Surviving Thailand, Episode 10: A Penny Saved Would Be Far Too Dangerous

It's Day 28 on Koh Tarutao, and Ted is recovering from having received three votes at the previous night's Tribal Council. He wonders why he was targeted and Jake helpfully supplies him with the answer - your group said to target you or Jan. Ted wonders who it was that actually said this. Ah, Jake won't divulge that particular information. Well, Ted walks away certain in his knowledge that nobody from the old Chuay Gahn (CG) team said that - he thinks the Sook Jai (SJ) folks were just intimidated by him, felt he was a threat, or plain didn't like him. But lying is the way the game is played and he has no problem with Jake doing it. Of course, Jake was actually telling the truth, but Ted doesn't know that.

Ted wanders over to Clay and Brian to tell them about what Jake said and how he doesn't believe it. They are shocked -- shocked -- that Jake would say such a thing. Privately, Clay says they scared ol' Ted and he didn't like it - but he knows Ted won't believe Jake. To his face, Brian says he knows the girls didn't say such a thing, and he and Clay sure didn't! He says Jake is trying to play both sides because he is insecure.

Brian segues into a discussion about food - or the lack thereof. Clay notes that they haven't caught a crab in 10 days because the tide has been so high. Jan suggests to Helen that they can eat snails, but Helen says no way. So instead, Clay notes that they are eating the chicken feed (since there are no more chickens) and it would be nice to have a big food prize.

Gosh, I wonder where that statement might be leading us!

Ah, yes, to the reward challenge! Host Jeff Probst explains that it is a four-stage elimination obstacle course. The first stage is to pair up for a race across six towers using two planks to get across. Since there are seven players, that means one is out from the start. The first two pairs to make it over this part move on; the other pair is out. Next is a belly crawl under a stretch of bamboo. The first three move on. Then there is a wall they have to get over - but they must use the help of another player. The first two move on. Finally, they have to walk across a bamboo pole course. First one wins the challenge and the prize, which is a boat to a helicopter to the mainland of Thailand, where they go on an elephant trek through the countryside. Then they get a Thai lunch - all paid for by Visa.

And they're off! Well, everybody but Jake, who suddenly finds himself without a partner. What happened to Penny? Heh, well, don't worry - this is just the start of that story. Helen and Jan pair up, Brian and Clay, and Ted and Penny. Clay and Brian easily make it across first. Jan falls off a tower and we get a great shot of Probst anticipating great pain for her. But she appears okay. Still, they have to go back to the start. Penny and Ted come in second and move on.

So Penny, Ted, Brian, and Clay compete (as individuals) in the belly crawl. Penny falls behind quickly and never catches up, so the three golfers from CG move ahead. Now comes the big decision - which of them helps the other(s)? Both Ted and Brian help push up Clay. Then Clay tries to pull both of them up. But there is no way he can get Ted up, so he pulls up Brian instead. Ted honorably bows out and even helps push Brian up.

So that leaves the original team of Clay and Brian to run on the bamboo. Clay falls down about midway into it and has to go to the beginning. Brian gets near the end but seems almost frozen in one spot as he is afraid he will fall. But he overcomes it before Clay can catch up and so now has won both reward challenges.

Probst immediately lets him know that there is room for a guest on this trip, and Brian picks Clay without hesitation, noting that he couldn't have won without Clay's help. The trip begins the following morning.

Whoosh! It's the following morning. Ted is discussing how information is critical in this game and how you have to observe what is going on around you. He says losing the challenge disappointed him initially, but then he was shocked that Brian picked Clay to go with him. He knew there was a bond there, but apparently it's stronger than he thought. Just to make sure, he rechecks his alliance with Brian, who says all is still well. Privately, though, Brian says his agreement with Ted is one statement and his agreement with Clay is another. He will see which one works the best down the road as part of his strategy.

So off Brian and Clay go. Brian says it will be a good time to relax, clear their heads, and be away from everyone. It's also his first time in a helicopter, and he enjoys it. Not surprisingly, it's his first time on an elephant as well, and he is surprised that when they arrive, they are just shown to their two seats perched high atop the animal (after getting some juice, of course) without being given any safety instructions. What, he expected a stewardess?

The elephant is led along a path, though every time the guy leading it wanders away, Brian panics. He says the experience was kind of spooky and uncomfortable. Clay notes that Brian was terrified and had a death grip on the seat the entire time, ready to jump at a moment's notice. But it's a gorgeous countryside.