozzy - Coch-train - sorry man, hope you get that 2nd chance.

Tallying the votes:
No one plays a hidden immunity idol.
Cochran - 1
Elyse - 1
Cochran - 2
Elyse - 2
Dawn - 1 ... (what?  Whitney looks over at Keith and smiles - really?  The wussy strategy? Ugh.)
Dawn - 2
We are tied... until Elyse gets the 3rd vote and is sent to Redemption Island.
Ozzy keeps a poker face but he seems to have a hitch in his breathing... Surprise!

Elyse - the trust is forever broken. (Welcome to Survivor.)

Next week:  Coach is having Russell flashbacks with Brandon and it scares him.  Ozzy declares himself a free agent - has a pity party for himself - Cochran is loving the sulking but then lets the tribe down at the challenge... Yawn.

I hope something happens to stir things up soon - these people are all boring!

Coleen

Amazing Race - Oct 9/11 Episode Recap

Don't Lay Down on Me Now (Indonesia)

This episode of the Race, the teams are remaining in Indonesia - my Snowboarders, Andy & Tommy, are the first out at 7:38am and they get the clue: Take a ride back into the Dutch Colonial era.  They have to dress up in khaki costumes (with the pith helmet and everything) and ride bicycles with the local bicycle clubs that re-enact the bicycle patrols (very slowly) of the 1940's.
-Andy & Tommy are a hoot - they are popping wheelies, ringing their bells and then surf the bike - looks hilarious with the outfit on.
-Zac & Laurence are the next team out 7:57am - they are good partners, looking forward to the challenges of the Race.
-Kaylani & Lisa head out at 8:02am - Kaylani tells us her daughter is her motivation for the race - she doesn't want to fail her.
-Ernie & Cindy head out at 8:14am - she admits she's a control freak - she made lists over 3 mos ago on what to take, they took extensive language courses, have been exercising - He's been her b*tch.
-Marie & Liz, Jeremy & Sandy, Bill & Cathi (Ma & Pa) all leave pretty close together.  Cathi loves bicycling - she said they figured they are about 40 years older than the youngest team there - but we're fearless - you know, at our age we're going to die soon so it's all good (Uh, I'm glad she's the one that said that.)

-Andy & Tommy get to the end of the ride and get the next clue to travel by taxi to Lesehan Restaurant in Salakmalang Village (yeah, say that 5 times fast.)  Zac & Laurence also finish and head out in a cab.

-Fighting Siblings, Justin & Jennifer head out at 8:31am - they are going to try and be more positive and less volatile this leg... as Jennifer runs her bike into a wall (doesn't bode well for their bike ride.)
-Marcus & Amani leave right behind them - he feels the pressure of being at the back of the pack but he's come from behind before and knows it's not over until it's over.

-Whoops, there goes Ernie's pedal... and watch Cindy's head explode in 3...2... they handle it calmly until about 4 teams pass them then she's a whiny mess - "come on, let's go."  He's a little fed up too.
(I'd be none too happy if I got the broken bike myself.)  They finally get moving but are now 2nd to last.  Amani & Marcus finish right behind them.

-All the teams are now in cabs heading to the restaurant on the clue - and they are all wanting to go fast, fast, fast!  Um, is there no such thing as lanes on these roads - I could not drive in Indonesia either - scary!

-Tommy & Andy make it to the restaurant and it's the DETOUR - Rice Field or Grass Fed.
-In Rice Field - they must deliver the mid-day meal to the workers in the rice field and while they eat their lunch, the team must plant 300 rice seedlings... in the mud... by hand.  If satisfied with their planting, they'll get the next clue.
-In Grass Fed - they must fill up 2 sacks with freshly cut grass, then collect two sheep and take them to the sheep shed - once there, they must collect 6 buckets of water from the well and pour them in the watering trough before they'll get the next clue.
-The Snowboarders decide to do Grass Fed and are very fleet of foot through the rice field - they get started stuffing.

-Bill & Cathi's taxi passes Ernie & Cindy and they rub it in - We're #1 - (Ha, love it.)  Kaylani & Lisa's cab is passed and their driver just laughs - Kaylani is a b*tch about it, "Oh, they're going to lose a million dollars, haha." 
-Uh oh, Marcus and Amani's driver is lost - he's turning the cab around and Marcus says, "This is vital to us brother."  And he laughs... Oh boy.

-Andy & Tommy collect their mangy looking sheep and take them to the sheep shed but they are denied - they do not have enough grass in the bags and have to go back - sheep & all. (oof.)

-Zac & Laurence get there and are doing grass fed as well.  Tommy & Andy have super-full bags this time and head back.  At the shed they read the clue that tells them they are only allowed 2 buckets at a time when drawing the 6 buckets of water.  They get started.
-Zac & Laurence's sheep were a little unruly but they had enough grass so they moved on to the water and Laurence grabbed a 3rd bucket to get through it quicker.  Andy said to them, "Read your clue guys." but it went unheeded. (They did try to help them out - but it is a Race.)

-Andy & Tommy finish first and get the clue to travel by taxi to Borobudur Temple and climb the stairs to the top to receive their next clue.  Zac & Laurence finish right behind them and head out.

-All the rest of the teams arrive at the Detour very close together - except Marcus & Amani, who are still lost in bad cabbie-land.
-Most of the teams go for the Grass Fed except the all girl teams of Kaylani & Lisa and Liz & Marie who opt for the Rice Field.
-Everyone starts running into the rice fields and everyone is slipping off the raised walkways, there goes Sandy and Lisa and Cathi.  She gets the fall counter - 1.
-The girls hand off the food and put on the cool hats to start the planting.
-Everyone else is starting to fill the bags with grass.  Cathi fall counter - 2 (that was a good one.)
-The girls are not enjoying planting in the mud.  They'll be happy if they never have to do that again.
-Cathi fall counter - 3 (oof, could have broken a hip on that one.) But she's a trooper - "I'm okay."
-Okay, it was hilarious watching these people try to lead the sheep - they were all baa-ing at them (they don't understand you).
-Cathi fall counter - 4 (flat on her face that time - oh, that poor woman) but she's back up and carrying on.

-Meanwhile, who knows where - Marcus & Amani are still in the cab and he's no confident that the driver even knows where they're going.

-Borobudur Temple - is amazing - built in the 8th century, it was reclaimed by the jungle until it was rediscovered a few hundred years ago and preserved.
-Zac & Laurence are the first to get the clue but the Snowboarders are right there with them (that's a lot of stairs) - ROADBLOCK: Count the Buddhas - walking in a clockwise direction around the temple they must count the Buddha statues with 4 distinct hand positions then report the correct number and demonstrate the hand positions of each to get the next clue.
-Laurence (dad) is doing it for them and Tommy loses the rock/paper/scissors for them - Laurence & Tommy decide to work together - these teams get along, they have the same adventuring spirits.  So Laurence is counting and Andy is remembering.

-Back at the Rice Field the ladies finish the planting and head out for the temple.

-Marcus & Amani finally arrive and decide to do Grass Fed.

-Everyone else is delivering their grass/sheep and starting on drawing the water.
-Cathi... losing her sheep counter - 1.  She is filthy front and back from all her falls and finally she and Bill just pick up the sheep and carry them - oh, yeah, these two have a farm, they should be good with the animals.
-The teams are finishing the watering and getting the clue for the temple. 
-Amani & Marcus are carrying their bags of grass and his sheep just lays down - poor things look half starved - he just picks it up.  They bring in their grass & sheep and the guy rejects them - not enough grass in the bags.  Dang it! Screw that.  They decide to switch tasks and plant some rice.
Then he says, "Dang, we should have planted the rice, gah doggit!" (I love Marcus, just for the grandpa cussing.)

-Back at the temple Laurence & Tommy have the count down but they don't realize they have to demonstrate the hand positions (it's the new, harder Race - they have to actually figure that out on their own)  So, Laurence gives the numbers but not the handle positions so it's wrong.  They have to go back up and get the hand positions down too.

-Kaylani & Lisa and Marie & Liz get to the temple and get the clue at the top of the stairs - they are all winded and Lisa tells Kaylani, "if you're tired, don't do it." I guess that's her way of saying she'll do it?  Whatever.

-Sandy & Jeremy's taxi breaks down and they're still a kilometer away from the temple - they decide to run it. (I said pardon?  Wow, these people are in really good shape.)

-Ernie & Cindy, Cathi & Bill, Justin & Jennifer are all at the temple.  Ernie, Bill & Justin are counting the statues and Ernie is counting every wall carving, everything... that is so not right.
-They are giving the guy a full count - 71 - no.  69-no  Lisa - 202?  (Oh man, they are going to be there all day.)  Jeremy & Sandy get there - they made good time - and he's counting.

-Back at the Rice Field - Amani & Marcus are finished - they are tired, disgusted, dirty, angry, but they will not quit.

-Laurence and then Tommy demonstrate the hand positions with the count (17, 17, 17, 18) and they get the clue to the Pit Stop - which is right there on the grounds.  (No running allowed at the temple, they speed walk away.)
-The Snowboarders have to go settle up with their cab before they can hit the mat.

-Amani & Marcus get to the temple and decide to let the cab go - he was so bad, they are already in last place, it can't get any worse so they'll take their chances if they need another cab.
-The Snowboarders are going out as Amani & Marcus come in and Tommy gives them the answer to the Roadblock - the hand positions and the counts -(hmm, usually I'm not a big fan of the giving other teams the answers... but I like Marcus & Amani - I just hope it doesn't bite the Snowboarders in the butt.)  I don't think Andy was really happy with him giving them the whole thing... but as it turns out...

-By the time Marcus & Amani get to the top of the temple, she's too tired and he volunteers to do the counting and he totally didn't pay attention to what Tommy told them - Amani was the one he told (d'oh!)
-No one else has figured out the counting & hand positions yet - they are all re-reading the clue.
-Four of the teams start conferring on what they have come up with - Jeremy, Justin, Twin #1 and Ernie... then Ernie figures it out - ooooohhh, we have to tell him how many of each hand sign - ahh.

-Bill's doing the hand signs but he has the count wrong.
-Lisa tries 4.  (Ah, no.)  She asks Marcus what he's thinking and he clues her in on the different hand positions so they count together.
-The team of 4 have all counted one hand position each and have shared the results.

-Pa (Bill) is the next one to get it right - and he sits in the lotus position and everything - they have to go get their bags and settle up with their cab driver before they can find the Pit Stop.

-Now they're all sitting cross-legged - Justin & Jennifer are next - then Ernie & Cindy - Marie & Liz all have to go pay their taxi - Jeremy & Sandy get the clue and because their cab broke down and they ran there, they just head right for Phil.

-Lisa gets the clue but they also have to go pay their cab driver.  Marcus gets the clue and they are good to go - having let their horrible cab driver leave.

-The paying teams are all berating themselves for not paying their cabs beforehand - Liz & Marie can't find their cab...

Here's how they finished:
1) Zac & Laurence... HOWEVER - because they used 3 buckets at the Detour they incur a 15 minute penalty... meaning...
1) Tommy & Andy - They win a trip for two to Dubai!  They feel bad, it should have been Zac & Laurence's prize especially since they worked together - Phil suggests they could gift the trip to them and... apparently they don't feel THAT bad. Hahaha.
2) Zac & Laurence - that'll learn 'em to read the clues more carefully.
3) Jeremy & Sandy - that jog was totally worth it.
4) Justin & Jennifer 
5) Ernie & Cindy
6) Amani & Marcus - Phil says they look like they just won the Super Bowl - Marcus said he feels like it - cause a lot of times when you win the Super Bowl you need a lot of luck on your side.
7) Bill & Cathi - Oh, must be lucky #7
8) Liz & Marie - Oh, thank god!  They thought they were last - we're barely making it but we're still here. (I know, come on all-girl team.)
9) Kaylani & Lisa - **ELIMINATED** Kaylani starts crying because she feels like she failed her  daughter. (She's 4 - she'll just be glad that you came home.)  Phil tries to comfort her, "She'll be proud of you."  (She's 4 - she won't care now... when she's 16 though and not getting a car, then she'll be bitter :)
So, with the former showgirls leaving, we also bid adieu to Bernice W, Lee G, Sharon R and Esther B from our pool.  Now you get to root for the whichever team you like :)

Next week: Thailand - racing in boats, rock climbing and putting up beach umbrellas - that with wind knocks back down.  Should be a gooder!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and that your week goes swiftly,

Coleen

Survivor South Pacific - Oct 5/11 Episode Recap

Survivalism

Oh yeah, so Brandon let his freak flag fly last week and now everyone is a little leery of  'lil Hantz.  And on the other tribe the Old and Nerdy don't fit in with the Pretty core.
Papa Bear went to Redemption Island where he will compete with the b*tchy one to survive.

Savaii - Day 9
-We open with Ozzy and Elyse in the hammock together - oh, hello... I guess he found his "survivor girlfriend" after all.
-Jim doesn't like the pairing up of anyone - he knows a couple in this game is almost too strong to overcome so he's targeting Elyse and starts the wheels in motion by approaching Cochran and getting him thinking they're "making a Survivor move" and they shake hands on taking Elyse out.
-Cochran is nerdy but no dummy - he doesn't totally trust Jim's used car salesman "suspiciously white" smile - but talking about taking someone, other than Cochran, out of the game is music to his ears.

Upolu - Day 9
-Brandon he came in with good intentions but he got tripped up by his pride.  He again says he's going to be a better person, better player...blah, blah, blah.  And he genuinely apologizes to Michayla - which was good - and she accepts it but can't get over who his uncle is, and sees him as the same.
-Brandon, on his path of good - goes to Edna, tells her she was lied to, tells her about the core alliance of 5 and  how she was not in that alliance but is an alternate.  And she is really upset but trying to cover that it's just the game.  (What is he doing? He's either the stupidest player ever or this is all a strategy and he's a fr*cken Survivor genius.)

Savaii - Day 9
-They get their bathing suits with tree mail and Bug-eyed Dawn rejoices - being Mormon (oh no) she has never felt comfortable swimming in her underwear - it's see-through.
-They also have to choose who goes to watch the duel and no one wants to go...(huh?)... except Cochran and then Jim does the (well since no one else wants to) "I'll go."  Jim really does want to go but at the same time he doesn't want to go with Cochran - guilt by association.  Cochran just thinks no one wants to be alone with him (see what bullying does to smart nerds everywhere?)
-Holy, is this the insecure tribe or what - Dawn sees the young girls in their cute little bikinis and feels like she's the Rudy of this tribe.  She feels like she has to prove herself since she's old. (I feel her mid-life crisis... and I understand.  Sigh.)
-Jim (whose bathing suit looks like bike shorts - what?) is trying to talk strategy with Ozzy - do I want to plant weakness rumours with the other tribe when I go watch the duel - Ozzy is not that guy - he thinks Jim is trying too hard to think too far in advance... Jim just needs to not run stuff by Ozzy.
-When Cochran & Jim leave Ozzy is making fun of Jim and Dawn overhears it - and it irks her to no end - she thinks this is part of Ozzy's strategy, to discourage anyone else (but him) of thinking that way.  (Personally, I think she's giving him too much credit.)

Redemption Island
We have Brandon & Edna as witnesses from Upolu and Jim & Cochran from Savaii.
-Jeff asks Papa Bear how it feels having people that voted him out there to watch - Papa Bear says it doesn't bother him because they know the minute I get back in I'm going over to them (the other tribe) and giving them everything they need. (What, why tip your hand - bitter outweighs smart.)
-Jeff asks Brandon how he feels hearing that - yeah, that's fine - actually I'd like to say something to Christine - (What? I bet this kids gone through the 12 steps - he's got to make amends now... sheesh) She won't look at him but he goes ahead and apologizes for playing the game ruthlessly and he hopes she does well (way to give the other tribe some ammunition too.)  She cocks an eyebrow like, 'What-ever.'  She says she accepts the apology but whether she buys it or not is another story (yeah, the great b*tchy one can't be won over that easily - nice try.)

DUEL
They must toss sandbags and attempt to get one on top of each of the crates set up in the playing field.  First person to get one sandbag and each crate will win and remain in the game.  The other person with be Out! For! Good!
-Christine starts out very strong and takes an early lead but catches up and they tie at 9... game point and it's CHRISTINE remaining at Redemption Island. (She's too mean to lose.)

-Papa Bear said being on the show was a dream and he feels blessed that he did make it on - (Just burn your buff already).  I think he did some sniffling.  And with Papa Bear leaving, Susan N, Fred & Gary M and Vikki M are out of the pool.

** Commercial Break - I'm sorry but is Wendy's really trying to bring back "Where's the Beef?" - is there no original thought left? **

Upolu - Day 10
-Edna is feeling very insecure with her new knowledge of her place in the tribe and is (painfully) desperately trying to make herself indispensable - She offers to wash the Marlboro man's shirt (I cannot remember that guy's name) by telling him it's crusty (ew) and when Coach asks her to walk on his back she jumps at the chance, "I'll walk on anyone."
-Stacey would like to find the off switch - Edna is driving her crazy - calls her Ricochet Rabbit.
-Edna asks Michayla what kind of modelling she does, how do you get into that, blah blah blah.
-Michayla says Edna asks so many questions you end up answering just to make her shut up.  And her laugh... OMG - just shut up.

Savaii - Day 10
-Cochran is talking to Dawn, asking what happened when they were gone.  She tells him about Ozzy saying no strategizing - she thinks they should try and take Ozzy out.  Cochran tells her he's been talking to Jim and gently steers her towards getting on board with taking Elyse out - hoping to undermine Ozzy and maybe shake up the other pretty people.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Three members of each tribe will have a pole across their shoulders.  Each round, weight will be added to that pole.  The decision about which tribe member gets the weight will be made by the other tribe - when the weight becomes too much to bear, drop the pole and you're out of the challenge.  Last person left standing wins Immunity for their tribe and Reward: Chickens!  And another clue to the idol.  They have to choose 2 men and 1 woman to be the weight bearers.
Savaii: Keith, Dawn & Jim
Upolu: Brandon, Stacey & Albert
-They start loading them up - seem to spreading the weight pretty evenly - after 26 minutes they stand: Stacey & Dawn at 100 lbs - and Stacey is resting the pole on her butt (that's all I'm going to say about that)  Albert & Keith are at 180lbs each and Brandon & Jim have 200lbs.
-Keith's legs are wobbly and the pole had slipped down on his arms - he tries to get it back up but no go... and Keith is the first one out, (bye, Pretty.)
-As they go to load up Brandon & Jim to tie the record of 220 - Albert loses his balance and he's the next one out.
-They seem to be focusing on Jim & Brandon - they are up to 240lbs and they're both struggling but Jim cannot hold on and drops it - Brandon is struggling and crying - and he's out.
-And it's down to the women - Dawn & Stacey - Dawn is struggling with it on her shoulders and moves it down her back so they both have it on their butts... Stacey adjusts and loses it.
DAWN is the last one standing and wins Immunity and chickens for Savaii!  (Oh yeah, she's my pool person -way to go Dawn!)

Upolu - Day11
-Returning from losing the challenge - Stacey thinks she did well at the challenge but you never know - she could get blindsided.
- Edna is worried that they think she's the weakest and tries to ask Stacey - do you think they're talking about me?  Stacey tells the camera Edna is scrambling like scrambled eggs - You haven't talked to me since day one and now you're talking to me because you think it's you or me.  Look at what I lifted today, you think she could have lifted that - "bones on bones can't lift much if it's just the bones." (I swear that is what she said.)
-Coach goes and talks to Stacey and she says she knows it's her or Edna and she pleads her case, that she's stronger.  Coach says "I like you" and says he's going to talk to Edna.  Stacey says she doesn't buy his loyalty BS at all [she makes a gagging motion to the camera] Haha. (Stacey, I like you, too.)  She says she's not a big liar but you gotta lie to kick it - gotta lie to get in, to fit in - gotta lie to kick it with the next man.
-She goes and plants a seed with Brandon, tells him to watch the people he went off on - he supplies the names: Albert, Sophie, Michayla and she insinuates that they have something cooking. (Oh, you sly thing.)
-That gets him scrambling.  He runs to Coach and announces that they have a problem on their hands - it may be the end of the road for their 5 alliance - Stacey told me... And Coach shows the best game play I've ever seen from him, "Stop it.  Just Stop it!"  If you believe someone on death row like Stacey, over our core alliance, you might as well throw in the towel right now. (Amen, brother.)
-And Brandon doesn't listen to him - throws it in his face that Coach has been screwed over before... (wow, what a little sh*thead.) 
-Sophie is watching this and Brandon makes sure she knows he sees her - She tells the camera that she thought they had a 5 strong alliance + Edna but now it looks like they may have to do some re-shuffling.  An alliance needs to be based on trust and there is no trust with Brandon anymore.
-Coach thinks Brandon is a good guy but he could screw things up for everyone and Coach, being there for his third and possibly (hopefully) final time, has got to protect himself.

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Stacey, what finally happened at the challenge?
-You saw me, I was on my knees, with one arm but I did very good and was strong.
Coach, good news/bad news - you have the chance to be the hero or the goat, you can argue she gave a hell of an effort but in the end she lost to Dawn.
-If we were to choose between two people solely based on their warrior spirit, Stacey would not be on the fence today - we all take off our hats to her and how she performed at the challenge today.
Sophie, how is strength defined today on this tribe?
- We have to look at strength in numbers as well as physical strength because if we get to the merge and your not sure of somebody, that's not a number.  We're trying to balance physical strength and team unity strength.
Okay, let's try a little group therapy.  Rick (Marlboro Man), answer me this, "The most annoying thing about Albert is..."
-(Oh, will he speak? Nope.) He just bugs out his eyes and shakes his head (Hahahaha!) Oh, and finally, "He snores."
Brandon, the most annoying thing about Edna is... what?
-She's got a lot to say about a lot.  It's not bad but sometimes it gets to be a little bit too much but she's just got a lot of opinions.
Edna, does that ring true to you?
-No, I don't think so... (Ha! Both Stacey & Michayla give a 'b*tch please' look) I don't think I'm out there voicing my opinions on every single thing that occurs at camp (no self-awareness at all.)
Edna, the most annoying thing about Stacey is what?
-I find it very difficult to engage Stacey.  I've tried many times to get to know her and I don't find she opens up.
Stacey is it hard for you to open up?
-No, I have opened up to others here - I don't know how much she's wanting from me - you know she asks - I give her what she asks for.
Michayla, the most annoying thing about Brandon?
-He's a great kid but it's always in the back of my mind who his uncle is.
Who's his uncle?
-Uh, Russel.
So you shared who your uncle was?
Brandon -Absolutely.
Michayla - and he says he's nothing like him but it's just one thing - you're such a good kid but why does he have to be your uncle.  (Oh Michayla, you're pretty.)
And Jeff calls her on her stupidity - Well if he's such a good kid, what does it matter who his uncle is?
-Still, blood's blood. (Wow, really?  She is definitely not endearing herself to him with this crap.)
Brandon, it sounds like she's saying eventually he's going to turn into the werewolf because it's in his blood.
-I'm proud to be a Hantz and I love my uncle but we're not the same person.  He came on this show and did a great job but I'm not here to play Russel's game, I'm here to play Brandon's game.  I don't have to prove anything to anybody but it sounds like I do here.
How hard is it to hear people speak ill of your uncle?
-It's tough, he's my family.  Sometimes we fall to temptation, this is hard for everybody (and he starts to get choked up.)
What's upsetting to you right now?
-choked voice- I just... want to be... someone that God's proud of... and... [Edna takes the buff off her head and offers it to him as a handkerchief - ugh, she is so calculating!]
What's making you think you aren't?
-still sniveling- [now Coach is kneading a shoulder] I just... don't want to be... misrepresented to my family.  Because it affecting my family big time when this whole thing went down with Russel. (He starts to pull it back together) Says the proof is in the pudding though, how do you help someone who done that to themselves.  What do you do?
So you feel a responsibility to reclaim the family name in a positive light.
-And I'm gonna do it.  It's not how you start, it's how you finished. (And he's won Coach back... I'm starting to think Brandon may be a chip off the family block,. Oh crap, do I sound like Michayla?)
So, Albert, pretty emotional but you're still in a game and Russel was a master manipulator, does that mean the number one topic should be trust?
-Sure, it's on everyone's mind and it's something that is a contributing factor to the vote tonight.

And it's Time to Vote.
They don't show us how anyone voted.
No one has or plays a hidden immunity idol.

Tallying the Votes:
Edna - 1
Stacey-1, 2, 3, 4, 5 - and Stacey is heading to Redemption Island.  Coach tries to hug her and she's having none of it.  Jeff says they offered you a hug - "Uh uh, it's not real, everything today has been a lie.  I'll be back."

Next week: Everyone is calling Coach 'Benjamin' (his name) and he's not happy about it - and they have a disgusting, rip-hunks-of-meat-off-a-roast-with-your-teeth challenge. Gross.

Stacey's last thoughts: Tribal was a joke today - this stuff about being loyal to God, they're only loyal to their god - Coach.  At the Redemption duel she's going to spill everything. (Oooh, can't wait.)

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone,

Coleen.

The Amazing Race - Oct 2/11 Episode Recap

The Sprint of Our Life (Indonesia)

Quick reminder - last week Ernie & Cindy came in first winning the Express Pass and Bill & Cathi came in last but were spared Elimination - only to find out that two teams will be eliminated tonight.

Ernie & Cindy are the first to depart at 9:28pm, they get the clue to head out from Taipei to Yogyakarta, Indonesia and they learn this will be a double elimination leg. Cindy: Oh no (master of the understatement, this one) not worried they'll be eliminated but realizing there are a lot of new twists and turns in the game this time out.
Jeremy & Sandy are the next out and they're not excited about the double knock out - we'll have to beat  two teams, not just one.
Justin & Jennifer are just focused on getting to the airport and borrowing the cab drivers phone so they can try and book tickets.  Sibling rivalry will be the greatest obstacle for these two.
Ethan & Jenna - were fine with coming in 4th place, if they had come in first they would have had a bigger target on them (like you were going to be first... get over yourself.)
Marcus & Amani - In DOH nesia...
Laurence & Zac - Zac's trying to give some insight on the double elimination when Dad just holds up a banana - Banana. (Haha, what?)
Andy & Tommy - my snowboarders - Yeah, Indo! Let's catch some waves dude.  Don't dude me dude.

Ernie & Cindy get to the airport and find out the earliest flight to Indonesia is 8:45am - the next day.  Yay, a night in the airport.

Ron & Bill - double-elimination, what?  That's not right.  Now we have to be better than two teams. (It's funny how many of them have the mind set that you just don't have to be last at this point.)  They also say they're not out to change anyone's opinions on gay couples, they have a 13 year relationship, they are truly in love and best friends and they're just people running the race.
Kaylani & Lisa - Lisa unfolds a huge map in the back seat of the cab and punches Kaylani in the head - much to the delight of their Buddha-looking cab driver - (Aw, make him giggle again, that was cute.)
Liz & Marie - the barbie-looking twins - not excited about a double elimination- especially since they came in next to last. (They headed to the airport at 11:37pm.)

Couples in the airport are kind of freezing out Ethan & Jenna - Sandy and Justin seem to have a thing about them already having won a million dollars and they all think with their Survivor experience they'll be tough to beat.  Ernie says Jenna seems nice but she's kinda got that Medusa-eye-thing going on where you can't really trust her so much.
-They are also speculating if anyone went home last leg, with there being a double elimination (so I guess they don't see everyone after they check in.)  Big question, "Where's Ma & Pa?"

-3:57AM - Cathi & Bill finally head out for the airport - a good 4 1/2 hours after the last team to head out.  When they get to the airport all the other teams seem happy to see them, everyone thinks of them as Ma & Pa and they get a round of applause (aww.)

Everyone gets on the same flight to Indonesia - so they're all even when they hit the ground running.
-Once they land in Jakarta they have to take the train to Yogyakarta - so everyone is in line to buy train tickets and the siblings start fighting - Justin suggests maybe they borrow a phone and try to find another mode of transportation to get them there sooner - she is hostile and tells him to go ahead - and it's on... bicker, bicker, BICKER... right in front of the other teams.  (Ah, yeah, family - gotta love it.)  Every team is watching and noting the discord.
-So, they are all on the same train too (and there are people on the roof of the train - crazy!) When they get to Yogyakarta the next morning they will race by taxi to Goa Jomblang cave -a vertical cave on the outskirts of the city.  There they'll get their next clue.
-7:30am they are all in their cabs being driven on the wrong side of the road (to North America anyway) and like bats out of hell - everyone is a little anxious about the traffic and seeming lack of rules of the road.

-Bill & Cathi are the first team to the cave and they get the clue to the ROADBLOCK: Spelunking!
One team member will lower themselves 160ft into the cave then search for a Japanese mask and an indigenous dagger - once they collect the artifacts, they will scale a towering bamboo ladder and deliver the items to the guy from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom that could pull your heart out... well, it's not actually him but that's who the priestly guy reminds me of - he'll give them their next clue.
-Bill & Cathi find their Speed Bump on the way - they have to unravel a snarled knot of rope - once they have it loosened enough to stretch the rope over to a specific tree with a carabiner on it, they can proceed.  (Let's hope they're better with rope than finding signs.)

-The rest of the teams start to arrive just as Bill & Cathi complete the Speed Bump - Ernie & Cindy were surprised to see them already there - Cindy is going in the cave.  The twins are there and Marcus & Amani - have no idea what spelunking is - he says he'll do it, and hopes he doesn't have to go up high (haha.)
-Cindy is the first in, she's enjoying it.  Marie is doing it for the twins, she's pretty nervous.  Pa (Bill) and Marcus are going in - lowering themselves through the jungle trees to the cave entrance - it does look pretty amazing.
-The rest of the teams start arriving.  Jeremy, Tommy, Justin, Ethan, Kaylani, Zac & Bill/Ron (? - I don't know who's who on the gay couple team.)

-Inside the cave it's dark and muddy and they are all just following each other - they come upon a guy with a gong which freaks the girls out when he strikes it... the masks are all displayed on sticks, seems pretty easy.

-Outside, the rest of the teams are making their way down.  Ethan feels like a monkey jumping through the trees.  They are all blown away with how lush and cool this cave is.
-The first 4 teams have come to the towering bamboo ladder and they all start out together but Cindy has shorter legs and falls behind - Pa has strong upper body and pulls ahead - He is the first to get the clue to the DETOUR: Shake Your Money Maker or Be a Ticket Taker.
In Shake Your Money Maker: the team will take a taxi to a congested city centre - there one person must learn a traditional dance while the other accompanies them on a traditional drum kit.  They must make tips (30,000 rupiah) to complete the task.
In Be A Ticket Taker: they have to make their way to a popular Mall and work as motorcycle parking attendants.  Once they have parked enough bikes/given out enough tickets to make 15,000 rupiah, they must hand over their ticket books to complete the tasks.
-Then they must travel to an orphanage and donate their Detour earnings to receive their next clue... oh, wait - They must also notice the sign that says: in addition to the Detour earnings they MUST give all the money in their possession to help the orphans in order to receive the clue to the Pit Stop.

-Ma & Pa (Bill & Cathi) decide they will be Ticket Takers and head out... oh but their taxi is stuck, everyone else is jammed in behind them.
-The twins are going to entertain - shaking their money maker, and Ernie & Cindy - ticket takers... The twins make it out first.

-Back in the cave, they are staggered but some are coming up the ladder and some are just getting the masks - currently Zac, Kaylani and Bill (oh, the older looking guy is Bill - good to note) are the back of the pack.

-Liz & Marie get to the busy intersection, suit up and start to learn the dance/drum.  Her guide has to pull her out of the street when the light changes - yeah - it's scary on the roads there.

-Ma & Pa and Ernie & Cindy get to the mall and they are competing for motorcycles to park - wow, the sheer volume of people/cars/motorcycles, almost overwhelming.

-Back at the cave it seems pretty evenly split between the Ticket taking and Money making - seems like most of the men want to park bikes and the girls just want to DANCE!  Though Ron & Bill are hoping they can make up time by shaking their money makers.

-At the parking lot, Cindy & Ernie were at the beginning of the parking lot and Ma & Pa were more towards the middle so everyone was hitting Cindy & Ernie first and they finished - meanwhile the snowboarders and fighting siblings have shown up to park bikes too and seem to be near Ma & Pa (bug off, get your own parking area!)

-Meanwhile, Sandy and Marcus are now shaking their money makers - she's saying it's for charity and he says he doesn't want the type that jingles, he wants the type that folds. (Nice attitude.)
-Liz & Marie finally reach the 30K and back at the parking Ma & Pa finally reach 15K.  In the cab the twins are emotional about going to an orphanage -"They don't have parents, and stuff."  They can relate having lost their dad recently (okay, I'm mean.)

-Ethan & Jenna arrive to shake it and he's goofing around trying to kiss her with the masks and she shuts him down - "Get Busy!" (Hahaha.)

-Cindy & Ernie get to the orphanage and give the little girls all crowded around the table their Detour earnings (they did not read the sign) - they get an emblem for the Sultan's Kraton Palace - the Pit Stop.  The last two teams to arrive WILL be eliminated.
-Ernie & Cindy have to ask locals what the emblem means and are told it's Kraton.  Off they go.
-Ma & Pa and the twins donate their earnings at the orphanage but no one reads the sign (sigh.)

 -The snowboarders and siblings finish the parking task just as Zac & Dad get there.
-Marcus & Sandy make their 30K rupiah and head off as the showgirls and Ron/Bill get there.

-Back at the orphanage, the snowboarders are high 5-ing everyone - but not reading the sign (arrghh!) - Oh wait,  just as they turn to leave, Andy starts reading the sign (YES!) and they are the first team to give all the money they have :)

Pit Stop: Ernie & Cindy are the first team to arrive, however, because they did not give all their money at the orphanage, they have to go back and do so before they can be checked in... and Cindy has a meltdown - she said it herself - growing up in a competitive Asian environment, there is nothing short of success.  (You couldn't really have expected to be first every leg, could you?)

-Back at the orphanage the snowboarders have finally given all their money and say they're glad they saved up, more for the orphans (oh, these are nice guys.)  They ask someone on the street where they need to go and walk or cab - when they realize they have no money - walk it is.

-Ethan & Jenna reach the 30K at the money maker and leave the Detour clue behind (oh no) - they realize in the cab though that they don't have it and go back.
-Zac & dad finish parking the motorcycles and head for the orphanage - the showgirls too are on the way there.

-At the orphanage - the fighting siblings, Justin & Jennifer, don't see the sign.
-Jeremy & Sandy both look at the sign but don't spend the time to actually read it.
-Marcus & Amani also totally miss the sign.

-Liz & Marie get to Phil and he tells them they have to go back to the orphanage - OMG!

-Zac & Dad read the sign right away and give all their money.
-Lisa & Kaylani also read the sign and give it all.

-Ma & Pa are the third team to Phil but they did not give all their money at the orphanage - back they go.

-Ethan & Jenna go back to the dancers and he is barking for his clothes - he grabs the clue and takes off (rude much?) she at least thanks them.  In he cab Ethan & Jenna are politely fighting, now she knows she is the keeper of the clues.

-Ernie & Cindy make it back to the orphanage (as she's using her asthma inhaler to run - that doesn't bode well) and donate the rest of their money.

-Ron/Bill finally make the 30K shaking it.

-Jeremy & Sandy are turned back to the orphanage by Phil.
-Justin & Jennifer are fighting because she won't run to the Pit Stop - then they get there and have to go back (ha!)
-Amani & Marcus - get to Phil and he sends them back to the orphanage.

-Liz & Marie get back to the orphanage and hand over the rest of their money.
-Ethan & Jenna - in the cab he is saying how it's so cool they got to raise money for an orphanage - that's what he's all about - but they don't read the sign... (that's mistake #2 for you guys this leg.)

-Jeremy & Sandy pass Ma & Pa heading back to the orphanage - they are all paid up and heading back.
-Phil tells Ethan & Jenna they are SOL and have to head back to the orphanage.

-Bill/Ron get to the orphanage and don't read the sign.

-Amani & Marcus have handed over everything and Ethan & Jenna get back  - they think they can out run Amani...

-Bill/Ron are told they have to head back to the orphanage since they didn't give all their money...


Here's how they finally finished:
1) Tommy & Andy - fourth team to the mat but, because they saw the sign and gave up all their cash - they are officially the first team and win a trip to Ireland. (nice.)
2) Zac & Laurence  - actually arrived 8th, which they were happy with, so when Phil told them they were officially 2nd they were ecstatic.
3) Kaylani & Lisa - Phil tells them they are the 10th team to arrive and this is a double elimination leg... pause... they both start crying... however, since you gave up all your money - you are officially team # 3.  Kaylani says she hates him for doing that (I would have hit him.)
4) Ernie & Cindy - very sweaty and not so smiley this time- but they'll take #4.
5) Liz & Marie - I have to say, these two are always really smiley - they are happy with 5th.
6) Jeremy & Sandy - relieved with 6th
7) Bill & Cathi (Ma & Pa) - Phil congratulates them on their great recovery today and Cathi vows by the next leg they'll learn to read. (Ha, I like these two.)
8) Justin & Jennifer - The Race is harder than he thought it'd be.  He didn't go out there to pick on his sister - she rolls her eyes then starts crying - I feel terrible, I can't run - he just looks at her -(come on buddy, a little sympathy here?)
9) Amani & Marcus - they are still in the Race.
10) Ethan & Jenna - they were the first team ELIMINATED from the race... Bummer!  They have a good attitude about it though.  It's a blessing just to be there and doing this together.  So that means: Cheryl J, Bryon L, Katie L and Pat T all get their money back.
11) Bill & Ron - last team to arrive - ELIMINATED from the race.  It was fun, exhilarating, amazing... it's only a chapter in their story and they're sorry it was cut short but it was truly an incredible time. (Wow, I thought these two would go all the way... I really suck at predicting these things.)

Next week: Ernie & Cindy breakdown (he loses a pedal off his bike), Bill & Cindi slip up (ow, they show her fall down 4 or 5 times) and an ancient temple has them all running in circles - they have to count something - A LOT of something.

Have a great week everyone,

Coleen