Recap: The Amazing Race Australia 8 (Celebrity Edition 2), Episode 11 – “We are still there scrubbing folds of this giant wenis.”

Teams head to Phuket for the 11th Leg. With 3500 Baht for this Leg, the first clue directs teams to the Phuket Gateway where teams must search under for one of four clues hidden underneath large turtle egg sculptures.

Teams walk across the bridge to find shiny new songthaews to get them to the park. All the teams catch up and begin searching for a clue. Pete & Bridget are the first to find one followed by Bam Bam & Logan, Brooke & Adam and Billy & Oscar.

Teams must now make their way to the Naithon Ethical Elephant Care Sanctuary where they will treat an elephant to clay bath and shower.

Bam Bam & Logan are the first to get the thumbs up from their new elephant friend. They open the next clue revealing Road Block: Who’s ready for some child’s play? For this Road Block, teams will meet some local kids at Bankokwatmai School and use one of their sling shots to knock over 10 tin cans from 20 metres away.

Bam Bam & Logan decide to choose a new songthaew after their one in the morning was a bit slow.

Pete & Bridget are next to get the thumbs up followed by Brooke & Adam and then Billy & Oscar. The father and son, however, must first complete their Speed Bump which is to replenish the clay balls for the baths, enough to fill three buckets.

Over at the school, Bam Bam gets started with the Road Block with Pete and Brooke close behind. Brooke is the first to get any cans knocked over. Bam Bam gets a few hit and Oscar gets some on his first attempt after he arrives.

Brooke is the first to knock all ten cans over and she and Adam open the next clue revealing a Detour: Fame or Frame. In Fame, teams will experience kathoey cabaret shows by dressing a cabaret star in the same costume as the performer on stage. The curtain will rise on the stage for only 10 seconds for teams to memorize the elements. When the performer is stage-ready, teams will get the next clue. In Frame, teams head to Thalang Road and find three photos in one of the grand houses, memorize every detail and then locate the real-life versions on the road. When they find the house numbers for all three windows, they will receive the next clue.

This is a Limited Stations Detour with only two spots at each.

Brooke & Adam and Bam Bam & Logan choose Frame.

Oscar is able to knock his cans over next. He and Billy choose to do Frame, but the producers inform them that it is full and they must choose Fame. Pete & Bridget are now in last and must also settle for Fame.

Brooke & Adam are the first team to complete the Detour and can now head to the Pit Stop at Khao Rang Viewpoint. Bam Bam & Logan are close behind.

Brooke & Adam is the first team to secure their spot in the Final Leg. Bam Bam & Logan are Team #2.

It’s down to Billy & Oscar and Pete & Bridget. Billy & Oscar get the thumbs down on their first check. But they get the thumbs up on their second. They hurry to the Pit Stop. Pete & Bridget get the thumbs up soon after.

But it is Billy & Oscar who secure the final spot in the finale. That means Pete & Bridget are last and eliminated.

Episode Thoughts

A solid Penultimate Leg. I don’t know if it was a bit linear other than the sling shot Road Block. But it’s okay. It was a pretty close fight between four pretty well-matched up teams.

The turtle eggs search was alright for the first task of the Leg.

It was so wonderful seeing the teams pamper the elephants. And I loved the little introduction cards. Very sweet. And it’s really great to see TAR highlighting care and sanctuaries for these majestic animals.

The Road Block probably provided the most tension and unpredictability of the Leg. And it was also fun to have teams interacting with the childrens again.

The Detour was alright. Both had elements of memorization and attention to detail. So I think they were a fair pair of tasks. In doing TARPHDME, I’ve found that there is a logistical and TV-worthy reason to do Limited Stations Detours. Sometimes, you want both sides of the Detour to be featured. Sometimes you just don’t have enough spots to allow all teams on one side. Teams won’t know which one is the better Detour. It’s up to the show to ensure they’re equal and well-matched.

I think regardless of which Detour the teams ended up choosing, the placements would’ve probably been the same as well.

Overall, a solid Penultimate Leg. Here’s hoping there’s no three-way tie again at the Finish Line! lolol

Episode Quotes

Adam: “There was more eggs than the hotel’s buffet.”

Oscar: “We are still there scrubbing folds of this wenis – a giant wenis, too.”