A BALANCED LIFE IN BANGLADESH

The Amazing Race, Episode Five, Season 21

Spoiler alert:

Bangladesh

Seven teams took on the heat in Bangladesh, and at the end of an episode that featured balancing acts (making a scale, loading a cart), seven teams remained. It was a non-you-know-what.

The hour began with a sad call from the world back home, as rock star James learned via Skype that his dad has stage four cancer.

The family told James to play on, and so he and Abba did, finishing first for the second week in a row.

Most of the other teams made it through the challenges without much trouble, with the exception of the Chippendales and the Fabulous Beekman Boys.

Jaymes and James

The Chips, Jaymes and James, showed up three poles short of a full load in the bamboo transport challenge and had to retrace some gruelling steps. (No quit in those guys, they recovered to finish next to last.)

The Beeks, Brent and Josh, came in last.

First, they had trouble finding a cab. (And Josh calls himself a New Yorker).

Then Brent took six years assembling a makeshift giant scale. “I built a structure that would have worked on the farm,” he pouted, alluding, as always, to his rural home.

Josh, Martha and Brent

The Boys seemed to have mixed feelings when they learned they didn't have to go back to the goat farm. Now, for better or worse, they have a least another week to put Martha Stewart's Amazing Race tips into practice.

Who knew? One key to good racing is carrying packets of real lemon juice. It's a natural disinfectant, and it makes bad water taste good. And put a dab of lavender on your pillow. It's relaxing.

It would take more than a little lavender oil to relax the twins, Natalie and Nadiya, who were in good form again waving the banner for women and "brownies" everywhere, though Nadiya’s screams of “Twin-ee, Twin-ee, Twin-ee” may constitute cruel and unusual viewer punishment.

Abbie and Ryan were the only duo to take on a strange sweatshop challenge that involved, in Ryan's words, "jute force," and Trey and Lexi, did just fine and dandy.

Rob and Kelley

Finally, Rob, of Rob and Kelley, managed to remind us often that life is a lot like Monster Trucking, but, luckily for him, Kelley kept her eye on the ball and got them through the challenges.

So, in other words, all is as it was.

As I may have said, the season still could use a good fight, a good meltdown, something. Do we all have to get along?

Overheard

Abba: So we’re off and sweating.

Kelley: I’d rather come in under the radar and take their money and go home.

Nadiya: Yeah Abbie, I’ve made a bloody Third World scale in my back yard.

Jaymes: (to the crowd): You’re having fun watching this super white boy.

Ryan (on life in Bangladesh): We have it so good at home.

Brent: Before becoming a goat farmer, I was a physician.

Chippendales James: If you’re going to be dumb, you better be tough.

Josh: We are totally going to make a fabulous comeback.

Order of Finish

James and Abba

Abbie and Ryan

Natalie and Nadiya

Rob and Kelley

Trey and Lexi

Jaymes and James

Josh and Brent

That’s it,

Jim