ANYWAY

Darn! So my source is wrong! Sorry guys. Let me correct myself and say that the official winner of Amazing Race Asia Season 3 is Team Hongkong - Sam & Vince! Congratulations!


I cut class just to see the episode hoping that my source was correct. To my disappointment though, the last team to arrive were the half naked boys of Hongkong. Again best buddies tandem won this year's race.

The first task involved the taming of the camels and transferring them to their cages. The road towards the place was challenging already. The 4 x 4 vehicles had a hard time passing through the Oman's sandy pathways. The first to accomplish the task was team Malaysia, followed by Philippines and Hongkong.

The girls immediately found the next stop where teams have to find a key within the sandsusing a metal detector that would open a chest where the next clue is. Looks easy. But with the 41 degrees Celsius scorching Oman sun plus the heat of the sand, the task was challenging enough. The Malaysians took the lead once again but as they trek to the next stop, they were stuck in the sands. The tires seem to soften because of the heat. It took them much time because Team Philippines were able to finish the task immediately and the Malaysians were still on the same place. With the help of some locals they managed to get through. The Hongkong buddies were in a far third.

Philippines were the first to arrive to the airport followed immediately by Malaysia and Hongkong. Philippines and Hongkong had an easy time booking a soonest flight to Phuket Thailand where the next stop is. Malaysia had a difficult time to create a sense of urgency to the airline people in booking a flight. This spelled disaster to them.

From this point on, the Hongkong buddies with the help of their very smart taxi driver, managed to get to the remaining stops first. They get to see first the cube inside a drum full of ice cube. They were the first one who get to the middle of the sea to get the next clue. A detour made them choose to pull or plunge. The first option was to pull strings of empty oyster shells to find the marked shell while the second option was to plunge in to the blue murky water to search for a big oyster clam were a huge pearl is. The boys first choose to plunge but soon after, when they thought that it was similar to looking for a needle in a haystack, they immediately went to the pull option.

During this time, Geoff and Tish were having a hard time maneuvering their boat towards the pull option area. Sam and Vince were in the shore already digging their way searching for the chest that they would bring by foot towards the final pitstop. Geoff and Tish had the opportunity to catch up a little. They also saw the box a little later than Sam and Vince. Geoff muscles was not enough to pull the chest first that could probably put them in the lead.

The next scene was Team Hongkong inching towards the pitstop where all the participants are waiting and cheering for them. At this point I was really really saddened. I really thought Philippines would win this year but I'm definitely convinced that the buddies deserve the win. They were very clean and even helpful in the race so I guess good karma rewarded them.

So again sorry for posting a wrong article on who the winner is. And again congratulations to Sam & Vince of Hongkong! Next year perhaps, Philippines will win this exciting race..

Peace!

Amazing Asia Season 3 finally reached its finale and quite unexpectedly, Geoff and Tisha of Team Philippines had beaten Ida & Tania (Malaysia) and Vince & Sam (Hongkong) after visiting more than 10 countries in Asia, according to one source. The frequent bickering and misunderstanding of the sexy couple did pay off and they managed to beat the witty yet athletic Malaysian Girls out of the race.

I have been following this race eversince I first got to view the show in AXN and was rooting for Team Philippines to win (of course). Their win was very refreshing especially after Mark and Rovilson of last years' Amazing Race (who had the dominate most of the challenges) had been beaten of by the best buddies Adrian & Collin of Singapore. The frequent guestings of Geoff and Tisha on the RX and Magic 89.9 was an easy sign of how the race ended. Geoff never lost his confidence and fun side as he narrates his favorite and not-so favorite parts of the race while Tisha can't hide her happy and cant-wait-to-see-the-final-episode tone on her voice. Haven't seen the actual race as well but if your on Sky Cable, you can watch it on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 9pm. The top 3 teams will also watch the finale on Thailand where the Victory Party will also commence.

Mabuhay Team Philippines!

OCTOBER 30: Mom called me from the other room. I was a bit irritated. It was the fifth time I responded to her call on the same hour. She was smiling when I came to her. I responded with a grouchy face. Like a ten year old girl, she picked up something from her drawer and started to dangle it to the air. It was a black key. Clueless, I got hold of the black key. "Where do you want me to go? Will I pick something?", I said. As I was talking to her, she still kept smiling. Oddly as well, the key was not familiar to me. So when I started to look at the key, I shouted at my mom, "Maaaah! Ano to??!" She laughed and told me to stop shouting. I ran towards the window and looked which car it is. I saw an old Toyota Car. I was still happy though because the car still looked nice. Then I went back to my mom and asked her how much did she bought the second hand car. She said "Second hand? Brand new yun! Nakapark sa likod".


I shouted again for the second time!! This time my shout was a mix of amazement and a bit of resentment. We just bought a car four months ago and being a tightwad myself, I really think it was untimely to buy a new car. She told me that she hasn't given me any grad gift the last time and the car was both her advance and late grad gift for me. I just hug and kissed her after hearing that.

I went down and see wherethe new car is. It was a Vios 1.3. I cant help but smile ear to ear as I open it. She really knows me well. It was the most fuel efficient car of its kind and consumes the second cheapest fuel next to diesel - unleaded with 10% biofuel. It looked a bit small for me but surprisingly, I fit well in the driver seat(there is still room for one person at the back). I have to go back to my mom and thank her again. I also ask how to start the car. I have to press the clutch pala as I turn the key. Idiot. Hehe

It was already two weeks since I got the car. And I was so satisfied with it. She's my new sweetheart for now till my real one comes home. Hehe. The steering wheel was amazingly light - super power steering, though the shift gear is a bit hard to move. One 3/4 tank which cost me 1,400 pesos lasted nine days! Considering that I'm a advertising guy who goes around every so often, a school boy who goes to schoool 4 times a week and that our home is 1okm away from the office, the car was really damn efficient! I really love this car. She has no name and plate number yet. I'll give her a name soon.

So again thanks to my so generous mom for the car. I'll be extra nice and masipag to compensate this wonderful gift! :)