The Amazing Race Asia 1


The first season of The Amazing Race Asia is a reality television game show based on the American series, The Amazing Race. The first season of the show features ten teams of two, with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around Asia and the Pacific Rim to win US$100,000. Applications were accepted through 31 March 2006. The season began on 9 November 2006 and the season finale aired on 1 February 2007.
Malaysian workers Zabrina Fernandez and Joe Jer Tee were the winners of the Race becoming the first all female team to win in an Amazing Race franchise and were also the first winners to win only the final leg of the Race.

Production

Development and filming

In October 2005, Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific and Sony Pictures Television International's AXN Asia announced that it had earned the right to produce the first localized production of The Amazing Race. AXN Asia, which airs the original American series, had received many written requests for an Asian production from local viewers.
The season visited two continents and eight countries over a distance of more than, including the first time visit for an Amazing Race franchise to Indonesia, which had not been visited in the original version at the time of air

Casting

In July 2006, Singaporean television personality Allan Wu was introduced as the host of The Amazing Race Asia. Ricky Ow, General Manager of SPE Networks Asia described Wu as "a big fan of The Amazing Race" and felt that "his good looks and natural charisma will offer a different appeal from the US version."
Over 1000 teams across Asia applied for the series, with registration accepted through 31 March 2006. Ultimately, ten teams were selected to participate in the race; the cast included expatriates in Thailand and Hong Kong and Indian models. Host Allan Wu commented that "the producers definitely took the time and did their homework to select the most diverse, entertaining, and controversial batch of contestants for our first season."
The cast consisted of a few local media representatives or their relatives. Zabrina Fernandez is a Ntv7 and Channel V television producer, as well as the sister of Malaysian film director Joshua Fernandez and Hitz.FM DJ JJ Fernandez. Aubrey Miles is a filipina actress who acted in local movies such as Prosti, Xerex, Sanib, A Beautiful Life and Gagamboy; she is also the co-host of noontime show Masayang Tanghali Bayan. Prashant Raj Sachdev is an Indian actor who starred in the Bollywood movie Aag; he was also the runner-up of Mr. India 2004. Melody is a Singaporean TV and movie actress, having starred in local movies such as Street Angels and The Teenage Textbook Movie; she also played a supporting character in long-running drama Love Blossoms and its sequel, Love Blossoms II.
This season consists of five non-Asians; Andy, Francesca, Howard and Laura are from the United Kingdom, having separate representatives in Asian countries, and Sandy is from New Zealand, is representing Hong Kong.

Future appearances

In 2010, Aubrey Miles appeared in , the Philippine version of Survivor.
In 2014, Melody Chen appeared on Leg 9 of The Amazing Race 25 as a Pit Stop greeter in Singapore.
In 2016, Zabrina & Joe Jer appeared as the Pit Stop greeters for the third leg of The Amazing Race Asia 5 in their home country of Malaysia.
In 2017, Sahran, seven months after being elected mayor of Haslemere, appeared on the British cooking programme Come Dine with Me.

Marketing

The first season of the show was supported by the following regional sponsors: Sony Electronics Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd, AirAsia, Caltex, MSN, Nokia, and Bintan Lagoon Resort. Ford was a local sponsor, while the series was also supported by Tourism Malaysia. The sponsors played a major role in the series by providing prizes and integrating their products into various tasks. In addition, AirAsia was the sole airline used by racers, while Bintan Lagoon Resort was the sequester location for eliminated teams.
To introduce the new series to an Asian audience, a promotional tour visited Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Delhi prior to the series premiere. An additional episode, subtitled "Memories" was an after-race interview special that aired one week after the season finale.

Results

The following teams participated in the Race, with their relationships at the time of filming. Placements are listed in finishing order:
  1. Andrew & Syeon initially arrived 1st, but they did not follow the trail as instructed in their clue to the Pit Stop, and were asked to complete it before checking in. Four teams checked in while they went back, dropping Andrew & Syeon to 5th.
  2. ^ For unknown reasons on the subsequent Leg, the starting placements of Howard & Sahran and Sahil & Prashant were switched, resulting in Howard & Sahran and Sahil & Prashant starting in 8th and 9th place, respectively.
  3. Five of the nine teams arrived at the Pit Stop after applying 4-hour penalties for failing to complete the Roadblock. The initial placements for all teams are as follows :
  4. :1st: Zabrina & Joe Jer; 2nd: Howard & Sahran; 3rd: Sandy & Francesca; 4th: Mardy & Marsio; 5th: Andy & Laura; 6th: Andrew & Syeon; 7th: Melody & Sharon; 8th: Sahil & Prashant; 9th: Aubrey & Jacqueline. Aubrey & Jacqueline were eliminated without the 4-hour penalty being issued.
  5. Laura suffered an injury to her left Leg on the way to Oceanworld. After the tests were done, she was allowed to continue the next Leg of the race.
  6. Howard & Sahran were issued a 4-hour penalty because Howard failed to complete the Roadblock. They checked in the Pit Stop last, but were notified as a non-elimination Leg. The 4-hour penalty they took from the roadblock would be instead applied at the starting time at Leg 5.
  7. Sahil & Prashant initially arrived 5th, but were issued a 1-hour penalty because they were driven around in a private vehicle in Devonport, breaking a Race rule prohibiting hitch-hiking. The last three teams trailing them checked-in during their penalty time, dropping Sahil & Prashant to last place and resulting in their elimination.
  8. Andy & Laura were caught speeding at 146 km/h while the speed limit was 100 km/h. The penalty was 2 minutes times the number of km/h by which they had exceeded the speed limit. They were issued a 92-minute penalty to be assessed at the start of the following Leg, therefore departing at the pit-start last.
  9. Leg 9 was a double-length leg. It featured a Virtual Pit Stop, and had two Detours and two Roadblocks shown over two episodes.

    Episode title quotes

Episode titles are often taken from quotes made by the racers.
  1. I Don't Think I Can Do This – Sahran
  2. They're Speedy, They're Fast And They're First – Howard
  3. Give Me The Strength, Give Me The Strength - Howard
  4. Just Shut Up And Do It - Mardy
  5. It's Blowing Like Your Mum's Pants On A Windy Day - Howard
  6. What Have You Been Eating! - Zabrina
  7. Don't Stand There Doing Nothing! - Andy
  8. My Legs Are Shaking Like Jelly - Andrew
  9. This Is Totally, Totally Out Of This World! - Marsio
  10. War Has Begun! - Andy
  11. This Is Going To Be Embarrassing! - Zabrina
  12. Oh My Goodness, I Have To Eat A Brain! - Syeon
  13. 24 Days, 15 Cities, 39,000 Kilometres And It Comes Down To This - Allan Wu

    Prizes

Individual prizes were awarded to the first team to complete some legs.

Leg 1 (Malaysia)

Airdate: 9 November 2006
The first Detour of the Race was a choice between Paint or Pot. In Paint, team members had to work together to make a batik painting based on the design shown to them to receive their next clue. In Pot, one team member had to make a pot from clay using a pottery wheel while the other member controlled the wheel's spin to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: 16 November 2006
In the first Roadblock of the Race, one team member had to retrieve a clue in a box located inside a snake pit containing dangerous species second to anaconda in size, within two minutes.
In the first Fast Forward, teams had to search among 50 students at the courtyard inside SMA Negeri 60 High School with Sony Walkman MP3 players. The first team to find the one Walkman playing a message that they have chosen correctly could exchange the Walkman for the Fast Forward award.
The Detour was a choice between Push or Sell. Both Detours were located at Panglima Polim Street. In Push, teams had to push a bakso cart along a marked route, without spilling any soy sauce, while singing a traditional child song, "Abang Tukang Bakso" to receive their next clue. In Sell, teams had to sell 15 bowls of bakso, each with a minimum selling price of Rp 2,000 each, to receive their next clue.
;Additional task
Airdate: 23 November 2006
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to dig in a marked area of sand around Kuta Beach for a souvenir, a small wooden surfboard, hidden up to beneath the sand to receive their next clue.
The Detour on this leg was a choice between Wet or Dry. In Wet, teams had to traverse down 500 steps to the Ayung River, ride through the white water rapids and complete a course on the water until they reach their clue at the end of the course. In Dry, teams had to ride on an elephant through a course to receive their next clue.
;Additional task
Airdate: 30 November 2006
In this leg's Detour, teams had to choose between Elevation and Crustacean. In Elevation, teams had to climb up a large number of steps to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to receive their next clue. In Crustacean, teams made their way on foot to the seafood restaurant Doyle's at the Quay. Once there, they had to shell of cold prawns, ensuring that the tail, the head and the back were properly removed, to receive their next clue from the restaurant chef.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to dive into the aquarium in Oceanworld Manly, where they had to swim with sharks, stingrays, turtles and fishes to retrieve their next clue.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: 7 December 2006
In this leg's Detour, teams had to choose between Rigby or Rigging. In Rugby, teams had to take a taxi to Victoria Park. Once there, they had to put on rugby jerseys and kick rugby balls to score 3 goals. The goals would only be counted if the rugby ball was kicked into the enclosed posts a height at least 22 metres. Once complete, the coach would give teams their next clue. In Rigging, teams had to travel to Westhaven Marina and find the yachts. Once there, the instructor would give the teams instructions on how to use ropes and knots to get the sail up and receive their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to jump off the Sky Jump from the 53rd floor. While the non-participating team member was watching down below, they had to use a Sony Ericsson Cyber-shot camera to take a picture of their partner doing this task. Once team members reunited, they would receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: 14 December 2006
In this leg's Detour, teams had to choose between Ledge or Luge. In Ledge, each team member had to take a turn performing the ledge swing, which hurls them above Queenstown, before receiving their next clue. In Luge, teams had to complete a tack team relay with each team member by navigating a luge through a circuit track a total of four times to get their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to bungee jump over Nevis Valley, reputedly the world's wildest bungee jump. They only had 2 minutes after they step on the platform to do so, or forfeit their turn. After they were successfully done with the jump, the bungee instructor would give them their next clue. This task would later reappear on Season 4 as a Switchback.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: 21 December 2006
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to climb to the top of the temple and then search through 560 golden bells for 100 clue capsules containing silver slips of paper. Out of the 100 silver slips of paper, only 6 contained the correct slip of paper instructing team members to receive their next clue from a temple worker.
The Detour of this leg was a choice between Bacon or Eggs. In Bacon, teams would have to find marked tuk-tuks on Larn Luang Road and then direct their tuk-tuk drivers to drive them to the Memorial for People Born in the Year of Pig to get their next clue. Teams were allowed to seek directions from locals but could not get assistance from the driver. In Eggs, teams had to travel to Pak Khlong Talat and find an egg stall and using a trolley, deliver 26 trays of eggs to a nearby egg market at Asadang Road. Once all trays were delivered intact, the store owner would give teams their next clue. However, if any eggs were delivered broken, the store owner would instruct the teams to re-deliver that number of unbroken eggs.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: 28 December 2006
In the second Fast Forward of the Race, teams had to find a kayak on Pranang Bay and then using it to look for a clue hidden in one of the many hidden caves near the area. The first team to find the clue would win the Fast Forward award.
The Detour on this leg was a choice between Smash or Grab. In Smash, teams would have to smash through a pile of 75 coconuts with a hammer until they found one with red ink inside it to receive their next clue. In Grab, teams had to snorkel through an area of the waters off Koh Poda with 100 buoys, each of which has an attached clue, until they found one of only marked "correct".
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to climb up the face of Railay East 123 Wall in order to retrieve the next clue from the top.
;Additional note
Airdate: 4 January 2007
In the first Roadblock on this leg, one team member had to polish seven shoes from bystanders and charge at least 5 for their service to receive their next clue.
The first Detour on the leg was a choice between Carry or Count. In Carry, teams had to deliver of milk by carrying jugs on their heads and pouring them into a metal bucket a distance away. Once all the milk was delivered, teams would receive their next clue. In Count, teams had to go to Maniktala Bazar and then count the number of betel nuts in a basket. Teams could only guess once before counting the nuts again. Once they got the correct guess, teams would receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
, teams visited the famous Red Fort where they encountered a Yield.
Airdate: 11 January 2007
The second Detour on the leg was a choice between Deliver or Donkey. In Deliver, teams had to carry sacks of spices to a spice shop, with only a picture of the shop for reference, to get their next clue. In Donkey, teams had to transport onions using a donkey to an onion store to receive their next clue from the vendor.
In the second Roadblock on this leg, one team member had to fill a bucket with cow manure and then use it to make dung cakes by adding water and sticking them onto the wall to receive their next clue.

Leg 10 (India → United Arab Emirates)

Airdate: 18 January 2007
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to don into a golfing attire and compete a 9-hole golf course, using only a putter and one other club to receive their next clue. If team members lost a ball or broke a club, they had to return to the first tee for a replacement.
The Detour on this leg of the Race was a choice between Hack or Hike. In Hack, teams had to chisel their way through a block of ice to release their next clue, using only a chisel and a hammer. In Hike, teams had to climb the steepest slope in Ski Dubai while carrying of skiing equipment to retrieve their next clue at the top of the slope.

Leg 11 (United Arab Emirates)

Airdate: 25 January 2007
The Detour in the Arabian Desert was a choice between Ride or Seek. In Ride, both team members had to sit on a camel and guide it through a marked course while using only a camel stick to collect five flags that they could exchange for their next clue. In Seek, teams had to find a souvenir camel in a marked plot of sand using a metal detector. Once team found the camel, they could exchange it for their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to eat an Arabian specialty dish, which consisted of brains and bread. When the food was completely eaten, the restaurant owner would give teams their next clue.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: 1 February 2007
The final Detour of the Race was a choice between Brain or Brawn. In Brain, teams had to assemble a bench using only a Sony Cybershot picture as reference to receive their next clue. In Brawn, teams had to go to a wet market and use traditional methods to carry of fruits a certain distance until they receive their next clue.
In the final Roadblock of the Race, one team member had to compete a rope-based obstacle course overlooking the jungle to receive their final clue.
;Additional tasks