The Amazing Race 4, Episode 8: You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It

Previously on The Amazing Race, six teams continued their quest to race around the world to win a cool million dollars. A 24-hour train ride proved to be a daunting task for some teams, while others seemed to enjoy themselves. While Tian & Jaree continued to try and work together, it actually played against them and caused them to be eliminated. Well, it wasn’t exactly the actual cause, but they seemed to finish better when they fought! Anyway, five teams remain. Let’s take a look at who we are dealing with this week, and the order they will leave the pit stop:

Dave & Jeff (the Goats) – Best friends/Physical threats
Jon & Al (the Clowns) – Circus clowns/Best friends/Entertainment
Kelly & Jon – Engaged couple/My pick to win/Sentimental favorites
Millie & Chuck (Chillie) – Dating 12 years/Virgins/Not right for one another
Reichen & Chip – Married gay couple/Borderline sentimental favorites

Wow, it’s weird looking at the list of the remaining teams and seeing how short it is. We begin in Alleppey, a rural town in southern India. This water town is the seventh pit stop in a race around the world. At the pit stop, teams can rest up and mingle for 12 hours with the other teams. All the teams are seen around a table chatting away. Reichen says that he left the Air Force because he is gay. He tells the camera it’s his one year anniversary with Chip. They both tell the other teams that they are gay (even though the eliminated teams already knew anyway, and it’s therefore rather likely that everybody else does too.) Reichen says that Chip helped him during a very difficult time in his life, and they fell in love. They got married in California and break it to everyone that it’s their one-year anniversary. Chip is glad that Reichen is comfortable enough to talk about it. The other teams are happy Reichen & Chip opened up. The Clowns are happy that everyone is all together and talking. Chillie also break the news that they are dating for 12 years and are still virgins. Jon says he can’t believe it and he reveals that Kelly and he got engaged right before the race began, and have been having sex since the first week they have known one another. I have to give a laugh. I think deep down I do respect Chillie for staying true to their morals, but Jon & Kelly are just too much sometimes. Dave says in interview that sex has nothing to do with this race and that all the teams that are left are very competitive.

The Goats are the first team to leave the pit stop. It’s 4:02 a.m. Their clue tells them to fly to the city of Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia. Their clue will be found in a small town there. They jump in a cab and are off! The Clowns are right behind them, leaving at 4:06 a.m. They both say there are times to be silly and there are times to be serious and focus on the race. This is one of those times. They catch a cab and head to the airport. Kelly & Jon leave at 4:16 a.m. and move so fast that they actually pass the Clowns on the way to the airport. Chillie also leave at 4:16 a.m. and quickly catch a cab. Reichen & Chip are not shown leaving, but grabbing a cab and heading for the airport. They must have been that close to Chillie.

At the airport, the Goats are told by someone that their best bet is to go through Mumbai. The find all the counters closed, and not to open for about another two hours. Reichen & Chip find an office that is open in the International terminal. Chillie find it as well. Chip is getting information on flights while Millie is trying to eavesdrop. Reichen goes to close the door so Millie can’t hear and Millie puts her foot in the way. Chip makes it quite clear that he’s not going to do any talking until the door is shut. Finally he closes it and they get down to business. Chillie decide to hang around and wait to see what happens.

At 6:30 a.m. the Domestic terminal opens their offices and the Goats, Clowns, and Kelly & Jon all start to book their tickets. Indian citizens are pushing ahead of Jon & Kelly and they aren’t happy. Actually, Jon is quite pissed. He wedges his way in there though. At the International terminal, Reichen & Chip are still trying to book something faster. Chillie are waiting on them to see where they go. Reichen & Chip are told by the agent to go to the Domestic terminal because that is their best shot. Chillie then realize they need to do the same and just book a flight to Mumbai. The Goats and Kelly & Jon get on a flight to Mumbai with the Clowns. Chillie get advice from the Clowns to book the same flight. Reichen & Chip don’t want to fly that way. Millie says she is making the bulk of the decisions and when she is wrong, Chuck gets frustrated. Chuck says they trust the clowns though, and will head to Mumbai.

Reichen & Chip find a travel agent that says he may be able to find them a faster flight if they follow him to his office – an hour away. If it works, they will be ahead, if not, they may be eliminated. The first flight, Cochin to Mumbai, leaves at 8:30 a.m. All the teams are on this flight except Reichen & Chip, who are on their way to the travel agent’s office. They are told not to worry, but it looks to me like they are going to be stuck there. They are waiting at this travel agent’s office hoping that someone will get there to open it up (apparently the guy they came with doesn’t have a key). He does finally get there and tells them the flight they want is already full. Over at Mumbai International Airport, all the other teams have arrived. They split up and look for tickets. Chillie and Kelly & Jon find them first. They are both on their way to Singapore. The Clowns find a flight to Kuala Lumpur and the Goats take another flight to Singapore. Reichen & Chip are going straight to Singapore from Cochin. They look really stressed out. They acquire tickets to Kuala Lumpur and are on their way.

In Singapore, Kelly & Jon and Chillie arrive. While Kelly & Jon decide to sleep eight hours in the airport and wait for their next flight, Chillie do the smart thing and start making calls to catch something earlier. They find another flight and leave Kelly & Jon sleeping on the floor. I have to admit, Chillie was definitely thinking smart by looking for something sooner. I yelled at Kelly & Jon to wake up, but they couldn’t hear me through the TV. Damn. Chillie are off to Kuala Lumpur. The Goats get to Singapore airport and are stuck with Kelly & Jon. In Kuala Lumpur, Chillie arrive and hurry to make their connection. Millie is hurrying a little more than Chuck. She says they are opposites and Chuck says he’s not sure about marriage. In interview, Millie says she wants Chuck to be happy, and while tearing up, says she isn’t sure if he will be happy with her. I finally put this all together, and you know what, I like Millie. I’m blaming Chuck for this relationship going nowhere. She wants it to, but apparently Chuck is scared of everything, including commitment. I retract all my mean statements to Millie, and I’m sorry. Back to the race.

The Clowns, Chillie and guess what, Reichen & Chip, all end up on the same flight to Kota Kinabalu. Reichen & Chip are glad to see they caught up. In Singapore, the Goats and Kelly & Jon board their flight to Kota Kinabalu. The first flight there is the one that left Kuala Lumpur. The Clowns, Chillie, and Reichen & Chip all grab cabs and head to the Monsopiad Cultural Village. The Clowns get there first, followed closely by Chillie. Chillie just run right out and pass the Clowns, who can’t get their cabbie to open the trunk. Reichen & Chip’s cab goes right past the entrance and has to go out of the way because of turning issues.