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00:00Hello Backpackers, I'm Tyler West and welcome to Race Across the World, The Detour.
00:05This is your travel buddy for the show that's got us all questioning our eyesight.
00:09Is that a catch over there?
00:10That ballman's arms?
00:12Yeah, it's a baby I think.
00:15Absolutely murdering Beatles songs.
00:16There's the sun now.
00:17Yeah.
00:18Here she comes.
00:20And planning for our future.
00:22I definitely could put this on my CV.
00:24I shoveled bear poo.
00:26As always on The Detour, we're going to be dissecting the most recent episode of Race Across the World,
00:31hearing some travel tales and fails from our special guests,
00:34and playing you a never-before-seen clip from the next episode.
00:37Plus, once you've finished here, there'll be an exclusive bonus episode of our Travel Buddy series,
00:42only on BBC Sound, so don't say we don't treat you well.
00:46Hop on that overnight bus, stuff in a sneaky dumpling,
00:49and join us for Race Across the World, The Detour.
00:56Now, I cannot wait to say hello to our special guests for this episode,
01:00but who has signed the guest book this week?
01:02It's celebrity racers Kelly Brook and Jeremy Parisi.
01:05Woo!
01:06Come on!
01:07And we're still married.
01:09I've got married.
01:10Just about.
01:11Just about over it.
01:12And comedian Fatia El Ghori.
01:14Woo!
01:15Yeah!
01:17And of course, we must again say hello to our resident travel expert.
01:21He's the Andy Murray of map reading.
01:23It's Alfie Watson.
01:24I like that one.
01:25I like that one.
01:26That one's good.
01:27Yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:27Yeah, I like that one.
01:28Just there.
01:29How are you feeling?
01:30I'm good, mate.
01:31I do have to say, I saw that you were in Vegas.
01:33Yeah.
01:35And immediately, I felt FOMO.
01:37Okay.
01:37So I had to fly out to Thailand.
01:38So you flew out to Thailand.
01:39What did you fly to Thailand for?
01:41So I flew to Thailand for something called Songkran,
01:43which is their national New Year celebration,
01:46where basically the whole country has a water fight.
01:48You know about the water fight, right?
01:49In Thailand.
01:50I didn't, but now we do.
01:51Yeah, so the entire country has a water fight.
01:53It's amazing.
01:54They all sell water guns.
01:55The great thing about this was that my flight was overbooked,
01:57so I had to come home a day early.
01:58So I flew all the way to Thailand for the water fight
02:00and didn't even get to do it.
02:01Alfie Watson's our travel expert, everyone.
02:03That's it.
02:04Thank you so much.
02:05Well, it was either that, or I had the water fight
02:06and didn't come here.
02:07So, I don't know.
02:09Bless you.
02:10Anyway, if you are thinking of doing your own version
02:13of Race Across the World, then stick around towards the end
02:15of the episode, because I will be revealing my optimal route
02:17for this week's leg. It'll get you there quickly,
02:19but, as always, you'll have plenty of time
02:21to see some eye-catching detours.
02:22Yeah, absolutely.
02:23Now, before we go any further,
02:24if you're still contemplating the sunken mosque in Halfeti
02:27and you haven't yet made it across the border to Tbilisi,
02:30then stop.
02:31Go and watch the fourth leg of Race Across the World Series 6
02:34on iPlayer, and then just come straight back here, right?
02:36Now, to turn to this week's episode,
02:39it was an electric finish,
02:40and we have a very different-looking leaderboard.
02:42Now, Fatia, Mark got sick during this episode, right?
02:46And Margot nursed him back to health
02:48by going to smash out some wine and dumplings.
02:50Yes.
02:51But then they still stormed into first place.
02:54I know.
02:54What about that?
02:55I just think, firstly, I want to move to that place,
02:58because how are you getting all that food for £10?
03:01What is going on?
03:02Do you see what I mean?
03:03Alfie, sort me out. Sort me out of a quick route.
03:05Do you know what?
03:05I have actually got that for you later in the episode.
03:07I have got the quickest route to get there.
03:09OK, bro, hook me up.
03:11OK.
03:13Yeah, that was really insane.
03:16But I think the travel from that town was really messed up,
03:20and I just think they managed to time it correctly.
03:23Yeah.
03:23I was really happy for them,
03:26because he spent most of the day in bed.
03:28It was really unwell.
03:29It was really unwell.
03:30And they stuck together as a team,
03:31and that's why Margot went out.
03:32We all need a Margot day, don't we?
03:33We do need a Margot day.
03:35Alfie, Joe and Kush, right, they are now in second place.
03:38Yep.
03:39They've worked their way up from last.
03:40And now they are qualified geese poo shovelers.
03:42They are.
03:43That's something to add to your CV, right?
03:45Yeah, absolutely.
03:46I mean, you get lots of things to add to your CV on race across the world.
03:49I kind of felt like they'd learnt from leg three,
03:51because that taxi was expensive.
03:53They were panicked though, weren't they?
03:55Because they just wanted to get there.
03:56Yeah.
03:56It was a few times we splashed out on taxis.
03:59Yeah, sometimes.
03:59Jeremy made all the decisions with Bodger.
04:03Here's your answer, Tyler.
04:04I don't think I even saw the money, to be honest.
04:07And that's how we stayed in the race.
04:09Yeah.
04:09The trend was less expensive.
04:11How many legs did you have money for at the end of the race?
04:13Oh, no, we finished with zero.
04:15All right, OK.
04:16We definitely finished with zero.
04:18He said it.
04:19No, no, no.
04:19No, no, no, no.
04:21We managed to finish thanks to Kelly.
04:24We had no money left, and we hitchhiked the whole way.
04:27When the winning couple were on the speedboat, like, going.
04:31I was on the side of the street hitchhiking.
04:34She was, she did it, yeah.
04:36It's about how you finish, you know?
04:38You've got to finish.
04:39I think for us, the main thing is finishing.
04:41And you want to stay in it, don't you?
04:43I don't even think it's about...
04:44I'm not going to give up.
04:45Andrew and Molly had some difficulties in this app, right?
04:48The communication difficulties.
04:50They weren't really matching up.
04:51But then they've stuck together,
04:52and they've really powered through towards the end of the episode as well.
04:56What do you think that they need to change about their tactic
04:59from here on in in the race?
05:00For me, they look like, I know it's a bit early,
05:04but I think you can see a good dynamic.
05:06They've got a good dynamic.
05:07They've got a good chemistry,
05:08and I feel like they're the ones to watch.
05:10I feel like they could really work well together.
05:13And I think they're really generous with each other.
05:16And I think that's what you need.
05:17I think you can't always have it your way.
05:19And you have to kind of go, right, I made the decisions on this leg.
05:22Now it's your go.
05:23And you mix it up, and that's how...
05:25Because ultimately, your relationship has to stay strong.
05:29And despite our disagreements and our opposing opinions
05:33and things we wanted to do,
05:34like, we never fell out over anything, really.
05:38Jeremy's having flashbacks right now, by the way.
05:39I've got some pity on you now.
05:41I don't know.
05:42I don't feel like we did, but maybe you think differently.
05:46I mean, I had a lovely time.
05:47I don't know about Jeremy.
05:49I had a lovely experience.
05:51Fatih, we know that Molly is extremely competitive, right?
05:54But then she made that snap decision.
05:56That was the difference between them coming third and last.
05:58And obviously, they can put their foot down when they want to.
06:01Do you think that they are the dark horses in this race?
06:04Obviously, he's her dad, and he feels protective.
06:07And then, so that's coming into play.
06:09So that's maybe stopping them.
06:11And then she's like, oh, he's my dad.
06:12He's trying to tell me what to do.
06:13So it's that dynamic that's making them butt heads a little bit.
06:17But yeah, I think they are starting to come through that.
06:19Molly's having that little bit more confidence in the decision-making.
06:22Yeah, definitely.
06:22And I think he's realising a little bit like,
06:24oh, I am being an overprotective dad, and I do want to look after her.
06:27Maybe I need to back up a little bit and let her take the reins.
06:30But I think they work really well together.
06:33And their moments made me cry.
06:35Why does this, why, why?
06:36I've cried so much in this show.
06:39You lot owe me some compensation, OK?
06:42Because I keep on crying.
06:44Because there's just these beautiful moments where they connect.
06:47And you're just like, oh, it's so lovely.
06:49And because I think it's so high stress as well,
06:52that allows you to open up and share.
06:55And for her to say, Dad, I feel like this.
06:56And him to say, Molly, I feel like this.
06:58Kelly, Jeremy, Katie and Harrison went from first position to last position.
07:02Right, it's a bit steep.
07:03What do we think that they can do to climb themselves back up the leaderboard?
07:06It's a horrible feeling, isn't it?
07:07It's a horrible feeling, yeah.
07:09It flips so quick.
07:11And it never leaves you.
07:12Like, I mean, we're what, it's three years ago now.
07:15And you're still upset about it.
07:16We'll be sitting there having our roast dinner on a Sunday,
07:18and he'll be like, we should have really gone to do those outpacks.
07:21I'm like, Jeremy, we've got to let it go.
07:24We've got to let it go.
07:26It's the moment that...
07:27It stays with you.
07:28It's the moment that Katie Sons, she's standing there at the book,
07:31and she goes, oh, I'm just happy for everyone else.
07:33Yeah, yeah, yeah.
07:34And she goes, I'm gone.
07:35I saw his face, he was not happy.
07:36He's not happy.
07:37I don't think he would be.
07:38He was like a football manager in the interview, wasn't he?
07:40He was like, yeah, I just think it's completely unacceptable.
07:42I personally deem it as unacceptable.
07:44Totally.
07:44It's like, look, you just have to practise that smile.
07:47It's fine, it's fine.
07:48Inside, inside, you're dying and crying.
07:50But they're once the first three legs.
07:51Yeah, yeah, yeah.
07:52You know, I feel like it's like a reflection of life as well.
07:55You know, like, they started on a high,
07:57and now they've gone, you know, they've had this little bump,
08:00and now they're down.
08:01And that's what happens in life, and I think it's not linear.
08:04And so it's good to, like, experience these things as well.
08:07It's good for them to have these good and bad days, I think.
08:10You're about to make us cry.
08:11What are you doing?
08:12Oh, see, well, I'm getting you back.
08:15No, bless them.
08:16No, they're doing really well.
08:17Yeah.
08:17Let's unpack the route from tonight's episode.
08:20And it was a good one, right?
08:21Offering some stunning countryside and impressive ocean views.
08:24A 1,700-kilometre journey to Georgia's capital,
08:29the fourth checkpoint, Tbilisi.
08:33Meaning warm place.
08:36Legend has it that King Vaktang Gorgasale
08:39founded the city after his falcon fell into a hot spring,
08:44revealing the area's natural thermal waters.
08:49Today, those sulphur baths still steam,
08:53set against the backdrop of modern, futuristic architecture.
08:59Alfie, give us the facts, mate.
09:00Can you stop asking me to follow John Hanna?
09:03I know, he's...
09:03This is really, really difficult.
09:05His voice, his voice, I swear to you.
09:08I cannot compete with that.
09:09The first thing to say is that Tbilisi is a really, really old city.
09:13I mean, it's much like other cities in the region,
09:15it's been destroyed, it's been rebuilt countless times.
09:18The one thing that is really, really helpful for the race
09:20is that this is actually one of the cheapest metros in the world.
09:23So you can ride it for just one George and Larry,
09:26which translates to about 30p.
09:29And that's a fixed journey for however far you're going.
09:32But, you know, this has got a fantastic blend.
09:34It's got an amazing old town.
09:36It's got loads of new skyscrapers.
09:37Just seeing it, it's an incredibly beautiful city.
09:40And Georgia is one of the best up-and-coming tourism destinations.
09:44Really diverse as well, isn't it?
09:45Yes, and it's got literally all kinds of churches,
09:49all kinds of religions.
09:50It's an incredibly diverse city.
09:52And it's somewhere I really want to go.
09:54Now, I mean, there were so many different routes
09:56that Katie and Harrison could have taken.
09:58They opted for the coastal route.
10:00They had that amazing homestay in Sampson.
10:03Fatia, what do you think of their experience
10:05when they stayed with the cattle farmer and his family?
10:09Oh, I thought they took it so well.
10:11They were, because you do, you're scared,
10:13you don't want to offend.
10:16And you're a little bit, you are outside your comfort zone
10:18because you're doing something you don't know anything about.
10:21It's a new culture to you.
10:23It's a new practice.
10:24But they did so well.
10:25Harrison was so nervous going into it.
10:27He was like, oh, I was staying at somebody's house.
10:29I don't know how I feel.
10:29It's their first homestay, you know?
10:31Yes.
10:32You know when the guy showed him and he's like,
10:33look, I've been to Birmingham and it was a Tesco Express.
10:36Tesco.
10:36Yeah, Tesco.
10:38That's so cute.
10:40Our finest landmarks.
10:42Absolutely without question.
10:43They were able to connect.
10:45And look at that, no language, but you were able to connect, still connect.
10:49Yeah.
10:50Kelly, Jeremy, how about you?
10:51What was your homestays like?
10:53I think they blew the whistle for everyone to start.
10:55And within 20 minutes, we were in a lovely homestay.
10:57And I was like, this is great.
10:59And everyone else was on a night bus.
11:01With the swimming pool.
11:02It was fantastic.
11:03My homestays were very different.
11:04Yeah.
11:05My homestays was like in an Indonesian fishing farm with no light.
11:09Oh, my God.
11:09So this swimming pool life sounds great.
11:12You need to stick with me.
11:13I want to take you to the nicest places.
11:15That's funny.
11:16I think what's lovely about our homestay is that you get to live like a local.
11:20Yeah.
11:20You know, you get to kind of-
11:21Local food, everything.
11:22Yeah, local food.
11:23You get to kind of be a part of their lifestyle for kind of 24 hours.
11:27When me and Molly were on the race, we stayed at a habanero farm in Mexico.
11:33And it was all good.
11:34There was a language barrier.
11:35He was on good vibes though, this guy called Juan.
11:37And he let us stay in his bed.
11:39And then it got to like nighttime.
11:40We was about to go to bed and we had to do our nighttime bedtime diaries.
11:43And you just had me and Molly walking into his bedroom with our cameraman, Sam,
11:48just following us in with this camera.
11:50And Juan's just looking at us like, what are they doing?
11:53It was just like, these British people, man, they're a bit strange over there.
11:58They're not the one.
12:00Now, Fatia, we also heard a lot about Katie and Harrison's lives as young carers.
12:05It was a really touching moment on that incredible tea farm.
12:08There's something about travel and being away from home that makes those conversations a little bit easier, isn't it?
12:13Absolutely, because you're enjoying this moment.
12:17You don't know how long it's going to last.
12:19And there's just something about it that, like you said, makes you open and vulnerable.
12:23And it brings them closer together, something he didn't know.
12:26Because you think, oh, that's my brother.
12:28That's my sister.
12:28I know everything about them.
12:30But obviously, you don't, because as we've seen with them two, and it just brings them closer together.
12:35Kelly, Jeremy, I think that this is something that maybe happened to you during your travels.
12:41The Margot Day, yeah, where basically her motto was...
12:45I'm just going to go eat some dumplings and drink some wine,
12:47because if you can't do anything about it, you've just got to live your best life.
12:50Right. Lovely.
12:52How important are those breaks in the race?
12:56We didn't have many of them, did we?
12:58No, you had a few.
12:59I mean, I had a few, and I would sit there, like, having, I don't know, an ice cream or
13:03a nice
13:04Brazilian steak at the bus station, and Jeremy would just sit there with his espresso,
13:08just glaring at me.
13:09It was a Brazilian barbecue, like, very expensive.
13:13Every stop.
13:14I think it's important, because I think the whole thing is race versus experience,
13:18and that's what you're constantly juggling.
13:20Like, are you just going to race, race, race, race, race, or are you going to take a moment
13:24and enjoy yourself? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
13:28But you kind of have to take a minute and go, do you know what?
13:31We really have to enjoy it, and we have to have those moments.
13:35Otherwise, it's going to go by so quick, and we're not going to have those memories.
13:38And we ended up really finding a great balance.
13:41Didn't you stay at somewhere with a hot tub?
13:43Um...
13:43Wasn't that on, like, one of the first...
13:45Oh, that was a brothel.
13:47That was a brothel.
13:49What is it with celebrity race across the world?
13:51You've got, like, the Japanese sex motel, you guys staying in brothels.
13:55What happened?
13:55We didn't know it was a brothel.
13:58You've got people following you in with cameras, and Juan is there, like, what's going on?
14:01This is the X-rated bunge.
14:04Oh, I mean, there's nothing that can put you in the mood less than race across the world.
14:09After 24 hours on a bus, it's the last thing you're thinking about.
14:13But actually, to be fair, it was the best room we had on the entire trip.
14:17Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
14:19We did sleep well.
14:21Alf, when Margot did go over and have her dumplings and try out the tasting menu,
14:26the whole bill came to ten quid.
14:28Please tell me it's probably cheaper to go and do that than stay here in the UK.
14:34Well, so I have actually done some research into this,
14:37because I did ask production if I could go and do this, and they said, and I quote,
14:41it's unnecessary, which is a little bit upsetting.
14:44You've got to ask, man.
14:46Before the next episode, can I please go over to Tbilisi?
14:50So the cheapest round-trip flights that I could find were actually via another Georgian city called Kutaisi,
14:56which I have been to and is another kind of hidden gem.
14:59They were £105 stopping in Bratislava on the way out and then Frankfurt on the way back,
15:03and then you'd get a £22 return bus to Tbilisi, then the £10, so you're doing it for about 140
15:08quid.
15:09I mean, an expensive night out in London is 140 quid, isn't it?
15:13Yeah, but there's a lot of transfers there and stuff.
15:15There's a lot going on, there's a lot going on.
15:17For a dumpling.
15:18For a dumpling.
15:19I said, bruv, when I saw that, I was like, I'm going to start drinking as well.
15:23Yeah, and I saw that, because, like, she had three glasses of wine.
15:27It was a tasting menu.
15:27It was like a whole share of that.
15:28And a shot, a shot after, yeah.
15:31For £10, like, I'm drinking, guys, send me your drink, please.
15:34Yeah, yeah.
15:36In fact, Joe and Kush really seem to be putting their Scouse charm to good use throughout this race.
15:42Yes.
15:42They secured a three-night stay in Mardin, courtesy of a man they met on the bus as well.
15:47Yes.
15:47He was just like, yeah, just come stay at mine, it's sweet.
15:49What's it been like watching them grow in confidence and resourcefulness throughout the race?
15:55Because they're the young bucks, you know?
15:56Yeah, like, they're so positive, they're so polite, they're really enjoying the whole journey.
16:03Like, imagine, they're like 18.
16:04If I was that age, I'd be crying.
16:07Yeah.
16:07I'd be calling my mum going, like, you know, I'd be a mess.
16:11But they've been so polite and so resourceful and also enjoying it as well.
16:16They're quite chilled, but I think, but they do want to win.
16:19It's the maturity as well.
16:21Yes.
16:21Like, I just think it reminds me so much of when me and Oma are on the show, because it's
16:26hard as young people, you know?
16:27It's the first time you're leaving, like, the comfort of your own four walls.
16:30For real.
16:31So, yeah, it's so amazing to see what they're doing.
16:33It's also how excited they get at things, right?
16:35Because, like, the pigeon, when I was on the farm, the pigeon did a backflip, and it was like, the
16:38pigeon's doing a backflip.
16:40Never in South London.
16:41The pigeons in South London move you off the street.
16:43They're like, no, I'm not moving, you move.
16:45They're like that.
16:45And you know, they had that little bit of conflict as well, where they ended up missing the bus.
16:49And then one of them was speaking to those girls and getting their Instagram and all that.
16:54Standard.
16:54And then Kush was getting a bit angry, but they never, ever thought about it.
16:58No.
16:58Like, they just discussed it and said, look, this is what I'm feeling.
17:01And then they were like, OK, well, we need to work on this part of our relationship.
17:06Yeah.
17:06That's so mature for these young boys, you know, for young.
17:09They're just such, they're so lovely.
17:12Yeah.
17:12So, they're credit to their mums.
17:13And they're always crediting their mums as well.
17:15Yeah, they always do.
17:16They're just so lovely.
17:17Now, for this episode's game, hot takes are back.
17:21It's very, very simple.
17:22I'm going to tell you an incredibly spicy travel hot take.
17:25And you're just going to tell me what you think, OK?
17:27So, let's go to the first one.
17:29If you're flying, dress like you're going shopping at Calvin Klein, not Tesco.
17:34What do we think about that?
17:35Apparently, if you do that, you can get an upgrade.
17:37You're more likely to get an upgrade if you look smart.
17:39I think that's a myth.
17:40The glass of champagne.
17:42I don't know if that's what I heard.
17:44So, I'm like, yeah, do it.
17:45Well, you were complimenting the air stewardess the other day on her manicure.
17:49Whoa, whoa.
17:50He recognized it.
17:51She teach me something.
17:52I told him that my nail color was a French manicure donut glaze.
17:57And as we got on the plane, he said, oh, she's got a donut glaze.
18:00And I said, if you tell her that, we'll get an upgrade.
18:03Because she'll be so impressed that you know what her nail color is.
18:09And he did.
18:10And we did get a glass of champagne.
18:11Oh, OK.
18:12It's part of my English lesson.
18:15I'm still learning every day.
18:17Right, on to the next second tape, right?
18:19This is it.
18:19Window seat is better than the aisle seat.
18:22Thoughts?
18:23I'm 100% going there.
18:24I'll go there.
18:25In case you want to see.
18:25You get something to lean on.
18:27So, we all agree.
18:28Oh, indeed.
18:28And then you don't have the trolley coming past and smashing your elbow in that.
18:32Yeah.
18:32That always happens to me.
18:34But I always kick off and then I get free stuff.
18:36So, on a long-haul flight, would you rather be woken up or wake people up?
18:41Oh, you book a window and an aisle, and then hopefully no one will book the middle.
18:45And then you've got the whole row.
18:46But I'm the annoying person that's like, I'm going to sit in the middle.
18:49And you like the middle?
18:51Yeah, and you like the middle.
18:52You seek it out.
18:54People have their bags on a bus, and then there's loads of empty seats.
18:57I'm like, excuse me, I want to sit there.
19:01I love it.
19:01I love it.
19:02Right, we're in agreement.
19:03Right, the third one.
19:04You hardly need anything to travel.
19:06The amount you need for three days is probably the same as for 30.
19:10Give me a small backpack and six weeks in South America, I'll be fine.
19:14Really?
19:14Yeah.
19:15I don't know.
19:15All I need is three outfits.
19:17We'll see on that one.
19:18Three outfits.
19:19Well, I've got my suitcase and then everything goes in yours when I'm...
19:24So he's the overflow.
19:26Jeremy's the over-flower.
19:26He's the overflow for sure.
19:29Yeah, he is.
19:30Right, next one.
19:31Bidets should be mandatory in all B&B listings.
19:35Yes.
19:35I've got a bidet in my bag.
19:37But not today.
19:38Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, what?
19:41I've got a travel bidet.
19:43What's a travel bidet?
19:44How am I just learning about this now?
19:45It's like a little, like, bottle and then at the top it's got this thing that goes around
19:50and then you turn it around and you squish it like that.
19:52And then watch that.
19:53I think, honestly, I think bidets should be mandatory in all new house builds in the UK.
19:58Do you like bidets?
19:59Yeah, man.
20:00Yeah, bidets are good.
20:00I like those Japanese toilets that do it all for you and then you get a little, like,
20:05bit of air at the end.
20:07Yeah.
20:08Nice surprise at the end.
20:10And they're like, okay, there we go, all done now.
20:13A bidet without the air is, like, it's messy business.
20:16Just a little...
20:17You need a little blow at the end.
20:20Right, so we'd love to hear your travel hot takes.
20:23Just WhatsApp us on 08000 487 387.
20:27Now, in episode four, we saw several of the pairs get really stuck into the local culture
20:32and Margot, in particular, had a lot of fun.
20:35Are you lonely, Mar?
20:36No, I'm enjoying myself.
20:37I've got some new friends.
20:39Hi.
20:39Oh, my shit.
20:40I shit.
20:41You look so younger.
20:43I told them you're 66.
20:47I really want this to be a trip for Mark.
20:50But I think I might have missed some places on the way that I would have liked to have stopped
20:53and seen and I've realized that it's about balance, really.
20:58Kelly, Jeremy, what do you think about that balance of racing and then wanting to meet new people?
21:03Oh, well, we did meet some incredible people, especially on those long bus journeys.
21:08Yeah, you befriend people quite quickly.
21:09But it's so nice to speak with people, too.
21:11Is it true that when you go on holiday, you basically do your own version of Race Across the World?
21:15I mean, it's not unusual for us to stay in four different locations in a week.
21:20In a week?
21:21Yeah, yeah.
21:22We do a lot of road trips.
21:23We just came back from four days in the Amalfi Coast and we did Pompeii, cooking lessons, boat trips.
21:31Like, we were out nonstop.
21:33We never had holidays.
21:34It's just road trip every time.
21:35It's a road trip.
21:36I don't think, the only holiday we ever had was Maldives.
21:39No, it was during the Covid, so because we could not live.
21:42It was one week blocking this.
21:45Jeremy is the expo.
21:46Oh my God.
21:47Right, Jeremy, you get to see the world.
21:49What?
21:49That's the thing, isn't it?
21:50It's that I think people think that holidays have to be like, you have this obligation to do nothing.
21:55Yeah.
21:55If you enjoy doing things.
21:57We don't holiday, we travel.
21:58Yeah, exactly.
21:59We've never been on holiday.
22:00But we enjoy it, we enjoy it.
22:01Yeah, we enjoy it, we enjoy it.
22:02But have you always been like that, or is that since the show?
22:04Since Race Across the World.
22:06It's not unlike me to wake up and be like, oh, I booked us a flight to Iceland on a
22:12cheap airline,
22:13and we would go for the day and come back.
22:15Oh, wow.
22:15She can do it.
22:16So yeah, that's how we live our life.
22:18We love it.
22:19That's why race for us was like the dream.
22:21Now, up next is the time where you can send in your travel tips, your hacks, your tales,
22:25and your fails.
22:27And if you want to get involved, just WhatsApp us on 08000 487 387.
22:32So I'm in Spain with my mum celebrating her birthday.
22:35We got onto a coach and put all our bags on there, only be told ours was the last drop
22:40off.
22:40When we arrived at our hotel, we jumped off, there was only about six of us at the time,
22:45and we looked for our bags.
22:46We found mine, but my mum's nowhere to be seen.
22:49She's looked deeper into the hold and realised that ours must have been pushed back by everybody
22:54else's baggage.
22:54She couldn't reach it, so she crawled into the hold to try and get it.
22:58At that point, the driver looked back, seen nobody there, and pressed the automatic close.
23:03My mum's thrown around in pitch black whilst the driver heads off down the road.
23:08I'm with me running behind him, banging on the side doors, trying to get him to stop.
23:12Eventually, I caught him at the traffic lights.
23:14He stopped, got out, couldn't have been more apologetic, kept hugging my mum.
23:19She was a bit shaken, but fine after a couple of beers later.
23:24That's a story that you would probably tell on a night out,
23:27and everybody would be like, yeah, you're chatting rubbish here.
23:29I don't believe you.
23:31I'm not sure I would have been able to chase it.
23:32I think I'd be laughing so much as that was you rolling around in the back.
23:35Oh no, she wouldn't laugh.
23:36She wouldn't make you laugh.
23:37You wouldn't be able to chase it down.
23:39I don't know, I'd probably wet myself.
23:41OK, up next, and on holiday when we actually spoke to them,
23:44we have winners of Race Across the World Series 1, Tony and Elaine, the OGs.
23:48Hi, detourers. What kind of traveller are you?
23:54When we were on our Race Across the World experience,
23:58we had all the different contestants who enjoyed.
24:01Some enjoyed cities, some enjoyed mountains, some enjoyed culture.
24:07What floats your boat about travel? What is it that you want to do?
24:12Fatia, let's start with you.
24:14I love, like, markets and stuff.
24:16I love eating food from the locals.
24:19You can't... Food is key to Morocco.
24:21Yeah. That's it.
24:22From the locals. Do you know what I mean?
24:24It's not like... Loads of people, because I'm Moroccan,
24:26loads of people say to me,
24:27can you recommend a nice restaurant in Morocco?
24:29And I'm like, my mum's house.
24:31You know what I mean? That's so sweet.
24:32You just can't, because I can tell the difference.
24:35And, you know, so food, markets, and definitely, like,
24:39speaking to the local people, watching some of their art.
24:42I would love to see, like, the dancing, the music, all that kind of stuff.
24:46We're really embracing the culture right there, yeah.
24:48What about you guys?
24:49The same for me, the local food.
24:51Yeah.
24:51In Morocco, actually, we went to a carpet shop,
24:54and it was the guy's mum, and he took us there,
24:57and we had a lovely tagine.
24:58We was cross-legged on the floor, yeah, on the carpet, with the bread.
25:01Do you remember that bread?
25:02No knife and fork, just, like...
25:04Mm, your hands, yeah.
25:05We've talked about that meal for it.
25:06Non-stop.
25:07Non-stop.
25:08It was delicious, yeah.
25:10So, for us, the culture of the food.
25:11So amazing and charming at the same time, too.
25:14Mm. Yeah.
25:14When I go to Morocco, I always ask my aunt for my favourite foods.
25:17Like, I love tripe.
25:19I love fish, because we live on the coast.
25:21And sometimes she's like, when is your holiday ending?
25:23Because every day, honestly, she's like,
25:25can I see your plane ticket, please?
25:27Can I see your ticket?
25:27Can you leave now?
25:28Because the things I ask her for,
25:30and she's like, oh, Fetaha, please, no.
25:31And I'm like, oh, please.
25:33I'm like, how are you doing this to me?
25:34I'm a tourist.
25:35And she's like, shut up, you speak the language.
25:37And, yeah, yeah, I drive them mad.
25:40Every day, I want something different, like...
25:42Yeah, live your best life.
25:43What about you, Alf?
25:44Waterfights?
25:45Waterfights, yeah, touchy subject.
25:48I also do love the food, but I'm going to go with a different answer.
25:50I'm a road tripper.
25:51Yeah.
25:52I love hiring a car and kind of just...
25:55because I think that's the best way to see...
25:56Yeah.
25:56You know, like, obviously,
25:57I've learned many things about public transport
26:00through my times of travelling,
26:02but the main lesson I've learned
26:03is that it's nowhere near as efficient as hiring a car.
26:05Yeah.
26:05So, my favourite thing to do
26:07is to just kind of get a car at the airport,
26:08and then I'm just free to do whatever I want to do.
26:10Yeah. I mean, for me,
26:11I've just got to lay horizontal on a sun lounger, tan,
26:13put a timer on, tan my panels,
26:15and the panels on the other side.
26:16Oh, are you a real, like, beach bum?
26:17I don't move.
26:17I go to the cocktail bar and I'll come back.
26:19Oh, really?
26:20That is me travelling.
26:21Oh, no.
26:21So, thank you very much for sending in those videos, guys.
26:24Oh, it's driving me mad.
26:25Right. Thank you to those that sent videos in.
26:27If you've got a travel tale fail
26:29or a hack that you'd love to share with us,
26:31then please do just WhatsApp us on 08000 487 387.
26:35Alfie, I see you've got your special jacket on right now.
26:38I have. New flag acquired.
26:39Love it.
26:40Right, it's badged up.
26:41Yeah.
26:41It's time to sit up and pay attention
26:43because you're going to give us your optimal route
26:45through this week's leg, OK?
26:47Halfeti to Tbilisi.
26:48Your race starts now.
26:50Right, so for this leg, I think the proof is in the pudding.
26:53Katie and Harrison were the only team that chose to go via the coast
26:56and they went from first to last,
26:57and I'm not about that at all.
26:59Now, I know there were other factors at play for them,
27:02but I'm going to follow the others and go inland.
27:04It's more direct, and if you go via the Lesser Caucus Mountains,
27:07then you're able to take advantage of an early border crossing into Georgia.
27:10So, first, from Halfeti, get a minibus to Sanlofa bus station,
27:14and from there you can hop on another bus straight to Mardin.
27:16All in all, this journey will be around five to six hours,
27:19but should be relatively cheap because you're in a cheap part of Takiyah now.
27:22And Mardin really is a hidden gem.
27:24I've actually been here by accident, but you can visit the old town and the central square
27:29where local architecture will take you back centuries, and the food here is to die for.
27:33Given its geographical location, it's a fantastic mix of Syrian and Iraqi cuisine.
27:37It's beautiful.
27:38Or you can pay a visit to the Sultan Issa Madrasa, which is a 14th century educational institution
27:43that offers visitors a panoramic view of the ancient Mesopotamia.
27:46Now, I'm going to take a leaf out of Mark and Margot's travel guide here,
27:49because from Mardin, you can get a bus to Van,
27:51which is an eight-and-a-half-hour ride that will cost around €30 per person,
27:55but it's absolutely worth it for the destination.
27:57Now, my reason for going is slightly different to Mark's, who went for the cats.
28:04But little did he know that he was stepping into a showstopper.
28:08Situated on the shores of its titular lake, Van is an ancient place,
28:11with evidence of occupation dating back all the way to 5,000 years BC.
28:16Now, the lake itself is the largest in Takiyah,
28:18and its cool waters are perfect for an early morning dip.
28:21If that's not your thing, then you can visit Van Castle,
28:23which was built in the 9th century BC,
28:25or take a trip to the north-eastern point of Lake Van and have a picnic by the Muradir waterfall.
28:30Once you're done sightseeing, get on that bus and get to Hopper.
28:33Now, it's a long journey, around 14 hours, and will set you back around €40,
28:37but, and you know I love this, you can do it overnight,
28:40which means you're sleeping and moving. That's my dream.
28:43But what's even better is that if you're on a race across the world,
28:45then let it the whole 14 hours down, and you'll just be there in a few seconds.
28:49Just like that. It's amazing, isn't it?
28:51How does that happen?
28:53Plus, then, from Hopper, you can get another bus straight to the heart of Tbilisi,
28:57and that is some serious distance covered by taking a very small number of buses,
29:01and then you get to see some magnificent detours along the way.
29:04Alfie Watts, everybody.
29:05Wow.
29:06Come on, man.
29:08That journey that day, no leg room.
29:10I mean, you didn't have to do that.
29:11Yeah, you're tall. How did you get on with that?
29:13I didn't.
29:15I absolutely didn't.
29:16He didn't even have a pillow.
29:17I took a pillow with me.
29:19And you didn't share?
29:20No, you didn't want anything, did you?
29:22No, I had one, but, like, every leg, I was throwing away everything,
29:25to have, like, not an heavy bag.
29:27He's so aggressive.
29:27I mean, by the end, we had nothing.
29:28I think of, like, even my head, you know the stuff you put in?
29:31Yeah, the little donut head there.
29:32You strike me as the kind of guy that's like,
29:33well, I'm here now, so I'm just going to do it with nothing.
29:35He's like, there's the whole way.
29:36I'll do it properly.
29:37We'll get there.
29:38My bag was 21 kilogram at the beginning,
29:41and at the end was six kilogram.
29:42Oh, wow.
29:43Six.
29:44Oh, I know.
29:45What did you have left?
29:46A few T-shirts.
29:48Not a lot.
29:49No, no boxes.
29:51No boxes, just a couple of teas.
29:52Nothing.
29:53Love it.
29:54Right, before we leave our Checkpoint Hotel,
29:56it is my favorite moment of the show.
29:57I'm so excited for it, because I'm about to play you
29:59an exclusive sneak peek of the next episode of Race Across The World.
30:04Now, Joe and Kush have managed to bag themselves some work
30:06at a luxury event space, but they don't know
30:09what exactly the event is until they arrive.
30:12Enjoy.
30:13I wonder what the celebration is for.
30:15Today's celebration is called a circumcision party.
30:19It's crazy.
30:27The Kazakh tradition of sundet toy.
30:31A celebration of every boy's journey towards manhood.
30:35Oh, these gifts are lavish for a place.
30:38This is a really big deal.
30:40And an opportunity for families to display their wealth
30:43by spending big on lavish banquets and entertainers.
30:48I've never been anywhere like this.
30:50My team was in a church.
30:51It was quiet.
30:52It was family and friends.
30:53And these guys, they're getting handed wads of cash.
30:56Look at the wads of cash in the baby's hand.
30:59Sick.
31:00Sick.
31:01Sick.
31:01Sick.
31:02Circumcision party.
31:03Sick.
31:03What are you doing Friday?
31:04Circumcision party.
31:06Sick.
31:07Do you know, my brother had one.
31:09Yeah.
31:09And we, like, it was nothing like this.
31:11It wasn't?
31:11Yeah.
31:12He's, there's a picture of him going.
31:16My nephew's ones were nothing like this either.
31:19It's a once in a lifetime experience.
31:20Yeah.
31:20It really is.
31:21Right, thank you so much to Kelly, Jeremy and Fatia
31:24for joining us for this episode of The Detour.
31:26And a huge thank you to our resident travel expert, Alfie Watts.
31:30And make sure you stick around,
31:32because there is even more to enjoy after you've finished watching this.
31:35All of our guests are here for our extra special bonus episode,
31:38Travel Buddies, which you can find right now on BBC Sounds.
31:41Just scan the QR code or search for Race Across The World The Detour on the app.
31:45It's well worth sticking around for.
31:47Fatia is going to be nominating a travel buddy to be her race partner with her.
31:50She's chosen her writing partner and best friend, James.
31:52Yes.
31:53So we're going to see if James has the same enthusiasm to go on the road with you.
31:56You better, James.
31:58We're going to be back here on iPlayer and Sounds after episode five of Race Across The World.
32:03Thank you for going on a seat or with us.
32:05I'm Tyler West.
32:06Now put the wine and dumplings down, haggle with that cabbie,
32:09and we'll see you at the next checkpoint.
32:21Bye-bye.
32:23.
32:23.
32:23.
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