Jon & Al Cannot Overcome Incorrect Information: TAR 4 Episode 11
Posted by Peaches on 2003-08-08
Four teams remain in The Amazing Race for episode 11. They left Seoul, South Korea exactly 12 hours after they arrived. They were to make their way to Hanggang Peoples Park and pull a string to a kite which would release their first clue.
Kelly & Jon were first to depart at 3:46 am. They had a nine minute lead over Reichen & Chip and used this time trying to find a taxi driver who spoke English. When Reichen & Chip joined them in looking for a taxi, Kelly urged Jon to just take the non-English speaking taxi-driver's ride and go to a hotel to get directions reasoning they had to push on.
Reichen & Chip also used a taxi driven by a non-English-speaking driver who had expressed an understanding of where Hanggang Peoples Park was located. As Kelly & Jon were in the Hotel getting directions, Reichen & Chip were expressing exasperation about the slow pace of the driver.
Jon & Al were third to leave Seoul at 4:04 am. They were lucky, however, to find a taxi driver who spoke English. They explain that they know it is a "do or die" time and yet, they want to continue to keep laughing and enjoy themselves throughout the race. Jon & Al arrived at the park first. Reichen & Chip were becoming increasingly short tempered and frustrated with their cab driver, and when they arrived at the park, made embarassingly rude comments that they shouldn't pay the driver - he spoke no English. Come-on guys, you're in Korea!
Jon & Al were first to arrive and secured their clue with no difficulty. The Road Marker told them to find their way to Brisbane, Australia. They cheered. Reichen & Chip, likewise, obtained their clue from the kites. Meanwhile, Kelly & Jon, after receiving directions to the park, were on the curb outside the Hotel having a tif. Jon was pushing Kelly trying to put distance between her and a couple of drunks and Kelly basically told him to knock it off.
When Kelly & Jon arrived at the park, Jon had some difficulty with the kites. He selected the string to the main kite group, and as he yanked on it the string broke. This folly had the Korean locals gasping and cost Kelly & Jon a little time, but they finally did pull the right string, got their clue, and headed to the airport.
Jon & Al arrived at the airport first and decided the best way to learn of the earliest flight to Brisbane was to call a 24 hour travel agency. They were told that the Korean Airline had the flight to Singapore and then to Brisbane. They were assured that this was the only option for their destination. They purchased tickets and received their boarding passes. They then walked on to the Korean Airline Terminal.
Meanwhile, Reichen & Chip arrived at the airport and studied the schedule of departing flights. They saw that Singapore and Korean airlines both had flights to Singapore with a connection to Brisbane, and that Singapore Airlines provided the earlier flight to Singapore. Also, they found that Korean Airlines handled the tickets for both Singapore Airlines and Korean Airlines. They purchased tickets on Singapore Air.
Kelly & Jon arrived, saw where Reichen & Chip were purchasing tickets, and told the ticket agent to give them tickets exactly like Reichen & Chip had just purchased. At the counter, Kelly's Jon made a pun towards Reichen & Chip which elicited an interview comment from Reichen to the tone that the gay guys were more masculine than Jon, and that Jon was jealous. Reichen stated that Jon has a stereotype hangup with gay men.
Meanwhile Jon & Al sat at the Korean terminal noticing that there were no other teams in sight. They seemed to question this absence of other teams but did not move on to investigate.
As Reichen & Chip, Kelly & Jon, and Jon & Al were in the airport waiting, David & Jeff were leaving the palace. They reflected on how lucky they felt to still be in the race. And from this writers point of view, they should feel lucky! If it weren't for those blasted nonelimination legs, both Teams David & Jeff and Kelly & Jon would be OUT and the race would now be between Reichen & Chip and Jon & Al. OK, now that's out of my system, back to the race...... David & Jeff collected their clue from the kite and made a decision to go for the Fast Forward once they arrived in Brisbane. They purchased tickets on the same flight to Singapore as did Reichen & Chip and Kelly & Jon.
A heavy fog hung over the area and delayed the Singapore Airline flight to Singapore. Jon & Al, sitting alone in the Korean Airline Terminal, noticed all the "delayed" messages on flight boards and became concerned - finally. They asked the ticket agent at Korean Airlines if the plane would be delayed and were assured that the flight was not delayed and that they would be boarding soon. Jon then noticed the line up of planes outside the window and correctly concluded that their plane would, in fact be delayed. He confirmed this conclusion by talking to two other people, including the pilot who stated the flight would be delayed at least 2 hours. This was a problem for Jon & Al because the long delay would put them in Singapore too late to catch the plane to Brisbane.
Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines announced that their plane was now boarding. Jon & Al ran through the many terminals to reach Singapore Airlines and tried to purchase tickets on that Airline. They found that there were seats on the plane, but that they were not permitted to purchase tickets because there was only a few minutes until departure and security protocol prevented them from boarding that flight. But, they didn't give up yet. Jon & Al found a direct flight to Brisbane, and hoped it would get them there in time to stay in the race. While they waited for the plane to board, Jon clowned around, putting a red ball on his nose, blancing a pair of glasses on his nose and joking with the other people in the terminal.
"Why did the chicken cross the road?," Jon asked Al.
"I don't know", mused Al while drinking a bottle of water, "Why did the chicken cross the road?"
"To get on Korean Airlines!," blurted a grinning Jon.
Al, just having filled his mouth with water, burst out laughing and sprayed water all over Jon's face. Both enjoyed the release of tension they derived from participating in these airport antics.
When the plane carrying the first three teams arrived in Brisbane, Reichen & Chip got into a taxi to head for the Holiday Inn hotel while Kelly & Jon took the train. Kelly & Jon were delighted when they looked out the window and saw a traffic jam on the roadways while they were moving along at normal train speed. They hoped this would give them a big lead over Reichen & Chip who were undoubtedly in that traffic jam.
As the two teams raced to the hotel, David & Jeff headed to the beach for their rescue mission to win the Fast Forward. They were required to make a one-hour drive to the beach and to pass a local lifeguard test.
Despite the traffic jam, Reichen & Chip arrived at the hotel first and rushed to the penthouse floor. Kelly & Jon were fast on their heels. Once they arrived at the penthouse suite, the two teams read the Detour choices: Face First or Foot First. Face First choice required them to rappell down the hotel face first. They donned safety gear and were given basic instructions for doing this feat. Foot First required that they walk down the stairs and over to another hotel, walk up 30 flights of stairs to retrieve their next clue. Both teams chose Face First.
While Reichen & Chip, and Kelly & Jon were preparing for the the Rappel, Jon & Al were arriving at the Brisbane Airport. They realized they were behind and that every minute counted.
Reichen & Chip made it down the hotel wall first, but the taunting between Jon & Chip over "Gay Men and masculinity" issues continued during this challenge. When at the bottom, Reichen & Chip watch as Kelly headed into the Rappell. She did well at first, then got to the plant tier where the side of the wall made her reach out and away from the wall. She became stuck, was terrified, and started screaming hysterically. Reichen & Chip and Jon cheered her on and tried to give directive assistance. Kelly stateed in a voice-over that her hand was painful and she finally realized she was clinching the rope rather than releasing and guiding her descent. After a while, she was able to take control and she did finish the challenge in good time. As soon as Reichen & Chip saw that she was over the worse part, they left for the next challenge.
David & Jeff, in the meantime, were swimming out to rescue a woman in the ocean. They had a rescue float and were challenged with trying to put a completely non-helpful victim on the float and back to land. The woman fell off the float several times.
Reichen & Chipopened the clue for the Roadblock. The Road Block was a challenge at the Underwater Aquarium, Mooloolaba. Once they arrived, one member of each team had to go into the underwater tanks with the sharks, stingrays, and other fish, walk to the underwater treasure chest, and retrieve their next clue.
Reichen elected to do the task. Kelly thought she should do this task, but Jon insisted he go. The trainer at the aquarium explained that they must not stand on the sharks or they would be bitten. Also, the trainer told them how to keep their hands together, one on top of the other and facing down, and to keep them that way as they walk slowly and calmly to the chest. Jon described his fear, but was successful in retrieving the clue without problems. Reichen expressed sheer terror and had difficulty walking to the chest. At one point he stopped and appeared to try to tread water with his arms. Kelly & Chip yell at him from outside the tank, telling him to watch out for the shark. The commercial break left the audience in suspense as the shark headed for Reichen. When the video returned, Reichen had regained his balance and retrieved his clue. Both teams now had to head for the Yacht Club on foot to the next pit stop.
Meanwhile, David & Jeff finally completed the Fast Forward rescue and made it to the pit stop in first place. They received a holiday trip to Mexico by American Airlines in addition to first place for this leg of the race.
Kelly and Jon ran for the Yacht Club as the clue indicated they must. Reichen & Chip read the clue and started to run, but then changed their mind and grabbed a car to drive. Reichen & Chip made it to the pit stop second, but were assessed a 5 minute penalty for driving rather than going by foot plus a 30 minute penalty for not abiding the clue rule of travelling by foot.
Kelly & Jon arrive at the pit stop third, but are given second place due to Reichen & Chip's penalty.
Those who were yearning for the clowns to stay in the race were holding their breath as Jon & Al completed each task and ran for the pit stop. They arrived fourth and some of us prayed it was soon enough, but, alas, it was not soon enough, and they were told by Phil that they were eliminated.
Al said Jon was his role model and friend, and that he was a motivator. Jon said he hoped he set a good example for his children to never give up your dream and you can accomplish anything. They both commented on the appreciation and pride they have in their friends and family. The other teams obviously liked Jon & Al as they were giving them a hearty hug.
