The Amazing Race Asia 1

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The Amazing Race Asia 1
Season 1
The Amazing Race Asia logo.jpg
Presented by Allan Wu
No. of teams10
Winner Zabrina Fernandez & Joe Jer Tee
No. of legs12
Distance traveled39,000 km (24,000 mi)
No. of episodes13 (14 including recap)
Release
Original network AXN Asia
Original release9 November 2006 (2006-11-09) 
1 February 2007 (2007-02-01)
Additional information
Filming dates24 May (2006-05-24) 
17 June 2006 (2006-06-17)
Season chronology
Next 
Season 2

The Amazing Race Asia 1 is the first season of The Amazing Race Asia , an Asian reality competition show based on the American series The Amazing Race . Hosted by Allan Wu, it featured ten teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around Asia and the Pacific Rim to win US$100,000. This season visited two continents and eight countries and travelled over 39,000 kilometres (24,000 mi) during twelve legs. Starting in Kuala Lumpur, teams travelled through Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, India, the United Arab Emirates, before returning to Malaysia and finished in Kuching. Applications were accepted through 31 March 2006. [1] The season began on 9 November 2006 on AXN Asia and the season finale aired on 1 February 2007.

Malaysian workers Zabrina Fernandez and Joe Jer Tee were the winners of this season becoming the first all-female team to win in the history of the Amazing Race franchise and were also the first winners to win only the final leg, while Hong Kong dating expats Sandy Sydney and Francesca Von Etzdorf finished in second place and Malaysian dating couple Andrew Tan and Syeon Park finished in third place.

Production

Development and filming

Merdeka Square overlooking Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Kuala Lumpur was the Starting Line of the first season of The Amazing Race Asia. Kuala Lumpur Sultan Abdul Samad Building 2.jpg
Merdeka Square overlooking Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Kuala Lumpur was the Starting Line of the first season of The Amazing Race Asia.

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. [2] 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 39,000 kilometres (24,000 miles), 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 (the nation would later be visited in the 19th season, in 2011).

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. [3] 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. [4]

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. [3]

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." [3]

Over 1000 teams across Asia applied for the series, with registration accepted through 31 March 2006. [5] Ultimately, ten teams were selected to participate in the race; the cast included expatriates in Thailand and Hong Kong and Indian models. [6] 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."

Broadcasting

An additional episode, subtitled "Memories" was a post-show interview special that aired one week after the season finale. [7]

Cast

Aubrey Sandel Aubrey Miles.jpg
Aubrey Sandel
Sahil Shroff Sahil Shroff at India's 50 Best Dressed Men, 2012 (15) (cropped).jpg
Sahil Shroff

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 . Sahil Shroff is an Indian model. 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 (as Andy & Laura representing Thailand), and Sandy is from New Zealand, is representing Hong Kong.

ContestantsAgeRelationshipHometownStatus
Ernie Lopez42Married Manila, Philippines Eliminated 1st
(in Jakarta, Indonesia)
Jill "Jeena" Lopez35
Jacqueline Yu23Actress & Model Manila, Philippines Eliminated 2nd
(in Tabanan, Indonesia)
Aubrey Miles 26
Sahil Shroff 26Models Mumbai, India Eliminated 3rd
(in Auckland, New Zealand)
Prashant Sachdev 26
Melody Chen28Best Friends Singapore Eliminated 4th
(in Gibbston Valley, New Zealand)
Sharon Wong31
Howard Bicknell40Best Friends Colombo, Sri Lanka Eliminated 5th
(in Than Bok Khorani National Park, Thailand)
Sahran Abeysundara32
Andy Lawson29Engaged Koh Samui, Thailand Eliminated 6th
(in Delhi, India)
Laura Kluk37
Marsio Juwono34Brothers Jakarta, Indonesia Eliminated 7th
(in Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Mardy Juwono36
Andrew Tan26Dating Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Third Place
Park Syeon28
Sandy Sydney29Dating Hong Kong, China Second Place
Francesca Etzdorf27
Joe Jer Tee29Co-Workers Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Winners
Zabrina Fernandez 26

Future appearances

In 2010, Aubrey Miles appeared in Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Showdown , the Philippine version of Survivor . [8] In 2014, Melody Chen appeared on Leg 9 of The Amazing Race 25 as a Pit Stop greeter in Singapore. [9] 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. [10] In 2017, Sahran, seven months after being elected mayor of Haslemere, [11] appeared on the British cooking programme Come Dine with Me . [12] In 2021, Sahil Shroff competed on Bigg Boss 15 , the Indian version of Big Brother . [13]

Results

The following teams participated in the season, with their relationships at the time of filming. Placements are listed in finishing order:

Team placement (by leg)
Team 1 2 3 [a] 4 5 6 7 8 9a [b] 9b 10 11 12
Zabrina & Joe Jer3rd4th5th6th3rd3rd6th5th4th4th3rd2nd1st
Sandy & Francesca10th9th2nd3rd5th1st4th3rd5th1st> [c] 1st3rd2nd
Andrew & Syeon5th [d] 8th8th1st2nd4th2nd4th2nd3rd2nd1st3rd
Mardy & Marsio1st2nd6th4th6th5th5th1stƒ [e] 3rd2nd4th4th†
Andy & Laura7th7th7th7th [f] 1st2nd [g] 1st2nd1st5th†< [c]
Howard & Sahran9th [h] 3rd1st8th [i] 4th6th3rd6th†
Melody & Sharon6th5th3rd2nd7th7th†
Sahil & Prashant8th [h] 1stƒ [e] 4th5th8th† [j]
Aubrey & Jacqueline4th6th9th†
Ernie & Jeena2nd10th†
Notes
  1. Five of the nine teams received 4-hour penalties at the Pit Stop for failing to complete the Roadblock (Joe Jer, Marsio, Andy, Syeon, and Aubrey). The initial order of arrival for all teams are as follows (the four italicized teams did not receive a penalty): 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, since they were already in last place.
  2. Leg 9 was a double leg, which had two Detours and two Roadblocks shown over two episodes. The placements listed for the first half is in order of teams' arrival at the Pit Stop in Kolkata.
  3. 1 2 Sandy & Francesca used the Yield against Andy & Laura
  4. 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.
  5. 1 2 This team won the Fast Forward in this particular leg.
  6. 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.
  7. 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 that was assessed at the start of the following leg, therefore departing from the Pit Start last.
  8. 1 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.
  9. Howard & Sahran were issued a 4-hour penalty because Howard failed to complete the Roadblock. They checked into the Pit Stop last, but were notified that the leg was a non-elimination Leg. The 4-hour penalty they took from the Roadblock would be instead applied at the starting time at Leg 5.
  10. Sahil & Prashant initially arrived 5th, but were issued a 1-hour penalty because they were driven around in a private vehicle in Devonport, breaking an Amazing Race rule prohibiting hitch-hiking. The last three teams trailing them (Sandy & Francesca, Mardy & Marsio and Melody & Sharon) checked-in during their penalty time, dropping Sahil & Prashant to last place and resulting in their elimination.

Race summary

Complete route map Note: the green dot represents both the starting city and the transfer point of the final leg. The Amazing Race Asia 1 map.svg
Complete route map Note: the green dot represents both the starting city and the transfer point of the final leg.
Destinations ISO 7001 PI TF 001.svg Air travel    Legenda kolej.svg Rail travel    Ferry.png Water travel    Bus-logo.svg Bus travel
Maki-heliport-15.svg Helicopter travel    Maki-bicycle-15.svg Bicycle travel    Maki-aerialway-15.svg Gondola travel
Route Markers Detour icon.svg Detour    Roadblock icon.svg Roadblock    Fast Forward icon.svg Fast Forward    Yield icon.svg Yield    TAR-pitstop-icon.png Pit Stop

Leg 1 (Malaysia)

Teams finished the inaugural leg of The Amazing Race Asia in Bukit Nanas, atop of KL Tower. Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Menara-Kuala-Lumpur-02.jpg
Teams finished the inaugural leg of The Amazing Race Asia in Bukit Nanas, atop of KL Tower.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 2 (Malaysia → Indonesia)

The National Monument in Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta served as the Pit Stop of this leg. Merdeka Square Monas.JPG
The National Monument in Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta served as the Pit Stop of this leg.
Locations
Episode summary

Leg 3 (Indonesia)

While in Bali, Indonesia, teams visited Uluwatu where they searched for their clue inside the caves within its rock formations. Uluwatu - panoramio (6).jpg
While in Bali, Indonesia, teams visited Uluwatu where they searched for their clue inside the caves within its rock formations.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 4 (Indonesia → Australia)

One of the Detour options in Sydney required teams to climb up the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge to retrieve their clue. BridgeClimb on Sydney Harbour Bridge, jjron, 02.12.2010.jpg
One of the Detour options in Sydney required teams to climb up the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge to retrieve their clue.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Leg 5 (Australia → New Zealand)

While in Auckland, teams visited the Sky Tower and climbed to the top. Auckland, CBD, Nueva Zelanda - panoramio.jpg
While in Auckland, teams visited the Sky Tower and climbed to the top.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 6 (New Zealand)

Melody took part in the bungee jump Roadblock at Nevis Highwire Platform at Nevis River along with other racers. The Amazing Race Asia Leg 6.jpg
Melody took part in the bungee jump Roadblock at Nevis Highwire Platform at Nevis River along with other racers.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Leg 7 (New Zealand → Singapore → Thailand)

Singapore Suntec City IMG 4876.jpg
(2023) wadsraeksraachwrmhaawihaar ekhtp`mpraabsatruuphaay krungethphmhaankhr (11).jpg
During this leg, teams visited the largest water fountain in the world (The Fountain of Wealth) in Singapore before heading to Bangkok and visit Golden Mount, which is depicted on the Thai 2 Baht coin.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 8 (Thailand)

The Roadblock in Krabi required one team member to climb the Railay East rock wall. Krabi Kaya Tirmanicilari.jpg
The Roadblock in Krabi required one team member to climb the Railay East rock wall.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 9 (Thailand → India)

Bepin Behari Ganguly Street - Kolkata 2015-02-09 2186.JPG
Red fort,delhi.JPG
The double-length leg in India had teams checked in at the Mid-Point at B.B. Ganguly Street in Kolkata and later traveled to Delhi to visit the famous Red Fort where they encountered a Yield.
Locations
Episode summary (episode 9)
Episode summary (episode 10)
Additional note

Leg 10 (India → United Arab Emirates)

The Detour in Dubai took place entirely inside Ski Dubai, the largest indoor ski resort in the world, where one side of it required teams to hike the ski place's steepest slope. Ski Dubai Chair.jpg
The Detour in Dubai took place entirely inside Ski Dubai, the largest indoor ski resort in the world, where one side of it required teams to hike the ski place's steepest slope.
Locations
Episode Summary
Additional note

Leg 11 (United Arab Emirates)

The penultimate leg of the race finished in Mina A'Salam Beach, overlooking Dubai's famous 7-star hotel Burj Al Arab. Burj al Arab and the Beach (14535539076).jpg
The penultimate leg of the race finished in Mina A'Salam Beach, overlooking Dubai's famous 7-star hotel Burj Al Arab.
Locations
Episode summary

Leg 12 (United Arab Emirates → Malaysia)

Upon arriving in Kuching, Sarawak, teams had to find the correct cat statue among many, which turned to be the one in its Golden Triangle. Kuching City (17748037666).jpg
Upon arriving in Kuching, Sarawak, teams had to find the correct cat statue among many, which turned to be the one in its Golden Triangle.
Locations
Episode summary

References

  1. "AXN unveils the identity of the reality show's host and regional sponsors as production reaches a new milestone". Archived from the original on 15 July 2006. Retrieved 6 October 2006.
  2. "The Amazing Race Format makes a Pit Stop in ASIA PACIFIC". Thailand News and Press Releases. 19 October 2006. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 "And the Host of The Amazing Race Asia is..." The Amazing Race Asia. 4 July 2006. Archived from the original on 17 January 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2007.
  4. "BINTAN LAGOON RESORT OFFICIAL HOSPITALITY PARTNER FOR AMAZING RACE" (PDF). Bintan Lagoon Resort. July 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2007.
  5. "Over 1000 teams apply for The Amazing Race Asia". The Amazing Race Asia. 10 April 2006. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2007.
  6. "Asia Is Waiting - Teams Revealed!". The Amazing Race Asia. 25 September 2006. Archived from the original on 17 January 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2007.
  7. "HE AMAZING RACE ASIA: MEMORIES". T4. 29 December 2006. Archived from the original on 27 November 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2007.
  8. "Final Four of Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Showdown revealed". Philippine Entertainment Portal. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  9. Chan, Delle (3 February 2015). "Find out just how adventurous Melody Chen really is!". Her World . Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  10. "RECAP: THE AMAZING RACE ASIA 5, EPISODE 3 – "YOU DON'T HAVE TO STROKE ME, IT'S OKAY."". dryedmangoez.com. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  11. "Shopkeeper is new mayor". Haslemere Herald. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  12. "Haslemere Mayor Sahran Abeysundara cooked up a storm on last night's 'Come Dine With Me'. Book tickets to enjoy his winning Sri Lankan chicken dish and see Monday's Channel 4+1 show again on Saturday, Feb 4 at 6pm at Haslewey Community Centre". Facebook . 31 January 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  13. "'Bigg Boss 15': Sahil Shroff reveals his game plan to survive in the show". The Tribune . 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.