Previously on The Amazing Race

Teams raced from Singapore to the island of Pulau Tioman, Malaysia. Team So Not Lost – Nobody and I – had to go through motion sickness, long waiting times, and a rough 7km trek through the jungle to beautiful Juara Beach, the Pit Stop for that leg of the Race.

Route Information

Make your way from Juara Beach to ABC Beach.

Nobody and I talked to The Dutch Boys to discuss our options. There was a boat service that circled the island, but that was unreliable. We could walk back, but we didn’t want to waste another three or so hours, not to mention any more energy. Hiring a car was the fastest option, but that was also going to be the most expensive choice; then again, if The Dutch Boys and Team So Not Lost shared a car hire, then that would mitigate the costs. The final option was hitching a ride with some local folks headed in that direction, then simply paying a relatively minimal amount. That was what the two teams decided on.

Team So Not Lost and The Dutch Boys stood at the corner of the road which led towards Tekek. The Dutch Boys tried to hitchhike with a few 4x4s that were heading in that direction. “We’re full,” they said. Then a pair of motorbikes emerged. Both were headed to Tekek. The Dutch Boys haggled for MYR 10 (US$3.30) for each bike. “But there’s only two of us,” the motorbike drivers said. The Dutch Boys suggested that they go ahead and take the two bikes, leaving Nobody and I behind. Nobody wanted to wait.

And so The Dutch Boys rode on the backs of the bikes.

I waited with Nobody for other bikes to pass by. Several did pass by, but none were headed towards Tekek. 15 minutes passed. 30. 45. As the wait approached the one hour mark, I headed back to one of the places that arranged car hires. I asked how much a car from Juara to Tekek would cost.

“70 Ringgit (US$23).”

I gulped. That was too much. I went back to the corner of the road where I discussed options with Nobody. After about five more minutes without any sign that any other motorbikes headed towards Tekek, I decided that the team should start walking towards Tekek. There was, after all, a paved road between Juara and Tekek, which meant not going through the jungle. Still, it would be a long walk back.

sign marking the road to Tekek

I started walking with Nobody when not five minutes later, I heard a motorbike approaching. I turned around and waved him over. “Tekek? 10 Ringgit?” I asked.

“20.”

I agreed. 20 Malaysian Ringgits (US$6.60) may be more than the MYR 10 each that The Dutch Boys were paying, but it’s better than MYR 70, and way better than walking all the way back. I hopped on to the back of the bike with Nobody.

“Where are you going?” the driver asked.

“ABC.”

“I take you there.”

The ride was exhilarating and scary. There was a LOT of speedy downhills with wicked turns. It was a lot of fun, though I definitely gripped the back of the motorbike a little too hard.

The bike stopped at the steps of the hill that bordered Tekek and ABC. I didn’t have small change, so I went over the hill, got change, went back over the hill to pay the driver, then went back over the hill to finally make it to ABC.

Route Information

Make your way to Orange Chalets and Bar. Once there, grab the special mix at the bar, and sit at the beach for two hours.

When I arrived at Orange with Nobody, The Dutch Boys were already there, drinking the special mix. Team So Not Lost grabbed the special mix, which was a cocktail which contained (among other things) tequila and mango vodka. Then it was time to sit at the beach with other teams who were doing the task. The biggest challenge was the swarm of sandflies that were attacking our legs. A pair of girls had some special oil that seemed to repel the insects; Team So Not Lost and The Dutch Boys stuck it out without protection.

Detour

A Detour is a choice between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons.

Sleep Heavy or Party Hard

In Sleep Heavy, teams must head back to their chalets and sleep the rest of the night until morning. In Party Hard, teams must go to a bar in Tekek and party until morning.

Most teams, including The Dutch Boys, went for Party Hard. I wanted to Sleep Heavy. Nobody supported me.

Intersection

When teams encounter an Intersection, two teams must join together and perform all succeeding tasks as one team, until given instructions to separate.

Nobody and I paired up with The Dutch Boys.

Route Information

It’s time to hit the beach! All four team members must partake in one of three beach activities popular in Tioman. One must take a diving course, another must swim or wade in the water, and the remaining two must go snorkelling. All four team members must then go sunbathing for half an hour to complete this task.

I decided to take the simplest task, as I was not the strongest swimmer. The Dutch Boys decided to go snorkelling. Nobody took the diving course.

one of The Dutch Boys snorkelling

After all had finished the individual tasks, the four went sunbathing. The Dutch Boys were smart enough to head into the shade as soon as the sun got too hot. I ended up sunburning my shoulders.

Route Information

You are released from your Intersection! Teams must now run the rest of this leg as two separate teams.

Roadblock

A Roadblock is a task that only one member of the team must perform.

Who’s ready for a different kind of liquid activity?

I decided to take on the Roadblock. In this Roadblock, I had to go back to Orange and finish an unspecified amount of alcohol. Once the barkeeper is satisfied with the alcohol intake, the task is finished.

It was fun being around different people from different countries, and there was definitely a relaxed atmosphere. The music playing in the background was pretty good (everything from The xx to Ed Sheeran to Air), and the barkeeper was nice.

Pit Stop Information

Make your way to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Warning: The last team to check in here… MAY be eliminated.

The next jetty back to Mersing wasn’t until morning, so I stayed at the bar for a little bit longer with one of The Dutch Boys before calling it a night. I asked the owner of our chalet if I could buy tickets from him. He told me I could just board the boat and pay there. The Dutch Boys had managed to get a return ticket when they purchased their earlier jetty tickets, so I was a little bit worried.

In the morning, Team So Not Lost and The Dutch Boys had breakfast together, then went to the jetty dock at ABC for the 9.30am jetty. When the jetty arrived, it was a bit of chaos trying to get on the boat; thankfully, the chalet owner was right, and I was able to purchase a ticket on the boat itself. A second jetty had arrived which The Dutch Boys tried to get on, but apparently they were going to save it for passengers who were boarding at Tekek. Our ferry then went to Tekek, where there was quite a lengthy delay. Then it was finally off on an hour and a half trip back to Mersing.

ABC jetty dock

Once in Mersing, The Dutch Boys and Team So Not Lost went to the travel agent close to the dock to ask about buses. The Dutch Boys managed to get the last two tickets on the next bus to Kuala Lumpur. “All full!” the agent said to me. There was nothing left. As it turns out, it was a Public Holiday in Malaysia that day, and a lot of buses were already pre-booked.

I decided to walk towards the bus station, where there would be more options. One of the teams walking in the other direction told Nobody and I that all buses to Kuala Lumpur were sold out. Once at the bus station, I asked about buses to Johor Bahru, which would have more bus options. “1pm, 11.70 Ringgit (US$3.85),” the lady at the ticket booth told me, “and don’t be late!” It was 12.30pm, which gave Nobody and I some time to grab lunch, get water, and use the toilet.

The bus station was full of other frantic teams trying to find a bus out of Mersing. The stress was getting to everyone; everybody looked tired, weary, and worried. Pairs hugged each other for comfort. Nobody comforted me.

1pm was fast approaching, but there was no sign of the bus I bought a ticket for. Other teams were soon boarding buses that were departing earlier. I started to worry that the bus had left without Nobody and I, but I’d been looking out for the bus long before 1pm. Then, at 1.30pm – half an hour behind schedule – the bus finally arrived. Just a couple of minutes later, the bus departed Mersing for Johor Bahru. I wondered where the other teams were.

Upon arrival in Johor Bahru, Phil was waiting for Nobody and I.

“All other teams are now well on their way to Kuala Lumpur,” he said. “I’m afraid it will be too late for you now.”

Nobody and I had Philiminated.

Nobody and I hopped on the next bus tp Singapore, our Race finished. Kuala Lumpur would have to wait.

No million dollars for Nobody and I. Just a nice tan and a sunburn.

Currency conversions are current as of 21 September 2012 and are taken from XE.
The Amazing Race photos and logos taken from Wikipedia.

Route Information

Make your way to the island of Pulau Tioman, Malaysia. You must take a jetty from the town of Mersing. Places on the jetty are limited. You have 500 Malaysian Ringgits (US$163.50) for this leg of the Race.

Nobody and I – AKA Team So Not Lost – left home at approximately 7am following a quick and unhealthy breakfast. The team would take the MRT then a bus to cross from Singapore to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, where they would then find a bus that would take them to Mersing. This would be cheaper than taking a direct bus from Singapore to Mersing.

Crossing the border from Singapore to Malaysia was surprisingly easy. No pesky immigration cards had to be filled out upon entering Malaysia, which meant not worrying about a card that could fall out before departing the country.

The team arrived at Larkin Terminal – the regional bus station of Johor Bahru – shortly before 9am. The team shut out the rising voices of bus touts yelling out every possible Malaysian destination and looked for a bus company that was heading to Mersing. The team quickly found one and purchased a ticket for a bus departing at 11.30am for MYR 11.70 (US$3.85).

The team had two and a half hours to kill. While Nobody wanted to rest and relax before the bus departure, I wanted to see if any buses left earlier. An eager tout dragged Me to one of the platforms where he said a bus to Mersing would be leaving soon, at 9am. Tickets can be purchased on the bus. Eventually, the bus did arrive. A new ticket was purchased for MYR 15 (US$4.90), and the bus ultimately left at around 9.30am, two hours earlier. There went the MYR 11.70….

The bus trip to Mersing was short and uneventful. Unfortunately, I rediscovered the pain of motion sickness. As I struggled not to throw up, Nobody comforted me.

The bus arrived at Mersing shortly after noon. Nobody and I walked briskly from the bus terminal to the jetty dock. Once there, Team So Not Lost – along with other teams – tried to figure out what time the next jetty was. Alas, the 12nn jetty had JUST left, and anyway it was already full. One travel agent said the next jetty would be at 4.30pm. Another said 5pm. The official kiosk of the jetty company said 5.30pm. I decided to trust the official vendor and purchased a ticket for the 5.30pm jetty.

After killing time (by eating a lot, mainly), the team went back to the dock at around 3.30pm, just in case there was indeed a 4.30pm jetty. Other pairs and teams started arriving, and soon it was clear that the jetty was indeed leaving at 5.30pm. I briefly wondered if any of those who were told the jetty was earlier were upset, but I didn’t see any yelling or wild gesturing typically associated with that sort of frustration.

Detour

A Detour is a choice between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons.

Once we began boarding the jetty, teams were faced with a decision. Busy Beach was Tekek, which had all the “modern” amenities such as an ATM, money changers, nightlife, and big (duty free) shops. Prices for chalets were higher there, though. Backpacker Beach was Air Batang, also known as ABC. It didn’t have as many amenities as Tekek, which meant a bit of a trek if anyone needed anything, but accommodation was a lot cheaper.

Nobody and I chose Backpacker Beach.

The jetty arrived at ABC shortly before 8pm. Nobody and I found a place for MYR 35 (US$11.45) per night. The rest of the night would be spent looking for a place to grab dinner, then going to sleep.

Route Information

Make your way to Tekek Beach.

The next morning, after breakfast, the team went over the hill (paved with a path and stairs) from ABC to Tekek.

Roadblock

A Roadblock is a task that only one member of the team must perform.

In this Roadblock, that team member must take a 7km hike across the island through the jungle from Tekek to Juara. I decided to do the Roadblock. Nobody would be waiting for me on the other side.

the start of the path to Juara Beach

Things started to go wrong right from the start when the hiking shoes I was wearing went kaput even before I got off the cement trail. I chucked the shoes in the bin and changed into a pair of flip-flops.

The trail wasn’t that difficult. Sure, the terrain was a bit ragged at times, but it was climbing up the paved steps during the hike that was actually more challenging. Climbing over boulders and ducking under low branches was quite fun. The guides tell you to follow the power lines, and that was exactly what I did. The guides also tell you that it takes anywhere between an hour and a half to three hours; I took the maximum amount.

exhaustion during the hike from Tekek to Juara

There were times when I would see others ahead of me, but unfortunately, my pace was just too slow to keep up or overtake anyone. And just before the rugged jungle trail ended and the paved roads began again, my flip-flops went kaput. I tried repairing it, but taping it directly to my foot was more effective.

I finally arrived at Juara with one broken flip-flop. As expected, Nobody was waiting for me.

Pit Stop Information

Make your way to Santai Bistro and Cafe. Warning: The last team to check in here… MAY be eliminated.

Nobody and I wondered where Santai Bistro and Cafe was… for all of ten seconds. Apparently, it was “just there.”

Nobody and I stepped on the mat where Phil greeted us.

“Welcome to Tioman, Malaysia!” a cheery Malaysian guy told us.

“You are Team Number… FIVE!” Phil told us. Nobody and I celebrated, as this meant the team would not be eliminated. Team So Not Lost celebrated by having a delicious meal at the restaurant and a dip in the beach. During the break, the team met up with another team, The Dutch Boys, who arrived shortly after.

camwhoring at Juara, with one of The Dutch Boys doing the same

Juara was gorgeous. It’s quite possibly one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve seen. It’s definitely a lot less crowded than either Tekek or ABC, which made it even more special.

Will Nobody and I survive the next leg? Stay tuned for the next episode!

Currency conversions are current as of 21 September 2012 and are taken from XE.
The Amazing Race photos and logos taken from Wikipedia.

Water Cube – Click to View Hi-Res Image

I love visiting Olympic stadiums. (Or should that be “stadia”?)

inside Bird’s Nest in Beijing, China

My fascination with the Olympics began when I saw the archer light the cauldron during the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games opening ceremonies. Since then, I’ve been following the Games almost religiously. Naturally, my interest in the Olympics is also reflected in my travels. Whenever possible, I try to visit the Olympic stadium of a particular city that hosted the Games. It’s a great piece of history, a reflection of the time when the city hosted the Olympics. Many stadiums also have a museum or gallery which depicts what the Games were like that year.

I have been to six cities which have hosted the Olympics. Unfortunately, I missed out on visiting the stadium in Amsterdam (1928) because of a tight schedule, and the one in Helsinki (1952) as the European Athletics Championships were being held there during my visit. As far as being at a city DURING the Summer Games, the closest I’ve come is the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010. Being at the Olympics is definitely a goal of mine, though, and I hope to fulfill that at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

At least I’ve visited four Olympic stadiums, from Games as far back as 100 years ago, to as recently as the one just four years ago. Here’s what they were like.

Munich (1972)

The first Olympic stadium I visited was in Munich, Germany. Sadly, the 1972 Summer Games are better remembered by the killing of nine athletes, coaches, and officials from Israel. That horrific event is marked by a simple memorial on the Olympic grounds.

I couldn’t really visit the stadium itself, as preparations were being made for Munich’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games (which it ultimately lost to Pyeongchang, South Korea). However, the stadium is located in a well-maintained Olympic Park, whose grounds include the stadium, pool, athlete’s village, and a tower. A climb up the tower provides fantastic views of the city.

Berlin (1936)

This is another historic location. The 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany were held while Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party were in power, years before World War II. It is a clear example of Nazi architecture. In fact, the Olympic stadium had a lot of Nazi swastikas around, but they have since been removed, or (badly) hidden.

The stadium itself is imposing and impressive. There was something eerie about it as my friend and I walked towards it; the gathering storm clouds didn’t help. It must have been intimidating to see for the athletes at that time, and I’m sure that was exactly Hitler’s goal. Inside, it was beautiful. There were pillars listing (West) Germany’s Olympic champions through the years, and all sorts of statues. These days, the Olympiastadion is used by Berlin football team Hertha BSC for their home matches.

Beijing (2008)

Beijing’s Olympic stadium is the newest (apart from the one in London this year), and perhaps it is one of the most iconic. The Bird’s Nest, as the National Stadium is commonly called, is an eye-catching landmark that’s perhaps the most recognizable of the stadiums. The interior is just as beautiful as the exterior. The Olympic Park in Beijing also includes the Water Cube, where Michael Phelps won his historic eight gold medals in swimming.

The Bird’s Nest has numerous artifacts and props used during the memorable opening ceremonies, with information about its relevance to China. Scenes from the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the 2008 Summer Olympic Games play on a screen in the stadium. Unfortunately, Bird’s Nest appears to be infrequently used; when I was there, the only noteworthy thing going on was the ability to rent a Segway for use around the track.

Stockholm (1912)

The Olympic stadium in Stockholm is the most recent one I’ve visited, and it is also the oldest. The capital of Sweden hosted the Olympics a hundred years ago, way back in 1912. Interesting fact about those Games: Apart from the usual sports, the 1912 Olympic Games also featured competitions (and awarded medals) in artistic fields: Literature, sculpture, architecture, painting, and music.

The stadium itself is quite non-descript, possibly the lowest-key of all four stadiums I have visited. The Olympic rings are displayed as discreetly as possible, unlike (for example) the big ones greeting you in Berlin. Still, the stadium itself is quite a beautiful old building built with brick. It is also still in use, and there was in fact some sort of youth or regional athletics event happening when my friends and I visited. Otherwise, it is also currently being used by Stockholm football club Djurgårdens IF for their home games, although they are moving out in 2013.

Olympiapark and Olympiaturm München – Click to View Hi-Res Image

Eastern and Oriental Express – Click to View Hi-Res Image

Bird’s Nest National Stadium – Click to View Hi-Res Image

Sunset in Georgetown – Click to View Hi-Res Image

Break Dancer Ride at Frühlingsfest – Click to View Hi-Res Image

It’s that time of month once again for Travel Massive Singapore, and this month’s event is a special event. Travel Massive Singapore will be a part of Social Media Week, a global event that “offer[s] a series of interconnected activities and conversations around the world on emerging trends in social and mobile media across all major industries.”

For the uninitiated, “Travel Massive is a global initiative to connect people in the travel industry locally, bringing together travel brands, startups, bloggers and socially engaged travelers.” Previous editions of Travel Massive Singapore have attracted travel writers and bloggers, photographers, agents, businesspeople, and startups (such as Flocations and RoadHop).

This month’s Travel Massive Singapore will be on 13 February 2012, 7-10pm, at RedDot BrewHouse Boat Quay, located at 34 Boat Quay (closest metro station is Raffles Place MRT). If you’re coming, or at least interested in coming, then register your attendance for the event. On the day itself, look for the guy in the hat and say hi!

For a quick look at what happens at Travel Massive, take a look at the short video I took at last month’s edition: