The Amazing Race Asia 5

Development and filming

On 20 May 2016, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks Asia announced that The Amazing Race Asia will return for its fifth season after a six-year long hiatus and will be broadcast by AXN Asia.

Indonesian Deputy Minister of Tourism Sapta Nirwandar sent the teams off at the Starting Line. This is the first time in any edition worldwide that the Race was not started by the host.

Zabrina Fernandez & Joe Jer Tee, the winners of the first season, were the Pit Stop greeters on Leg 3 in their home country of Malaysia.

This season introduce a new twist: The 'Speed Bump'. Similar to the American version, the team that placed last in the non-elimination leg will have to perform a 'Speed Bump' somewhere in the next leg before they can continue with the race.

It was also the first time in The Amazing Race Asia that a U-Turn board was placed at the Detour decision point (in Leg 9), rather than after the Detour itself (the first time this twist was introduced in all franchises was in the tenth leg of the 27th American version). Leg 9 is also the first leg in all franchises of The Amazing Race where both Yield and U-Turn were present in the same leg.

Casting

Casting began on 23 May 2016 and applications were closed on 30 June 2016 (18 days extended from the original deadline of 12 June 2016).

Continuing the casting trend of the Asian franchise, the cast once again consisted of numerous local celebrities or their relatives.

This is the first season not to feature a team from Hong Kong, but also the first with a Vietnamese team.

Marketing

Wonderful Indonesia, Grab, Garuda Indonesia along with Great Eastern Life are sponsors of the race. It also the first season that is not sponsored by Sony. The Minister of Tourism of Indonesia, Arief Yahya, revealed the race's destinations beginning in Jakarta and traveling to local Indonesian destinations along with Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, and Manila before finishing in Bali. There was a planned visit in Taipei, Taiwan but was scrapped within a last minute.

Results

The list of teams with their relationships at the time of filming were announced on 28 July 2016 from the AXN website.

A red team placement indicates that the team was eliminated.

A green ƒ indicates that the team won a Fast Forward clue. If placed next to a leg number, this indicates that the Fast Forward was available for that leg but not used.

An underlined blue team's placement indicates that the team came in last on a non-elimination leg and had to perform a Speed Bump task in the following leg.

A brown ⊃ means the team chose to use a U-Turn; ⊂ indicates the team who received it; ⊂⊃ around a leg number indicates a leg where the U-Turn was available but not used.

A yellow > indicates that the team chose to use the Yield; < indicates the team who received it; <> around the leg number indicates that the Yield for that leg was available but not used.

Prizes

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

Leg 1 – Tickets to Bali, courtesy of Garuda Indonesia.

Leg 5 – Tickets to anywhere, courtesy of Garuda Indonesia.

Leg 7 – Access to Premium Lounge, courtesy of Garuda Indonesia

Leg 10 – US$100,000

Episode list quotes

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

1. "The Race is On!" – Allan Wu
2. "From Zero to Hero" – Chloe
3. "The Value of Insurance" – Clue for the Roadblock task
4. "The Pain Does Not Exist" – Maggie
5. "Taste Like Chicken" – Rona
6. "Made With Love" – Producer Named
7. "By Air, Land and Sea" – Producer Named
8. "Should Have Turned Left" – JK
9. "No More Mr. Nice Guy!" – Eric
10. "One Hell of a Race Day" – Maggie

Leg 1 (Jakarta → West Java)

Airdate: 13 October 2016

Central Jakarta, Jakarta , Indonesia (National Monument) (Starting Line)

Central Jakarta (Sapta Pesona Building) (Elimination Point)

Old Town, North Jakarta (Museum Bahari – Syahbandar Tower (Indonesian))

Old Town (Fatahillah Square or Port of Sunda Kelapa)

Bogor, West Java (Kebun Raya Bogor)

Bogor (Kebun Raya Bogor – Taman Teijsmann)

Bogor (Kebun Raya Bogor – Lotus Pond)

The first Detour of the Race was a choice between Fix and Freight. In Fix, teams traveled to Fatahillah Square. There, they had to fix and assemble an Onthel bicycle's tyre according to the example. Once the judge were satisfied, they would receive their next clue. In Freight, teams headed to the Port of Sunda Kelapa. They would fill a sack with sand in a traditional Indonesian pinisi and carry it to fill four barrels on the dock. Once all of the barrels were full, teams would receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

At the Starting Line on Sapta Pesona Building, teams had to search through over 1,000 compasses for one of 10 compasses that head 210 degrees southwest and present it to Allan and Tara to receive their next clue. The last team without the correct compass was eliminated.

Upon arriving at Kebun Raya Bogor, teams had to search for a male Ondel-ondel dancer holding their next clue.

At Kebun Raya Bogor, teams would pair the male Ondel-ondel dancer which they got their previous clue from, to Taman Teijsmann to search for its female counterpart according to the pattern of the scarfs that the dancers wore. Once the dancers were correctly paired, the puppet master would give them their next clue. Teams would then bring the dancers to the Pit Stop at Lotus Pond.

Leg 2 (West Java → Jakarta → West Java)

Airdate: 20 October 2016

Central Jakarta, Jakarta (Pecenongan Street)

East Jakarta (Taman Mini Indonesia Indah)

West Bandung, West Java (Cikole National Park (Indonesian))

Subang (Ciater (Indonesian) – Walini Tea Plantation)

During the Pit Stop, teams were moved to Pecenongan Street in Jakarta to begin this leg of the Race. The Detour was a choice between Basket Bikes and Bandung Biathlon. In Basket Bikes, teams must ride downhill along a 5 km bicycle trail and deliver 2 dozen sell-able eggs in their baskets to the egg merchant. Only if all their eggs were in perfect condition would they get their next clue. However if any of the eggs broke along the way, teams would have to start the entire task over again. In Bandung Biathlon, teams must hit a set of targets with traditional bamboo guns while trekking uphill in a pair of traditional tandem land skis, known as bakiak (Indonesian). When they hit all the targets, they would get their next clue.

For the first Roadblock of the Race, one team member had to comb a large section of a tea plantation to find the Hero Wayang Golek (Indonesian), a traditional Indonesian puppet figurine. Once they found the puppet, they could exchange the puppet with their next clue.

Additional tasks

In Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, teams had to ride on Grab bikes around the park to spot for seven marked letters (B, A, N, D, U, N, G). Once done, they had to make their way to the Tugu Api Pancasila monument and write down on a provided chalkboard the word Bandung, which spelled out their next destination, to receive their next clue.

Leg 3 (West Java → Malaysia)

Airdate: 27 October 2016

Bandung (Merdeka Street)

Tangerang, Banten (Soekarno–Hatta International Airport) to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur International Airport)

Kuala Lumpur (Great Eastern Tower)

Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur Sentral railway station) to Butterworth, Penang (Butterworth railway station)

George Town (Waterfall Hill Temple)

George Town (Chew Clan Jetty)

George Town (Armenian Street or Han Jiang Ancestral Temple)

George Town (Yeo Clan Jetty – Hean Boo Thean Temple)

During the Pit Stop, teams were moved to Merdeka Street in Downtown Bandung to begin this leg of the Race. In this Leg's Roadblock, one team member had to rappel down the 300 foot (91 m) building of Great Eastern Tower and grab the flag attached on the building in exchange of their next clue. If the teams missed the flag or dropped it, they must attempt the challenge again.

For the Detour, teams chose between Street Art and Street Play. In Street Art, teams must ride a traditional trishaw around the neighborhood of Armenian Street and find five Penang street arts in the neighborhood according to the pictures given. Then, they needed to convince the locals to take their picture at each of the murals. Each photo taken must satisfy a number of specific poses and tourist participation. Once they got five photographs at each of the murals, they would receive their next clue. In Street Play, teams traveled to Han Jiang Ancestral Temple. Then, they must learn to perform a two-minute Chinese opera fight routine before they performed it in front of the judge with a musical accompaniment. If the judge was satisfied with their performance, they would receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

At the start of the leg, teams headed to Garuda Indonesia head office at Senayan City in Jakarta, Indonesia to purchase airline tickets to Kuala Lumpur.

At Waterfall Hill Temple, teams had to climb 500 steps to the summit of the temple to receive their next clue from the holy man.

After getting their clue at the temple, teams had to search for a clue box among the four Chinese Clan Jetties located in Penang. They would discover that the clue box was located at the Chew Clan Jetty.

Leg 4 (Malaysia → Thailand)

Airdate: 3 November 2016

George Town (Penang International Airport) to Phuket, Thailand (Phuket International Airport)

Phang Nga (Thai Chang – Phung Chang Cave)

Phang Nga (Thung Kha Ngok – Phang Nga Elephant Park)

Phuket (Sarasin Bridge)

Phuket (Wat Tha Chat Chai)

Phuket (Wat Mai Khao)

Phuket (Lay Pang Beach)

In this Speed Bump, Rach & Vicky had to enter the Phung Chang Cave, where they must find an elephant statuette hidden inside the cave and return it before they could continue racing.

The leg's Detour was a choice between Muay Thai or Un-Tie. Both Detour choices had teams traveled to Wat Tha Chat Chai, overlooking the Sarasin Bridge. In Muay Thai, teams must learn a traditional Wai Kru ritual before performing it to the Muay Thai master. If the master was satisfied, they would receive their next clue. In Un-Tie, teams must first untie the knots on a rope. Then, by using a pontoon raft, teams had to cross the water from the shoreline to the floating village nearby by pulling themselves along an aerial rope course in an attempt to retrieve their clue. Once they had successfully retrieved the clue, they could return again to the shoreline.

The leg's Roadblock required one team member to remain still for 15 minutes while balancing a stack of coins on their backhands and head. If they could balance the coins until the time finished, they would receive their next clue; otherwise they must start the task again.

Additional tasks

At Phang Nga Elephant Park, teams must collect pineapple leaves to feed the elephants. Once they had gathered enough pineapple leaves, they must go through a marked path and bring an elephant from the river by riding on the elephant to the feeding area. Once they had fed the elephants, they would receive their next clue.

Upon arriving at Lay Pang Beach, teams would find their next clue at the coconut stand. After getting their clue at the coconut stand, teams were instructed to bring two coconuts down the beach to the nearby Pit Stop.

Leg 5 (Thailand → Vietnam)

Airdate: 10 November 2016

Phuket (Sirinat National Park – Nai Yang Beach Resort)

Phuket (Phuket International Airport) to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Tan Son Nhat International Airport)

Ho Chi Minh City (Hồ Câu Tôm Giải Trí Thanh Đa)

Ho Chi Minh City (Khu du lịch Bình Quới 1)

Ho Chi Minh City (Đường Nguyễn Văn Cừ (Vietnamese) – Photocopy Ngọc Yến)

Ho Chi Minh City (Công Viên Tao Đàn Park or Hồ Thị Kỷ Flower Market) (Vietnamese)

Ho Chi Minh City (Quán Bụi Restaurant)

Ho Chi Minh City (Công viên Quách Thị Trang (Vietnamese) overlooking Chợ Bến Thành)

During the Pit Stop, all teams were moved to Nai Yang Beach Resort to begin this leg of the race. The Fast Forward which told the teams to go to Khu du lịch Bình Quới 1 in Bình Thạnh District and eat rice inside some clay pots in an attempt to find a Vietnamese gold coin in one of the rice. For every clay pot they selected, they must break the clay pot. Once they had found the gold coin, they would receive the Fast Forward clue.

The Detour was a choice between Badminton Bash and Flower Power. In Badminton Bash, teams must travel to Công Viên Tao Đàn Park, where they would have to play badminton. If they could score 10 points before their opponent scored 21 points, they would receive their next clue. In Flower Power, teams headed to Hồ Thị Kỷ Flower Market. Then, they must carry two empty baskets and find some flower stalls inside the flower market to gather some flowers. After they gathered all the flowers, they had to deliver the flowers to the flower retailer, H2 Flower Shop to receive their next clue.

The Roadblock required one team member to eat five courses of Vietnamese exotic delicacies; which were rats, bats, centipedes, scorpions and lizards. Once they had completely eaten all the foods, they would receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

At Hồ Câu Tôm Giải Trí Thanh Đa, teams had to catch 4 prawns from the prawns’ pool inside the restaurant to receive their next clue.

Upon arriving at Đường Nguyễn Văn Cừ, teams must search for Mr. Ngọc at the Photocopy Ngọc Yến, where he would photocopy and stamp their next clue.

Leg 6 (Vietnam → Philippines)

Airdate: 17 November 2016

Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat International Airport) to Manila, Philippines (Ninoy Aquino International Airport)

Parañaque and Pasay (Ninoy Aquino International Airport – Grab Taxi Station)

Manila (Quiapo Market)

Pasay (Red Cross Pasay Chapter)

Pasay (Partas Bus Terminal) to Vigan, Ilocos Sur (Partas Bus Terminal)

Santa (Ilocos Sur Adventure Zone) (Overnight Rest)

Vigan (Calle Crisologo – M.A. Parel Antique Shop)

Vigan (Old Town Vigan and Plaza Burgos)

Vigan (Plaza Salcedo)

Bantay (Bantay Bell Tower)

In this Roadblock, one team member had to take a face-first zipline across the Abra River to hit a floating target underneath. Once they successfully hit the target, they would receive their next clue.

The Detour was a choice between Longganisa Kalesa and Carabao Karaoke. In Longganisa Kalesa, teams must stuff 15 traditional sausages, known as longganisa, while riding a kalesa, a traditional Filipino horse-drawn calash, and buggy through the ancient cobblestone streets towards Plaza Burgos. Once all the sausages have been properly made and met the satisfaction of the judges, they would receive their next clue. In Carabao Karaoke, teams must practice the Ilocano version of the children's song "Six Little Ducks" while traveling on a carabao cart until they reach Plaza Burgos. At the plaza, they must perform in front of the crowd to the judge's satisfaction. Once the judge was satisfied, they would receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

At the Grab Taxi Station in Ninoy Aquino International Airport, teams needed to hire a taxi to take them to Quiapo Market with a shopping list of essential items that will help the Red Cross Pasay Chapter.

Upon arriving in Quiapo Market, teams had to navigate through the busy streets to buy items needed for a disaster preparedness kit which includes rice, sugar, a first aid kit, and an umbrella. After getting the essential items, they must head to the Red Cross Pasay Chapter where families cheer at their arrival and give them their next clue.

Leg 7 (Philippines → Singapore)

Airdate: 24 November 2016

Bantay (Bantay Church) to Laoag, Ilocos Norte (Laoag International Airport)

Laoag (Laoag International Airport) to Singapore (Singapore Changi Airport)

Sentosa (Resorts World Sentosa – S.E.A. Aquarium)

Singapore (Gardens by the Bay (East) – Skyline Promenade)

Singapore (OUE Bayfront – Rooftop)

Singapore (Singapore Turf Club)

Singapore (Marina Bay – Moving Boat)

In the leg's Roadblock, one team member changed into their diving suit and dive into the Open Ocean habitat tank where they must find a treasure chest. Inside the aquarium tank, one team member would have to take a flash card of fish name inside the chest while their teammate outside the tank must find over several photos of the fish and match one of the photos with the name of the fish taken from the chest. If they could match the photo of the fish with its name correctly, they would receive their next clue.

The leg's Detour was a choice between Skate Rat and Drone Hat. In Skate Rat, one team member must skate using an electric skateboard and complete a slalom course while carrying two trays of stacked cans. If they can complete the slalom course without falling down or disturbing the balance of the stacked cans, they would receive their next clue. In Drone Hat, one team member had to pilot a remote controlled drone helicopter and land it on a helipad placed on a helmet worn by their teammate. Once the drone helicopter had landed, they would receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

Teams were transported from Vigan to Laoag Airport by minibus.

At Resorts World Sentosa, teams had to enter from the Casino drop-off point to get to the S.E.A. Aquarium.

After the Roadblock, teams must take a Grab car to Gardens by the Bay and search the Skyline Promenade, where they had to use a pair of binoculars to search for the race flag on the skyline. Once they had spotted the flag, they must identify and head to the location, which was at the rooftop of OUE Bayfront to get their next clue.

In order to reach the Pit stop, teams would either headed to Esplanade Jetty, Merlion Park Jetty or Marina Bayfront South Jetty, depending on where the moving boat would be.

Leg 8 (Singapore → Yogyakarta)

Airdate: 1 December 2016

Singapore (Robertson Quay – Grand Copthorne Waterfront)

Singapore (Singapore Changi Airport) to Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta , Indonesia (Adisucipto International Airport)

Sleman (Pasar Kalasan (Indonesian))

Semanu (Indonesian) (Goa Jomblang)

Sleman (Prambanan Temple (South Side))

Yogyakarta (Alun-alun Selatan)

Yogyakarta (Ndalem Ngabean (Indonesian))

During the Pit Stop, teams were moved to Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel in Robertson Quay to begin this leg of the Race. The Speed Bump required Eric & Rona to be blindfolded and drink a cup of traditional Indonesian herbal concoction, known as jamu. Then, they must open their blindfolds and search among several bottles for one that held the same herbal concoction that they have drank. If they could guess correctly, they could continue racing.

In the leg's first Roadblock, one team member must tightrope walk above 160 feet (49 m) of the opening of the cave. Then, in the middle of the tightrope, they had to climb down a rope ladder to retrieve their clue beneath them. Once they had retrieved their clue, they must ascend back and return to be reunited with their partner before they could continue racing. Should the clue they had retrieved fell down or they fell off from the tightrope, they must wait for their turn before they could continue the task over again.

In the leg's second Roadblock, the team member who did not perform the first one would have a walk around the holiest inner zone of the temple compound while memorising on the name and location of the Hindu deities inside the temple. Then, they would be given the map of the temple compound and they had to label all the location of the Hindu deities by their names. Once they had correctly labelled all the location of the Hindu deities, they would receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

After the second Roadblock, teams must participate in the traditional Yogyakarta archery of Jemparingan Mataraman, whereby each team member must hit a bull’s eye target with an arrow while sitting down to receive their next clue.

Upon arriving at Alun-alun Selatan, they had to find their next clue, attached in one of the cycling car, known as odong-odong.

At Alun-alun Selatan, teams had to convince two locals to join them to take a ride on an odong-odong around the town square to receive their next clue. Then, they would have to ride again on the odong-odong to Ndalem Ngabean in order to reach the Pit Stop.

Leg 9 (Yogyakarta → East Java)

Airdate: 8 December 2016

Yogyakarta (Lempuyangan railway station) to Glagah (Indonesian), Banyuwangi Regency, East Java (Karangasem railway station)

Glagah (Kemiren – Sanggar Genjah Arum (Indonesian)) (Overnight Rest)

Licin (Ijen Volcano)

Glagah (SDN 2 Kemiren)

Glagah (Kalibendo Coffee Factory)

Glagah (Kalibendo Coffee Plantation – Pendopo Ramean)

In the leg's Roadblock, one team member must take part in the labour-intensive sulfur mining operation, where they would have to collect and carry some sulfur slabs using two baskets on a pole to the crushing area. Then, they must crush the slabs into smaller blocks, pack them inside some sacks and carry them to the weighing area. Once they had collected 80 kilograms (180 lb) of sulfur, they would receive their next clue.

In the leg's Detour, teams must choose between Dragon Horse and Human Bull. In Dragon Horse, teams must participate in a traditional art of Jaran Kencak (Indonesian), where they would have to fully decorate and dress up a horse that would be use in a wedding ceremony procession. Once approved by the judge, they must go on the procession – riding on a horse-drawn carriage – before receiving their next clue from a newlywed couple. In Human Bull, teams had to transfer a handful of rice husk across the paddy field to an empty basket on the other side. However, they must avoid the kebo-keboan (Indonesian), a human dressed up as a bull, that would block their way to the basket. Once the basket was fully filled, they would receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

Upon arrival at Sanggar Genjah Arum in Kemiren, teams had to sign up for one of four departure times to enter the coffee shop the following morning. At the designated time, the teams would enter the coffee shop, where the shop's owner, Mr. Setiawan Subekti would serve them a popular Banyuwangi's coffee of Kopai Osing (Indonesian) and also would give them their next clue.

At the Kalibendo Coffee Factory, teams must empty up a 80 kilograms (180 lb) bag of coffee beans, where they must find seven red-coloured coffee beans with letters of P-I-T-S-T-O-P among the coffee beans – that would spelled out the word Pit stop – to receive their next clue.

Leg 10 (East Java → Bali)

Airdate: 15 December 2016

Kalipuro (Indonesian), Banyuwangi Regency (Ketapang Harbor (Indonesian)) to Gilimanuk (Indonesian), Jembrana Regency, Bali (Gilimanuk Harbor (Indonesian))

Sanur, Denpasar (Pura Dalem Pengembak)

Sanur (Pantai Mertasari)

Sanur (Pantai Mertasari – Taman Inspirasi)

Blahbatuh, Gianyar Regency (Pura Samuan Tiga)

Denpasar (Bajra Sandhi Monument)

In the final Roadblock of the Race, one team member must arrange some coconuts that have symbols of the things and places they had encountered throughout the Race, the name of the Pit Stop, and the teams that had been eliminated in each leg during the Race on a board of a life-sized traditional mancala game of congkak in the corresponding space on the congkak according to the legs visited, in chronological order:

Once the coconuts had been placed in the correct legs, they were given their final clue.

Additional tasks

At Pura Dalem Pengembak, teams must assemble two Balinese long ornamental poles, known as penjor. Once the penjor artist is satisfied, they had to deliver them to a penjor display area at Pantai Mertasari to receive their next clue.

At Pantai Mertasari, teams must participate in a traditional Indonesian pole climbing, which is also known as Panjat Pinang (Indonesian), whereby each team member must climb a slippery Pinang palm tree pole to retrieve a marked item at the top of the pole. Once they had all the two items, they would receive their next clue.

After participating in Panjat Pinang, teams headed to a nearby beach of Taman Inspirasi, where they must change into their swimsuits and assemble a traditional fishing boat of jukung according to the finished sample. Once done, they had to paddle the boat to the water to find over several traditional lobster traps for a marked one. After they had found it, they must return it to a fisherman at the shore to receive their next clue.

Reception

The premiere episode was the best performing English Original Production (OP) in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines in 2016. It also posted 26% and 33% increases in Singapore and Malaysia, respectively, over 2015's record-breaking Asia's Got Talent, putting the series on track to become the most watched English OP ever in Asia.