Episode #1210

A BIG LEAD
Departing the Pit Stop in first place at 7:02am, father and daughter Ron & Christina opened their clue instructing them to travel by taxi to the Floating Garden at the "building with a hole in it", the Umeda Sky Building. Once there, they had to figure out that the Floating Garden is an observatory located on the roof.

Arriving at the Umeda Sky Building, the disappointed father and daughter discovered that the observatory wouldn't open until 10:00am. When the equally deflated dating couple Nate & Jen and grandson and grandfather Nick & Don saw the closed observatory, Nate noted, "At least if we get up there any amount of time before they [TK & Rachel] get here is good."

When the security guard opened doors to the observatory at 10:00am, Nate & Jen and Ron & Chris shared the first elevator to the roof while the slower Nick & Don settled for the next one. After taking a thrilling ride in the glass elevator to the roof, the two Teams spotted the cluebox on the observatory deck with a stunning view of Osaka in front of them. Opening the clue, the Teams discovered they would be flying over 1,000 miles to the island of Taiwan and its capital, Taipei. When they landed, they have to take a taxi to Taipei Main Station.

As the three Teams raced to the airport, dating couple TK & Rachel departed the Pit Stop at 10:18am with a Speed Bump penalty looming over their heads. In their taxi, TK vowed, "I promise you there's going to be no quitting until we get to the Pit Stop." However, as soon as they got to the Umeda Sky Building, troubles began for the pair when they couldn't figure out where to find the clue.

BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY
At the airport, father and daughter Ron & Christina discovered that EVA Air departed first at 1:00pm to Taipei and tried to get tickets on the crowded flight while dating couple Nate & Jen battled them at the other end of the counter for a spot on the plane. After Christina secured seats for herself and her father, she asked her ticket agent, "If there are other requests, can you please tell them it's full?" The agent then walked over to Nate & Jen to inform them that the flight was now full. An irate Nate & Jen told the agent not to listen to Christina, who told Nate and Jen, "I didn't say anything." On her behavior, Christina remarked, "I don't feel guilty at all. My dad is afraid to play dirty, but I'll just play it because if we can get an edge I'll take it for my dad and I."

With the earliest flight now unavailable, the dating couple directed their frustration towards each other when Nate interrupted Jen as she asked the ticket agent about other options. Jen sniped, "I just can't believe you're being this mean to me on my birthday. I haven't even done anything." Nate quickly responded, "I'm not even arguing with you. There's no point. There's no point at all." The squabbling pair settled for a 1:15pm China Air flight to Taipei with grandson and grandfather Nick & Don. All the Teams hoped that TK & Rachel, who finally found the clue on the observatory rooftop, would be on a much later flight.

SURPRISE!
Landing in Taipei at 2:51pm, Ron & Christina had a comfortable fifteen minute lead over the second plane carrying Nate & Jen and Nick & Don. Feeling fairly secure in their position, Nate & Jen took the time to exchange money in the airport as Nick & Don joined the very long immigration line. Both Teams had a look of surprise and disappointment when the jubilant TK & Rachel seemingly materialized before their eyes in the airport. Jen said, "I cannot believe that they're here. It makes me sick." TK joked, "Time to start sweating." After taking the lead out of the airport, Jen stewed as she sat in the taxi with Nate, commenting, "That's hatred in my blood right now. I wanna rip those dreads out of his head."

Arriving at the Taipei Train Station in first place, father and daughter Ron & Christina opened their clue instructing them to travel by high speed rail to the city of Taichung. Then, they had to travel by taxi to the town of Jiji and find Acrobatics Jeep. Ron & Christina maintained their lead on the other three Teams by grabbing the next available train to Taichung while Nate & Jen, Nick & Don, and TK & Rachel all shared the same train to the city.

A WILD RIDE
Pulling up to Acrobatics Jeep in first place, father and daughter Ron & Christina found a Road Block. In it, one team member had to become a passenger in a car driven by a professional stunt driver, who would maneuver the vehicle onto a giant teeter-totter and then rock back and forth precariously 25 feet above the ground. Then, the team member would switch into an amphibious car, don a pair of goggles and, while holding their breath, they would be driven underwater for 17 seconds.

After donning his protective helmet, a wary Ron belted up as he later commented, "Fear of falling from that truck just frightened the dickens out of me." With Christina cheering in support knowing her father had a fear of heights, Ron held on for dear life as the truck teetered back and forth on the edge of the platform. Ron's groans of terror subsided only when the truck finally drove off the platform back on solid ground. After switching to safety goggles, Ron now became a passenger in a jeep that slowly descended into murky water as he took a large last gasp of air. Christina continued to cheer as Ron remained submerged in the vehicle until he reappeared 17 seconds later, fully drenched and relieved to be done with the task. Opening their clue, the pair learned they had to take the train back to Taipei and make their way to GK Tea House, where they had to order and drink a cup of tea. Only by drinking their tea would their next clue be revealed on the bottom of the cup.

As Ron & Christina prepared to take the 7:16pm train back to Taipei, TK & Rachel caught an important break by arriving second to Acrobatics Jeep, just moments ahead of Nate & Jen and Nick & Don. This allowed Rachel to complete both rides in the vehicles before Nate and Don, giving them a small cushion as they now had to perform their Speed Bump. In it, the pair had to travel just over one mile to He-Ping and take part in a traditional Chinese ritual that takes place annually during the Lantern Festival. First, they had to put on safety suits to make a harrowing dash through a gauntlet of fireworks which were being aimed right at them. Then, in a local custom in Jiji, they had to be doused with water.

TOGETHER AGAIN
As the petrified TK & Rachel ran through the loud, dangerous fireworks, Nate & Jen and Nick & Don returned to the train station at 7:30pm just in time for the 7:36pm train. However, at the counter, the agent told them that the computer wouldn't allow them to sell the ticket because it was too close to departure. This meant the two Teams had to settle for the 8:00pm train instead as they dreaded the imminent return of TK & Rachel.

As 8:00pm approached, Nick & Don and Nate & Jen thought they had dodged a bullet, but sure enough, TK & Rachel arrived at the station and joined the other two Teams on the train as they cheered with enthusiasm and excitement. Jen griped, "I can't handle this anymore."

Arriving at the GK Tea House in first place, Ron & Christina ordered and drank their very hot cups of tea to find their next clue written in Chinese on the bottom. Luckily, Christina's fluency in the language allowed her to read that they needed to travel to the Gong Guan Night Market and find a clown who would hand them their next clue.

ROCKY ROAD
At the Night Market, Ron & Christina continued to keep their lead as the clown handed them their next clue, a Detour with the choice of Fire or Earth. In Fire, Teams made their way to Zhongzheng Park to participate in a mystical Chinese ritual by writing messages of luck, good or bad, on lanterns. They had to burn "spirit money" under the lanterns, filling them with hot air that would lift the lanterns into the sky and carry their messages to the spirits above. Once a Team sent 20 sky lanterns into the air, they would receive their next clue. In Earth, Teams made their way to Youth Park to participate in a local custom used to reduce stress. Team members had to take off their shoes and, with their bare feet, walk down a 220-foot path made of jagged stones, turn around and walk back.

With the other three Teams neck and neck trying to finish their tea and find the Night Market, Ron & Christina arrived at Youth Park ready for the potentially painful walk across the stones. While Ron had little difficulties with the jagged rocks, giving credit to his "calloused feet," Christina squealed and writhed in pain, saying, "My feet felt like they were getting eaten by piranhas." After finally finishing the grueling walk, Ron & Christina opened their clue instructing them to travel to the next Pit Stop at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Plaza.

As the other three Teams took various means of transportation to Youth Park in a race against elimination, Ron & Chris arrived at the Memorial Hall Plaza to record back to back victories and a spot in the final three. In addition, Phil rewarded the pair with a trip for two from Travelocity to the island of Curacao in the Netherland Antilles.

ONE MORE FIGHT
While TK & Rachel and Nick & Don opted to take taxis to Youth Park, dating couple Nate & Jen, on the advice of a local, took the subway that connected to the bus, a slower route. When the pair exited the subway, sparks began to fly as Nate suggested using a taxi instead of the bus but quickly changed his mind. This prompted Jen to say, "You need to step up and make the decisions right now. You're the man." This set Nate off as he replied, "Honestly Jen, I can't stand you. All you do is freak out!" When they boarded the bus, a sullen Jen sniped, "Thanks a lot for ruining my frickin' birthday."

The mistake of taking the bus proved costly for Nate & Jen as both Nick & Don and TK & Rachel completed the jagged stone path before the bickering couple arrived. Only Nick & Don's inability to find a taxi to the Pit Stop kept Nate & Jen in the race as the pair navigated the sharp stones trying to clear the thoughts of pain and potential elimination from their heads.

FINAL ELIMINATION
After TK & Rachel stepped onto the mat in second place having overcome a three-hour deficit and Speed Bump from the prior leg, Nick & Don finally found their taxi moments ahead of Nate & Jen. With traffic in the bustling city, both Teams crossed their fingers that their drivers knew the fastest way to the Memorial Hall Plaza. In the end, grandson and grandfather Nick & Don arrived in third place to secure the last spot in the finals. Don, at 68 years old, became the oldest person ever in the final three.

Stepping onto the mat in last place, dating couple Nate & Jen received the bad news that they had been eliminated from the race. Just off the mat, the tearful couple assessed the state of their relationship. Jen said, "I think that we killed our relationship on the way. We weren't strong enough to heal and finish the race. We just frickin' killed ourselves during it, Nate. We didn't even focus on our relationship. All we cared about was the race." A crying Nate agreed with this as the two shared a long embrace alone in the square.