YeinJee's Asian Journal

The Amazing Race Asia (TARA) season 3 has premiered on AXN-Asia on September 11.

I know most of the regulars here are not watching this show (or not able to), thus I’m not going to bore you with the details… but will share some Asian cultures and places that are featured in the race instead.

Tuk-Tuk

The race started at the Rama 1 Monument in Bangkok… the first feature that came onto scene was the famous auto-rickshaws commonly known as ‘Tuk Tuk’ in Thailand.

Similar auto-rickshaws can also be found in other South Asian countries, but Thai’s Tuk Tuk is probably the most iconic version. Little known fact though, is that Tuk Tuk was originated from Japan and was brought into Thailand in late 1950s. Most of the Tuk Tuk these days are local made.

Khaosan Road

Khaosan Road is one of the most buzzing areas in Bangkok and backpackers’ heaven for foreigners. Khao san means ‘raw rice’ in Thai, as the street was once the major rice market in Bangkok.

The contestants were required to eat a large bowl of fried scorpions and bugs; some of them were having trouble swallowing the exotic food… but it’s something that I’m so going to try when I visit Bangkok in future.

Wat Pai Rong Wua

Wat Phai Rong Wua is a temple complex in Song Phi Nong district. The temple compound is home to one of the world’s largest cement Buddha statues as well as hundreds of Buddha statues of much smaller sizes.

Song Taew

Song Taew (or Songthaew) is another famous public transportation in Thailand. It’s basically a small truck or jeep that works as a taxi or mini-bus (and sometimes transporting goods too) depending on various needs.

Ratchaphruek Garden

Ratchaphruek Garden is situated in southwest of Chiang Mai province in the Mae Hia sub-district. The area was the site for the Royal Flora Expo 2006 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the crowning of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The garden has been carefully maintained and developed since then and is a splendid resource for agro-tourism, as well as being a learning and research centre for the public and a meeting-place for farmers to share knowledge [via Tourism Thailand]

A bit about the race

Ratchaphruek Garden was the pit stop for the first episode of the race. Thai team Mai & Oliver were the first to arrive, greeted by show host Allan Wu and popular season two contestant Paula Taylor. Neena & Amit from India came last and was eliminated from the race.