The Amazing Race 15, Episode 4: “Do You Know What a Dubai Snowman Looks Like?”

Previously on This Isn’t What You Want to Have in Common With Dallas & Toni, Zev & Justin got ahead of everyone in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, thanks to a helpful cab driver. Even though they got to the Pit Stop first, they’d lost Zev’s passport and weren’t allowed to continue unless they found it. They didn’t, so they’re out. Oh, and there were eight other teams who did stuff and are still in the race.

Sam & Dan are now in first place and leaving at 12:25 p.m. They’re told to fly to the Persian Gulf and find the world’s tallest building. It’s the Burj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. At the building, teams will sign up for groups to take an elevator to the top of the building. Let me guess – bungee-jumping task? The brothers want to take advantage of their newfound luck to finish the leg first.

They’d better hurry, because they’re only two minutes ahead of Nate & Herb. Nate says he’s tough because he’s already survived Hurricane Katrina. Ericka & Brian leave next, him saying that this is “a big game of karma.” Ericka knows exactly where the world’s tallest building is. Once Herb & Nate figure it out, they look for info at a travel agency.

Matt & Gary leave, not happy about playing follow the leader. They hope to get ahead and break away from the pack. Cheyne & Meghan are only 12 minutes behind Sam & Dan, so last week’s leg was tight. The couple wants to take any chance they need to get ahead. At the airport, Sam & Dan ask for tickets to the Persian Gulf. Yeah, you’re going to have to be more specific. Ericka & Brian join them and clarify their destination.

Lance & Keri depart, with her saying nothing can tear them apart. Well, “apahhht.” He adds that they have nonrefundable deposits on their wedding. Mika & Canaan leave, and she tells him not to tell her what to do. Maria & Tiffany leave last, 30 minutes after Sam & Dan, considering Justin & Zev’s departure an early Christmas gift. Maria says that it’s sad that they went out the way they did, but the rules are the rules.

Everyone’s converging on the airport while Lance & Keri have computer trouble. She blames the computer, he blames the website. I’m sure there’s a way they’re both wrong. Everyone else is at the airport, getting tickets on the same flight to Dubai. Lance & Keri take a cab with Hello Kitty stickers on the back window. Awesome. They get on the same flight as everyone else, so what was the point of the last five minutes?

The teams arrive in Dubai at night and grab cabs to the Burj Dubai. A few people comment on the heat. Matt & Gary comment on the wealth of the country; there doesn’t seem to be a recession. At the building, Maria & Tiffany, Brian & Ericka, and Sam & Dan are the first three teams to sign up for their elevator ride. Canaan tries to ask someone how to get to a fountain. Apparently their driver is clueless. Cheyne & Meghan are happy to be the last team on the first elevator. Mika & Canaan, Lance & Keri, Herb & Nate, and Matt & Gary are on the second elevator, and Gary notes that they don’t know if the 15-minute difference between the groups will make a difference.

The next morning, Lance & Keri take in the height of the building as the first four teams ride to the top. Mika’s nervous and tells us she’s not a fan of heights. Neither am I, but I didn’t go on the race knowing there could be a height-related task. This happens every freaking season!

Maria & Tiffany, Meghan & Cheyne, Sam & Dan, and Ericka & Brian get the clues at the top of the building. They’re to take cars to a desert conservation reserve, where they’ll next take a 4x4 shuttle. There’s also a Fast Forward available. To take that, one team goes to an autodrome and one member drives a lap in 45 seconds or less. Meghan & Cheyne are leaning towards this. As the four teams go back down, they try to psych out the others. Cheyne & Meghan claim the Fast Forward and it doesn’t look like anyone else wants to risk it, including anyone from the second group. Mika’s happy not to have to jump off the roof.

So now everyone except Meghan & Cheyne is off to the desert. Um, except Keri & Lance, who are lost in the parking garage and can’t find the parked cars. I don’t get how they’re still in the race. How do they get to the destinations on time when they can’t even find transportation to the destinations? Shouldn’t they be the team to lose their passports?

Mika decides to keep an eye on Herb & Nate, who are behind her and Canaan. The guys take a turn, so one team is going the right way and one is going the wrong way, we can assume. Lance & Keri get directions and take some time to bicker.

Meghan & Cheyne reach the autodrome, where Cheyne suits up for the drive. He tells us that he loves to just jump in and do things, while Meghan doesn’t like having control over situations. Yeah, this is definitely the right show for her to be on.