RACE ACROSS THE WORLD 2024

[TokyoSushi]

Just seen my first advert that it's back!!!! Japan to Indonesia starting 10th April, brilliant, my absolute favourite!

Really enjoyed that episode ... it was so interesting to see the contrast between Kuala Lumpar and then their first landing place in Sumatra! And Sumatra being the 6th largest island in the world and home to 60 million people, I just never would have imagined - I feel a bit shamefully ignorant about this region of the world tbh.

Still love the boys, but how sad to see all those piles of plastic bottles washed up in the mangrove swamp .

I must admit if my other half had made us detour to go and see the 17th most beautiful street in the world and then we hadn't been able to find it, I would have had the most almighty hump! Steven and Viv do seem to be soul-mates.

And also that they only crossed the equator in this episode. All the rest of the time they have been north of the equator.

I must admit that in my travels in the Far East I have been shocked by the rubbish and especially the washed up plastic. I’m glad they showed that - wake up call.

This show is playing with my head - initially I was Team Isobel, then the boys and now Betty and James! James was totally brilliant about the lost passports and has really grown I think.

Even Viv and Stephen have improved - I really empathised with her ‘wild child turns mum and now wants to live a bit’ thoughts. Go Viv.

The countries have been so interesting and the people tremendous. I wonder whether they’re so used to the backpackers. It’s the highlight of my TV week and kudos to whoever chose the contestants. And aren’t young people just nice.

This, and Death in Paradise, are probably two of the only programmes I make an effort to sit and watch.

Can’t believe myself, I’ve so warmed to Stephen and Viv! I found their little dances here and there so heartwarming and sweet.

Viv’s talk to camera about reclaiming her joie de vivre after putting herself into her kids for so long really resonated with me - this me being in my 40s and feeling ready to reclaim myself since youngest was midway through primary. I can’t bear how some women really do just be ‘mum’ and put themselves last for twenty years or more, it upsets me and I see it so often, particularly in my parents’ generation. I feel like I give, and have given, so much to my children and they’re my priority, but I make it clear to them I’m a person too, my existence is about more than parenting.

I think sometimes people have to be physically in a completely different place or a huge event has to happen for people to reset themselves. I feel like this is happening with Stephen and Viv, she’s not only remembering who the fuck she is, but also adjusting her position in the marriage and taking charge, too. So far it seems S is quite happy with that, and appears delighted that she’s enjoying herself. I think whatever the outcome, this race will have a positive impact on both of them!

Re Betty and James 🥹 I have to say I think Betty led so well by example, when she didn't get angry with James last time when he left the bag. He then had to meet that standard when she did the same thing and that’s probably now been some sort of watershed moment in their relationship. They’re practicing at treating each other with empathy and kindness and it’s paying off and building up a beautiful sibling relationship - which again as with S&V the new dynamic will be the biggest prize out of the race for them. All anyone wants for their children, is for them to please just really love each other. You have more than one child for them to have a bond, and I’d be devastated if my kids grew up feeling distant from one another. They’re seeming to be learning how to love each other as adults more and more with each leg of the journey.

The boys are delightful, again seem to be maturing in front of our eyes. It’s such a cliche to say travel broadens the mind, but we are watching it in real time here! They’re getting it, they’re getting each other, they’re adjusting their behaviour, they’re thinking before they speak, they’re growing in patience and letting things go. I think Alfie would have just about lost his mind if the backpacks had been locked in on the first leg. They just took the hit, paid again and ran for the bus. I’m now feeling like I don’t care who wins, it’s been so about the journey for all of them and I think they’re all massively benefiting from the experience. They’re all winners IMO.

Don’t get me started on E&I though. I was really impressed with Isabel initially, but it’s all just a bit unpleasant now. The relationship needs some serious therapy, I think it’s too big of a gap to be fixed by travel.

I've loved this episode. I visited Sumatra, although only the northern half, down as far as the island within the island, and have retrospectively happy memories of the chaos on the roads (terrifying while we were actually there!) It's was great seeing all the teams being shocked by the driving "etiquette" there.

What an insightful and well articulated post. 😊

Only bit I’d not agree with is Eugenie and Isobel. The education thing I think explains a lot about their disconnect. I am feeling more and more that Isobel is perhaps on the spectrum. If not then she needs to build her resilience - hopefully this trip will go some way towards that. They don’t seem close, but not all families are and that’s OK.

I think I have an entirely different opinion here.

I find Betty and James harmless, but she isn’t growing up. The whole “finding yourself” travelling is tiring and irritating, it stinks of privilege to me - we’re the same age (maybe a couple of years diff) and I couldn’t ever have that attitude. I do think their relationship developing is lovely to see though.

Viv & Stephen will forever irritate me in every way. I simply can’t stand them.

The boys are constantly changing. Last week, I really liked them and their approach. This week they’re annoying. Lots of moaning and so much emphasis on pure racing which is boring.

E&I I think had their troubles and now I don’t think it’s that deep, it’s just a typical antagonistic mother / daughter relationship. I still find Isabel fascinating as she is so intelligent but she is a clear case of someone growing up before they should have had to, so I think there’s a deeper backstory here that may not be shared with us

Seems like something happened to Betty a while ago which may be a tear jerker. I do find the convenient telling of the stories / developments form editing annoying and so obviously prompted by the production team. I’ve been on a few shows and so can spot it a mile off, it always takes out some of the authenticity for me.

I’m worried that two educated intelligent women can’t tell the difference between some sort of dragonfly and a spider.

Funnily I thought the boys came across better this leg. More considerate and less impulsive.

I've always liked the boys. In Series 1 there was a lad the same age (20) who behaved like a sulky 13 year old (think Kevin the teenager) there's no way he could have got anywhere without his Dad although he'd improved a bit by the end. This pair are inexperienced and each has their issues but they have overcome set backs and just got on with it. Well done them.

Still team boys here, delighted they came first but also adjusted to see the Petronas towers so they have realised they need to experience things to and not just win every leg.
Close call for Betty and James!
Still haven’t warmed to Stephen but he was a bit better this week , less Brit abroad with his shouting “we are in a race” mimicking running, or asking for pensioner discounts to people who have limited English!
Wish they showed how Eugenie and Isobel got out that lift, being claustrophobic it was hard to watch!

Still team boys here too. It I did love how James responded when Betty lost the bag.

agree it seemed a bit cruel of Eugenie to wind Isobel up about the bugs. Some people can take that kind of teasing and others cant. It just shows that she doesn’t seem to know her daughter well.

I know it's been said by a previous poster but I wonder if Isobel was approached to participate..I just can't see the two of them sitting cosily together watching TV saying lets go on this. They seem like people who have awkward stilted Christmases

I'm just catching up, I really like Betty and Jane's, I think they're my favourites now.

That said how do you lose a bum bag?! Surely you just never take it off?? I'm very anxious about stuff like that though so would be checking passports and money every 5 seconds 🙈😂

I liked this leg as well.

I'm not keen on Eugenie, there's something bitter and spiteful about how she interacts with Isobel that I don't like. It makes sense that Isobel went to private school though, that will be why her language skills are so good and emotional ones less so 😉

I think Betty and James were less stressed than most of us would be over the loss of the bag because they have the production team there. Yes they would be out of the race but not stuck, they could still get home because the production team will sort it out. The rest of us would be trying to work out what the hell to do.

Loved the leg. I fluctuate between the boys then Betty and James constantly.

I once left our passports in a toilet in the airport in Australia-although I didn’t know where I’d left them. My friend was very calm, I had no recollection of where. I guess it was at least a good place to leave them rather than a bus, but the fear inside me was intense.

I had no excuse, just tiredness. Glad they found theirs. It was so lucky.

I enjoyed this leg - Thailand looks glorious & I want to go back and explore Malaysia more. (Might give Sumatra a miss)
I thought Betty & James responded remarkablyvto the passport loss.
The boys were brilliant, even Stephen wasn't as annoying & obnoxious.
Isabelle & Eugenie are now my least favourites. They started so promisingly
.

I’ve rewatched season 2 and am struck by what a family they all became - such wonderful people, them all.

I'm now going to rematch also as this was my favourite season.

It makes sense that Isobel went to private school though, that will be why her language skills are so good

My 3 went to private school and their language skills are shit 😂😂

When people say about what groupings go on -younger people or retired. Have we had 2 older men yet? You would have thought men would cope better with all the trains /busses lack of decent loos than ladies/ particularly ladies going through menopause. Bit we've not had that so much (some dads with kids and one husband now)

Really enjoyed the last leg. Would love to spend some time in this part of the world.

I find the dynamic between Eugenie and Isabel fascinating - does Eugenie have a bit of a chip on her shoulder about her well-spoken and well-educated DD? They really are two very different characters and both find spending so much time in each other's company very challenging. As I watch them I think how horrendous doing something like that with my DM would be! DMs and DDs often have a lot of unspoken stuff going on between them and I sense that with those two.

Stephen annoys the hell out of me, as does Viv. Super annoying couple.

I'm really enjoying watching Alfie and Owen grow up and develop resilience before our eyes - they've matured hugely already.

Betty and James - it's sweet that a DB and DSis are doing it together. The lack of eloquence though is grating and she really needs to grow up. James has matured before our eyes - but not Betty.

Loving the travel though and seeing destinations both well-known and totally unknown. I'm looking forward to seeing them journeying through Indonesia, because if they're going to finish in Lombok they'll probably have to travel through southern Sumatra, Java and Bali.

That's exactly what I thought. Yes, they would be out of the race but they wouldn't have to fend for themselves. They would have it all sorted for them.