The Amazing Race Asia 1

Development and filming

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. AXN Asia, which airs the original American series, had received many written requests for an Asian production from local viewers.

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."

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

The cast consisted of a few local media representatives or their relatives. Zabrina 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 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. Prashant 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.

Melody Chen later appeared in The Amazing Race 25 as a Pit Stop greeter in Singapore's Leg 9.

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. 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 sequestered location for eliminated teams.

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. An additional episode, subtitled Memories was an after-race interview special that aired one week after the season finale.

Results

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

Episode title quotes

Episode titles are often taken from quotes made by the racers.

1. I Don't Think I Can Do This – Sahran
2. They're Speedy, They're Fast And They're First – Howard
3. Give Me The Strength, Give Me The Strength – Howard
4. Just Shut Up And Do It – Mardy
5. It's Blowing Like Your Mum's Pants On A Windy Day – Howard
6. What Have You Been Eating! – Zabrina
7. Don't Stand There Doing Nothing! – Andy
8. My Legs Are Shaking Like Jelly – Andrew
9. This Is Totally, Totally Out Of This World! – Marsio
10. War Has Begun! – Andy
11. This Is Going To Be Embarrassing! – Zabrina
12. Oh My Goodness, I Have To Eat A Brain! – Syeon
13. 24 Days, 15 Cities, 39,000 Kilometres And It Comes Down To This – Allan Wu

Prizes

Individual prizes were awarded to the first team to complete a leg.

Leg 1 (Malaysia)

Airdate: 9 November 2006

The Detour for this Leg was Paint or Pot, which describes two craft techniques. In Paint, members of each team would work together to make a batik painting based on the design shown to them. In Pot, one team member would make a pot from clay using a pottery wheel while the other member controlled the wheel's spin. In both cases, teams would receive the next clue if the person in charge of the Detour option selected was satisfied with the result.

Leg 2 (Malaysia → Indonesia)

Airdate: 16 November 2006

The first Roadblock in the race was that a team member must retrieve the clue in a box located inside a snake pit containing dangerous species second to anaconda in size, within 2 minutes. The teams received a Fast Forward clue after the completion of the Roadblock. In this Leg's Fast Forward, teams must search among students at the school's courtyard listening to a Sony Walkman MP3 player that plays the "Fast Forward Award" message. In this Leg's Detour teams must choose between Push or Sell. Both Detours were located at Panglima Polim Street. In Push, teams had to push their bakso carts 500 metres (0.31 mi) along a marked route, without spilling any soy sauce, while singing a traditional child song, "Abang Tukang Bakso." In Sell, teams had to sell (or eat) 15 bowls of bakso, each with a minimum selling price of Rp 2,000 to get their next clue.

Leg 3 (Indonesia)

Airdate: 23 November 2006

This Leg's Roadblock required a team member to dig in a marked area of sand on the beach for a small wooden surfboard token hidden up to 40 cm beneath the sand. In this Leg's Detour was Wet or Dry. In Wet, teams had to traverse down 500 steps to the Ayung River, ride through the white water rapids and complete a two-mile course on the water. In Dry, teams had to ride on an elephant and go through a course after which they will be given the next clue.

Leg 4 (Indonesia → Australia)

Airdate: 30 November 2006

In this Leg's Detour, teams had to choose between Elevation and Crustacean. In Elevation, teams climbed up a large number of steps to get to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, where they received their next clue. In Crustacean, teams made their way on foot to Circular Quay, where they searched for the seafood restaurant Doyle's at the Quay. Once there, they shelled 14 kilograms of cold prawns. They had to ensure that the tail, the head and the back were properly removed. Once the restaurant chef/waiter gave his approval, they received their next clue, on a silver platter. In this Leg's Roadblock, one team member had to dive into the Aquarium in Oceanworld Manly, where they had to swim with sharks, stingrays, turtles, fishes, etc. Once inside, they had to look for their clue underwater and swim to it in order to retrieve it.

Leg 5 (Australia → New Zealand)

Airdate: 7 December 2006

In this Leg's Detour, teams have to choose between Rugby or Rigging. In Rugby, teams have to take a taxi to Victoria Park. Once there, they will have put on rugby jerseys and kick rugby balls to score 3 goals. The goals would only be counted if the rugby ball is kicked into the enclosed posts and is 22 metres and above. In Rigging, teams would have to travel to Westhaven Marina and find the yachts. Once there, the instructor will give the teams instructions on how to use ropes and knots to get the sail up. Once everything is done correctly and the instructor is happy, teams will receive their next clue. In this Roadblock, that person has to jump 192 metres off the Sky Jump while their teammate, who is below, uses a Sony Ericsson Cybershot camera to take a picture of them doing this task.

Leg 6 (New Zealand)

Airdate: 14 December 2006

In this Detour, teams can choose between Ledge or Luge. In Ledge, each team member will take turns performing the ledge swing, which hurls them 400m above Queenstown. In Luge, each team member must complete an 830m circuit on a luge 4 times before getting their next clue. In this Leg's Roadblock one team member will have to bungee jump 134 metres (440 ft) over Nevis Valley, reputedly the world’s wildest bungee jump. They only have 2 minutes after they step on the platform to do so, or forfeit their turn.

Leg 7 (New Zealand → Singapore → Thailand)

Airdate: 21 December 2006

In this Roadblock, one member of each team has to climb to the top of the temple and then search through 560 golden bells for 100 clue capsules containing silver slips of paper. Out of the 100 silver slips of paper, only 6 would contain the correct slip of paper. They would have to show it to a temple worker, who will give them the teams their next clue if it is indeed the correct clue. In this Leg's Detour, teams had to choose between Bacon or Eggs. In Bacon, teams would have to find marked Tuk-Tuks on Larn Luang Road and then direct their Tuk-Tuk drivers to drive them to Sahachat Memorial, which is a Memorial for People Born in the Year of Pig (called Pig Monument by the racers). Teams are allowed to seek directions from locals, but must not get assistance from the driver. In Eggs, teams would have to travel to Pak Khlong Talat and find an egg stall and using a trolley, deliver 26 trays of eggs to a nearby egg market at Asadang Road. However, if any eggs are delivered broken, the stall owner would instruct the teams to re-deliver that number of unbroken eggs.

Leg 8 (Thailand)

Airdate: 28 December 2006

The Fast Forward in this Leg involved teams having to find a kayak on Pranang Bay and then using it to look for a Fast Forward clue in one of the many hidden caves near the area. In this Leg's Detour, teams had to choose between Smash or Grab. In Smash, teams would have to smash 75 coconuts with a hammer to find one with red ink inside it. In Grab, teams would have to snorkel and swim around 100 buoys which contain 100 clues, only ten of which are the correct clue. In this Leg's Roadblock, one team member will have to climb up the face of Railay East 123 Wall in order to retrieve the next clue.

Starting at Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, teams will take a long-tail boat to their next destinations for the rest of the Leg.

Leg 9 (Thailand → India)

Airdate: 4 January 2007

Airdate: 11 January 2007

The Roadblock of the first half of the Leg was to have one team member polish 7 bystanders' shoes and charge at least ₹5 for their service. Once they are done, the professional would hand them their next clue. The Detour in the first half of the Leg was to choose between Carry or Count. In Carry, teams would have to deliver 80 litres of milk by carrying the jugs on their heads and pour them into a metal bucket a distance away. Once all the milk have been delivered, teams would receive their next clue. In Count, teams would have to go to a market and then count the number of betel nuts in a basket. Teams can only guess once per time they are seen counting the entire basket of nuts.

The Detour of the second half of the Leg was Deliver or Donkey. In Deliver, teams would have to carry sacks of spices and deliver them to a spice shop which they only have a picture for reference. In Donkey, teams would have to transport onions using a donkey and walk it to the onion store before the vendor will hand teams their next clue. In the Roadblock for the second half of the Leg, one team member from each team had to carry pails of cow manure and then use it to make dung cakes by adding water and sticking them onto the wall. If they drop, teams would have to re-do that one.

Leg 10 (India → United Arab Emirates)

Airdate: 18 January 2007

The Roadblock required one team member to complete a 9-hole golf course using only a putter and a club. A lost ball or a broken club requires the player to return to the first tee for a replacement. In the detour, teams had to choose between Hack or Hike. In Hack, teams had to chisel their way through a 150 kg block of ice to release their next clue, using only a chisel and a hammer. In Hike, teams had to climb the steepest slope in Ski Dubai while carrying 25 kg worth of skiing equipment. Their next clue would be collected at the top of the slope.

Leg 11 (United Arab Emirates)

Airdate: 25 January 2007

Teams had to choose between Ride or Seek in this Leg's detour. In Ride, the Team members had to sit on a camel and guide it through a marked course and collect five flags while using only a camel stick. In Seek, Teams must find a souvenir in a marked plot of sand, using a metal detector. The roadblock called for one team member to eat an Arabian specialty dish, which consisted of brains and bread.

Leg 12 (United Arab Emirates → Malaysia)

Airdate: 1 February 2007

Teams had to choose between Brain or Brawn in this Leg's detour. In Brain, teams had to assemble a bench using only a Sony Cybershot picture as reference. In Brawn, teams had to go to a wet market and use traditional methods to carry 30 kg of fruits a certain distance. The roadblock required one team member to complete a rope-based obstacle course.