#video #Race Across the World - Season 6 Episode 5
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TVTranscript
00:25It's got a mix of different styles of architecture.
00:37Halfway into the 12,000 kilometre race to Mongolia, all four teams gather in Georgia's capital.
00:53Despite all the buildings been so old, it's a very young city.
00:56It's such a street vibe to it, isn't it?
00:59There's a sculpture or something, isn't there?
01:01Oh, yeah, what is that?
01:02In the heart of Tbilisi, the Tamada or Toastmaster.
01:06Is he singing a song or is he having a drink? Are you enjoying that? Tasty!
01:11A symbol of hospitality for nearly 3,000 years, embodying the Georgian belief that every guest is a gift from
01:19God.
01:19Hello! Hello, everybody!
01:22Fancy meeting you all here!
01:24Imagine!
01:26Such an amazing place for halfway line.
01:28Yeah!
01:29It's such a milestone.
01:31I have no clue what to expect in the next couple of countries.
01:34No idea.
01:34The map is pretty empty.
01:36LAUGHTER
01:37The teams are entering a new phase of the race.
01:40As they prepare to cross a changing landscape, the leaderboard also shifts.
01:46Mark and Margo have leapt into the lead, while Katie and Harrison trail by nearly 20 hours.
01:52We've dropped from first four quite dramatically.
01:57Oh, bottom's terrible.
01:58Like, we had great experiences last time, but I want to make up time.
02:02I think it is just about finding that balance between race and experience.
02:05We clearly haven't found it except in one or the other.
02:08We've proved we can win a leg.
02:10Actually, we've stumbled into winning a leg, but we've gone up and up and up the leaderboard.
02:15Trying to stay at the top now?
02:16Yes!
02:16Yeah.
02:18Due to the land borders being closed between Georgia and Azerbaijan,
02:22it is not possible for the race to continue over land.
02:25You must fly to Akhtar, Kazakhstan.
02:28Wow!
02:29Yeah.
02:30Kazakhstan.
02:31That's the big one on the map.
02:33It's huge.
02:34Oh, my God!
02:35That's going to be amazing.
02:37What's there?
02:38Vast open spaces and grasses everywhere, no trees.
02:43Keepers.
02:45I'm quite apprehensive.
02:46I know a little bit about the stands, but Kazakhstan, I've got no idea at all.
02:52It's going to be a wild ride, and we're up for a wild ride.
02:54We didn't sign up for things just to be regular safe.
02:58I can't believe I'm going to Kazakhstan.
02:59It just feels mental.
03:02I don't know what to expect.
03:03I literally couldn't tell you.
03:04I don't know what these countries are like for English,
03:06but I can't imagine that you're going to rock up and go like,
03:08You all right, bro?
03:09Do you know what I mean?
03:11It very much feels like the unknown now.
03:22you oh.
03:25In the world of Africa.
03:43well I'm gonna need my sunglasses here look at that let's get out into Kazakhstan
03:49welcome to Kazakhstan here we are after their flight from Georgia the four teams
03:56have touched down in Akhtar
04:03set between desert and sea a Soviet-era city engineered solely for industry this
04:11is the gateway to Kazakhstan the world's largest landlocked country one of vast
04:20horizons and challenging landscapes that have shaped a culture of both endurance
04:25and generosity it looks good here though look at that see just for miles I've been
04:34a prairie race leaders mark and Margo are the first to depart your fifth checkpoint
04:40is Zamin National Park oh that'll be glorious
04:46Zamin Uzbekistan well found Margo a journey of around 2,200 kilometers into the
04:55soaring peaks of Zamin National Park part of the Turkestan mountain range a nickname the
05:04Uzbek Switzerland its alpine meadows and hidden valleys shelter rare birds links
05:10and Siberian ibex home to some of Central Asia's most dramatic scenery a contrast to
05:18the arid plains that lead here whoa the roots gonna be wild getting there I think
05:23I think so I mean you could go around this way via Kazakhstan that is considerably longer I think the
05:29best way to go to Uzbekistan go to Uzbekistan yeah that's the most direct route isn't it for their
05:35longest leg yet the teams must choose between two countries they can make an early crossing into
05:41Uzbekistan following ancient silk road routes through bustling cities shorter in distance but transport may
05:50be less reliable or they can stay in Kazakhstan tracking Northeast across remote lands dotted with Soviet
05:58era settlements all connected by a 16,000 kilometer railway network that offers slower but steadier travel
06:07we've only just got to Kazakhstan I'd like to see more I think it's gonna be very much like this
06:13you
06:13know quite boring visually mmm Kazakhstan sounds a bit like more crazy and wild like the wild west mmm
06:20mark has had a lot of choices so far I've enjoyed the things we've done but we've made decisions that
06:25were right for him but as races continues I've realized that I have to have my turn of choosing
06:30things so let's have a little look in the directory see what jobs are off okay yes yes look at
06:35this mark
06:35look at that one the horse farm near Turkestan I love horses you do yeah do I'm not too keen
06:43on
06:43horses but I think Mongolian and Kazakhstan horses I think they're quite small so I might be okay with
06:48joyful horses yeah coming first I think we've got the chance to take risks even though it looks
06:54further to travel I feel it's going to be faster but I've got nothing to base it on it's a
07:00gamble
07:00yes okay let's gamble and go to Kazakhstan roll the dice yeah we want to get to train station to
07:07keep
07:07the race on track the in-laws are planning a Kazakh adventure heading north east from Akhtau city by rail
07:13oh so do you speak English the train station if I want to you people take me great yes yes
07:21yes yes oh
07:22thank you my name is Janice Genghis the man I'll go in the front with Genghis lovely
07:33hey yeah Welcome Kazakhstan hey hey-
07:38hey look at this it is like the wild west mark look at this isn't it yeah train choo-choo
07:47choo-choo
07:48Caspi Sea. Mm-hmm.
07:50Caspi Sea, потом вокзал.
07:52No, we want the station.
07:54Oh, I think you wanted to show us the Caspian Sea.
07:56Caspi, yes. Caspi Sea.
07:57We've got a bit of a tour here.
07:59I'm not sure about this, Margot.
08:01This is what we like, adventure.
08:04The adventure of a lifetime, Kazakhstan.
08:0990 minutes behind, there's a train route
08:11that goes straight through Kazakhstan.
08:13I'm sick of buses.
08:15Joe and Kush debate their options.
08:17It's going to take longer than it's worth, in my opinion.
08:20Uzbekistan looks way shorter.
08:22Our number-one priority is the race,
08:24so I want to take the faster route regardless.
08:27I can't lie, it isn't wacky,
08:29but I think overnight sharing will be sick.
08:31An amazing experience.
08:32I want to do Kazakhstan.
08:35Uzbekistan does look more efficient.
08:36It does look quicker.
08:38But I'm not thinking about efficiency.
08:39I'm thinking about the experience.
08:41Ah, so there's a load down?
08:43Is this travelling through Kazakhstan?
08:45Yes.
08:46Oh, bro.
08:47So from 8.30 a.m. tomorrow,
08:48we can get from Akhtal to Kizlodra?
08:50One day, five hours.
08:52Oh, wow, OK.
08:5329-hour train.
08:54We're going to cover so much distance by this one overnight.
08:57Let's go, Kazakhstan.
08:58Clenching the argument for Joe.
09:00Bush.
09:02The best friends have found a cross-country train
09:04leaving in the morning,
09:05taking them a hugely beneficial 1,400 kilometres deep into Kazakhstan.
09:1129-hour train is going to be boss.
09:14We are super, super stoked.
09:16Tomorrow, we are covering more distance than the length of the UK.
09:19That could be sick.
09:27Caspian Sea.
09:29Wow.
09:29Caspian Sea.
09:31The Caspian Sea.
09:35The Caspian Sea.
09:45They share its vast shoreline.
09:47Turkmenistan,
09:49Azerbaijan,
09:50Russia,
09:51Iran,
09:51and Kazakhstan.
09:53Ah.
09:54This is beautiful.
09:58I am liking Kazakhstan so far.
10:01Already get a sense of the pride they've got in their country.
10:04Caspian Sea.
10:04Caspian Sea, yeah.
10:07Without you, we wouldn't have seen it.
10:09Station.
10:10Choo-choo.
10:11Choo-choo.
10:11Choo-choo.
10:12Choo-choo.
10:13Choo-choo.
10:14What's he telling you?
10:15Oh, 6.30.
10:17Oh, dear.
10:18We missed it.
10:19Mmm.
10:20So, if we'd come straight out, we could have...
10:23Yeah.
10:23We might have done it, yeah.
10:248.30 tomorrow.
10:26Mm-hm.
10:26Yes, OK.
10:28Eying up the same long-distance train as Joe and Kush...
10:32It's going to be a long, hard journey, I think, for us.
10:34Just zip it, man.
10:36This journey's going to be a triumph.
10:38They will also need to wait until morning,
10:41losing their lead before they've left Actau.
10:44No matter what the consequences, I'm glad we've done it.
11:03Welcome to Kazakh.
11:04Thank you, my friend.
11:06This is Kushney.
11:08Hey, look at these, Mark.
11:118.30 in Actau.
11:13I've just seen Mark and Margo.
11:15Did you?
11:16Yeah.
11:16They're on the same train.
11:18Gee.
11:19That's mad.
11:20We've closed that gap.
11:22Looks like it's go time.
11:24Wow.
11:25The efficiency, leaving on time.
11:28Two teams set off on their long-haul train journey,
11:32bound for the vastness of Kazakhstan.
11:35It's going to be interesting, isn't it?
11:36It'll have to be that in 29 hours.
11:39First carved over a century ago,
11:43these Russian and Soviet tracks
11:45skirt the sparse Usturd plateau.
11:49Outside, some of the most remote terrain on Earth.
11:53Inside, the carriages are famed for their village-like community,
11:58where the Kazakh spirit can turn strangers into family.
12:06I have no clue what this game is.
12:08Don't know what it's called.
12:09Don't know how it works.
12:09This guy just whips out the board
12:12and started pointing.
12:13Not a single word spoken yet.
12:18Oh!
12:20Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
12:21Wait, you can't.
12:22I know, yeah.
12:23I'm probably getting battered right now.
12:25I don't know what the score is,
12:26but it is fun just, like,
12:28interacting with someone in a different way.
12:30Oh, wait.
12:30I think he's shown me.
12:32Oh, my God.
12:33He won second in the championship.
12:36Why?
12:38Oh, my God.
12:40You're playing with a master job.
12:43It's the strangest sausage I've ever seen.
12:45Yes, it is, isn't it?
12:46Very old sausage.
12:48Right, you're going to have to help me with that.
12:49No, no, you've got to eat it.
12:52Keep your strength up.
12:53I was a vegetarian for 20 years.
12:55I'm becoming a vegetarian again.
12:57Not on this trip, you won't be.
12:59Oh, my God.
12:59Look over there of having vodka with their breakfast.
13:02Do you think we should get some vodka with our breakfast?
13:04I am not having vodka with my breakfast, no.
13:06It must be a tradition, a Kazakhstan tradition, Mark.
13:09Oh, let's have a vodka.
13:10No, no vodka first thing in the morning.
13:12I'm going to ask if it's traditional, OK?
13:14OK, you can see.
13:15I'm going to ask them about the culture.
13:18What?
13:18English?
13:19No, no.
13:19No, no.
13:20What was her name?
13:21Margo.
13:22Margo.
13:23Margo.
13:24My name's Sultan.
13:26Sultan?
13:26Sultan.
13:27Do you have vodka for breakfast?
13:28Yeah.
13:29Mm-hmm.
13:30Is this usual?
13:32Ni poni ni pan mai.
13:34Oh!
13:40Ooh!
13:41Wow!
13:42This is a good tradition.
13:44It's all right.
13:46Oh, Mark's having a great time.
13:48Yes.
13:48Hey!
13:50Hypnotise.
13:50Give me your vodka!
13:52Hi!
13:53Give me your vodka!
13:55Mark, you don't want to come round and join us?
13:57No.
13:58No!
13:58I'm happy here.
13:59Oh, sorry, sorry.
14:00Sorry.
14:01Is that all it?
14:01I don't drink vodka at all, really.
14:03It's not my drink.
14:04He wants to marry me, does he?
14:06No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
14:08You're a very naughty boy.
14:10I'm on train, Joes, actually.
14:11I like to look out the window and see the landscape.
14:13Let's go.
14:14Hey!
14:15Thomas!
14:21As two teams advance further into Kazakhstan...
14:26Look at that. Look, that is just unreal.
14:28As far as the eye can see, nothing.
14:32I sound silly, but, like, you can see why people think they're this flat.
14:36Third to get going, Andrew and Molly set out their plan.
14:41I really want to do a city I love the idea of being in around people in
14:46culture Uzbekistan is synonymous with the original Silk Road some of the most
14:51beautiful cities in the world I think that could be dead fun it would be fun
14:58opting for a route east through Uzbekistan the pair set their sights on
15:02an ancient city Kiva
15:07all right yeah okay where's the train we're trying to go to Uzbekistan through
15:15Bennu you know yes no no no determined to reach Uzbekistan today they must first
15:24make the five-hour trip to Bennu aiming for an evening connection across the
15:29border how much to go to Bennu no I think we missed a train to Bennu where we
15:36know we would have got a connection to Uzbekistan so we're kind of raising the
15:41clock a bit because I really want to go to Kiva City 50 boy yes guys willing to
15:48take us for $50 yes all right to Benin and we'll be there for four o'clock she's
15:53that'd be great I think we take it okay go go go go are you happy with us yeah oh
16:00we
16:01need to get there
16:03go come on
16:04you know how much I really haven't a clue what to run
16:16yeah we had agreed $50 and then his mates obviously got around him and decided that
16:20that wasn't the money they pay I don't want $100 and 170 but molly's
16:27currently in negotiations with about 20 men that's okay yeah then goodbye goodbye you're
16:32right molly there yeah she's holding her own so uh but we just have to wait and see 70. daddy
16:40he did for 70. well done that was good
16:45right go stressful it means we get the connection so nice which is the main thing
16:52when's the last time you ever had something like that i've never had that before never
16:55jesus molly well done kid with andrew and molly finally on their way to baynu oh by the way we're
17:03still in europe we're not in europe we're in asia harrison kazakhstan playing the euro qualifiers
17:08katie and harrison waste no time in doing the same i don't do continents i do football confederations
17:15we're going through uzbekistan rather than over the top through kazakhstan immediately it looks
17:22that the direct route chasing the same train as andrew and molly they look to move quickly across
17:29uzbekistan we are 20 hours behind first last leg we maxed out on experience but it did feel like we
17:37threw away three lengths worth of hard work i just don't want to sign in last again we're racing a
17:44lot
17:44more than the last leg but it is about balance whilst we're in these places we're going to try and
17:50experience as much as possible oh there's camels oh my god there's just camels in the middle of the
17:56world this is gonna be cool right let's go bye bye
18:07what time 48 and it goes to knuckers okay yes knuckers time tickets secured
18:14hello just like the front runners the bottom two teams are now neck and neck happy days are you
18:24getting this one as well yeah yeah yeah yeah that's all sort of yeah yeah right let's get on the
18:29train
18:33there is a race back on it's nice to know that we've caught with someone already i'm sure they're not
18:38happy to be with us because it means they've lost their lead on us there's no other train we could
18:43have got so we've got what we needed to do i'm not worried about here i can see yeah i'm
18:48worried
18:48about who i can't see exactly and if people are around us that means we're in the game
18:53if you'll have some bread i will have some of anything a bit like jesus bread water isn't it
19:00i am starving i've got no water no food but what we've been doing here is eat when you can
19:07because
19:08you don't know when you're going to eat next yeah the problem is it's not that hard to find food
19:12so every time i eat i've been eating like i'm not going to eat the next 48 hours but realistically
19:17it's the next four to eight hours
19:36oh don't drink the water thanks not exactly the orient express
20:06it's the 29-hour train pulls two teams further across
20:17kazakhstan their rival two teams have made it to uzbekistan got a train ticket sorted for tomorrow
20:24morning out of knock us i'm very much looking forward to getting to explore uzbekistan a bit
20:30a nation now dominated by youth with 60 of its citizens under 30. yet beneath that energy lies
20:38a history stretching back more than two millennia with some of central asia's oldest settlements
20:45how old is this cemetery then katie think of old and then think like even older than that
20:52just outside nukas one of those ancient sites still remains
20:57mr khan a sacred necropolis in use for 22 centuries as a burial ground for local communities
21:06profits and royalty we're getting into someone's grave it's kind of creepy on what the wow
21:15you and the brick work on it like it's just you've got hundreds of different types of bricks in it
21:19and
21:19they've then been put together to create a pattern yeah it must have been such a fast
21:25i really want one will you build a building for me when i die must be jerky
21:32it's just cool to go somewhere that's so untravelled part of world i never thought i'd go to
21:37i know we're obviously racing this leg to try and get out of fourth place but been nice to stop
21:42for a
21:43second isn't it like to get an appreciation of of what uzbekistan's about yeah thousands of years
21:49i've always stood some of them date back to 400 bc remember the dinosaurs around oh my god
21:57be serious
22:00where's the ticket office sorry on the other side of town at nukas station
22:07sorry do you really buy a ticket ticket andrew and molly have their own plans to explore uzbekistan
22:14hi i am especially looking forward to kiva city i'd love to see the culture rather than
22:20going out to nature just more daddy things but yeah that'd be lovely actually
22:25we're looking to get to kiva city when is the next train
22:30all right thank you thank you right okay having missed another train
22:36we seem to keep getting stuck they search for alternative transport
22:41hello english english is there a bus to kiva bus no taxi taxi taxi talk taxi i don't know what
22:49to do
22:49i don't know yeah sorry just let us stop i need to do something i want to enjoy today
22:55sorry just one sec i don't like having to pay for another taxi but i don't want to be stuck
23:00at a
23:00train station i really don't know what to do you can see it from the map the distances we're covering
23:05this is going to be a long leg a lot of travel i think you could get lost very very
23:09quickly in
23:09this leg i'm beginning to realize that molly has the ability to be confident but at times she
23:14doesn't have that inner self-belief she's going to keep it in it um so my job is to remind
23:23her that
23:23there's a time to put the skates on okay sorry for being a bit indecisive i'm just overthinking
23:29probably i'm gonna have to make a call okay kiva city yes okay okay yes
23:41molly's kiva city dream has cost them another taxi ride
23:47good call yeah i think it's a call i don't know if it's a good one you all right i'm
23:52just kind of
23:54stressed at least we should get there in a couple of hours and enjoy kiva yeah
24:00as father and daughter make the last 180 kilometer push to kiva two teams are still racing along the rails
24:08through kazakhstan's kizilorda region an open desert step where settlements are scarce
24:14and the horizon seems never ending look at that a bit of flatland oh my god you see that it's
24:22a rock
24:24how do they survive on this landscape to start off with it was actually quite a variety of terrain
24:30which now is flattened out into a vast step i have not seen one tree since eight o'clock this
24:37morning
24:37wake me up if anything interesting happens i think you're pretty safe
24:44i think you're going to be able to see it on the edge of the karakum desert
24:54lies kiva
24:57a gateway for silk road traders to rest and recover
25:01before facing the vast sands of central asia within it lies itchin kala a maze of narrow streets and blue
25:09tiled minarets enclosed by towering clay walls still perfectly preserved today oh look at this molly wow
25:20you okay just a bit fed up i just feel like we've taxied this whole yeah i know andrew and
25:29molly's
25:30city stopover has cost more than a day and a half's race budget on taxis alone
25:35a modern reminder of just how remote this outpost is to reach kiva yep it's just lovely eventually got
25:43here but honestly very deflated very deflated kind of annoyed
25:50of course there's a lot of money to get here and we're gonna have to spend money to get out
25:58of here
25:58more than likely or you just sacrificed the race it's something i wanted to do and it's not worked
26:09out very well so i've got a guilt with that
26:16you all right i'm a bit fed up sorry
26:22yeah do you want to go for a walk have have a bit of a bit of us time i'd
26:27love to go for a walk
26:28all right kid yeah okay yeah i want to walk
26:34it is stunning isn't it kind of like aladdin it is it is absolutely aladdin yeah
26:40just look at it it's amazing it is crazy i don't really know why i'm upset i'm trying to prove
26:48myself that i'm independent but i really do overthink things i'm always kind of going oh could
26:53i have done that better could i have gotten it for cheaper where's the best place to see it molly
26:59up on the walls no oh wow that's beautiful
27:08i wish i could stand on my decisions with pride beautiful beautiful spot
27:14oh amazing but i'm scared of negatively affecting people and with this race it's daddy i don't want
27:22to disappoint him oh it's lovely actually i probably need to trust my god i know that is within my
27:30power
27:31so i think this is what i need to do from now on in it is beautiful happy we did
27:38it good call all right
27:40molly but you think the fascinating i always find it's that like the sun goes down and it always
27:46comes back up again i know yeah no matter what your day is like at least it'll come up tomorrow
27:50yeah
27:50that's the thing i think that's what we need to think about it's kind of a nice roundup
28:05the noise oh look at that color huh beautiful it is lovely isn't it in kazakhstan after more than a
28:13day's travel this is kizilorda yo joe is this us joe joe and kush and mark and margot alight in
28:23kizilorda
28:24more than halfway to the checkpoint we need a hotel should try and find our fella see if he's here
28:33to bed in with kazakh culture bigzat my name bigzat kush it's lovely to meet you my friend joe and
28:40kush
28:40have arranged a homestay with local businessman bigzat and his family you've got a very nice place
28:47here welcome to thank you my house this is my family this is my father my mother
28:56assalamualaikum in kazakh tradition the national dish of beshbermak is served on special occasions
29:07it's sharing platter a symbol of unity and hospitality
29:22oh it's so good it tastes amazing
29:31me basketball and kush thai boxing
29:44my father he fight muay thai me muay thai father
29:50my biological dad passed away when i was one my mom was along with me and my older brother and
29:57she met
29:58my dad slash stepdad matt he was a fighter he's coached me and my brother for
30:04it as long as i can remember muay thai thai boxing
30:09as a kid i remember doing pads in the garden that's a big one he'd do around the pads with
30:14us
30:14and then make us do press-ups while the other one does the pads even though we're not blood
30:20he never once shied away from treating me as his own so growing up with him is someone strong to
30:29look
30:29up to you it means the world your medals
30:37bro what are you saying champion number one champion
30:44there's a language barrier but i can sort of relate to the journey that they've grown up with watching
30:50their dad and being inspired to then pursue the same passion hey you've done this you know muay thai
30:57i think this guy's got a lovely family it's so lovely all of it's so sweet
31:06in uzbekistan taxi taxi train station train english
31:24okay thank you no time to mess around with half-assed train noises we're in a race
31:34having spent the night in lucas katie and harrison are bound 550 kilometers southeast to the medieval city
31:41bukhara gonna get traveling all day you can't really ask for much more to the south in kiva
31:49train to bukhara andrew and molly have the same idea two is that the earliest there's no earlier one
31:58molly the earliest is two it's half ten now and it's gonna be a long wait the taxis how much
32:04yeah it's
32:0450 quid it's gonna cost several the money to get the taxi this leg we've taxied a lot i think
32:10i'd rather
32:10prioritize budget getting to bukhara so where train's better train's best yeah that's a good call
32:16yeah i need two tickets to what car i'm feeling very good much better today the last couple of legs
32:24i've realized that being last hasn't been a hindrance paris and katie were 10 hours behind us
32:28i'm sure they've got the same train of us out of here so i think really in the next coming
32:33legs
32:34it's not gonna matter we can just stay in the game stay as close as possible appreciate it thanks very
32:40much there's no point one in the first couple you only want to win one so so we keep telling
32:45ourselves
32:48560 kilometers away in southern kazakhstan you can see some of that soviet architecture isn't it two teams
32:55wake up in kizilorda in the 1920s it was the soviet capital owing to its strategic position on the tashkent
33:06railway line well workers unite look at that that's rather good that circuit propaganda isn't it it's
33:12very strong and dramatic as mark and margo head out of the city to reach their homestay
33:18horses come on marco you want to go to sleep
33:27so cool joe and kush have the opportunity to explore their host bekzat's dojo
33:39definitely a random experience during you though in the middle of kazakhstan
33:48of course has been starved from his muay thai it's nice to see him let off some steam
33:56come to this gym it means a lot to me it's more than just throwing and hitting and fighting
34:02there's a lot of meaning behind it
34:06i think back to memories with my dad i found it sick to do what your dad does
34:12being in the gym i wonder what he'd be thinking the beast standing on the side
34:16with like a particular sort of smirk on his face watching me do judo throws
34:27i remember the day he passed it was locked down and it was it was a real big shock
34:33he had really poor mental health and he took his own life
34:41you never sort of forget that that shock factor
34:50i still think about him all the time being on this journey it's brought me little moments of
34:57of ah be boss to tell him
35:01and i wish i really wish i could um sort of show him who i am now because when you're
35:0714 it's like
35:09i didn't know who i was and i was still a child and i made a lot like i made
35:14a lot of mistakes when
35:15i was younger and i feel like if i could sort of show him what i've learned
35:32losing kush's dad it was so sudden
35:37i think experiencing them hardships like so unexpectedly
35:43it has affected kush's personality he wants to stay in control of himself
35:50you know he doesn't he's never drank he's never got drunken before doesn't smoke doesn't do anything
35:56without checking safety twice because it was such a shock i guess he doesn't want anything like that
36:02to happen again thank you i'm very grateful we're doing the race together
36:11like we can literally go to each other for anything we just need to get to turkstan hopefully we can
36:16go some work keeping the budget healthy i'm always there for course and i know he's always there for
36:23me as well who's turkistan oh perfect thank you
36:28goodbye goodbye check the jobs directory there's a drop seven food at this quasi
36:37that looks sick that would be boss as joe and kush push on south in search of work
36:47across the border in uzbekistan it's tight
37:06way how is it this is scary but kind of cool this is what i've been wanting to do this
37:11whole time
37:12katie and harrison i feel like this is an out-of-body experience looking at a desert outside of a
37:19sleeper train wreck yeah i just never thought i'd be here really pleased with how we're racing so far
37:24we spent a good day in knuckles but then got out there as soon as we reasonably could and now
37:29we're
37:30nine hours on the move to bakara he couldn't ask for much more really my name is faisal
37:37harrison harrison harrison nice to meet you katey where are you from where did you come from uzbekistan
37:45we're from uh manchester manchester united
37:51uh yeah good boy come on ah yeah kuzanov ah manchester city yes it was beckerson the center
37:58back he must be quite good yeah he's good yeah if you said to me five years ago that you'd
38:04be
38:04traveling across the world and seeing these places i wouldn't have believed you i'm obviously a world
38:10away from home but i don't feel it before the race i certainly wouldn't be going up speaking to people
38:18but i think it's become a second nature now it is very lovely to meet you two you have been
38:23very kind
38:24it's the bit that i kind of dread but it's always the experience i get the most out of and
38:29i'll come
38:29away thinking just how wonderful everyone is this is a gift from me to you it is very precious to
38:35me
38:35because it's my first achievement in knuckhurst oh no no no no you sure uh-huh uh-huh it's a
38:43medal
38:44oh half marathon oh uh running i have run a half marathon two in manchester i can send you my
38:53medal if you would like it my name is faisal love fazolo my name is harrison
39:01we are friends
39:07hello
39:09they're lovely aren't they beautiful would you like to get on one ride not particularly
39:16in kentau just outside the city of turkistan
39:22mark and margot have made it to the horse farm run by kouarnish and his family okay
39:31one job you've got to do is shovel shit this is very ripe mucking in in exchange for bed and
39:39board
39:40give me a wheelbarrow i'm fine absolutely fine
39:45i love wheelbarrows essential to survival horses have long sustained life on the step as transport
39:53the source of kumas a fermented mare's milk and as a vital food source mum loves horses
40:00that's how my granddad loved horses oh gosh your granddad was a my great great granddad was a horse
40:06trader wasn't he yes hello yes so what will we do with the horses what oh they're meat meat meat
40:15oh lord my dream has turned into a nightmare the taste of reality isn't it
40:25when i thought about the kazakh horses i just thought of them running wild excitedly over the
40:30fields or something hello are we all right i didn't really associate it with the reality of
40:38it's a major food source and that is reality of the way of life but i want to be open
40:43-minded
40:44but sometimes my mind just um doesn't want to go there poor fella i'm not as squeamish as margot is
40:53the course of human life isn't it we eat animals light's gone isn't it now right let's go
41:02i'm here am i i'm the head of the table there we go to welcome their guests the family has
41:08prepared
41:09a traditional meal it's like a banquet i feel like a king margot oh gosh
41:18oh thank you very much look at that that goat ram's head ram's head ah for guests of honor
41:33oh lord what is this
41:39oh it might feel impolite not to accept it okay i'll try a bit of that okay do something
41:49hmm do you like it it tastes of succulent lamb yes i'm enjoying this route i am enjoying it
41:56but it's not been everything i'd hoped for it was a bit of a surprise really i don't know why
42:03i think my fairy tale thinking got me into another fine mess and what's that i don't know it's meat
42:13mark this is why i brought you on the race i'm taking one for the team
42:17hi hello hello they are all happy to see you in our home oh she gave me such a hug
42:27thank you thank you a wonderful family it's been a real joy meeting them just raised my spirits we
42:35have gifts for you oh my goodness oh my god someone like i would imagine people from the ex-soviet
42:49union to
42:49be yeah you'll see images in the west of them being very dour and grumpy this is not the case
42:59here
43:01these are vibrant exciting lovely people with big hearts this is my wife this is julia the brochure
43:11that i carry with me the celebration of julia's life so beautiful she's beautiful she's very very
43:17beautiful really is an eye of nerve of how we should actually treat fellow human amazing
43:22oh the kazakh way oh your treasures absolute treasures thank you thank you very much thank you
43:28night night night night isn't that lovely that was an incredible night it was not what i expected
43:36for a while there back at the farm i was like i know you were very down weren't you i
43:41was i was
43:42yeah but they've opened their hearts and home to us absolutely we could feel it it was so genuine
43:47wasn't it this homestay it hasn't been about horses it's been about humans you know families
43:51yeah in communities and that's what's been so wonderful about it absolutely
44:0040 kilometers south in the center of turkistan getting ourselves dressed up the first time in a
44:07long time i like a smart casual fit you know what i mean joe and kush are bolstering their funds
44:13with
44:13a shift at a luxury events venue i wonder what celebration is for today's celebration is called
44:20a circumcision party sick
44:30the kazakh tradition of sundet toy
44:35a celebration of every boy's journey towards manhood
44:38how these gifts are lavish for a this is a really big deal and an opportunity for families to display
44:46their wealth by spending big on lavish banquets and entertainers i've never been anywhere like this
44:53my team was in a church it was quiet it was family and friends and these guys they're getting handed
44:59wads of
45:10cash
45:11oh my god there's an eagle
45:13look at that imagine getting an eagle in your party road that would be lit
45:18nice to meet you that's good yeah kush it's nice to meet you yeah i am so beautiful
45:25thank you i love the outfits okay thank you we will watch okay bye bye
45:36your eyes are so beautiful
45:39give me one minute
45:46this job has been lively shall i say we wanted that randomness we wanted to experience new things
45:54i think this has ticked both of them boxes i don't know i was just blown away that this type
46:00of thing is
46:00happening around the world like yeah it was a celebration of these two lads getting a circumcision but
46:07i feel like it was it uplifted everyone in that moment we're like yeah yeah yeah
46:13what do you say i said come find me after you finish dancing sick
46:17steady confidence this is the best job oh my god it's mine and joe's calling you know what i mean
46:25we've been talking to everyone everyone's so nice it's really made me so thankful that i listened to joe and
46:31we decided to go through kazakhstan i mean it's such a beautiful country it's got so much heart
46:36and trying to learn to enjoy the moment a lot more trying not to think so much about the future
46:40or the
46:40past you just got to take it all in your stride and enjoy it as much as you can and
46:43today's been so
46:44enjoyable no he though have you seen them was that she's fine
46:49she oh harrison you look bonita orange is your color having arrived last night do you want to get
47:14me and then we've been racing pretty hard this leg we do have time we can go and have a
47:18wander around
47:20katie and harrison are exploring bukhara
47:25another key stop on the silk road it was a center for islamic theology
47:30unlike the stillness of kiva it remains a city where ancient madrasas centers of higher learning
47:37set alongside a modern working city stunning mosque incredible isn't it at its center the 500 year old
47:46kalyan mosque so have you got a scarf
47:53incredible what a bit of craftsmanship you don't see that on a new build in manchester here
47:59it's grand arches and geometric detail designed to evoke a sense of harmony and balance
48:07katie you stand right in the middle the symmetry of that maybe that's why you like
48:13it so much here because everything is symmetrical it is
48:18so we're gonna get some food yeah i'm starving
48:25it's a little bit of luxury isn't it very peaceful i wouldn't have done this a few years ago
48:31yeah you you used to be really boring so it's just good that you're not letting yourself miss
48:36out on these types of experiences really boring is a bit harsh you're quite boring
48:44without the race i wouldn't have allowed myself to go traveling to see these things in person
48:48it's not in the plan i set out for myself at 17 18 years old my priorities in life have
48:56been to save
48:57money get on the property ladder as soon as i can if that's all sorted then i think it takes
49:02away a
49:02lot of the worries and stresses that i saw our family grew up with we're good we struggled a little
49:09bit
49:09financially there was a lot of moving i think i've lived in maybe 14 different houses i've loaned money
49:15to my family from the age of 16 since i started working kind of like the bank of harrison rather
49:21than bank of mum and dad the stresses of financially not always having enough that's what shaped me to be
49:30so financially motivated and secure but i think my mindset on that is definitely starting to shift
49:35a bill here so as much as you thought what service charge what service charge well it was very good
49:45service to be fair it was right well the tourist information center over there get taxis there to
49:52zamen yeah poised just 430 kilometers from zamen sorry do you have any english the two teams in
50:01bukhara set about securing onward transport we are trying to get to zamen national park to strike out
50:10towards the checkpoint do i mean how much 100 dollars no we are on small budget is there a no
50:20problem we
50:21don't care about good car we have cheap we finish low low low no finish okay give me one minute
50:30okay thank you
50:33it's a killer on the budget but we are last we need to catch up if you're happy with spending
50:40it then
50:40that's fine yeah we go to zamen yeah okay it's very clean cars to be fair oh god it's gorgeous
50:49in there
50:50as katie and harrison as well as andrew and molly plot a route east through uzbekistan
50:57the priority for today is across the border into uzbekistan the two teams in kazakhstan are ready
51:02to approach from the north i feel like tax is quickest for sure i think we should just try and
51:08flag one down here once across the border it's a final push to zamen as the roots converge and the
51:15pack
51:15comes together we're going to uzbekistan to fasten your seat belt we'll be in checkpoint in no time
51:25wrong way bro he's taking a wrong turn he's been told to make a u-turn but he keeps thinking
51:30and he's smarter it was uzbekistan this way he doesn't know he's gone oh my days
51:39it should be fine we'll get there don't stress
52:02high in the mountains on uzbekistan's eastern edge
52:07the fifth checkpoint examine
52:13very dramatic isn't it you like a national park don't you know i do
52:17sort of uzbekistan version of wales poised and ready to go the national park opens
52:24and the teams embark on the final push by taxi this is the bit that i love but it also
52:30stresses me out
52:31i can't wait to get going get me out of this taxi and ready to run
52:35within the zamen mountains the sofa plateau known for its distinct flat high plains and cool thin mountain
52:44air thank you thank you
52:50funny amphitheater and the wayfarer instructions amphitheater
53:01is it a man-made amphitheater
53:05over there look
53:10it looks to be that up there yeah that's it in the opera house kind of thing zamen amphitheater
53:15standing nearly 2500 meters above sea level
53:21it needs to work for us
53:22it needs to dry up here yeah it hurts right here okay just a sec
53:29my legs are wobbly the altitude has just killed me
53:35keep going you're doing well don't go too fast mark i did take my inhaler
53:38i'm working very slowly i might have another go with the inhaler
53:42i mean no physical state to run
53:46do you want some water no i'm okay with water with your heart's pounding but we're all right
53:53altitude running is not what i meant to do
53:55uh almost there seating stage yeah amphitheater
54:03rather impressive structure
54:07travel by cable car to the lower station
54:14i love an echo yes
54:16there's a cable car
54:18cable car
54:20oh wait that is cable car i was over there i could see it i could see the sea lines
54:24down
54:25yeah cable car looks to be here
54:28i think we're getting the wrong way margo
54:30if it's far to go i'm just gonna have to have a rest
54:33get in front of all the cute people come on
54:37it's lovely two people 140 000. just keep the ticket thank you thank you
54:43get on get on get on
54:52oh my god
54:56oh look at this this is crazy jesus oh my oh my god
55:03bolly we're going vertical
55:04we're going oh my god
55:06my unit is insane this is sick
55:11so nice to see a hill
55:19where do you think the teams are imagine if they're just in the cave
55:22come on it's probably hilarious that'd be so good
55:25all my beers wow
55:30oh right
55:33find the checkpoint hotel and sign in hotel ah hotel was this hotel is
55:38it's it town hotel is oh there's two
55:43the checkpoint hotel is a little bit vague isn't it that looks like a hotel no let's try it
55:52i have no idea if that's the checkpoint hotel yeah this looks nice
56:00reception reception
56:03better be it
56:07i don't see a book
56:11i think it's wrong hotel
56:15welcome to zamindor resort please sign in
56:18and 33
56:20oh what the hell
56:23yes we're back we're back we're back oh my god
56:28oh no i know that's
56:31book i'm so happy to be back in first place i think transport lined up really quickly just try go
56:38the
56:38direct way through and it worked confidence restored that we are now to race
56:48do this oh no
56:53what that is so impressive
56:55how have they done that like last to first
56:58the fact harrison and katie got here before us does kind of show that azbekistan was the quicker route
57:04but i'm still not regretting going through kazakhstan we have had the best experiences
57:08one hopefully we're going to stay consistent near the top and then on the last leg do that little sprint
57:14to the end
57:15third
57:19third time being third but very pleased about it thought we were not going to do as well as what
57:24we
57:24did oh that was a tough week that was very tough that was a tough weekend pure utter relief
57:30journey two to kiva kind of nearly broke us i really struggled this leg and i'm so pleased everything
57:36hasn't worked yeah that's the entrance just there up on top yeah i'm not walking any further till you're
57:42certain we've got it just going up a fire escape come on up margot good evening please sign in
57:50yes before yeah well look at that katie and harrison are back in the lead again katie and harrison have
57:56had it a lot of times move over let someone share the throat boring boring we've been fourth before we
58:03were four three two one we're going forward we're choosing better routes no more side quests no more
58:08side horses let's do it
58:15margot the car coming
58:19let's go yes let's go this leg i'm letting monica go over your daughter she did so great job
58:26mark and i have fourth and we have got to race this could be a white knuckle ride oh i'm
58:32so stressed
58:33i hate to see you in such a negative space we just can't give up oh my god i'm on
58:39a horse
58:41in kyrgyzstan this isn't real i feel like i'm in a painting
59:12what are you doing
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