Filipino friends Richard Hardin and Richard Herrera were the winners of this season, while Singaporean rebel pals Claire Goh and Michelle Ng finished in second place and Indonesian father and daughter Hussein and Natasha Sutadisastra finished in third place.
Development and filming
The fourth season of The Amazing Race Asia was the first Amazing Race season to be broadcast in high-definition. Besides the switch to high-definition, updated on-screen graphics (similar in appearance to those introduced in season 14 of the American version) and music, were introduced. The opening intro was also updated with a new title card and tuneup in the music. Of note is the addition of the use of split-screens.
According to AXN, this season was dubbed as "Ride of a Lifetime".[3] Allan noted that this season will travel to exotic locations and feature new challenges. This season features a first-time visit to Sri Lanka, as well as visits to far-flung areas including Invercargill, New Zealand and Legazpi, Philippines. Indonesia, a previously visited country that had not been visited by original American edition at the time until the nineteenth season one year later,[4] was also visited this season.
Leg 5 was said to be the most expensive production to date.[5] This is the first season in the Asian franchise to start and end in two different countries, starting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and ending in Singapore, albeit having close proximity of the two locations. In some foreign editions, starting and ending locations are in different countries (such as Brazil, Israel and Latin America), but not in the original American edition, which starts and ends in the same country until season 34.
Lani Pillinger was absent in the Finish Line due to a broken collar bone.[6]
Casting
Applications ended 31 March 2010, after a short extension due to popular demand. Semi-finalist and finalist interviews were held between March and April.[1][7]
Broadcast
A week before the premiere of "Racers Revealed", the episode was released on the show's official website. The first episode also premiered on the show's official website on 16 September 2010, one week before the season debut. A special recap episode was aired on 2 December 2010, a week before the season finale.
Marketing
The fourth season of The Amazing Race Asia had three official sponsors: Axiata, Caltex, and Sony. The official hotel partner was Hilton, and the series was supported by Tourism Malaysia and Mix FM.[8][9]
The ten teams were revealed on 2 September 2010.[10] Season 4's cast included the show's first father-daughter team, as well as martial arts experts, tattooists, social workers, and musicians. Like in previous Asian editions, this season features a large number of media personalities or their relatives. Wendy was a finalist in Miss Hong Kong 2006, Nadine was Miss Indonesia Earth 2009, while Natasha was Miss South Jakarta 2007.[11] Dimple is a Hindisoap actress who starred in the serial Aathvaan Vachan, while her friend Sunaina is an Indian TV actress, who starred in Dill Mill Gayye, as well as a movie actress who starred in the Hindi movie Kyun! Ho Gaya Na.... Manas finished runner-up as a contestant on the Indian reality-dating show Rakhi Ka Swayamwar,[12] similar in format to The Bachelorette of the American series.[11] Jess & Lani, as well as Richard Herrera, have appeared in numerous media and print advertisements and commercials in the Philippines. Richard Hardin is a former pro-basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association.[13] Claire is a prominent bar musician who plays at numerous gigs around Singapore, while Michelle was a reality TV contestant on the Singaporean series S Factor.[14] At the ages of 21 and 22 respectively, Claire & Michelle also form the youngest team in Amazing Race Asia history.[15]
This season featured five non-Asians, Ivan, who is from Hungary and raced with his Malaysian wife Hilda,[11] Jacinta "Jess" James & Lani Pillinger are from Australia (though Lani is of Filipino ethnicity) and Richard (Hardin) & Richard (Herrera) are from the United States who are first generation Filipino Americans but raised in Columbus, Ohio.[16] This was the first time that Thailand was not represented this season.
The following teams participated in the season, with their relationships at the time of filming. Placements are listed in finishing order.
A red placement with a dagger (†) indicates that the team was eliminated.
A blue placement with a double-dagger (‡) indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop in a non-elimination leg, and was marked for elimination; if the team did not place 1st in the next leg, they would receive a 30-minute penalty.
An italicized and underlined placement indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop, but there was no rest period at the Pit Stop and all teams were instructed to continue racing.
A green ƒ indicates that the team won a Fast Forward.
A violet + indicates that the teams encountered an Intersection.
A brown > indicates that the team chose to use the Yield, and a brown < indicates the team who received it.
A brown ⊃ indicates that the team chose to use a U-Turn, and a ⊂ indicates the team who received it.
Yani & Nadine were further issued their 30-minute penalty for being marked for elimination and not arriving 1st. Jess & Lani and Hussein & Natasha were moved up to 8th and 9th, respectively, while Yani & Nadine were dropped to last place, which resulted in their elimination.
Five of the 10 teams arrived at the Pit Stop after incurring 4-hour penalties for failing to complete the Roadblock on time (Alan, Claire, Yani, Jess, and Natasha). The initial placements for all teams are as follows (the five italicized teams were not given the penalty): 1st: Alan & Wendy; 2nd: Ivan & Hilda; 3rd: Richard & Richard; 4th: Claire & Michelle; 5th: Dimple & Sunaina; 6th: Sahil & Manas; 7th: Yani & Nadine;[a] 8th: Jess & Lani; 9th: Hussein & Natasha; 10th: Ethan & Khairie
This leg featured an Intersection. The teams were paired up thusly: Ethan & Khairie and Claire & Michelle, Richard & Richard and Dimple & Sunaina, Jess & Lani and Ivan & Hilda, and Hussein & Natasha and Sahil & Manas.
This team won the Fast Forward in this particular leg.
Dimple & Sunaina used the Yield against Claire & Michelle.
Claire & Michelle used the U-Turn against Dimple & Sunaina.
In the Roadblocks of Leg 7 and Leg 11, Hussein chose to forfeit the respective Roadblocks and he & Natasha took a 4-hour penalty at the locations of those tasks.
Ethan & Khairie departed the Pit Stop last at the start of Leg 6, as they were flown by helicopter directly to Legazpi Airport as part of the prize won on the previous leg.
During Leg 8, Dimple & Sunaina had fallen so far behind that all the other teams had already checked into the Pit Stop right after they began the Detour task; they were later shown coming to the Pit Stop for their elimination. In a post-show interview, they confirmed they had completed the Detour prior to being eliminated.
Sahil & Manas initially arrived 7th, but did not pay their tuk-tuk fare correctly. They had to settle the fare before they were allowed to check-in. Jess & Lani, who checked-in ahead of Sahil & Manas as 8th, were moved up to 7th place, while Sahil & Manas were dropped to 8th.
Alan & Wendy had been marked for elimination. However, since they checked-in last, they were eliminated without being issued the 30-minute penalty.
More information Destinations, Route Markers ...
Destinations
Air travel Rail travel Water travel Bus travel Helicopter travel Bicycle travel Gondola travel
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to drive to Batu Caves in order to find their next clue.
In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to ascend the Batu Caves' stairs, inhabited by monkeys, while carrying an offering of fruit and counting of steps. Once at the top, they had to give their offering to a Hindu priest and provide the correct number of steps (272) in order to receive their next clue.
After the Roadblock, teams were instructed to drive to "the Pit Stop from Episode 8 of The Amazing Race Season 16USA version": the Pinang Peranakan Mansion in George Town. Once there, teams had to find "Baldwin", a piano, where their next clue was in the form of piano sheet music of the song "Amazing Grace" that sent them to a futsal court. There, both team member had serve as a goalkeeper against a young player, with teams receiving a two-minute penalty for each goal scored, before receiving their next clue, which directed them to the MSStar Pisces docked at the Swettenham Pier.
This season's first Detour was a choice between Flags or Rags. In Flags, teams would have had to search for five flags hidden around the ship using ship lingo in order to receive their next clue. In Rags, one team member had to lower themselves down to clean a window on the ship, while the other had to search for and take a photo of their partner in order to receive their next clue. All teams chose Rags.
After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the 12th deck of the MS Star Pisces.
Additional note
This was a non-elimination leg.
Leg 2 (Malaysia)
Episode 2: "Allan Is Really Good With His Poker Face" (30 September 2010)
Prize: A VAIO laptop for each team member (awarded to Ivan & Hilda)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel by taxi to Batu Ferringhi Beach in order to find their next clue, which instructed them to fly to Kota Kinabalu. Once there, teams had to find a marked car with their next clue, which instructed them to drive to the Murut Warrior's Village in Tuaran and join a ceremony involved tribal dancing and touching a snake before receiving their next clue. Teams then had to drive to the Filipino Night Market eat at least a hundred chicken balls in order to receive their next clue. The team that ate the most number of chicken balls won a 20-minute advantage in the next task. Claire & Michelle won this advantage.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to don diving equipment and guide a ring through an underwater rope maze within a time limit in order to receive their next clue. If racers were unsuccessful, they would incur a four-hour penalty.
After the Roadblock, teams had to travel by boat to Sapi Island in order to find their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Rapid Water or Rapid Fire. In Rapid Water, teams had to navigate a bamboo raft down river rapids in order to retrieve their next clue. In Rapid Fire, teams had to hit two targets with tribal slingshots in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: KampungTanjung Aru.
Leg 3 (Malaysia → Sri Lanka)
Episode 3: "I Can't Carry My Backpack" (7 October 2010)
Prize: A vacation package to Colombo, Sri Lanka (awarded to Dimple & Sunaina)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Kuala Lumpur. Once there, teams had to travel on foot from KL Sentral to the Axiata Tower and find Axiata Telecoms Controls Centre. There, teams must search a picture of a golden Buddha on a television screen and then press the company name of a telecommunications company – Dialog Telekom – located in the same country as the statue on a touchscreen computer in order to receive their next clue. If teams were incorrect, they had to wait two minutes before another attempt. Teams then had to fly to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Once there, teams had to receive a blessing from a Buddhist monk at the Gangaramaya Temple in order to receive their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Count or Carry. In Count, teams had to count fish and give the correct number of 1,100 in order to receive their next clue. In Carry, teams had to carry 12 blocks of ice to a market vendor across the fish market in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, both team members had to sell 20 bags of peanuts for Rs.15 a piece on Nugegoda Station Road and exchange their earnings with the vendor for their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to use a professional sewing machine to properly sew fabric cuttings into a shirt in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: Independence Square.
Additional notes
Sunaina & Dimple chose to use the Yield on Michelle & Claire.
This was a non-elimination leg.
Leg 4 (Sri Lanka)
Episode 4: "You Have So Many Good Students Here" (14 October 2010)
Prize: US$2,000 each (awarded to Richard & Richard)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel by train to Galle and then find their next clue at Galle Fort.
In this season's only Fast Forward, one team had to travel to the Galle Bus Station, where they would discover they had to have their heads shaved by a street barber in order to win the Fast Forward award and a Hilton Duck that they had to bring to the Pit Stop. Richard & Richard won the Fast Forward.
Teams who did not attempt the Fast Forward had to find their next clue at Galle Lighthouse.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to determine the year when Sri Lanka changed its name from Ceylon (1972) and use this year as a combination to unlock a wooden chest containing their next clue.
After the Roadblock, teams had to find a cellular phone with a message "Congratulations. Correct." from a pile of hundreds of ringing phones in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to travel by bus to a mask stall vendor at the Ambalangoda train station, choose a photograph of a mask and find the performer wearing the same mask at a street festival in order to receive a Hilton duck, which they had to bring to the Pit Stop, and their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Coconut Course or Language Course. In Coconut Course, both team members had climb up a laddered coconut tree, traverse a hanging rope between two coconut trees and retrieve a coconut, which they had to give to the chieftain in order to receive their next clue. In Language Course, teams had to learn ten Sinhalese words from a student and then correctly recite them to a teacher in order to receive their next clue.
Bacacay (Misibis Bay Resort and Casino – Misibis Bay Eco Park)
Bacacay (Misibis Bay Resort and Casino – Bahi Beach)
Bacacay (Misibis Bay Resort and Casino – Amphitheater)
Episode summary
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Manila, Philippines and then travel by plane or bus to Legazpi. Once there, teams had to find a jeepney outside the airport with their next clue. After travelling by jeepney to Ligñon Hill, teams were instructed to travel to BarangayBudiao in Daraga and then drive an ATV to their next clue at the Cagsawa Ruins. There, teams had to play a traditional pukpok palayok game. One team member was blindfolded and had to smash a clay pot containing their next clue, while their partner used a tambourine to guide them to the pot.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Jig or Pig. In Jig, teams had to don costumes and perform a traditional Ibalong dance to the satisfaction of two judges in order to receive their next clue. In Pig, teams had to compete in a game of catch the oily pig with each team member having to catch two pigs in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams encountered an Intersection, where teams were required to work together in pairs to complete tasks until further notice. The teams were paired up thusly: Ethan & Khairie and Claire & Michelle, Richard & Richard and Dimple & Sunaina, Jess & Lani and Ivan & Hilda, and Hussein & Natasha and Sahil & Manas. After pairing up, teams had to remove the trash from a marked beach at Misibis Bay Eco Park in order to receive the next clue. After this task, teams were no longer joined.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to kayak along a flagged fish farm and search among hundreds of Amazing Race envelopes for one of ten marked "Correct!", which contained their next clue.
After the Roadblock, teams had to travel by jet ski to Bahi Beach and then by jeep to the Pit Stop.
Additional note
Six teams took a bus from Manila to Legazpi, while the other two teams (Natasha & Hussein and Manas & Sahil) took a flight from Manila to Legazpi instead.
Leg 6 (Philippines → New Zealand)
Episode 6: "There's A Bigger Race And It's Called Life" (28 October 2010)
Prize: A vacation package and a dinner for two at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore (awarded to Richard & Richard)
Eliminated: Ivan & Hilda
Locations
Bacacay (Misibis Bay Resort and Casino – Bahi Beach)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Invercargill, New Zealand. Once there, teams had to find a camper with a clue instructing them to find a fisherman at Lake Te Anau with their next clue. Teams then had to drive to Pillan's Paddock in Kingston, where they had to saw five slabs from a log together and one slab each individually in order to receive their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Plunge or Swing. In Plunge, which was a Switchback of a Roadblock from season 1, both team member had to bungee jump from a height of 134 metres (440ft) above the Nevis River in order to receive their next clue. In Swing, teams had to swing from a platform 300 metres (980ft) above the Nevis Canyon in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to score a try then kick a conversion against a team of three rugby players, some of whom were former national team players, at the Queenstown Events Centre in order to receive their next clue. Teams had to score in 10 attempts or serve a 10-minute penalty.
In this leg's Roadblock, teams drove to Coronet Peak, where one team member had to search for their next clue buried in the snow using an avalanche rescuetransceiver.
After the Roadblock, they had to ride a 4x4 truck to the Pit Stop: the top of Coronet Peak.
Additional notes
For winning the previous leg, Ethan & Khairie travelled by helicopter to Legazpi Airport.
Claire & Michelle chose to use the U-Turn on Dimple & Sunaina.
Leg 7 (New Zealand → Australia)
Episode 7: "I'm The Sheep Whisperer" (4 November 2010)
At the start of this leg, teams had to travel on foot to Coronet Peak's Kaiserlift where they were instructed to complete a slalom skiing course in order to receive their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Pen or Pinot. In Pen, teams had to separate three marked sheep from a flock and into a pen to receive their next clue. In Pinot, teams had to carry and fill a wine barrel with wine to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to drive to the Arrowtown Post Office and mail the videos they made for their loved ones during the Pit Stop in order to receive their next clue, which instructed them to fly to Sydney, Australia. Once there, teams had to search Circular Quay for a man with an umbrella on his right hand and ask him "Got a clue about the weather, mate?" in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to travel to the Hilton Hotel and make a bed to the hotel's standard within three minutes to receive their next clue. After four failed attempts, teams had to serve a 10-minute penalty. The fastest team would win an upgrade at any Hilton hotel. Ethan & Khairie won this prize.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to perform a flying trapeze maneuver known as a "catch" at Circus Art School to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: Archibald Fountain at Hyde Park.
Additional note
After the Roadblock, teams were instructed to go to Sydney's Hyde Park in the vicinity of St Mary's Cathedral where "Allan Wu awaits", only to figure out that it was a Virtual Pit Stop and they had to continue racing. On this note, there was no elimination at the end of this leg.
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Brisbane. Once there, teams had to find a Wicked camper van with their next clue, which directed them to drive to the Southport Indoor Pistol Club in Gold Coast. There, both team members had to shoot a target using a .44 Magnumrevolver in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to drive to Dreamworld and ride The Giant Drop until they were able to photograph a koala mascot waving an Amazing Race flag using a digital camera in order to receive their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to drive a Subaru Impreza WRX one lap around a rally circuit within 102 seconds in order to receive their next clue.
After the Roadblock, teams had to drive to Kurrawa Beach and dig a clue buried in a marked area of beach.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Bush Chucker or Bush Hunter. Before performing either Detour option, team members had to paint each other's faces much like Aboriginal Australians. In Bush Chucker, teams had to throw a boomerang and have it land within a marked circular area. In Bush Hunter, teams had to throw a hunting spear into a hay bale. After completing either Detour task, one team member had to eat a live witchetty grub before receiving their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: Kangaroo Point Park in Brisbane.
Leg 9 (Australia → Indonesia)
Episode 9: "I Can't Believe We Let Them Step In Front Of Us" (18 November 2010)
Prize: A year's supply of gasoline (awarded to Jess & Lani)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Denpasar, Indonesia on the island of Bali. Once there, teams had to sign up for a departure time for one of two boats to Lombok at the Ocean Star Boat Express, with the first boat leaving at 7:00a.m. containing two teams, and the second boat leaving at 7:30a.m. containing three teams. After landing at the Tanjung Karang Fishing Village, teams had to search for their next clue, which was hidden in a boat moored along the beach. Teams then had to travel to Pura Lingsar and run through a perang topat, a rice war ritual where teams were showered with rice powder by locals, to their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Above or Beyond. In Above, teams travelled to Mandalika Market and had to carry a basket of vegetables above their heads, without their hands touching the basket, a distance of 50 metres (160ft) in order to receive their next clue. In Beyond, teams would have had to search Kuburan Cina for the grave of Fam Sam Moy, once they would have found it, they would grab their next clue. Ethan & Khairie initially attempted Above, before attempted Beyond until switching back to Above.
After the Detour, teams had to travel to Malimbu Beach in order to find their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, teams had to travel by outrigger boat to Blue Marlin Dive on Gili Trawangan, where one team member had to learn to scuba dive before diving into Halik Reef to retrieve a briefcase. Then, both team members had to return to Gili Trawangan, ride a local horse carriage called a cidomo to Coral Beach, count the money in the briefcase (Rp 3,804,000) and enter the correct amount into a VAIO laptop in order to receive their next clue. If teams did not enter the correct combination within three attempts, they had to wait for 10 minutes before they could enter another combination.
After the Roadblock, teams had to travel by cidomo to the Pit Stop: Sunset Point.
Leg 10 (Indonesia → South Korea)
Teams visited the Seokguram Grotto (left), a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site and one of South Korea's "National Treasures", to ring the temple's Reunification bell. (right)
Episode 10: "We Don't Hate Anyone" (25 November 2010)
Prize: A seven-night stay at a water villa in the Maldives (awarded to Hussein & Natasha)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Pohang, South Korea. Once there, teams had to figure out that their next clue was at the Hands of Harmony sculpture at Homigot Sunrise Plaza. From there, teams had to drive to Girimsa Temple in Gyeongju, where one team member had to answer five questions, and their partner had to match the answers in order to receive their next clue.
More information Questions, Answers ...
Questions
Answers
Claire & Michelle
Hussein & Natasha
Jess & Lani
Richard & Richard
Which team makes you envy their relationship?
Hussein & Natasha
Ivan & Hilda
Richard & Richard
Richard & Richard
Which team do you dislike the most?
Jess & Lani
Jess & Lani
Ethan & Khairie
Sahil & Manas
If the race was a foursome, which team would you pair up with?
Ethan & Khairie
Richard & Richard
Richard & Richard
Dimple & Sunaina
Which team would be the first to stab you in the back?
Jess & Lani
Claire & Michelle
Ethan & Khairie
Ethan & Khairie
Which team doesn’t deserve to be in the final?
Jess & Lani
Jess & Lani
Hussein & Natasha
Jess & Lani
Close
Teams then had to drive to the Seokguram Grotto and ring the Reunification bell three times in order to receive their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Bow N' Arrow or Rock N' Roll. In Bow N' Arrow, they had to choose another team's photograph as a target and hit it three times with a traditional bow and arrow in order receive their next clue. In Rock N' Roll, teams had to build a ceremonial pagoda to a certain height using rocks in order to receive their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, teams had to drive to the Daereungwon Tomb Complex, where one team member had to walk through three rows of gates, only one of which in each row was correct, to receive their next clue. If racers chose an incorrect gate, they were blocked by warriors. Each racer had three attempts to correctly decode the warrior's code or else they had to go back to the starting point and start again.
Singapore (Marina Bay Sands – Sky Park Swimming Pool)
Singapore (Marina Bay Sands – Sky Park Observation Deck)
Episode summary
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Singapore. Once there, teams had to find a troupe of lion dancers at Cavenagh Bridge with their next clue, which directed them to the Red House Seafood Restaurant at the East Coast Seafood Centre. There, teams had to extract one kilogram (2.2lb) of crab meat from a serving of chilli crab in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to search among four service stations for a vintage car with their next clue.
This season's final Detour was a choice between Stay Up or Add Up. In Stay Up, teams had to travel to Wave House and ride an artificially-generated wave for an accumulated time of two minutes in order to receive their next clue. In Add Up, teams had to travel to the G-Max Reverse Bungy, where they had to add up three numbers called out by the host and get the correct sum in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to travel to the St James Power Station and perform an escape illusion where one team member had to unlock themselves from handcuffs within two minutes in order to receive their next clue from illusionists J C Sum and Magic Babe Ning.
In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to walk a tightrope from Tower 1 to Tower 2 of the Marina Bay Sands, retrieve their clue and return to Tower 1.
After the Roadblock, teams had to ride an elevator to the Sky Park swimming pool and then correctly answer seven multiple-choice questions about previous legs using coloured swim rings in order to receive their final clue, which directed them to the Finish Line: the Sky Park observation deck.
More information Question, Answer ...
Question
Answer
The name of the church ruins where you hit the clay pots is called:
A
Cagsawa
What was the name of the rice war in Lombok?
A
Perang Topat
Who was the fifth team to be eliminated?
B
Dimple & Sunaina
Which Pit Stop featured a traditional drum band:
B
Galle
The number of peanuts each team had to sell in Colombo, Sri Lanka was:
C
40
The Pit Stop in Queensland was called:
C
Kangaroo Point
The place where you skied in Queenstown was called: