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00:02Singapore, the furthest point from the UK by road and rail.
00:07Normally a 12-hour plane journey.
00:10But could you get there for just the price of the airfare
00:15without taking a single flight?
00:17What am I doing?
00:18Holy moly, that's going to be tough.
00:20Every second counts.
00:21Four pairs of ordinary Brits
00:24are attempting just that.
00:26Most people would go from A to B on a plane,
00:28but then they'd miss all this.
00:30Oh, man.
00:31In an extraordinary race.
00:33Come on, come on.
00:34At ground level, they'll cover over 12,000 miles.
00:38Look at that.
00:39It's amazing.
00:39Everybody wants to get to Azerbaijan.
00:43Who will finish first?
00:45We do not have time to mess with our ones.
00:47As they leave behind the trappings of modern day life.
00:5034 hours on one bus.
00:53Without their bank cards.
00:55We're going to run out of money at some point.
00:56And their smartphones.
00:57I don't want to argue about it.
00:59Time's ticking on.
01:01You can't finish the race if you're dead.
01:03It's almost like I'm questioning my purpose.
01:05What is it that I want?
01:07It's just a bit much.
01:11The reward is great.
01:14This is where you get to find out about yourself.
01:17As the first team to Singapore will claim the prize of 20,000 pounds.
01:25In a race across the world.
01:28Shift your butt.
01:29Come on.
01:3150 days.
01:32Blood, sweat, tears.
01:33It's just a few years.
01:39Previously, the teams raced through China.
01:42It's a crazy, wacky, whooppy place.
01:44To the fourth checkpoint.
01:45Where are we going, eh?
01:46Wang Yao.
01:48A dash to the border.
01:50Might be about to shove.
01:51Saw Josh and Felix stranded.
01:53We thought we were staying here.
01:55I'm in a wheelchair.
01:56Whoa.
01:57But Darren and Alex squeezed through.
01:59He's resting.
02:01To reach Wang Yao.
02:02Oh, wow.
02:03With a 22-hour lead.
02:06Oh, man.
02:08Natalie and Shamima.
02:10I can do this.
02:11Both achieved lifelong ambitions.
02:14But dropped further behind.
02:16I'm actually really going.
02:18And after attempting to save money by taking slow trains.
02:22Whatever the cheapest we will take.
02:24Tony and Elaine are still on the move.
02:27I'd give anything for a flight.
02:35Checkpoint four.
02:36The finish line is drawing ever closer.
02:393,300 miles away in Singapore.
02:44One team, Tony and Elaine, is yet to arrive.
02:47For the other three, the fifth and penultimate leg beckons.
02:58Hello.
02:59We'd like to check out, please.
03:01First to depart with a whopping 22-hour lead over their nearest rivals.
03:06Darren and Alex.
03:09Cologne.
03:10I do not have a clue where this place is.
03:13Cologne?
03:15No.
03:16See, he doesn't even know.
03:18I bet he's got his phone.
03:21No.
03:22Cologne.
03:23That says Cologne.
03:25We're not going to Germany.
03:28The final checkpoint before the finish line in Singapore.
03:32The Cambodian island paradise of Koh Rong.
03:39Known for white sand beaches and coral reefs.
03:43It's 1,800 miles from Wang Yao.
03:47The whole lake looks quite cool.
03:50In theory, it should be a lot easier than China.
03:55To get there, the teams could head down Vietnam's coastline, hopping between Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City,
04:04all well serviced by trains and buses, then jump into Cambodia.
04:08Or they might choose to hit Cambodia sooner and travel as the crow flies across country.
04:15In this rapidly developing nation, transport can be cheaper but less reliable.
04:22Once in Cambodia, the teams must reach the port of Sihanoukville to catch a ferry for Koh Rong.
04:31There's a border shut at 7pm.
04:35Don't.
04:37It's race day.
04:38We're back on the road.
04:40We've got a massive distance on other teams now.
04:43Tony and Elaine aren't even here to be seen.
04:47We're in this competition to win it.
04:49And if we don't win, we won't be happy.
04:52No, and I'll blame you for it all.
04:55Said term right, didn't he?
04:57Yeah.
04:57I don't like losing. I get in a bad mood when I lose.
05:00Even when I play my children at Monopoly.
05:03If I'm starting to lose, I will cheat.
05:06And just nick loads of money from the bank, just so I can win.
05:09And that's even my own children.
05:13Their first challenge, get to the China-Vietnam border, 420 miles away.
05:20Bug? Bug?
05:22But as the border closes at 7pm, the race is on.
05:27Well, I'm very confident back today we'll be in Vietnam.
05:30They have just nine hours to get there.
05:34Everything is major for this leg.
05:36The others are going to be hunting us down.
05:42Back in Wangyao, but unable to leave the checkpoint today, Natalie and Shamima.
05:49We said all the money that we saved would be used to power forward.
05:52Yeah. That's exactly what we're going to do.
05:54Yeah.
05:56And Josh and Felix.
05:59I do think Darren and Alex are very hard to beat.
06:02Yeah.
06:03But we are in the best position to beat them.
06:05Rumours of them not having a whole lot of dosh.
06:07You know, they spent a lot of money over the last leg.
06:10They are the wounded wildebeest and we are the lion in the long grass.
06:17What's going to be our downfall if we're not careful is our money.
06:20Yeah.
06:20We're going to run out.
06:21Of all the teams, Darren and Alex have the least money left from their starting budget of £2,658.
06:29We can get a couple of jobs up on the way.
06:31That may save an accommodation and earn us some money.
06:35Learn how to create Vietnam's answer to street-style lemonade, sugar cane juice.
06:39You get paid and you get free bed and board.
06:43And I sugar hit it.
06:45That'd be so cool.
06:51I hope we're not more than 12 hours behind everybody.
06:55It would be a shame if it's more than that.
06:57After a gruelling journey through China, Tony and Elaine finally reach Wang Yao.
07:04Oh, they're longing.
07:06Hello. Hi.
07:08Ah, the book.
07:09Well, let's see if our suspicions are right.
07:12Oh dear.
07:13So we're like two days behind.
07:16They've arrived 38 and a half hours after the current race leaders.
07:21Oh dear me.
07:23I'm gutted.
07:24And we'll have to wait another 36 hours before they can head off.
07:28Oh no.
07:30As three teams cool their heels at the checkpoint, Darren and Alex arrive into Nanning.
07:36The last city in China before Vietnam.
07:41It's 6.20pm.
07:45I seriously wanted to be in Vietnam today.
07:48But we've got 40 minutes before the border closes.
07:52We're not going to make it.
07:54It potentially means that our lead has nearly disappeared.
07:57Hopefully the same happens to them, what happened to us.
08:00But we just don't know.
08:02You think you've got our commanding lead?
08:04It can disappear in a day.
08:08We've got enough money to get to Hanoi tomorrow morning.
08:12We're hoping we've got enough money now for some accommodation tonight.
08:16Getting food as well will be quite a big stretch.
08:19I suspect we may not be eating tonight.
08:23It's been a bad day.
08:307.20am.
08:31Nice to have a little jog in the morning with 60 kilos on your back.
08:34Next out of the checkpoint, Josh and Felix.
08:38Who's our now? Who's our now?
08:40He says it's this bus.
08:41Their plan?
08:42Do what Darren and Alex failed to and cross the border before it closes for the night.
08:48Right, we're going to move quickly now.
08:51We'd do anything to win this race.
08:53We're incredibly pig-headed when we're together.
08:55We know that we complement each other so well.
08:56You're much stronger as a team than you are as individuals.
08:59It's these type of things which, because Darren and Alex left at 9.15 and we left at 7.15,
09:03could make a big impact on our race.
09:07In the darkest moments, we pick each other up and we get on with it.
09:10If we can cut out a night stay, then we're really eating into their lead.
09:15Bam!
09:18Bye-bye, China.
09:20You've been good to us.
09:22Also up early, Darren and Alex cross the border.
09:26Bloody warm.
09:28Did you expect it to be cold in Vietnam?
09:30Yeah. Bloody did.
09:34Heading into South-East Asia, the heat and humidity soars
09:37and tropical storms can strike out of nowhere.
09:41Good morning, Vietnam.
09:43Oh no, shut up.
09:45One legend has it that the people of Vietnam originated from a union between an immortal
09:50Chinese princess and the Dragon Lord of the Seas.
09:56Having suffered through brutal wars for most of the 20th century,
10:00it is now well established as a tourist hotspot.
10:05Arriving in the capital, Hanoi, and strapped for cash, Darren and Alex.
10:11Wow, it's noisy.
10:12Loads and loads of traffic.
10:14Pretty cool though, isn't it?
10:16I agree.
10:17Beautiful place.
10:22They're looking to take a train to Hoi An, where they have secured work selling local thirst quencher sugarcane juice.
10:30We want the, like, cheapy stickies?
10:33Cheapy.
10:34All the way together, this prime.
10:37So nearly two million?
10:39Yes.
10:43This is definitely one of the hardest financial decisions I've made.
10:47At a cost of £63, the train fare will eat up 22% of the remaining budget, but gets them
10:54770 kilometres closer to the checkpoint.
10:58It's just money we don't have.
11:01I am concerned about getting to Singapore.
11:05Is that where it is?
11:08Yeah.
11:08But we've got to remember how far we're actually getting through.
11:12And we can work and get free accommodation?
11:14I reckon, take a train from Hanoi to Hoi An and work there, look after my bike.
11:22Okay.
11:26Yeah, we're having a bit of a floppy moment.
11:29And Alex hasn't once lost his rag or thrown a hissy fit.
11:35He's kept calm and gone, right, how do we deal with this? How do we deal with this? How do
11:39we deal with this?
11:40Which is a good thing.
11:41These are the valuable lessons which helps you function as an adult in society.
11:46Some people go a whole lifetime without learning these lessons.
11:49Learning them at 20 is quite impressive.
11:52I'm very proud of him.
11:56It's bloody hot here.
11:59As they head to Hoi An...
12:01That would a tough call.
12:02But I think it is the right call.
12:05Back in China...
12:07We're really happy with our progress today.
12:08It's been smooth connection after smooth connection.
12:10We're making good progress.
12:11Josh and Felix arrive in Nanning.
12:14But with less than four hours to cover the 130 miles to the border before it shuts.
12:20Just get a count.
12:21Pingjiang.
12:22How much money?
12:25650.
12:29650?
12:3165 quid?
12:32No, no, no.
12:33It's too much.
12:33I think we should just buy the train ticket.
12:35I'm happy to do that, yeah.
12:36It's too much money.
12:38The train leaves at 6 and gets in at 10 after the border shuts.
12:41And it's a lot cheaper, so we may as well do that.
12:43Stay at the border.
12:45It's really annoying because it means we probably haven't caught up any time on Darren and Alex today.
12:51As Josh and Felix head out of Nanning, Natalie and Shamima arrive, having joined the race four hours after the
12:59boys.
13:00We're not making it to the border today.
13:01Okay.
13:02Let's find out what the earliest bus is.
13:07We need to go here.
13:10Longtong.
13:12Longtong?
13:14Okay.
13:14So they know what they're doing.
13:16Our short-term goal is to catch up with Felix and Josh.
13:22Need somewhere cheap to stay tonight and cross over tomorrow and then travel down to the south of Vietnam.
13:32Where is the bus time?
13:35Booking a bus to the border for tomorrow, Natalie continues to make new friends.
13:42Where's your mum and dad?
13:45Mama, Papa, where?
13:48No?
13:51It's weird that in all of China I haven't seen any and now we're getting towards Vietnam.
13:55I'm starting to see homelessness.
13:57Where's your shoes?
14:02I'm definitely somebody who doesn't take anything for granted.
14:06I know.
14:08But I've always had to rely on myself from a young age.
14:13You sleep here?
14:16My dad died when I was seven years old and then my mum died when I was 19 years old.
14:23Now I'm an orphan.
14:26I've only got this.
14:28Do you want this?
14:31She's had that understanding of other people and that empathy that you have for people who don't have, you know,
14:35what they should have.
14:46At the Chinese border...
14:49Whoa, whoa, whoa!
14:51Stop!
14:52Do you know where our hotel is?
14:54Look, this looks like a leisure complex.
14:57Josh and Felix find a cheap hotel.
15:00You're the Happy Meat International.
15:04I wonder why they charge by the hour.
15:06...hoping their long day has a happy ending.
15:13That's the best place I've ever stayed.
15:15Look at this window.
15:17It's just a mirror.
15:19Oh, it's nice that you're able to see through to see whoever's having a sh**.
15:28What's this free stuff?
15:29So we've got ladies type joy condoms.
15:33And a male god due pleasure.
15:36It's a brothel.
15:38Oh, no, it's fine.
15:39I think it's actually really nice.
15:40Look how clean it is.
15:42Stop it!
15:51It was quite cheap, Josh.
16:00Thank you so much for everything.
16:02It's been great.
16:04Taxi!
16:055.20am, Wang Yao.
16:14OK, go, go, go, go, go.
16:18Finally setting off nearly two days after the race leaders,
16:22but with the biggest budget remaining, Tony and Elaine.
16:26Their early start gives them the best chance of making it over the border
16:29into Vietnam in one day.
16:31We've just splashed out on this taxi to speed us up.
16:35I think that's where our priority lies,
16:37that the money we do have will be all for travel.
16:41There's absolutely no way we're out of this race.
16:45We'll catch them.
16:46I don't think I've ever given up, ever,
16:49in the most difficult times of my life.
16:52I think of when I went to base camp Everest
16:56and despite altitude sickness, which isn't pleasant,
17:00I didn't give up.
17:02We were definitely cart horses through China.
17:05We had to cut back money-wise.
17:08But we're now self-like racehorses.
17:12And I've never given up, either.
17:15Er...
17:15Well, I can't think of a time when you're out.
17:17Despite how Elaine treats me,
17:19I've never given up on our marriage.
17:24Why have we stopped? Do we need fuel, or...?
17:29I know you need to keep the car, so you're sticking to my room.
17:33Could have done without that.
17:36His having a s*** could jeopardise our transfer over the border.
17:41I hope he don't sit for hours.
17:51Yeah!
17:54Go, go, go, go!
17:56Woo!
17:59While Tony and Elaine hot-footed to the border...
18:03Woo!
18:04This wall!
18:07Woo!
18:08Darren and Alex have arrived in the trading port of Hoi An.
18:16Its 16th-century bridge once separated a Japanese settlement from the rest of the town,
18:21that over the years has been inhabited by Chinese, Dutch, Indian and Portuguese merchants.
18:28Hello?
18:30Er, here?
18:31There and up, thank you.
18:34Just outside of town, at a roadside kiosk...
18:38Are you here to work?
18:39Ah, yeah, yes.
18:41Yes.
18:41Alex and Dary.
18:42He's my son.
18:43Ah, nice.
18:46Darren and Alex have put their race on hold to earn some much-needed money,
18:51selling the Vietnamese speciality, Nook Mia,
18:54a sugar cane and citrus fruit drink.
18:59Never actually used a machete before.
19:01Have you ever used a machete?
19:03Only to murder people.
19:07Like this?
19:08Yeah.
19:11That properly gets all the juice out.
19:14That is cool.
19:15I want one!
19:16That is cool.
19:18Should we go?
19:18Drink now?
19:24Thank you, enjoy.
19:26This moment in time, we've just got to work, earn as much money as we can.
19:30It's better that I'm stood out here working so people can see
19:34and hopefully draw more customers in.
19:37I'm sweating.
19:39Whoo!
19:48Competitors might be closing in on us now.
19:51Enjoy.
19:52But every little bit of money is going to count towards Singapore.
19:59Enjoy.
20:01I always hoped this trip would be the making of Alex.
20:05At the start, you were a petulant, self-centred, selfish child.
20:12Now, he's a man.
20:14He's assertive.
20:15He's confident.
20:18Goodbye.
20:20That makes me feel proud, humbled, touched.
20:27Got another tip.
20:29Fantastic.
20:31Are you going to do some actual work?
20:35Is it just me there?
20:39I am so looking forward to some Vietnamese pho.
20:44Oh, my God.
20:46Pho.
20:47Natalie and Shamima have crossed into Vietnam, also aiming for Hoi An.
20:53Another country, new currency to navigate, new language, new culture.
20:58All exciting, also all anxiety-provoking.
21:03It's amazing, isn't it?
21:06Completely different to China.
21:08It's just got that real energy.
21:14Josh and Felix have reached Hanoi.
21:17Hello. How are you?
21:18With a plan to catapult themselves into the race lead.
21:24There's no seats.
21:28Yeah.
21:29Maybe we should have to put up tomorrow.
21:33They're targeting an epic day-and-a-half train journey,
21:37taking them 1,072 miles down the full length of Vietnam,
21:42past Hoi An and on to Ho Chi Minh City,
21:44bringing them within touching distance of the checkpoint.
21:48Tomorrow, 6 a.m. you live from here?
21:51Yes.
21:51You're right Ho Chi Minh for next day, only 4 p.m.
21:54That's perfect. That's perfect.
21:56So fast, so fast.
21:57We've just signed up for 36 hours on a hard seat,
22:01in a carriage with no air conditioning, in 40-degree heat.
22:04You're not going to see me, I'm going to be bare bones
22:07in a pile of bloody sweat.
22:11We're so wired and mental about the prospect of catching the others up.
22:17On an express train hurtling towards the Vietnamese border.
22:20I think the other competitors may well have gone the Vietnam route,
22:26and so if we gamble and go the Cambodia route,
22:30then it might give us the option of trying to make up a bit of time.
22:35Tony and Elaine continue their strategy
22:37of spending their way out of last place.
22:39We need to be quick.
22:41Have you got the money? Yeah.
22:44Vietnam.
22:47Seven miles to go.
22:5011 hours it's taken us.
22:53The race is on.
22:55The race is on.
22:57And 90 minutes before the border shuts.
23:00Where do we go? This way?
23:05Yeah, we made it.
23:07After travelling non-stop for 420 miles,
23:10they've achieved what none of the other teams could.
23:13Getting from the checkpoint to Vietnam in one day.
23:17We're here and it's gone pretty smooth,
23:19so let's hope it's a good guide for what we've got to come.
23:23I actually don't think it's gone smoothly.
23:25I think we're here by the skin of our teeth.
23:27You know, one way and another, it nearly didn't happen.
23:31Um, you know.
23:33But it has happened, so I'm just so grateful it has.
23:43That drawer's full.
23:45We made him loads of money.
23:46I earned a bit of tips as well, personally, when I was serving.
23:51Weirdly, my dad didn't get any tips when he was doing it, but I did.
23:55At the Nookmia kiosk.
23:57I'm for working in the morning, earning some money.
24:01Darn and Alex realise they aren't a good thing.
24:04If we work here from 8 till 11, and then we catch a taxi across the border tomorrow.
24:11OK?
24:11Yeah.
24:12It looks so good.
24:15We did four hours' work, which was 400,000 pay,
24:20which was half of our ticket from Hanoi to Hoi An City.
24:24So, coming here to work has been very valuable.
24:28It's everything between me cooked.
24:30Mmm.
24:31Spicy.
24:33Very, very nice.
24:37480 miles to the north, in Hanoi, with time to kill before they're trained to Ho Chi Minh City,
24:44Josh and Felix head to the old quarter.
24:47Our budget is so tight that even things like where you eat food becomes, like, a big deal.
24:54OK, it's just...
24:55And those things are going to make...
24:56Thank you very much.
24:57Those things are going to make the difference between winning and losing.
25:01These are like 20p, by the way, so they don't count.
25:04Hanoians enjoy a tradition of meandering the length of the three-kilometre night market.
25:10Something the boys can't quite master.
25:12Why don't we just sit down there and have a beer?
25:14Well, this place looks way better.
25:16OK.
25:18I don't need the hand control, thank you.
25:21That's really annoying.
25:22I like that.
25:23Yeah, it's really aggressive.
25:24What's wrong with that?
25:27That's not aggressive.
25:28Some problem, mate.
25:29I don't think ever in the last eight years of travelling and working together and being friends, we have ever
25:35taken anything personally.
25:40Such a douchebag sometimes.
25:41Wow.
25:42What?
25:44Why say that?
25:45What's wrong with doing that?
25:46It's just when it's in your face, it's a bit like...
25:48It's not in your face, it's just like, oh, I think we should go left.
25:50I don't want to interrupt you what you're saying.
25:52It's so important, usually.
25:54Wow.
25:55And although along the way we might disagree or one of us might be tired or one of us might
25:59be hungry, we're charging forward for the same goal.
26:02I will just sit down there, it's fine.
26:05See you later.
26:12How much is faux?
26:14Sometimes we annoy each other, but like, it's silly and it's nothing.
26:21It's just the fact of spending eight weeks in each other's constant company.
26:26Like what?
26:26I'm just saying it's nothing.
26:28And now you're pulling faces at me.
26:30Why are you making me do that a bit?
26:33Because I'm trying to say it's actually nothing.
26:37Always there's the moment where you take a deep breath and you're like, this is the only person that I
26:41could be doing this adventure with and this is the experience I want to have.
26:43And we're going in the same direction and it's never personal.
26:51I just want to get drunk because that's all I want to do.
26:58Natalie and Shamima arrive into Hoi An after 13 hours on a Vietnamese institution.
27:05Never have I ever, ever been on a sleeper bus.
27:09Having leapfrogged into the race lead for the very first time.
27:14I'm changing into a traveller. It's happening.
27:18Actually reclines with a bag of rice or whatever that's behind her head.
27:24The city has over 400 tailor shops packed into the old town.
27:33A legacy of its past as a trading port on the ancient Silk Road joining east to west.
27:41I love your outfit. It's beautiful.
27:45When we win the race, we want to wear the blazer and look really nice in a really nice blazer.
27:53We live far away from each other. We've got different lives, different responsibilities.
27:57But when we catch up, it doesn't feel like any time goes past.
28:04It is like going back to teenage girlfriends that go out.
28:08You can just, like, become 13.
28:10Yeah, exactly.
28:14I don't really like shoulder pads. I have broad enough shoulders as it is.
28:18And I love being a kid. Like, one of the things that we have to say, we are in touch
28:21with our inner child.
28:24And so that's when I have the most fun.
28:27So for a suit, this, how much is it?
28:33$120?
28:36Oh, so unfair.
28:39We have a budget.
28:41You made it out to be like it's going to be a fiver.
28:43No, that was in your head.
28:45If you think that they're going to make a custom race, a custom suit for you for a fiver.
28:49Why would you think we're racing across the world?
28:51Why would you think we can spend money on clothes?
28:53I wasn't thinking about racing across the world. I was thinking about how much a custom blazer would cost.
28:57And it wasn't a lot.
28:59I don't want to race across the world anymore. I just want to spend it on a custom, like, wide
29:04pants suit.
29:11While Darn and Alex put in a second shift to boost their cash flow.
29:16Oh, you're an idiot.
29:18If I can do it. I'll do it.
29:20I'm not a baby.
29:21You pretty much are acting like one, that's what I'm saying, so let me do it.
29:24Tony and Elaine are closing in.
29:27I think we've done very well to get here in 24 hours.
29:32I wonder if they bring food?
29:36Oh, yeah, yeah. Bacon and eggs, please.
29:39After crossing into Vietnam, they've travelled through Hanoi and are now heading to Cambodia.
29:46I'd like to go to Phnom Penh. Isn't that where the killing fields are?
29:49Yeah.
29:50Implementing the risky strategy of heading across country, aiming for the capital, Phnom Penh.
29:56And from there, to the checkpoint on Koh Rong.
29:59We've had good legs so far.
30:01When we put our little bit of string on the map, it looks as though going through Cambodia is quicker.
30:07Hopefully, we will be gaining a lot of time on our greatest rivals, Darren and Alex.
30:16New strategy, blending with the locals.
30:20Blending with the locals, but not...
30:21Get rid of them short shorts.
30:23No, these are definitely local shorts.
30:25They're not local shorts.
30:26Local shorts, local hat.
30:31Job done, it's back on the road.
30:36Absolutely buzzing.
30:37We've got a wage.
30:39We've got a cut of profits.
30:40I'll have a look after this.
30:41And a tip.
30:42I reckon we've made not far off a million dong.
30:46Absolutely buzzing.
30:47Now we know we can get to the Cambodian border.
30:52Planning their next move, Darren and Alex are drawn to another ad in the jobs directory.
30:58So I help maintain the sanctuary for rescued elephants and pay two nice men on board.
31:03The job at an elephant sanctuary also takes them to Cambodia, into the jungles of the Mondokiri province.
31:10I really want to do the elephant job.
31:12We'll do it.
31:13Those sort of opportunities don't come up very often in life.
31:17If it means lose some of our lead, then so be it.
31:21The experience is going to live with you forever, which is more important.
31:25Well, it's not more important than money, but...
31:33Back in Hanoi...
31:3436 hours without air conditioning.
31:36It's going to be hard.
31:37That's brutal, man.
31:38That is a lot of sitting.
31:39Josh and Felix board their train to Ho Chi Minh City.
31:45Oh, my God.
31:48Oh, man.
31:51I can't sit on that for 36 hours.
31:52I'll do myself an injury.
32:02Why would they make these seats so uncomfortable?
32:05It's the longest train journey we've ever done.
32:07So this is the biggest stretch of transport in Vietnam and $70 is really good.
32:13That does give us one of those advantages in terms of the money.
32:16Because I think actually the race is less in the travel, it's more in the money.
32:20Because if you run out of steam, then you're stuck.
32:24So we'll get to Singapore by huckleberry crook.
32:34The town of Pleiku.
32:37Leaving from here in five minutes,
32:39the only direct bus today to the border with Cambodia, 55 miles away.
32:46Ah.
32:50It's Tony in the way.
32:52That caught us off guard.
32:54They've made up massive time then to the Cambodia border.
32:57I've made up so much time.
32:59How long?
33:01We thought them were out of the race and they're actually here.
33:04Remember, we'd left before they'd even turned up.
33:07So they've actually got down here super fast, so we've been massively slow.
33:12Hello.
33:13Oh, good evening.
33:16It's good to see you.
33:18So good to see you.
33:19Good.
33:20I can't believe you're on this bus.
33:22We can't believe you are.
33:25We were very lucky with all our connections.
33:28I am really, really impressed.
33:30Annoyingly impressed.
33:33With two days' work having eroded their lead, Darren and Alex are joined by Tony and Elaine crossing the border
33:40into the kingdom of Cambodia.
33:45Once centre of the ancient Khmer Empire of Angkor, today it still boasts over 290 temples, dozens of unspoiled islands,
33:55picturesque rice paddies and rare wildlife.
34:00See you at the check point.
34:01Well, unless we've left before you get there, but if so, goodbye and good luck in the last day.
34:06No, I really hope you come second.
34:07Yeah.
34:08Likewise.
34:10Darren's face, he wasn't best pleased.
34:12He tried to act pleased, but his face told his true feelings.
34:17But that fired me up because there were streets ahead of us, and now we're kind of on a par,
34:22but there you go, psychologically.
34:25Win-win at the moment for us.
34:38Proper wilderness stuff, isn't it?
34:4025 miles into the jungle, the Mondalkiri Elephant Sanctuary.
34:45My dad has been waiting since the start of this journey to come out in the sticks and be out
34:50in the wild.
34:53By agreeing to work with the animals tomorrow, Darren and Alex have secured free bed and board for tonight.
35:00We're in a jungle. I've never been in a jungle before. It's just...
35:03It's a bit freaky, just knowing there's a lot of insects about.
35:07But they won't be sleeping alone.
35:10Dad, I think I can see a spider. Looks big.
35:13Where?
35:14Here.
35:16Where?
35:17Right there.
35:18Oh, that's a big one.
35:19I know!
35:21Oh, I don't!
35:23It's a huntsman, probably.
35:25I don't care.
35:26It's huge.
35:27Absolutely huge.
35:28Yeah, what's it going to do?
35:29We're swapping.
35:31This is scary. I do not like this.
35:35I'm a lot more stronger, braver, more confident, because the stuff we've gone through to now, it's changed me as
35:43a person.
35:44Just having a look, I can't see any more hanging around.
35:48But I do feel safe, you are about.
35:51But my dad does make me feel safe.
35:53If I were doing it by myself, I would have quit and would have gone home.
35:56Like, I could not have done it without him.
35:58Don't leave your bag on the floor.
36:01I don't know how you feel so relaxed about the situation.
36:05We've got less than two weeks left now.
36:08The end is approaching really, really quickly.
36:13The reality is I don't want it to end.
36:17I don't think I'm going to be getting much sleep tonight.
36:19You'll be fine.
36:20Right, good night.
36:21Good night.
36:23Just keep your left eye open.
36:282am, Vietnam.
36:30I hold some hope of getting a night's sleep.
36:32More hope than when we got on this train.
36:34After 17 hours, Josh and Felix's epic train journey is approaching Hoi An.
36:41There are quite a few bugs, though, aren't there?
36:44Yeah, it's quite a fun game, actually.
36:46As soon as they land on me, I go...
36:47Wow, it was massive.
36:51While the boys try to sleep...
36:53I'm just tired.
36:55..the train welcomes two new passengers.
36:58How's this carriage one?
37:05Oh, my God.
37:07Yeah.
37:09There's a little baby on the floor.
37:11Where?
37:12Look.
37:16There's two army people underneath the seat.
37:21What are you doing now?
37:22This is really bad.
37:24How do you actually manage to sit in this position?
37:2817 hours.
37:32Right.
37:33This would be another plan, other than staying here all night.
37:41Shamima, Josh and Felix.
37:44Who else is there?
37:45Who else is there?
37:45Who else is there?
37:46Who else is there?
37:46But who cares?
37:47Just chill.
37:57What about these seats?
37:59There's loads left over.
38:02Sit down.
38:03Come on.
38:10Come on.
38:15Come on.
38:16Come on.
38:17370 miles from Ho Chi Minh City.
38:22We've stopped an unscheduled stop.
38:25The train's running a bit early, I think, anyway.
38:28So we were pelting along earlier.
38:31Steaming towards victory.
38:34Excuse me.
38:35Do you know why the train's not moving?
38:37Yeah.
38:38Storm.
38:38Storm.
38:39Yeah.
38:40Is it better to get off?
38:42What time do we move?
38:43How do you move?
38:457pm.
38:47Further down the line, a typhoon has struck.
38:51And damaged the tracks.
38:54So the train is forced to stop.
38:58The teams should have reached Ho Chi Minh City in seven hours.
39:01But now, all they can do is wait.
39:05Two hours a day, the train's leaving at seven.
39:08We could feed Natalie and Shamima the false information that leaves in two days and hope they fall afoul of
39:12a local transport option.
39:22Hi, guys.
39:23Hello.
39:24Afternoon, morning, whatever it is.
39:26Well, it's very nice in here, isn't it?
39:28Do you guys know how long we're going to be here?
39:30No.
39:31There's a flood on the track and the train can't go.
39:35That's all we know.
39:38At this point, I think I just want to make it to Singapore.
39:45Now the train seems like a bad idea.
39:48If Tony and Elaine took the coach, I wonder whether they won't be affected by these slays.
39:52When we're here for three and a half days, they'll waltz in.
39:56See you in a bit.
40:02I don't know.
40:03If I really started to believe that they're playing mind games, then I have to believe that they're intentionally trying
40:07to stress us out, and that's not nice.
40:10You're focusing on too much on other people's games.
40:13It's going to stress you out, and you're not going to focus on your own.
40:17So we're going to rise above it, keep our focus as much as we can on this train.
40:22The roads won't be any better than the train at the moment.
40:32Unaffected by the weather, Tony and Elaine have arrived in Krache, situated on the banks of the Mekong River.
40:412,700 miles long, the Mekong flows from China through five Southeast Asian countries and into the Gulf of Thailand,
40:50and is famous for its Irrawaddy River dolphins.
40:54There you go.
40:57The monsoon climate makes this area ideal for growing rice.
41:02Nice to know you.
41:03Nice to know you too.
41:08The budget went out the window to get back in the race.
41:12We've spent far more on this leg than we intended to.
41:15We need to pull it back in sharpish.
41:18Joining the local workforce, Tony and Elaine lend a hand with the harvest.
41:24We love farming, so to see how you cut rice is going to be a good day for us.
41:30So if we don't finish one block today, we will not stop unless we finish.
41:37Yeah.
41:38Let's start then.
41:43We have a phrase in England, work shy. Have you heard of this?
41:48Work shy.
41:50It's when people find lots of good excuses not to work hard.
41:54So now I think we stop talking and we have to finish.
41:59If I don't talk while I'm working, I never get much done.
42:03Oh.
42:05Working in the rice fields brings back a lot of memories from my youth.
42:11I used to work every summer holiday.
42:15I was sitting on a tractor one day and I saw all my mates playing on the sports field.
42:21And I just thought, I'm working too hard here.
42:25And at the end of it, gave me a fiver and said, thank you very much, Tony.
42:31Six weeks work for a fiver.
42:32I thought there just had to be another way in life.
42:41Are you all right?
42:42No, I need to just sit down a minute.
42:45It's just the heat, I find really...
42:48It's really good with you standing there, Tony, blocking it.
42:52Are you feeling OK?
42:54Bit of a breeze.
42:58It's all right now.
42:59Is it? Yeah.
43:01Good.
43:01That was only 30 seconds.
43:03Do you want it? 45 seconds?
43:04One sec?
43:05Pull us up, then.
43:06OK.
43:07You're a tough old cook.
43:08I know, it's the heat.
43:11100 miles away at the Elephant Sanctuary.
43:17It's feeding time.
43:19Whoa!
43:20Snake!
43:21Quick, it's going.
43:22Oh, my God.
43:24Dangerous.
43:24Veneman.
43:25Oh, I'm getting away.
43:27Alex, look.
43:28It's gone up the tree.
43:30Oh, that's amazing.
43:31It's going all the way up.
43:32I feel much safer with my machete in here.
43:35That's pretty cool.
43:37This place is just amazing.
43:39If you want to get out in the wild and off the beaten track,
43:43this is definitely the place for you.
43:47I hope these bloody elephants are hungry.
43:49I've just made them a hell of a lot of food.
43:51The Mondalkiri Elephant Sanctuary
43:54provides a protected jungle environment
43:56for rescued Asian elephants.
43:59Wow.
44:00Oh, look at that.
44:02I know.
44:03That looks so cool.
44:04Oh, there's another.
44:08Some elephants were rescued
44:10after spending 30 years working for illegal loggers.
44:14It's quite a pretty impressive skill,
44:16taking the leaves off.
44:17I'd struggle.
44:18And I've got opposing thumbs.
44:21You're bigger than me,
44:23I'm not going to argue with you.
44:27I didn't used to know why my dad used to come out in these sort of places,
44:31where animals can kill you and you're just in the sticks in the middle of nowhere.
44:35I am seeing more through his eyes than I am.
44:39It's quite impressive being this close to an elephant in its natural environment.
44:44Oh, yeah, definitely.
44:47Doing something like this, we're doing it together and we're bonding even more.
44:52It's an amazing privilege.
44:57I haven't always been the greatest of dads.
45:00There were periods of time when I wasn't there for him.
45:03We've had five years of wasted time.
45:07It'll be seven weeks together.
45:09But we have a lot of catching up to do.
45:12When we go back, it's up to us if we let the next five years be wasted time or not.
45:21It's nice to step out of the race.
45:32Bye!
45:34I've seen the dog in the water.
45:37Gathering in the rice harvest has earned Tony and Elaine free bed and board for the night.
45:43We've had a really lovely day today.
45:45The setting with the old way of life.
45:51Everybody mucks in and they all help each other.
45:54The cattle still plough the land.
45:57That was just wonderful.
45:59Tony went on this whole, this is how it should be done with the sickle, the scythe, the old fashioned
46:05way.
46:06Blah-dee-blah.
46:08He loved it so much as a kid that he did everything in his power to get as far away
46:14as possible from it and go to London to become a PE teacher.
46:19And now he's anchoring after it in his old age.
46:22I don't know.
46:24Childhood memories, eh?
46:30I have no idea how many hours now we've been on this train.
46:39Seeing everybody kind of losing their **** except for the Vietnamese people because they're used to this weather.
46:50There's worse things in life than being stuck on a train, but to live it, it's really frustrating.
47:02Do you know when the train's leaving?
47:04No, I don't know either. Don't worry, thank you.
47:07It's all arbitrary.
47:10Even the people who run the train don't know when the train's going.
47:1910pm.
47:2114 hours behind schedule.
47:24So, the train is moving.
47:27The train is moving.
47:29At last.
47:31Look how flooded... Oh, my gosh.
47:35People have actually been working on this all night.
47:37Oh, my God.
47:39This is serious stuff.
47:42And that just put it on to perspective.
47:4524 hours lost, because the way travel's going to come out of Ho Chi Minh.
47:49So, I think it's kind of hard to feel anything got deflated.
47:57Ho Chi Minh City.
48:00Formerly called Saigon, and named for the first president of the Vietnamese Republic.
48:06Affectionately known as Uncle Ho.
48:09And today, the country's most visited city.
48:13Very relieved to be in Ho Chi Minh.
48:16Anywhere. Anywhere but that train.
48:19See you later.
48:21You said you wanted the hat.
48:25I don't think it looks as stylish as it looks on most people.
48:28After seven days trekking through Southeast Asia, the teams are within striking distance of the port of Si Anoukville.
48:36From where they will catch a ferry to the checkpoint on the island of Koh Rong.
48:41We would like to find out if we can get a bus to the Hattien border.
48:45We're hoping we can leave as soon as possible.
48:49While two teams plot their way into Cambodia for the first time.
48:53Bus is going to leave at midnight, and then we can get to see Oxville at 11am.
48:57We're actually going to be waiting in a coach for the border to open.
48:59So, the moment the border opens, we'll be through it like a shot.
49:02Bam!
49:05It's fucked a race day again.
49:07Darn and Alex are heading to its capital, Phnom Penh.
49:11The bigger our lead, the more pressure we've felt.
49:14Oh, definitely.
49:15I personally think it's far better being second and third than being first.
49:21I don't.
49:23Eleven miles south of the city, retired teachers Tony and Elaine make good on a long-standing promise to one
49:29another.
49:30There's something, like, that I'm interested in, but I don't expect it'll be a very pleasant experience, but that's not
49:39why you need to go, is it?
49:41A pilgrimage to the Chung Ek killing fields.
49:44A memorial to Cambodia's troubled recent past, when millions were killed under the brutal Khmer Rouge regime of its leader,
49:53Pol Pot.
49:551975 to 1978, and he kills how many people?
50:00Three million.
50:02I just think it's good to remind yourself of the atrocities that human beings can do to each other.
50:11Whilst Pol Pot was in power in the 70s, one of the groups of people gathered together to be killed
50:16were teachers.
50:21So, had this tyrannical leader led an army across England, Tony and myself would have been dead. Simple as that.
50:32We've been very fortunate that we've both been teachers, thoroughly enjoyed that, but your life is taken over by bells
50:40and commitments.
50:41You lose yourself on that journey and a vocation like teaching, you really have to give all of yourself all
50:50of the time.
50:50We've both retired, so hopefully now this is the time we can go and rediscover ourselves.
51:06Are we going to Sanoxville?
51:09On Cambodian soil for the first time, Josh and Felix.
51:14We have to transfer.
51:1545 minutes.
51:17I want to do that!
51:20Who's she flagging down?
51:22Is that Tuk Tuk?
51:23And Natalie and Shamima.
51:24Hello.
51:25Go, go, go.
51:27Yeah, so it's taking quite a lot of time in the Tuk Tuk.
51:30We're back into race mode, so we're going to have to look for a faster mode of transport.
51:36The port of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand.
51:40The jumping off point to Cambodia's southern islands.
51:45Including the fifth checkpoint, Koh Rong.
51:50Come this checkpoint here, I think it's going to be really, really tight.
51:56I can see a town approaching.
52:01Arriving from Phnom Penh, Darren and Alex.
52:04I guess this is where we get off.
52:06Are we here?
52:09Last stop.
52:10Yeah?
52:11They are notified on their GPS tracker of the jetty location where ferries leave for Koh Rong.
52:17Proceed to the drop off.
52:19It's actually brought to your checkpoint destination.
52:21Two people.
52:22How much?
52:23Ten dollars.
52:23Ten dollars?
52:25It can't be that much.
52:26The next trossing leaves at 5pm.
52:30If you can see the seat, it can't be that far away.
52:34In 20 minutes' time.
52:36How come sir?
52:38Where am I looking?
52:39Tony and Elaine in a tuk-tuk.
52:40Seriously?
52:41Yeah.
52:44I get the feeling like the others are around.
52:50Five dollar on tuk-tuk, please.
52:52Spend some gasoline?
52:53Please.
52:54OK, OK.
52:54Yes, thank you.
52:55It's all right.
52:56I don't know why it's all right.
53:02Also in town, Josh and Felix.
53:05Is there a ferry tonight to go wrong here?
53:08Got to remain positive.
53:09We'll get there tonight.
53:12Josh and Felix will probably be already there.
53:15Until we get inside that boat, we're making assumptions.
53:21Look at our boats.
53:22Bloody hell.
53:36Don't laugh.
53:37We tried to give you such a lead, but we keep them catching back up to you.
53:41Come on, guys.
53:42Pull it out.
53:43I saw your dry pasta in a tuk-tuk.
53:45You're all sweating.
53:46I know.
53:46Telling me about it.
53:54The really frustrating thing is, if we hadn't got caught in the rain, we would have been doing this 24
54:00hours before.
54:01Every little thing has a knock on.
54:04Anything could have happened to anyone.
54:06All bets are off.
54:07I know.
54:11Five minutes till the ferry departs.
54:14Yeah.
54:15Pull it.
54:16Pull it out.
54:17More.
54:24Oh, Jesus.
54:25Flat time.
54:27Here we go.
54:33Drop off closed.
54:359.30am tomorrow.
54:41It's a strange feeling that when we left the checkpoint, Tony and Elaine hadn't even arrived.
54:49And we come here at the same time.
55:01See, this is a special play.
55:03I know.
55:04This could be the best checkpoint.
55:05Hello.
55:06Welcome to Caron.
55:07Hello.
55:08Hello.
55:08Yeah.
55:08Hello.
55:09Please sign in overleaf.
55:11Yes.
55:13Congratulations.
55:14I'm happy.
55:15I'm happy.
55:16Oh, well done.
55:17I'm happy.
55:17Well done.
55:18Yes.
55:20Absolutely.
55:21Chuffed to bits.
55:22Yeah.
55:22We do.
55:22We need the edge.
55:24We didn't imagine we could actually pull in the amount of time we have.
55:28We are over the moon.
55:30Even though we've bombed through it, we've enjoyed this leg.
55:34So much, yeah.
55:38We felt we couldn't miss that opportunity to spend some time with wild elephants.
55:43It was a risk and we were prepared to take it.
55:46There's one more leg left.
55:47I'd love to win.
55:49I've said it from the start.
55:54Best house in jetty.
55:56Soxsan, jetty.
55:57There's one last team to reach the ferry port.
56:00Oh, my God.
56:02I knew it.
56:04How have I got here?
56:06Hi, guys.
56:08I love you guys, but I don't like seeing you here, to be honest.
56:13We were running the perfect lake.
56:15The heavens opened and we couldn't go anywhere.
56:17At that point, you have to just go like, there's nothing I can do about this.
56:20I can't get angry at anyone.
56:21I can't get upset.
56:22Then as soon as the ground dries, you try again.
56:27This is heaven.
56:28This is so beautiful, man.
56:29I just want to swim in the sea.
56:31Hello.
56:32Hello.
56:32Welcome to Karong.
56:35Oh.
56:37No way.
56:39Oh, my God.
56:40It's Tony and Elaine.
56:42Well, guys, seeing as I'm here first with the pen, I'm signing in.
56:45I love Tony and Elaine.
56:47So cool, man.
56:48Dark horses.
56:49The dark horses.
56:53After the penultimate leg in the race to Singapore, Tony and Elaine have managed to close a gap
56:58of 38 hours to join Darren and Alex in first place.
57:03But with 1,500 miles still to travel, some of the teams are desperately short of cash.
57:10Coming into the last leg, it feels quite pressured.
57:12It's because we have to make the perfect right decision.
57:15There's no more space for any more mistakes.
57:18This is the last opportunity we had.
57:20But it's anyone's game.
57:23All four teams, they're in it still.
57:26But if we continue with the same strategy, there's no reason that we shouldn't be two days ahead of everyone
57:30to Singapore.
57:31Bloody amazing.
57:32They smashed it.
57:33They bloody smashed it.
57:35Anything can happen in the next 48 hours.
57:37I thought it was wrapped up.
57:37What the hell have Darren and Alex been up to?
57:44After 12,000 miles across two continents.
57:48It's a lot further than we think.
57:5021 countries.
57:51The storm is coming.
57:53And four seas.
57:55The finish line and the £20,000 prize awaits.
58:00There it is, the famous four.
58:03Let's just get there, Alex.
58:04No second chances anymore.
58:06We're absolutely brass knuckles bright.
58:09You can finish them.
58:11Woo!
58:12That might be our downfall.
58:13What a bloody dipstick.
58:15We're going to leap ahead of everyone else.
58:17Oi!
58:17We are royally screwed.
58:19Can you see them?
58:21The dream is happening right now.
58:23Somebody's got to cross the line first in a race like this.
58:27How about the bloody sitting up there having a beer?
58:29Having a beer.
58:29Who's what it is?
58:32How do we do?
58:32What have they been watching?
58:36How do we do?
58:36We will be there.
58:54How is it doing?
58:55This was Pret一次.
58:5524 Essex可right.
58:55How does A