Comments on: The Amazing Race Asia premiere

By: Jee

Jee — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 03:07:29 +0000

Ya the race format still pretty much like the original TAR, different people only.

USD100,000 sure is still a lot of money, but as you just said a MILLION make a huge difference. USD100,000 is earnable by most degree holders in Asia (and US), but not too many people can make USD1,000,000 in their lifetime.

By: Dumaguete Dreamin'

Dumaguete Dreamin' — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 23:16:02 +0000

I don’t think I’d have any problem enjoying TARAsia. However, because I associate all Amazing Race episodes with Phil’s voice-overs and greetings at the mat it would take a bit of time to get accustomed to the new guy. What little I did see on YouTube seemed to follow the original series very closely. I think this helps fans of TAR make an easy transition over to TARAsia.

Trust me…$100,000 is still a LOT of money here, so I’m guessing it is a significant amount there as well. I agree, though…when teams are playing for a MILLION dollars that does change the landscape. Perhaps because you hear of millionaires and billionaires, but you never hear of “hundred thousandaires”.

By: Jee

Jee — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 06:46:10 +0000

Well, the boys win. Don’t worry about Bob and Kim, I have relatives that argue everyday after their marriage but just celebrated their silver jubilee a couple years back.

Amazing Race Asia is as good as the original TAR. As said production wise it’s still a fraction behind the original TAR, like the camera angles and handling etc…

The diversity of nationality and cultural also make the whole TARA very interesting; and perhaps because it’s new and the prize money is not as great (USD100,000)… the competitors seemed more enjoying the process rather than simply go for a win.

By: Dumaguete Dreamin'

Dumaguete Dreamin' — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 14:56:33 +0000

How those two stay together I’ll never understand. One minute Kimberly is saying to Rob, “I’m done with you”, but later in the SAME EPISODE they are expressing their desire to spend their lives together.

Then again, after all the yelling and screaming they did toward one another they should be able to survive anything that comes their way from here on out.

How is the TARA series coming along? Now that TAR 10 is over I’ll have a few months before TAR 11 (which starts in February).

By: Jee

Jee — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 06:11:35 +0000

I am hoping that the love birds will win… a bit of fairy tale perhaps… win a million, get married, have kids and be happily ever after lol.

By: Dumaguete Dreamin'

Dumaguete Dreamin' — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:55:21 +0000

I wonder who will win TAR 10 tonight. Seems like the two ladies are the sure underdogs, while Rob and Kimberly may just be too dramatic and emotional. The model guys seem to have a lot of mental toughness and have a definite physical advantage, so perhaps they’ll pull it out.

I know that it will be shown about 12 hours later there, so I won’t spoil the ending by posting prematurely ;)

By: Jee

Jee — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 05:11:34 +0000

That will be a far future ahead… other than the main cities like Beijing, Shanghai etc., other rural areas will still be pretty cheap in a decade or two. Sometimes it’s the rural areas that’s the hidden gem that really opens our mind.

Living cheaply elsewhere is one thing, but then the salary and income will also be different… it’s probably still worth staying in modern countries.

Unless you are thinking of life after retirement (judging from your photo still far ahead), then looking somewhere in Asia might be a good idea.

By: Dumaguete Dreamin'

Dumaguete Dreamin' — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 03:41:40 +0000

With the economic booms going on in places like China and Vietnam I have a feeling this region may not be so inexpensive in the future.

Still, when I tell my friend in the Phillippines that my monthly rent is about 60% of her yearly income I realize there is still plenty of opportunity to live much more cheaply elsewhere…and my rent is not even considered extravagant here!

By: Jee

Jee — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 12:28:44 +0000

I understand the feeling, it’s just like my first visit outside of Asia region, that’s in London some 6 years ago… it’s a huge culture shift as well, perhaps a total opposite change with yours.

Good thing for US citizens is your strong currency and living standard, and thus visiting some Asian countries (set aside a few like Japan and HK) can be really cheap.

By: Dumaguete Dreamin'

Dumaguete Dreamin' — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:17:16 +0000

For me, the Philippines represented a HUGE change in culture. Never before had I left North America…and only once had I been outside of the U.S. (a week in Toronto, Ontario, which felt much the same as America). Southeast Asia has a certain allure for me that I’m guessing other regions of the world do not have. I was only in Hong Kong’s airport for a few hours total and did not see the city at all. However, I keep telling myself this is a place I could live. Loved the dark, rainy weather, and the adventure of being 10,000 miles from home.

Anyway, the Amazing Race series helps me to re-live those memories, and also replenishes my desire to make more.