Race Across the World S05E02
Category
🏖
TravelTranscript
00:00Oh, wow.
00:09This is mega.
00:10This is incredible.
00:11Let's walk fast.
00:15Let's go.
00:16Come on.
00:20Come on, you're doing really well.
00:21Nearly there.
00:23You're so close.
00:25Top of top, need your hand.
00:26Let's do it together.
00:28Come on.
00:30Hello.
00:33You ready?
00:36It's all right.
00:38We're 26 hours after the first beeper.
00:41It's okay.
00:42It's not a surprise.
00:44It's okay, we can catch up.
00:49Okay, thank you very much.
00:5126 hours.
00:53It's fine.
00:55It's okay.
00:56It's okay.
00:58It's understandable to get upset, but we knew this was going to happen, OK?
01:04OK.
01:07Gutted.
01:09It makes me upset because it means a lot.
01:12Because it's a way of proving something to myself.
01:15And at the moment, all I'm proving is that I'm failing.
01:28I just love the rooftops.
01:33Oh, my gosh.
01:34Look at all the spices. It's amazing.
01:37This is what I think of when I think of China, I think of this.
01:42Perched on a 100-metre-tall mountain in East China's Jiangxi province, Huangling.
01:50Wow, this is crazy.
01:52I've never seen anything like it before.
01:54Although six centuries old, the town lay dilapidated until 16 years ago.
02:01Now restored, it has been transformed into a rural destination for tourists.
02:07We knew it was going to be you guys, yeah.
02:10Because you were three hours behind us.
02:12Yes.
02:17How are you feeling?
02:18Very, very tired.
02:19This is definitely starting to feel like race.
02:22It is, it is.
02:23I didn't think I was going to feel less competitive.
02:26After the first leg in the race to Kanyakumari, on the southernmost tip of India,
02:31less than seven hours separate the top three teams.
02:35But trailing a whole day behind the pack, Ryan and Melvin and Caroline and Tom.
02:40How have you two been working together?
02:43I lost my voice, so I didn't really speak that much.
02:47She's like the social, like, you know, person.
02:50Yeah, talker.
02:51Yeah, talker.
02:52The roles were reversed.
02:53Change.
02:54It was bit overwhelming at first.
02:55We're from Wales, so it's really quiet.
02:57So it's a whole new speed for us.
02:59Yeah.
03:00So do you speak a little bit of Mandarin then?
03:01None at all.
03:02Oh, none at all.
03:03None at all.
03:04So have you found the language very hard as well then?
03:06Yeah.
03:07Yeah.
03:08It's harder because, like, I look the part but don't sound it.
03:10Yeah.
03:11So that's the struggle.
03:12So everyone comes up to me and just expects me to speak Mandarin.
03:14Yeah.
03:15Because I know you did Mandarin.
03:16Is it one of you?
03:17Or a little bit.
03:18Yeah, a little bit.
03:19Emphasis on little.
03:21Please.
03:23Top three.
03:24Cheers!
03:38On the road again.
03:40Good morning.
03:41This is for you.
03:42I'm nervous.
03:44First to leave, current race leaders, sisters Elizabeth and Letitia.
03:50Your second checkpoint is Sanya.
03:54Sanya.
03:55What does it sound like?
03:56Sanya.
03:572,700 kilometres away, lying on the tip of Hainan Island, Sanya.
04:06One of China's most southerly cities.
04:09With palm-fringed beaches and lush rainforests,
04:13its tropical climate makes it a magnet for China's wealthy elite,
04:18but also for destructive monsoon storms.
04:22Oh, wait, I found it.
04:24That is far.
04:25Oh, we're going to the beach!
04:26I feel like that's what's missing.
04:28I'm like, I just need some sea.
04:31To get there, teams must traverse southeastern China.
04:36Embracing new landscapes, languages, climate and cuisine.
04:42They have the option to city hop,
04:44taking advantage of high-speed trains
04:46that run alongside the East China Sea coastline.
04:50Or head inland,
04:52kinder on budgets
04:54and a chance to explore China's dramatic scenery.
04:58Look at this!
05:02Look at that!
05:03Let's go inland!
05:04Let's go inland!
05:05Because you wanted to go here even before coming to China.
05:07When I was in China previously,
05:09I missed the opportunity to go to Rice Fields near Guilin.
05:13And it's such a, like, picturesque area.
05:16And I was like, maybe if I have another opportunity to go to China,
05:19as we do now,
05:22like, we can go there!
05:24One big passion of politicians is Asia.
05:30This is an opportunity there.
05:31We shouldn't pass, really.
05:32Exactly.
05:33Yeah, I just want to experience it.
05:34I am age-obsessed.
05:37Especially China.
05:38It was a whole different culture,
05:40a whole different language.
05:42Just so unfamiliar to what I'm used to,
05:45being there.
05:46That's when I'm the most happiest.
05:49I think because we came first,
05:50we should try our best to keep the lead.
05:52Yeah.
05:53Because they're not that far behind.
05:54They're not that far behind.
05:55At all.
05:56We have a plan.
05:57I'm so excited for this leg.
05:59Yeah.
06:00I think it's going to be so good.
06:02The sisters' goal,
06:04the Longzhi rice terraces,
06:06via the well-connected transport hub Guilin.
06:10Take a train to Shangri.
06:12Whoa, this is fast.
06:13Ah!
06:14It's, like, sweet!
06:15Oh, my gosh!
06:16It's like a roller coaster!
06:17It's like it goes...
06:18Ah!
06:21Whilst Elizabeth and Letitia descend...
06:27It's far.
06:28It's so far.
06:29That doesn't seem easy to get to.
06:31Next to depart...
06:33She just want to leave that place now.
06:35..teenage couple Finn and Seanhead.
06:38How did we get down?
06:43English!
06:44English!
06:45Please!
06:47Knowing we're second and we're quite close,
06:49this leg, we want to get there quickly.
06:52I enjoy more coastal scenery.
06:55We're going through cities,
06:57so there'd probably be more transport,
07:00more English speakers.
07:02We're kind of being safe with it all.
07:04It's a bit of a comfort blanket.
07:06Sticking to their tried and tested strategy,
07:10they are planning to city hop down the coast.
07:14First stop, Siamen.
07:17We don't know where we're going.
07:18I know, I know, I know.
07:19Do you want to go in the checkpoint hotel and ask a taxi?
07:22No, I'm not stopping literally where we started.
07:24Oh, at this point we've just got to get down, Finn.
07:28We got far, didn't we?
07:29This is so embarrassing.
07:39I like these.
07:40I prefer a Yorkshire, but it'll do.
07:4321 hours behind the race leaders, brothers Brian and Melvin.
07:48We messed up terrible.
07:49So did we.
07:51And in last place, mother and son, Caroline and Tom.
07:55I just felt helpless and useless and I just felt like we couldn't do it.
07:58This is way, way out of my comfort zone.
08:00Comfort zone.
08:01Totally.
08:02Sleeping in places that I would never, ever, ever.
08:07Our strengths are...
08:09It hasn't come to the fruition yet.
08:11It hasn't come to the front of our thoughts.
08:15We have got experience of life behind us.
08:18But does it really help in this situation, life experience?
08:22We've got nothing else going for us, have we?
08:24No, we haven't, haven't we?
08:29I don't know how the youngsters have done it.
08:31I don't.
08:33It was gutting.
08:34Absolutely.
08:35Emotional.
08:36Yeah, it was.
08:37It was.
08:38I didn't think we'd get emotional because it's just a race.
08:39I didn't think it would mean this much.
08:40And we all know where the danger's really coming from, don't we?
08:43These youngsters.
08:44Who knows?
08:45Next checkpoint, it could be first and second.
08:47Good car, wouldn't that be nice?
08:48Good luck.
08:49We'll see.
08:52Sanya.
08:53You heard of it?
08:54Never heard of it, yeah.
08:55No, me either.
08:56Leaving the checkpoint in third,
08:58Yin and ex-husband Gaz.
09:01That's where we're going.
09:02Actually, that's not too far.
09:03How exciting.
09:04It'd be quite good to kind of see the rural parts of China.
09:06OK.
09:07Maybe do a homestay or something like that.
09:09That'd be nice.
09:10We spent far too much in the first day.
09:12Yeah, we need to save money.
09:13The cost of living is a lot cheaper in the countryside.
09:15Yeah.
09:16We've got loads of money.
09:17Two.
09:18And also, we can see if we can pick up some work.
09:20OK.
09:21With almost one-fifth of their total budget gone,
09:24and seven legs remaining,
09:26the pair are keen to rein in their spending.
09:29Come on, friend.
09:30Bring it in.
09:32We've got to stop doing this.
09:33Don't want to overuse our hand thing.
09:35Their plan?
09:36To journey through rural China, working and staying with local families.
09:42What I'm discovering about this race is that I'm questioning my own Chinese identity and what it means to me.
09:49Going rural, there's an opportunity to see things that I've never seen before.
09:54It's going to be a complete contrast to my experience of growing up in a Chinese family in the UK.
10:02Let's go.
10:03As the day draws to a close, two teams are heading into rural China on overnight trains in the cheapest seats available.
10:14They are smoking on the train.
10:16Great.
10:17Elizabeth and Letitia.
10:19Come on!
10:20LED lights.
10:21Look at this.
10:22I don't know what Shangro is all about.
10:24It's like a cartoon.
10:27I think I found my seat 71, but the man's lying all over it.
10:31And Yin and Gaz.
10:33It's quite rough and ready.
10:35If people bought in their, like, little gaggle of chickens and things like that,
10:38it would not be out of place on this train.
10:41It's not as bad as British Rail.
10:43Wow.
10:44Yeah.
10:45308 kilometres is the fastest I've been on a train thing.
10:48Like, I feel like we're going city to city to city.
10:49Yeah, it looks so cool.
10:50After a slow start, Finn and Sean Ed are prioritising speed, spending big on a bullet train to reach Siamen City before morning.
11:07First day on the second leg, and we've spent about £70.
11:12£70 so far.
11:14That's not good.
11:15Right, it was approximately...
11:16I can't do numbers at all.
11:19Sean Ed's probably better with money.
11:2256, seven, eight.
11:25Yeah, I don't think I'd be able to do that day to day.
11:27It's too much, isn't it?
11:28It's too much going on.
11:29I've got an A star in maths GCSE.
11:31Me often don't pay bills because we still live with our parents.
11:37So, budgeting for us doesn't really exist.
11:41But I'm hoping to kind of have a plan and map out what we can spend.
11:49Approximately £160 per leg for eight legs.
11:54160 times eight.
11:56What's that?
11:572,280.
11:58Is it?
11:59No, it's not.
12:01It is.
12:03No, it's really not.
12:04My brain is really bad with maths.
12:09But I know for a fact that you do not get an A star if you think that.
12:12Where have I got that number from?
12:14Where have I got that number from before?
12:162...
12:18Shall we just chill and see what happens?
12:21We've got a good head start.
12:23This leg is going to be smooth sailing for us.
12:25I feel like we are coming first.
12:27You're going to follow me?
12:40I'm following you, mate.
12:416.45am.
12:43I'm following you.
12:44You carry on.
12:45Almost a day after the race leaders departed,
12:48a fourth team leave the checkpoint.
12:51Brothers Brian and Melvin.
12:53What we've learnt from this first leg,
12:56we've been rushing in, haven't we?
12:58Fools rush in, Mel. There you go.
13:00We're a pair of fools then, aren't we, mate?
13:02So we have got more in common than we think.
13:06Our strategy for this leg is start catching people up
13:09to travel quickly without spending the money.
13:11We have got to work.
13:13We're hoping to get a job
13:14where maybe we can get free accommodation.
13:17We've got to plan our routes better.
13:19It says public transportation parking area here.
13:23Well, we found it. That was easy, wasn't it?
13:25Brian knows here.
13:26I knew it was.
13:28I'd love to move up a place to third.
13:31We're going to have to take a gamble
13:33to go as far south as we can and go for it.
13:37I disagree.
13:38I think doing the home stay is far more logical.
13:41Food and board we're getting, isn't it?
13:44We are actually saving money by doing that.
13:46OK, Mel. I'm with you on that then.
13:50I don't know why I'm looking out in front of road signs
13:52because I can't understand them anyway.
13:54As the brothers motor towards the coast,
14:001,000 kilometres inland, the ancient town of Funghuang.
14:11Named after a mythical bird,
14:13this frontier town connects the Hunan and Guizhou provinces.
14:17Hidden in the mountains,
14:22it was once a useful rallying point for politicians,
14:26warlords and bandits.
14:29And today, it offers Yen and Guizhou a chance
14:32to earn back some budget.
14:36Are you hungry? Would you like noodles?
14:38No, no, no, no, no, no, no. OK.
14:42Sure, sure, sure, sure.
14:43By helping at Ms Zhao's noodle bar.
14:46This sink is very low.
14:48It's breaking my back.
14:50It's not really made for my height, this sink.
14:53Come on in, come on, come on in.
14:56This leg, it is all about clawing back a bit
14:58and trying to get the shift done,
15:00maybe have a little wander around the village
15:02and then it'll be back on the road again.
15:06You want noodles? Any noodles?
15:07Any noodles? You want food?
15:08Food? What?
15:09Noodles?
15:10Noodles? Yes.
15:11Yes, would you like to come in for noodles?
15:14I'm not cooking.
15:15I'm just trying to usher you in.
15:17No-one's going to know what he's saying.
15:20When we had the takeaway, Guiz was in front of house
15:22because he was just so confident.
15:24People loved him, he's a people person.
15:26Hello.
15:27Would you like any noodles? Are you hungry?
15:29No.
15:30No? OK, all right.
15:31OK.
15:33And I like the fact that he had a real front about him.
15:36You want some food?
15:37You come back?
15:38Yes.
15:39Thank you, sir.
15:40OK, thank you, sir.
15:41Here you go.
15:42Madam?
15:43There you go.
15:46I've got a customer.
15:49That's one of the things that I miss about Guiz.
15:51That was the charm that it hooked me in.
15:54Yeah, it probably was, actually.
15:57That's what we made.
15:58Do you want to take that?
15:59Perfect.
16:01Got free dinner, got some money.
16:02That wasn't that bad after, was it?
16:04I think I did more work than you did.
16:06I don't think you did.
16:07I brought the punters in.
16:08Being married to Yin was amazing.
16:11I did feel there's security being married, because you're a unit, you are together.
16:18But the breakdown in the relationship was because I became lazy, I took Yin for granted.
16:25Even to this day, I blame myself.
16:27Oh, that was spicy.
16:31Well, that's nice, isn't it, that view?
16:33There's a corridor at the top.
16:36I didn't cope with the breakdown of the relationship at all well.
16:39I became insular.
16:41It was hard and I didn't like it at all.
16:43What do you do?
16:44Oh, let's go down the pub and have six parts of Guinness and forget about it.
16:49Oh, that's nice.
16:50I would drink myself into a stupor because I didn't talk to anyone about it.
17:00One of the big key things with Yin is she identified that.
17:03And whilst I was going through my demons and people had given up on me, she never did.
17:11She could see, you know, what I was doing was not right.
17:13We're going on the stepping stones.
17:15Yeah, we do not want to be falling in.
17:17No, we do not.
17:18I'm at that point now where I'm in a good place.
17:23And by doing the race, I want to repay her because she was there for me through the dark times.
17:30And I don't want to let her down.
17:33I've let her down too many times in the past.
17:35I don't want to do it again.
17:37Hello, pussycat.
17:38Hello.
17:39Would you take some pictures of the cats?
17:41I did take a little picture of the kitten.
17:43What a surprise.
17:48Canning City High Speed Train Station.
17:51Canning is high speed.
17:53Last to leave the checkpoint.
17:54Almost 26 hours after the race leaders.
17:57Two people to...
17:58Two people to Shang-La.
17:59Shang-La, they don't go to...
18:01Shang-La.
18:01Shang-La, don't go to Wu-Yuan.
18:04Shang-La.
18:05Mother and son, Carline and Tom.
18:08Wu-Yuan. Shang-La.
18:10Wu-Yuan.
18:11Shang-La.
18:11Wu-Yuan.
18:13Shang-La, don't go to...
18:14Oh, Wu-Yuan.
18:15Wu-Yuan.
18:16Wu-Yuan is where we got the train into,
18:19and it says we can get trains direct, so we can go to Wu-Yuan.
18:22Wu-Hu is Wu-Yuan.
18:24Wu-Yuan, that's what they say.
18:25Wu-Yuan.
18:26Wu-Yuan.
18:27Wu-Yuan.
18:28This leg is focused more on the racing element,
18:31because we're fifth.
18:32We need to try and catch up as much as we can.
18:34Oh, yeah. Let's do it.
18:35Wu-Yuan.
18:36We're making steps in the right direction.
18:38Oh, yeah.
18:41We can't lag behind.
18:43If we want to catch up,
18:44we have to sacrifice experiences.
18:47God, Thomas, it feels so nice to be moving.
18:50Russian book.
18:51Russian book.
18:53I have a point to prove.
18:55I'd like Thomas to realise he has a mother who can achieve things
19:01and do things, rather than just be a mother.
19:04We are heading to...
19:07Zermon.
19:08As Carline and Tom begin their dash for the coast...
19:14Wow, this is a different feel to it, isn't it?
19:16That's beautiful, though.
19:18750 kilometres south, one team are already there.
19:23So, we're going to go straight to the train station
19:26and book our travel for tonight,
19:29and then we're going to the beach!
19:35Once known as the gateway to China,
19:38the ancient tea-trading port of Zermon
19:42is now a vibrant cosmopolitan city,
19:45renowned for its long, sandy beaches
19:47and blend of European and Chinese architectural styles.
19:52It's like a holiday day.
19:54We've both got a spring in our step.
19:56Before a chance to enjoy the beach, a plan to action.
20:00Secure overnight transport along the coast towards Hainan.
20:04Don't let me do it by myself.
20:07Shren, only one of us can go.
20:09Why is that always on me?
20:10Communication is your part. My part's planning.
20:14Why is it always my part?
20:16Cos mine's planning and I've planned everything.
20:19Yeah.
20:20We're bicker.
20:21Yeah, we're young.
20:22Somehow I'm in charge again.
20:24I've planned it.
20:26So you're sorting it?
20:28To where?
20:30Guangxiao.
20:31No, it's Zhuhai.
20:33Finn never listens.
20:35Welcome to my life.
20:36It's not an argument, it's more the...
20:38Yeah, it's just chops in.
20:40Yeah?
20:41Yeah, it's just chops in.
20:42Yeah, chops in each other, yeah.
20:44Tonight, Zhuhai?
20:45Zhuhai.
20:46No drinking.
20:47No drinking.
20:48No.
20:49Tomorrow.
20:50Ah!
20:53That's so annoying.
20:56Cheers, Shane.
20:57Brilliant, all right, Sand.
20:59We need to figure this out quickly and then just crack on with sightseeing.
21:03It's getting on my nerves.
21:04I just want to chill.
21:07We need to try find a best friend, I'm not going to lie.
21:09I'm not very confident any more that we're getting out of here today.
21:14Now that we're getting in China, it's definitely overwhelming.
21:18On the race, everything's so foreign and so new.
21:22I feel a bit daunted.
21:24Right, is he helping or is he like...
21:25Well, I'm not sure, Finn, I have never been here before.
21:30It probably is the most we've been tested,
21:32just because we can't escape each other and I don't catch a break.
21:37The bus station has been suspended.
21:40Oh, please, not again.
21:42We're running out of options.
21:44Finn, what's the plan? I have no plan, to be honest.
21:47Neither do I.
21:48I don't want to decide.
21:49Well, neither do I, then.
21:50Oh, please don't start this.
21:53I'm so stressed anyway, so bickering on top of that.
21:58I find myself just thinking, like, I'd just rather be home.
22:02Nothing makes sense in this place.
22:05I just want to see the beaches.
22:14Hello.
22:15Your... Is it Mr Zhu?
22:17Yeah.
22:19Tucked in the rolling mountains of Fujian,
22:22Brian and Melvin have made it to Chusi Village.
22:26Just picked it and stuck it off us.
22:28It wouldn't let us carry.
22:28He could have had mine, couldn't he?
22:30To work for Mr Zhu in exchange for bed and board.
22:33Look at this.
22:35This is a... Look at this place.
22:37I've never seen anything like this.
22:39This is amazing.
22:41Built in the 15th century by the Hakka people,
22:48two laws, fortified earthen homes
22:52that housed hundreds of people each,
22:55protecting entire communities from invaders,
22:58thieves and wild animals.
23:04The chef, the chef is brilliant.
23:06It looks brilliant.
23:07Beautiful.
23:08Eh!
23:09Ah, go!
23:10Ah!
23:11Ah!
23:12Ah!
23:13Very good.
23:14Is it good?
23:15Mm.
23:16Mm.
23:17Is it chicken?
23:19Chicken?
23:20Mm.
23:21Ah, it's got some two things.
23:22Ah!
23:23Ah!
23:24Ah!
23:25Ah!
23:26Is that...
23:27Ah!
23:28Ah!
23:29Ah!
23:30Mm!
23:31Yeah, yeah!
23:32Wow!
23:33And beer.
23:34OK.
23:35Oh, I like this man's style.
23:36I really do.
23:38Hello.
23:40Ah!
23:41Ah!
23:42It's whiskey?
23:43Thanks.
23:44You said it is whiskey.
23:45Cheers!
23:46Cheers!
23:47Cheers!
23:48Cheers!
23:49Cheers!
23:50Cheers!
23:51Ah!
23:52It's like moonshine!
23:53Oh!
23:54Oh!
23:55Ah!
23:56Oh dear!
23:57Ah!
23:58That'll make me hair grow back!
24:00No more, no more.
24:01more melvin persuaded me that we don't go as far south as i wanted to thank you very much
24:10see you later good night good night melvin has made that decision and i followed it we're up at
24:17five rest me aching bones it's been a long day we decided to come to this homestay i was adamant
24:27that it made more sense to do that yeah i reckon you've got the best bedroom it's pissing off with
24:31you i don't know you can have the big one i feel sorry for the buggies below here mel what am i
24:35snoring i don't push myself in a way i would have given in to him eventually but i feel good about
24:44the fact that he actually listened he thought about it and got on board with me eventually
24:49he did see sense have a good night i'll try not to snore too now it's a creaky one
25:06look at this so beautiful wow riding a bullet train towards the city guaylin
25:16elizabeth and leticia we're going through the mountains
25:23speeding through hunan province and the guangxi region famed for their karst peaks over 250 million
25:31years old i can stare at this view all day remind me a little bit of um skittles little
25:42green skittles i think literature will be very very excited we need to get the bus to long g
25:52tomorrow rice paddies finally excited prayers are coming true
26:10glad to put that knee band did you yeah watch this bit here mel 800 kilometers east i'm sweating
26:18amongst the forests of fujien where the tigers of south china once roamed i wanted a bit of phrase
26:24i'm fucked mr shu's family have worked the land for nearly two centuries
26:31it's actually quite nice lovely isn't it brian and melvin are repaying his hospitality
26:37scaling a mountain to harvest bamboo a staple for both local cuisine and construction
26:44i've been on panda lookout ever since we've been to china melvie what it's absolutely ridiculous
26:50panda is not going to see a panda in here mel
26:54do we sign up for this who's stupid idea was it to cut bamboo shoots
26:58so cut it straight down you caught one yet mel well there's something here oh no that's a bottle top
27:09we're a couple of old blokes so it's going to be tough for us but if we can use our skills that
27:15we've acquired over the years to give us a bit of an advantage that's our game plan army days mel
27:22remember when you were a soldier reminds me belize 50 year ago when i left school i joined the army
27:31and i did seven years in the army i'm a light and backpack tracking through stuff like this
27:37and from that i did a bit of painting and decorating then i joined the prison service i did a little bit
27:42of private eye work i used to run a karaoke evening and i like elvis presley a lot of elvis's songs so
27:51i nick i call myself melvis i've got it okay i've got it that'll be 30 quid please labor cost and then
27:57i trained to be a driving instructor and that's what i've been doing ever since i've never had a lot
28:02of money but i've always worked to my means and spent to my means i've got four shirts for 9.99
28:09that's okay i'm comfortable in my bamboo lightweight soft sweat proof really nice stuff
28:16sweat proof well it doesn't that's not actually i managed to sell my company many years ago
28:24i'm fortunate that i do have the money to do what i want to do he's always been a hard worker that's
28:30where he's got where he's got but with brian it was it wasn't physical work it was mental work and it
28:35was stressful work for him as well there you go is that good yeah is that it then
28:46he's a good lad and to end up where he's ended up he's brilliant really proud of him for doing it
28:52what have we managed to get
28:53wonderful okay we're off thank you mr shu thank you mr shu thank you very much
29:05right so we need to go to the train station inquire about tickets go as far south as we can get
29:11it's absolutely beautiful it does look nice city hopping along the coast finn and shonhead have
29:27traveled 700 kilometers to reach zhuhai known as the chinese riviera it is one of the most prosperous
29:35regions in china i've never seen a city with big buildings i go on straight to a beach
29:44i would definitely never have thought this would be in china
29:48the sea looks like home water so chill i mean wales has beautiful beaches yeah you've got it like
29:55towards like new saint david's and stuff and like barrifundle yeah it's a lot more of a peaceful life
30:00it is at home we don't really have hard decisions to make and we can depend on other people
30:08doing this is just massive like we have no experience at anything i think we're forgetting the
30:14fact that we're 18 and 19 and we we have gone from like above beijing to zhuhai yeah by ourselves
30:21basically like where me and shonhead are from you know our local train station there's two platforms
30:29even then you still have to ask someone which platform it is so to be in a train station where
30:34there's 24 platforms it's in mandarin it's absolutely unbelievably hard for us i like going to
30:43beaches and stuff when i am home i mean it's just like quite nice for me to just be able to just stop
30:50for a minute and have that like honed feeling maybe i feel about not being
30:59like not being able to speak to your mum
31:12deep breath down to ten
31:23what is it that you miss that familiarity i like to have that so i don't like being away from
31:30everyone we know and basically just having each other
31:40do you regret it no i know i need to do it
31:48it's like speaking and thinking about home i don't like it because i know like
31:52as much as i feel like i want to be home right now i definitely don't if i was home i'd want to
32:00be here just trying to adapt to china adapt to the language adapt to the people trying to build up
32:06my confidence to be a bit more risky everyone misses you don't worry that's not helping okay
32:14nobody misses you oh sorry just shush about it okay sorry
32:25bath bath bath it's not bath it'd be b-a-r-t-h wouldn't it so half the population
32:33is right and half is wrong yes my pop it my side's right
32:37brian and melvin's push south has brought them to the city of guangzhou
32:52is that what that said there is a typhoon
33:00we have a major problem apparently there's a typhoon warning and it's south of the island
33:06that we want to go to no buses at all tomorrow because of the typhoon but apparently the bullet
33:11trains are still running takes us to zhangzhen which is within spitting distance to the island
33:20it's not going to do our budget any good at all that's 520 yuan but it gets us there if the weather
33:28is bad and we can't move we've got no choice it's the bullet train we said we were going to get there
33:34we're going to get there that's 500 i've got 500 how much you got no no i'm going to take my pants
33:40off to have a look well that does
33:49that was discreet wasn't it
33:52we want to head south and we want to get there as quickly as possible travel travel travel also in
33:59guangzhou zhang zhang let's do that yeah but unaware of the impending typhoon carline and tom
34:07do you have tickets to zhang zhang oh no all tickets for today are sold out oh god
34:17tomorrow afternoon please oh it's just stressful i hate i hate booking tickets i hate this part
34:24being fifth i felt most bad for mum oh my shoulders are hurting oh
34:30but darling that's the problem with coming last we just have to suck it up
34:34i just keep on thinking how she's going to feel if we get to that book and it says last again
34:41we've spent quite a lot we've sacrificed experience to gain speed we've booked expensive
34:46trains we've done the bullet chains we've got a train booked to zhangling tomorrow the earliest one
34:52we could which gives us some time to work and earn some money back on the budget okay enjoy today
34:58work tomorrow race perfect let's get in the spirit mama yep i'll be fine
35:04two and a half hours of standing potentially but for some reason we've chosen to hang out by the
35:12toilet i'm not sure why with three teams positioned along the coast yin and gaz are forging their way
35:22inland heading to zianto to work and stay on a local family farm growing up in a chinese family i know how
35:31much food is kind of like the central focal point and i know we'll be fed really really well they
35:36will want to share everything they're going to be really proud of what they produce how they turn
35:41that into food for the family and i think that experience is priceless really
35:45they look so neat elizabeth and letitia have made it to longji
36:05take off your socks man you'll see i'm gonna get wet no i'll wear your socks after no because i'm gonna
36:10wear my socks after what do you mean to fulfill a lifelong dream of letitia's no rain can bother me
36:19there's like ripples in the sea the sea of rice and experience one of the world's finest examples of
36:26agricultural ingenuity
36:27energy
36:35built over 700 years ago by the zhuang and yao minorities more than 70 square kilometers of
36:42cascading rice terraces weave along the contours of the steep mountain slopes
36:49being in the clouds one with the rice one with the rain it's a shame that we can't see the whole
36:59of the field really but i like the ambiance with this weather it's given us like a unique experience
37:07you know i'd be more comfortable in the sun honestly i was dressed for the sun oh i just love the smell
37:15don't you love the smell you seeming very happy i am happy it's good that you're enjoying it yeah i'm
37:21really enjoying it good
37:25letitia was very extroverted actually when she was young
37:30she was very loud she would always want to be like the center of attention and seeing it almost looks
37:37like the ripples in ice cream when i went to italy letitia was still a teenager there was more than
37:4710 years really that we were apart you've got the ticket yeah yeah i think so when i came back to the
37:53uk letitia had become quite anxious and she had this introverted quietness to her she definitely got a
38:00bit shyer a little bit more reserved a very short-lived um you know it's a great one over there anyway
38:08it was something that you really wanted to do for a long time so yeah
38:18i was just happy that i came here it's a nice feeling and um yeah i just love it it just fascinates me
38:26really because i remember you just started having this love like your love for asia started with china
38:33i was in italy i was just like down all the time when i wasn't feeling my best i'd watch a
38:42like asian movie or something and it'll just make me feel better
38:48i was just one of those teenagers who didn't leave their room
38:52i didn't really understand who i was a bit depressed and i feel like asia culture
39:00kind of like woke me up i guess because i feel like i was just so like
39:03stagnant it gave me the goal to work towards maybe i can go to asia maybe i can go study there maybe i
39:11can you know learn the language so it gave me something to like look forward to it was definitely
39:17an escapism it was a safe space because it was very consistent
39:30it's hard for me to think that you've gone through that and that i wasn't there
39:36it's okay i'm so glad we came today it's lived up to my expectations yeah i really liked it
39:48i'm glad i had the opportunity to you know do it and also with you just for you to you know see part of
39:56my um interest and this is definitely me getting to know you a lot more it's nice actually experiencing
40:04it with you and i think i wouldn't have wanted to come to china i think with anybody else but you
40:08honestly i'll be highly offended if you went with someone else not me you would survive
40:14yeah
40:16chan to 117 kilometers south in the guangxi region
40:34beautiful this is the best food we've had in china since we've been here
40:40Yin and Gaz are spending the evening with Mr Lu and his family.
40:45Number one food, really good. Yeah, number one.
40:51That's like fish. Fish, you catch it. The fish was caught this afternoon to entertain
40:56our esteemed guests. So nice, so nice. I am going to have to stop soon though.
41:10How long have you had the farm?
41:1320? 24. Are you two husband and wife? Yeah. And do you have children?
41:22Two children. We have one daughter.
41:31That thing was good, wasn't it? It's excellent.
41:34When we used to be as a family, instead of like Sunday roast, that'd be our equivalent
41:39of the Sunday Chinese dinner. Even the pork chop stew.
41:42Ah, I love that one. Do you miss that kind of food?
41:45Because we haven't been together for now for about three years.
41:47Chicken's feet and black bean sauce is still my favourite.
41:50But also Autumn likes it as well.
41:52Little Aby's birthday yesterday.
41:56It seems strange to us, like 23 years of her birthday,
41:59so this is the first one we're not going to be with her.
42:00We've had quite a long marriage. We did have a child, our daughter, Autumn.
42:09Of all things, that's probably the most thing we're proud of, the most of.
42:13I mean, even when we split up, we're still going together for birthdays,
42:17whether it was mine, yours or Autumn's.
42:19They've always been fun. Yeah.
42:20We've always managed to put our differences aside for Autumn.
42:23Yeah. I don't know why it works or how it works, but it works.
42:25Yeah. But it does. It's unique, but it does.
42:35Also, it's quite sad that we're not with her for our birthday.
42:37Yes, I don't cry.
42:41Don't worry.
42:44Taking part in the race, Autumn sees it as, I don't know,
42:48like a last adventure together.
42:52Time has moved on. Autumn has now grown up.
42:55We both are different people.
42:57She understands me and Gaz are going on a different path,
43:01living our own lives.
43:03We still want to be supportive of each other,
43:06but me and Gaz want to get back to engaging with life again
43:10and start enjoying it again.
43:15The two dogs are shagging each other, sorry.
43:17Thomas, this is it.
43:33With a few hours remaining before the train departs towards the checkpoint,
43:39Caroline and Tom have picked up work in Four Shan.
43:45It's a dune.
43:46Sir.
43:47Wow.
43:47The kung fu capital of China and birthplace of Bruce Lee's legendary master, Ip Man.
43:54Yeah.
43:55Yeah.
43:56I think Thomas is loving this.
43:59He's desperately wanting to watch, but he has to get on with his job.
44:05Oh, you like this, Mum. You're good at this.
44:07Up.
44:07All the way.
44:08And then one, three, four.
44:10OK.
44:12Look at the speed.
44:13Ah, I don't do anything slowly.
44:15Ah, bathrooms.
44:16I love to be busy all the time.
44:20I'm quite a restless person.
44:23Half the jobs, I'm sure, I invent.
44:25She'll be happy and having a good time.
44:28It's just genuine what she enjoys.
44:31She just took the broom and she was straight off, just speedy Gonzalez.
44:37Mum's role when I was a kid was very much to make sure everything at home is in order,
44:41or Dad's out working.
44:43It's very much an old-fashioned upbringing, with Dad being the provider,
44:48and Mum being kind of the stay-at-home mum.
44:50How did you live at her?
44:51Because I'm superwoman.
44:54I do feel, until now, my life has largely been predetermined and traditional.
44:59When I got married, I gave up working.
45:02My husband was happy to work and wanted me to stay at home.
45:05I cared for Thomas all the time.
45:09I don't financially contribute at home, and I do feel guilty.
45:14Um, and it doesn't make you feel good.
45:16It makes you feel, literally, not as important.
45:20I think for Mum, that's just part of her routine and her normal life.
45:25And she just, I think she quite enjoys it, you know?
45:28Like, being needed and wanted.
45:30I generally didn't even know who Mum would be without those things,
45:33because I've never really seen it.
45:35I suppose I've coasted through life, really, for the past 20-odd years.
45:40I haven't done something that comes from my soul that means something
45:44really, really important to me.
45:47I want to prove that I can have value and do something fulfilling.
45:52I don't know if he realises this means more than just a race to me.
45:56Oh, my God.
46:00Look at the size of that spider.
46:03I can't see it.
46:04Oh, come closer. Look at that.
46:07Oh, that's massive.
46:13Torres, how do you expect to be a kung fu master
46:15if you can't even cope with a spider?
46:19Before departing, there's time to spar with Master Dong.
46:23Oh, come on.
46:41This is going to tire us out before we can race.
46:44It's crazy Mum doing something like this.
46:46This is where she gets stuck in...
46:49She's just quite tough.
46:51She doesn't stop.
46:53My mother thought of him. Yeah mama do it. Oh mommy goes gosh, okay
47:00Well comes in the main one something more. Thank you. Thank you so much
47:06Back in race mode, it's nice to know this is
47:09Potentially hopefully definitely stay the last day of this leg as
47:15Caroline and Tom head for their train
47:23Oh
47:27Oh, I think oh, I'm in luck. Yeah
47:30Yeah, got a big one
47:32Before making their way to the checkpoint
47:36Yin and Gaz are paying for last night's accommodation
47:39Yay gold
47:43Digging Lotus roots a hostess has turned up in his jeans and gone straight in
47:48Central to Chinese cuisine their host mr. Lou will sell this morning's harvest at the local market
47:59That's a well, I can start to that. Well, that's a good one
48:03This is what I think of all China pictures scenery agriculture
48:10Well careful careful
48:15We're holding over
48:18Rural China is interspersed with industrial China
48:22But then you get rewarded with views like this
48:25You feel like such a small speck when you're surrounded by these magnificent mountains
48:33The abundance of our labor
48:39We did all this this is the China that I wanted to see
48:46I feel quite honored to have experienced that and they experienced it with them as well
48:52You're wonderful. Thank you, sir
48:55After a morning's hard work
48:57Yin and Gaz
48:58We're going to try and get to Sun you join the other four teams
49:03On the final push to Sanya
49:05To get there they need to reach shoe and port and board a ferry to high coal on Hainan Island
49:14Before traveling a father 280 kilometers to the second checkpoint
49:20Sanya
49:22If we can get to the checkpoint today, that is the dream, isn't it?
49:27Yeah
49:28Do the last two, three hundred miles
49:29It's worth the money, it's worth the early start if we can get there today
49:31If we get there today
49:32Subject to the typhoon
49:34Not causing us any problems
49:36If the transport's not working, we're stuck
49:38And we're stuck for a day
49:41Approaching from the southeast
49:43Typhoon Trammy
49:45Bringing torrential rain, high winds
49:48And major disruption
49:51Can't really see out the window, it's so gross
49:53Once a storm hits, all transport is typically suspended
49:59Meaning teams risk being stranded on the mainland
50:02The weather's bad
50:04I'm not feeling particularly confident today
50:11Elizabeth and Letitia are the first team to set foot on Hainan
50:16Oh, it's very slippery
50:18I'm feeling a bit nervous actually
50:20Oh, it's raining
50:22Typhoon might be on its way
50:24Chop, chop, chop
50:27Why don't we just get a bus?
50:29So we're on the road already
50:30Yeah, let's just get moving
50:33Oh, there's literally a torrential rain
50:36This bus seems very slow
50:39We think we could have potentially lost our lead
50:42We could have been on a train
50:44That would be faster
50:46I just hope that we're not so far behind
50:48As the sisters begin an arduous bus journey south to Sanya
50:55What's the Titanic?
50:57Need to be on the front for that
50:59Oh, I'll sail on the side, it's safer
51:01Two other teams are approaching the island
51:04So excited to get to the checkpoint
51:05It felt impossible
51:07But we're actually getting somewhere
51:08Yeah, I'm happy
51:10Keep going, keep going
51:12A bit of a breeze going through the head
51:15Typhoon, isn't it?
51:17Two tickets to Sanya?
51:19It's the result
51:2118.40 tickets to Sanya
51:23Yes
51:26Finally
51:28Ni hao, Sanya?
51:30Tonight?
51:32Two
51:34Oh my gosh, yes
51:36Butterflies are coming
51:38This is the last hush
51:39What is this?
51:40This is the calm
51:42Before the storm
51:51Race mode is on
51:56Make your way to Sanya Ki Ke Zan
52:00On the Jifang road by any available means
52:03Giant is a station
52:05Should we just fly down a taxi?
52:07No, I think we should walk
52:09So let's just go and we can get some more instruction
52:11Sanya Ki Shizan on the Jifang road
52:16Ozna?
52:17No
52:18Not Russian
52:19I'm not Russian
52:20He thinks I'm Russian
52:25Is it a hotel maybe?
52:27Or a station?
52:29It's going to be somewhere here
52:34I can get you a car
52:35Thank you
52:36Do you know how much it'll be?
52:38Are you sure?
52:39I'm not
52:40Thank you so much, Sanya
52:42Why are these directions not clear?
52:45You're with me, Mel
52:46It's where you're trying to kill me
52:48It's absolutely pouring it down
52:50And it's pitch black
52:52See if you can see street names
52:54Yay!
52:55It's this one?
52:56Yes
52:57Oh!
52:58If this is a station
52:59Bus station
53:00That sounds right
53:04On foot, head west
53:06To find the beach
53:08Right, hang on, hang on, hang on
53:10Line your north, line your north
53:12Okay, west is not that way
53:13West is not that way
53:15So west is that way?
53:16That is north
53:17It's over there
53:19It's that direction
53:22West
53:23Should be that way
53:25Never eat shredded me
53:28Where do you know?
53:29How do you know where north is?
53:32Flooded everywhere
53:33I can smell the beach
53:34Let's follow our noses
53:37So it's down here then
53:38No, over there
53:40I think
53:42I feel really, really stupid
53:44I feel really, really stupid as well
53:49That's the beach
53:50There you go
53:52Beach coming up
53:54Head across the bridge
53:55To find your checkpoint hotel
53:56In the Phoenix Island Resort
53:57Oh
54:01Is it?
54:02That's in the bag
54:06There's a bridge over there, look
54:07Go!
54:08Run after it
54:09Last push now
54:11I'm here
54:12I'm on your tail
54:14So the bridge was to the right?
54:15Yeah
54:17Oh my gosh
54:18I don't think I can run anymore
54:21Come on
54:22We'll make it
54:23Oh my gosh
54:24Oh my gosh
54:25Oh my gosh
54:26Ah, breeze
54:31Ni hao
54:32Ni hao
54:33Ni hao
54:34Please stay in here
54:36Congratulations
54:37You have successfully reached your second checkpoint
54:43Where is it?
54:44What?
54:47Win it
54:48What?
54:50Wow
54:52We're surprising ourselves
54:53Because I think we actually are doing quite a few things right
54:57Yeah, I feel like this leg
54:58We really balance race and experience
55:01Even like the rice paddies
55:03I was so happy
55:04And it's nice
55:05To share it
55:12In second place
55:13And look at the time
55:15I nearly give you a hug then
55:16Don't give me a hug
55:17That is a big surprise isn't it?
55:19That's good
55:20That's good
55:21We've never ever expected to pick up places
55:25And the time
55:26I'm chuffed on that
55:27Absolutely amazing
55:28I'm absolutely buzzing now
55:34Ni hao
55:35Ni hao
55:36Oh
55:37Oh
55:38Wow
55:39Wow
55:40They've made a comeback
55:41Brian and Melbitt
55:42Wow
55:43I would have loved to hold
55:44That second place position
55:45But I'm very happy with third
55:47At home our relationship has no stress
55:50So coming here and having only each other
55:53It's a lot
55:54Proud of us
55:55I'm proud of us
55:56I'm proud of us too
55:57But this is definitely an experience that I would never want to change
56:01And we're both so sweaty
56:02Oh
56:05Three pairs have made it to the second checkpoint in Sanya
56:09But two teams are yet to arrive
56:14Scary
56:16Thank you
56:17On an island
56:18My feet are soaking now
56:20I don't know what choice we have
56:23The weather's conspired against us
56:28But stranded until morning
56:31Carline and Tom
56:33So near yet so far
56:35I'm worried about having to feel when we get to the book
56:37I think we'll be our fifth again
56:40I think we're going to feel so deflated
56:45Still on the mainland
56:47Why are we not moving?
56:49Yen and Gaz
57:02Oh!
57:07What is going on?
57:08There's nothing we can do
57:09We're trapped
57:10It's definitely been 12 hours
57:11And we've gone from here
57:13To there
57:14To back here again
57:15We haven't gone very far at all
57:17I have no word
57:18We're just in limbo
57:19No word
57:21I'd pull my hair out if I had any
57:23We are literally in the hands of Mother Nature
57:26Oof
57:31Adrenaline's pumping
57:33The team that arrives in fifth place
57:35Will be eliminated from the race
57:37Okay, we're in fight mode now
57:38Look at that
57:40The first time in 40 years
57:41We've got a different type of relationship
57:44I want more challenges
57:45I do not want to be going home
57:46Wow
57:47If this doesn't make me fall in love
57:48I don't know what
57:49Well
57:50No
57:51We have called
57:52We're one nil down at half time
57:54I'm not panicking just yet
57:55I give up
57:56No, we can't give up
57:57Thomas knows
57:58We need to go quickly
57:59Ben!
58:00Thomas!
58:01Thomas!
58:02Thomas!
58:03Thomas!
58:04Thomas!
58:05Thomas!
58:06Thomas!
58:07Thomas!
58:08Thomas!
58:09Thomas!
58:10Thomas!
58:11Thomas!
58:12Thomas!
58:13Thomas!
58:14Thomas!
58:15Thomas!
58:16Thomas!
58:17Thomas!
58:18Thomas!
58:19Thomas!
58:20Thomas!
58:21Thomas!
58:22Thomas!
58:23Thomas!
58:24Thomas!
58:25Thomas!
58:26Thomas!
58:27Thomas!
58:28Thomas!
58:29You