- 2 days ago
Race Across The World - Season 6 Episode 5
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Short filmTranscript
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.
03:29You are still amazing now.
03:43Time to try my next to Kerala Kerala by Chandoko Dawan.
03:43well I'm gonna need my sunglasses here look at that let's get out into
03:48Kazakhstan welcome to Kazakhstan here we are after their flight from Georgia the
03:55four teams have 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
04:39checkpoint is Zamin National Park ooh 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
05:17to the added plains that lead here whoa the roots gonna be wild getting there I
05:23think I think so I mean you could go around this way via Kazakhstan that is
05:27considerably longer I think the best way to go to Uzbekistan go through Uzbekistan yeah that's
05:33the most direct route isn't it for the longest leg yet the teams must choose between two countries
05:39they can make an early crossing into Uzbekistan following ancient Silk Road routes through bustling
05:46cities shorter in distance but transport may be less reliable or they can stay in Kazakhstan
05:53tracking Northeast across remote lands dotted with Soviet era settlements all connected by a 16,000
06:02kilometer railway network that offers slower but steadier travel we've only just got to Kazakhstan I'd like to see
06:10more I think it's gonna be very much like this you know quite boring visually mmm Kazakhstan sounds a bit
06:16like more crazy and wild like the Wild West mmm mark has had a lot of choices so far I've
06:23enjoyed the things we've done but we've made decisions that were right
06:25for him but as races continues I've realized that I have to have my turn of choosing things so let's
06:31have a little look in the
06:32directory see what jobs are off okay yes yes look at this mark look at that one the horse farm
06:37near
06:38Turkestan I love horses you do yeah do I'm not too keen on horses but I think Mongolian and Kazakstan
06:45horses I think they're quite small
06:46so I might be okay with joyful horses yeah coming first I think we've got the chance to take risks
06:53even
06:54though it looks further to travel I feel it's going to be faster but I've got nothing to base it
06:59on it's a gamble
07:00that's okay let's gamble and go to Kazakhstan roll the dice yeah we want to get to train station to
07:07keep the race on track the
07:08in-laws are planning a Kazakh adventure heading north east from Akhtau city by rail oh sorry do you speak
07:15English the train station one to you he will take me great yes yes yes oh thank you my name
07:24is
07:24genius Genghis Genghis the man I'll go in the front with Genghis lovely this it is like the wild west
07:41mark
07:42look at it isn't it yeah train choo choo choo choo caspi-sea mm-hmm oh caspi-sea patom
07:51what's out no we want the station oh I think you want to show us the Caspian city yes caspi
07:57-sea get a
07:58bit of a tour here I'm not sure about this Margot this is what we like adventure the adventure of
08:06a
08:06lifetime Kazakhstan 90 minutes behind there's a train with that goes straight through Kazakhstan I'm
08:13sick of buses Joe and Kush debate their options in his dog it's gonna take longer than it's worth in
08:20my opinion his back stand looks way shorter number one priority is the race so I want to take the
08:26faster
08:26route regardless I call I in as wacky or I think oh my chain will be sick an amazing experience
08:32I want to
08:33do the Kazakhstan expect I'm does look more efficient it does look quicker but I'm not
08:38thinking about efficiency I'm thinking about the experience oh because a lot down is this traveling
08:43through Kazakhstan yes oh bro so from 8 30 and tomorrow we can get from act out to kiss loader
08:50one day five hours oh wow okay 29 hour train we're gonna cover so much distance by this one overnight
08:57let's go Kazakhstan clinching the argument for Joe the best friends have found a cross-country train
09:04leaving in the morning taking them a hugely beneficial 1,400 kilometers deep into Kazakhstan 29 hour
09:12train is gonna be boss we are super super stoked tomorrow we are covering more distance than the
09:18length of the UK that could be sick that's PC Wow Caspian sea we'll assume the Caspian sea
09:32working well dude spanning an area the size of Japan the Caspian Sea isn't a sea at all but the
09:38world's largest lake gorgeous didn't think we'll get to see this to do I didn't five nations share its
09:46vast shoreline Turkmenistan Azerbaijan Russia Iran and Kazakhstan this is beautiful I am liking Kazakhstan
10:00so far already get a sense of the pride they've got in their country that's been Caspian sea yeah thank
10:06you without you we wouldn't have seen it station choo-choo ticket ticket what's he telling you oh 6 30
10:20so if we'd come straight out we could have yeah we might have done it yeah 8 30 tomorrow yes
10:26okay
10:28eyeing up the same long-distance train as Joe and Cush give me a long hard journey I think for
10:34us just zip it
10:35man this journey is going to be a triumph they will also need to wait until morning losing their lead
10:41before they've left Acta no matter what the consequences I'm glad we've done it
11:03thank you thank you my friend this is Cushney hey look at these more 8 30 in Acta I've just
11:14seen
11:14Mark and Margo did you yeah they're on the same dream that's my BVM closed that gap looks like it's
11:22go
11:22time Wow the efficiency leaving on time two teams set off on their long-haul train journey bound for
11:32the vastness of Kazakhstan it means you may ask me that in 29 hours first carved over a century ago
11:42these Russian and Soviet tracks skirt the sparse a steward plateau outside some of the most remote
11:51terrain on earth inside the carriages are famed for their village-like community where the Kazakh
11:59spirit can turn strangers into family I have no clue what this game is to know what it's called and
12:09how
12:09works this guy just whips out the board and started pointing not a single word spoken yet oh oh oh
12:20yeah
12:21yeah yeah you can't I know yeah I'm probably getting battered right now I don't know what the score is
12:26but
12:26it is fun just like interacting with someone in a different way oh wait don't you show me oh my
12:33god
12:33you're one second in the championship oh my god you're playing with a master job it's the strangest sausage
12:44I've ever seen yes isn't it very old sausage right you're gonna have to help me with that no no
12:50I expand got to eat
12:52it keep your strength up I was a vegetarian for 20 years I'm becoming a vegetarian again not on this
12:57trip
12:57you won't be blokes over there of having vodka with their breakfast do you think we should get some
13:03vodka with our breakfast I am NOT having vodka with my breakfast no it must be a tradition a Kazakhstan
13:07tradition mark oh let's have a vodka no no about the first thing of all yeah I'm gonna ask if
13:13it's
13:13traditional okay okay you see I'm gonna ask them about the culture what English no no no what was the
13:21name Margo Margo Margo Margo like my name is Sultan Sultan Sultan do you have vodka for breakfast is this
13:41usual this is a good tradition oh mark having a great time yes hypnotize give me your vodka I give
13:53me
13:53your vodka Mark you don't want to come round and join us no no I'm happy sorry sorry sorry but
14:01oh
14:01I don't drink vodka at all really it's not my drink he wants to marry me does he no no
14:06no no no no no you're
14:08a very naughty boy me on trend Joe's actually I like to look out the window and see the landscape
14:21as two teams advance further into Kazakhstan look at that look that is just unreal as far as the eye
14:30can see nothing I turn silly but like you can see what people think they're if this flat third to
14:37get
14:37going Andrew and Molly set out their plan I really want to do a city I love the idea of
14:44being in and
14:45around people in culture Uzbekistan is synonymous with the original Silk Road some of the most beautiful
14:52cities in the world I think that could be dead fun it would be fun opting for a route east
14:59through
15:00Uzbekistan the pair set their sights on an ancient city Kiva
15:07all right yeah okay where's the train we're trying to go to Uzbekistan through
15:15Benu you know yes no no no determined to reach Uzbekistan today they must first make the five
15:25hour trip to Benu aiming for an evening connection across the border how much to go to Benu no I
15:33think
15:33we missed a train to Benu where we know we would have got a connection to Uzbekistan so we're kind
15:40of racing the clock a bit because I really want to go to Kiva City 50 Molly yes guys willing
15:47to take
15:48us for $50 yes all right to Benu and I will be there for four o'clock she's happy great
15:53I think we take
15:55okay okay okay go go go go are you happy with this yeah yeah yeah we need to get there
16:03we knew we had a ball no handle pull no well then ground we get the train no how much
16:12I really have
16:15no clue to go get we agreed $50 and in his mates obviously got around them and decided that that
16:20wasn't the money to pay I don't want 100 I want 70 but Molly isn't currently in
16:28negotiations with about 20 men that's okay yeah then goodbye goodbye you're
16:32right Molly there yeah she's holding her own so but we just have to wait and see
16:3870 daddy he did for 70 well done that was good
16:45right go stressful it means we get the connection tonight which is the main
16:51thing when's the last time you ever had something like that I've never had that
16:54before never Jesus Molly well done kid with Andrew and Molly finally on their
16:59way to Bennu oh by the way we're still in Europe we're not in Europe we're in Asia
17:05Harrison Kazakhstan playing the euro qualifiers Katie and Harrison waste no
17:10time and doing the same I don't do continents I do football
17:13confederations we're going through Uzbekistan rather than over the top
17:19through Kazakhstan immediately it looks that the direct route chasing the same
17:26train as Andrew and Molly they look to move quickly across Uzbekistan we are 20
17:32hours 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 signing last again we're
17:43racing a lot more than the last leg but it is about balance whilst we're in these places we're
17:49going to try and experience as much as possible oh there's camels oh my god
17:55there's just camels in the middle of the world this is going to be cool
18:02right let's go bye bye
18:08what time 48 and it goes to Nukas okay yes Nukas time ticket secured
18:17just like the front runners the bottom two teams are now neck and neck happy days are you getting
18:24this one as well yeah yeah yeah yeah that's all sort of right let's get on the train there is
18:34a race
18:34back on it's nice to know that we've caught with someone already I'm sure they're not happy to be
18:38with us because it means they've lost their lead on us there's no other train we could have got so
18:44we've got what we needed to do I'm not worried about here I can see yeah I'm worried about here
18:48I can't see exactly and if people are around us that means we're in the game
19:04but what we've been doing here is eat when you can because you don't know when you're going to eat
19:08next the problem is it's not that hard to find food so every time I eat I've been eating like
19:14I'm not
19:15going to eat next 48 hours but realistically it's the next four to eight hours
19:36oh don't drink the water
19:40not exactly the Orient Express
19:42should we go back to the tent
19:58so yeahbusiness
20:01they've
20:01been looking for girls yeah yeah
20:04yeah
20:05yeah
20:07yeah
20:13as the 29-hour train pulls two teams further across Kazakhstan their rival two teams have
20:20made it to Uzbekistan got a train ticket sorted for tomorrow morning out of Nukas I'm very much
20:26looking forward to getting to explore Uzbekistan a bit a nation now dominated by youth with 60
20:33percent of its citizens under 30 yet beneath that energy lies a history stretching back more than
20:40two millennia with some of Central Asia's oldest settlements how old is this cemetery then Katie
20:48think of old and then think like even older than that just outside Nukas one of those ancient sites
20:56still remains Mizda Khan a sacred necropolis in use for 22 centuries as a burial ground for local
21:04communities prophets and royalty we're getting into someone's grave it's kind of creepy man what the
21:14wow you and the brickwork 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 I really want
21:26one will you build a building for me when I die must be jerky it's just cool to go somewhere
21:33that's so
21:34untravelled part of world I never thought I'd go to I know we're obviously racing this leg to try
21:40and get out fourth place but been nice to stop for a second isn't it like to get an appreciation
21:45of of
21:45what Uzbekistan is about yeah thousands of years over where we stood it's one of them date back to
21:51400 BC and the dinosaurs around oh my god you serious where's the ticket office sorry on the other side
22:04of town at Nukas station sorry do you really buy a ticket you good Andrew and Molly have their own
22:12plans to explore Uzbekistan I am especially looking forward to Kiva City I'd love to see the culture
22:19rather than going out to nature just more daddy things but yeah that'd be lovely actually we're
22:25looking to get to Kiva City when is the next train all right thank thank you thank you okay okay
22:34having
22:34missed another train we seem to keep getting stuck they search for alternative transport hello English
22:42English is there a bus to Kiva bus no thanks thanks no taxi talk a taxi I don't know what
22:49to do I don't
22:49know yeah sorry just let us stop need to do something want to enjoy today sorry just one sec I
22:57don't like
22:57having to pay for another taxi but I don't want to be stuck at a train station I really don't
23:02know what to
23:02you can see it from the map the distances we're covering it's going to be a long leg a lot
23:07of
23:07travel I think you could get lost very very quickly in this leg beginning to realize that Molly has the
23:12ability to be confident but at times she doesn't have that inner self-belief oh so my job is the
23:22reminder that there's a time to put the skates on okay sorry for being a bit indecisive I'm just
23:28overthinking probably I'm gonna have to make a call yeah he will won't come out Kiva City so do yes
23:37yes okay okay yes Molly's Kiva City dream has cost them another taxi ride good call yeah I don't know
23:50that's a good one you all right I'm just kind of stressed at least we should get there in a
23:57couple
23:57of hours and enjoy Kiva yeah as father and daughter make the last 190 kilometer push to Kiva two teams
24:06are
24:06still racing along the rails through Kazakhstan's Kizilorda region an open desert step where settlements are
24:13scarce and the horizon seems never ending look at that bit of flatland oh my god you see that it's
24:22a
24:22rock how do they survive on this landscape to start off with it was actually quite a variety of terrain
24:30mm-hmm it's now just flattened out into a vast step I have not seen one tree to take the
24:37clock this
24:37morning wake me up with any interesting happens I think you're pretty safe on the edge of the
24:52Karakum desert lies Kiva a gateway for Silk Road traders to rest and recover before facing the vast sands of
25:04Central Asia within it lies itch and Kala a maze of narrow streets and blue tiled minarets enclosed by
25:12towering clay walls still perfectly preserved today oh look at this Molly Wow okay I just feel like
25:24we've taxied this whole yeah I know a journey and Andrew and Molly's city stopover has cost more than a
25:32day and a half's race budget on taxis alone a modern reminder of just how remote this outpost is to
25:38reach Kiva yep it's just lovely eventually got here but honestly very deflated very deflated kind of annoyed
25:53of course there's a lot of money to get here and we're gonna have to spend a lot of money
25:57to get out of
25:58here more than likely or we just sacrificed the race it's something I wanted to do and it's not worked
26:09out
26:09very very well so I've got a guilt with that
26:16you all right
26:18I'm a bit fed up sorry yeah do you wanna go for a walk have a bit of a bit
26:26of us time
26:26I'd love to go for a walk all right kid yeah okay yeah I wanna walk
26:34it is stunning isn't it kind of like Aladdin that it is it is absolutely Aladdin yeah look at it
26:41it's
26:42amazing it is crazy I don't really know why I'm upset I'm trying to prove myself that I'm independent but
26:50I
26:50really do overthink things I'm always kind of going on could have done that better could have gotten it for
26:55cheaper where's the best place to see it Molly up on the walls no oh wow that's beautiful
27:08I wish I could stand on my decisions with pride beautiful beautiful spot amazing but I'm scared of
27:17negatively affecting people and with this race it's daddy I don't want to disappoint him
27:24oh it's lovely actually I probably need to trust my God I know that is within my power so I
27:32think this
27:33is what I need to do from now on in it is beautiful happy we did it good call all
27:39right Molly but you
27:42just think it's fascinating I always find it said like Sun goes down and it always comes back up again
27:47I know yeah no matter what your day is like at least it'll come up tomorrow yeah that's the
27:51thing so I think that's what we need to think about it's a nice round off tomorrow be a better
27:58day
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 was because mother yo Joe is this us Joe Joe and Kush and Mark and Margo alight
28:23and
28:23Kizilorda more than halfway to the checkpoint we need a hotel should try and find our fella see if
28:32he's here to bed in with Kazakh culture big that my name big that Kush lovely to meet you my
28:39friend Joe
28:40and Kush have arranged a homestay with local businessman Bigzat and his family very nice space you're welcome
28:47to thank you my house this is my family this is my father my mother
28:56assalamu alaikum alaikum alaikum alaikum in Kazakh tradition the national dish of Beshbermark is served
29:05on special occasions it's sharing platter a symbol of unity and hospitality
29:24also good mmm tastes amazing me basketball and course tie boxing tie box
29:44My father, he fight Muay Thai. Me, Muay Thai.
29:50My biological dad passed away when I was one.
29:54My mum was alone with me and my older brother.
29:57And she met my dad slash stepdad Matt.
30:01He was a fighter. He's coached me and my brother for as long as I can remember.
30:06Muay Thai, Thai boxing.
30:09As a kid, I remember doing pads in the garden. That's a big one.
30:12He'd do round the pads with us and then make us do press-ups while the other one does the
30:17pads.
30:17Even though we're not blood, he never once shied away from treating me as his own.
30:26So, growing up with him as someone strong to look up to, it means the world.
30:32Your medals!
30:36Bro, what are you saying?
30:39Champion!
30:40Number one?
30:41Champion!
30:42Goodbye!
30:44It's a language barrier, but I can sort of relate to the journey that they've grown up with,
30:50watching their dad and being inspired to then pursue the same passion.
30:55Hey!
30:55You've done this. You know Muay Thai.
30:57I think this guy's got a lovely family. It's so lovely all of it. It's so sweet.
31:00Oh my God!
31:03Ha ha ha!
31:04Oh my God!
31:07Ha ha ha!
31:08In Uzbekistan?
31:09Taxi?
31:10Taxi?
31:11Train station?
31:13Train?
31:14train in English the choo-choo noise no time to mess around with our fast train noises we're in a
31:33race having spent the night in Nukas Katie and Harrison are bound 550 kilometers southeast to
31:40the medieval city Bukhara gonna get traveling all day you can't really ask for much more to the south
31:48in Kiva train to Bukhara Andrew and Molly have the same idea two is that the earliest there's no
31:55earlier one Molly the earliest is two it's half ten now and it's gonna be a long wait the taxis
32:02how
32:03much yeah it's 50 quid it's gonna cost several the money to get the taxi this leg we've taxied a
32:09lot
32:09I think I'd rather prioritize budget getting to Bukhara so where trains best yeah that's a good
32:16call yeah I need two tickets to Bukhara feeling very good much better today the last couple of legs I've
32:24realized that being last hasn't been a hindrance Paris and Katie were 10 hours behind us I'm sure
32:29they've got the same train of us out of here so I think really in the next coming legs it's
32:34not gonna
32:35matter if we can just stay in the game stay as close as possible appreciate it thanks very much
32:40there's no point one in the first couple you only want to win one so so we keep telling ourselves
32:45560
32:48kilometers away in southern Kazakhstan and see some of that soviet architecture isn't it two teams wake up
32:56in Kizilorda in the 1920s it was the Soviet capital owing to its strategic position on the Tashkent railway line
33:06well workers unite look at that that's rather good that circuit propaganda isn't it it's very strong and dramatic
33:14as Mark and Margo head out of the city to reach their homestay
33:18horses come on Marco want to go to sleep
33:27so cool Joe and Kush have the opportunity to explore their host Bekzat's dojo
33:33to the coach Salam alaikum definitely a random experience they were due though in the middle of Kazakhstan
33:43of course has been starved from his Muay Thai it was 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 I think back to memories with me dad I found it sick to
34:10do what
34:11your dad does being in the gym I wonder what he'd be thinking the beast standing on the side it
34:17would
34:17be like a particular sort of smirk on a face watching me do judo throws I remember the day
34:28he passed it was locked down and it was it was a real big shock he had really poor mental
34:34health
34:35and he took his own life
34:41you never sort of forget that that shock factor
34:51I still think about him all the time being on this journey it's brought me little moments of
34:57death I'd be boss to tell him and I wish I really wish I could sort of show him who
35:06I am now because
35:07when you're 14 it's like I didn't know who I was I was still a child and I made a
35:14lot like I've made a
35:14lot of mistakes when I was younger and I feel like if I could sort of show what I've learned
35:32losing Cush's dad it was so sudden I think experiencing them hardships like so unexpectedly
35:42it has affected Cush's personality he wants to stay in control of himself you know he does he's
35:50never drank he's never got drunken before doesn't smoke doesn't do anything without checking safety
35:58twice because it was such a shock I guess he doesn't want anything like that to happen again
36:04thank 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 turkistan
36:15hopefully we can go somewhere keeping the budget healthy I'm always there for course and I know
36:21he's always there for me as well who's Turkistan oh thank you
36:32check the jobs directory there's a job seven food at this party that looks
36:38sick that would be boss as Joe and Cush push on south in search of work
36:47across the border in Uzbekistan it's tight no I don't know how you're gonna do this boy
36:51Andrew and Molly are finally on their seven-hour train journey to Bukhara
37:00Batman's on top heading the same way how is it this is scary but kind of cool this is what
37:10I've been
37:10wanting to do this whole time Katie and Harrison I feel like this is an out-of-body experience
37:17looking at a desert outside of a sleeper train wreck yeah I just never thought I'd be here
37:22I'm really pleased with how we're racing so far we spent a good day in Nukas but then got out
37:27there as soon as we
37:28reasonably could and now we're nine hours on the move to Bukhara you couldn't ask for much more
37:34really my name is Faisal Faisal Harrison Harrison nice to meet you where are you from where did you
37:43come from Uzbekistan we're from Manchester Manchester United
37:51yeah good boy come on ah because I know ah Manchester City yeah so Uzbekistan the centre
37:58back yeah he's good yeah if you said to me five years ago that you'd be traveling across the world
38:06and seeing these places I wouldn't have believed you I'm obviously a world away from home but I
38:13don't feel it before the race I certainly wouldn't be going up speaking to people but I think it's
38:18become a second nature now it is very lovely to meet you two you have been very kind it's the
38:24bit that I kind of dread but it's always the experience I get the most out of and I'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 my first achievement in Nukas oh no no no no you sure uh-huh uh-huh it's a medal
38:44ah
38:44half marathon ah running I have run a half marathon two in Manchester I can send you my medal if
38:54you
38:54would like it my name is Faisal love Faisal oh my name is Harrison we are friends
39:07hello hello they're lovely aren't they beautiful would you like to get on one ride not particularly
39:16in Kentau just outside the city of Turkestan Mark and Margo have made it to the horse farm run by
39:26Kuharnish and his family okay one job you've got to do is shovel shit this is very ripe mucking in
39:38in
39:38exchange for bed and board give me a wheelbarrow I'm fine absolutely fine I love wheelbarrows
39:47essential to survival horses have long sustained life on the steppe as transport the source of
39:54kumas a fermented mare's milk and as a vital food source mum loves horses so my granddad loved horses
40:02oh gosh your granddad was a my great great granddad was a horse trader yes yes so what will we
40:10do with
40:11the horses what oh they're meat oh lord my dream has turned into a nightmare the taste of reality isn't
40:22it
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 Margo is
40:53of course it's human life isn't it we eat animals light's gone hasn't it now right let's go
41:02I'm here am I I'm the head of the table there we go
41:06to welcome their guests the family has prepared a traditional meal
41:10it's like a banquet I feel like a king Margo
41:16oh gosh oh thank you very much look at that is that a goat
41:33oh lord what is this
41:39it might feel impolite not to accept it okay I'll try a bit of that okay do something
41:49do you like it just taste of succulent lamb yes I'm enjoying this route I am enjoying it but it's
41:57not 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
42:17oh hi hello hello they are all happy to see you in our home oh she gave me such a
42:24hug she gave me 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
42:46someone like i would imagine people from the ex-soviet union to be
42:49yeah you'll see images in the west of them being very dour and grumpy this is not the case here
43:01these are vibrant exciting lovely people with big hearts this is my wife this is julia
43:11the brochure that carry with me the celebration of julia's life so beautiful she's beautiful she's
43:16very very beautiful really is an eye of nerve of how we should like to treat fellow human amazing
43:23the kazakh way oh your treasures absolute treasures thank you thank you very much thank you
43:28good night 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 downward i was i
43:42was yeah but
43:43they've opened their hearts and home to us absolutely we could feel it it was so genuine
43:47wasn't it this homestead 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
44:04getting ourselves dressed up for the first time in a long time i like a smart casual
44:09fit you know what i mean joe and kush are bolstering their funds with a shift at a luxury events
44:15venue
44:16i wonder what celebration is for today's celebration is called a circumcision party sick
44:30the kazakh tradition of sundet toy
44:35a celebration of every boy's journey towards manhood wow these gifts lavish for
44:41this is a really big deal and an opportunity for families to display their wealth
44:47by spending big on lavish banquets and entertainers i've never been anywhere like this my teeth was
44:54in a church it was quiet it was family and friends and these guys they're getting handed wads of cash
45:10oh my god there's an eagle wow look at that imagine getting an eagle in your party that would be
45:16lit
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 bye your eyes are so
45:37beautiful
45:39i need to make 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
46:00is happening 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 unlike the stillness of kiva
47:32it remains a city where ancient madrasas centers of higher learning set alongside a modern working city
47:41stunning mosque incredible isn't it at its center the 500 year old kalyan 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
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 it so much here
48:14because everything is symmetrical it is so we're gonna get some food yeah i'm starving
48:25it's a little bit of luxury isn't it very peaceful
48:29i wouldn't have done this a few years ago yeah you you used to be really boring so it's just
48:34good
48:34that you're not letting yourself miss out on these types of experiences really boring's a bit harsh
48:41you'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
48:55my priorities in life have been to save money get on the property ladder as soon as i can
49:00if that's all sorted then i think it takes away a lot of the worries and stresses that i saw
49:04our family grew up with we're good we struggled a little bit financially there was a lot of moving
49:11i think i've lived in maybe 14 different houses i've loaned money to my family from the age of 16
49:17since i started working kind of like the bank of harrison rather than bank of mum and dad
49:24the stresses of financially not always having enough that's what shaped me to be so financially
49:31motivated and secure but i think my mindset on that is definitely starting to shift
49:36a bill here so as much as you thought
49:39what service charge what service charge well it was very good service to be fair it was right
49:47well the tourist information center over there get taxes there to zamen yeah poised just 430
49:56kilometers from zamen sorry do you have any english the two teams in bukhara set about securing onward
50:03transport we are trying to get to zamen national park to strike out towards the checkpoint
50:13do i mean how much 100 dollars no we are on small budget is there a no problem we don't
50:21care about
50:22good car we have cheap we finish low low low no finish okay give me one minute okay 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 routes converge and the
51:15pack comes together we're going to uzbekistan 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
51:30smarter it was uzbekistan this way he doesn't know he's gone oh my days presume he knows it's his
51:53don't stress
52:03high in the mountains on uzbekistan's eastern edge the fifth checkpoint
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 and the teams
52:25embark on the final push by taxi this is the bit that i love but it also stresses me out
52:31i can't wait to get going get me out of this taxi and ready to run within the zamen mountains
52:37the sofa plateau known for its distinct flat high plains and cool thin mountain air thank you thank you
52:50finally amphitheater and the way for the instructions amphitheater
52:58uh no idea where it could be amphitheater it's a man-made amphitheater over there look
53:10looks to be that up there yeah that's in the opera house kind of thing zamen amphitheater standing
53:16nearly 2500 meters above sea level it's a lot for us it's dry up here yeah it's ready okay just
53:28a sec
53:29my legs are wobbly the altitude has just killed me keep going doing well don't go too fast mark i
53:38did take my inhaler i'm working very slowly i might have another go with the inhaler
53:42i mean no physical state to run do you want some water no i'm okay with water with your heart's
53:48pounding but we're all right altitude running is not what i meant to do
53:56almost there seating stage yeah amphitheater
54:03rather impressive structure
54:07travel by cable car to the lower station
54:11travel to the cable car
54:13i love an echo yes
54:16there's a cable car
54:18cable car oh wait that is cable car i was over there i can see it i can see the
54:24sea lines down
54:25yeah cable car looks to be here i think we're getting the wrong way margo
54:30if it's far to go i'm just gonna have to have a rest
54:33we're getting in front of all the cute people come on
54:37it's lovely two people 140 000 just take it thank you thank you
54:42okay get on get on get on get on
54:51oh my god
54:56oh look at this this is crazy jesus christ oh my oh my god
55:03bollywood converticle
55:05oh my god my view is insane this is sick so nice to see a hill
55:19where do you think the other teams are imagine if they're just in the cave car
55:22behind this that'd be hilarious that'd be so good all my beers wow
55:30oh right find the checkpoint hotel and sign in hotel ah hotel was this hotel is it town hotel is
55:41oh there's two
55:44checkpoint 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
56:06i don't see a book
56:11i think it's wrong hotel
56:14welcome to zamindor resort please sign in
56:20what the hell
56:24oh
56:33i'm so happy to be back in first place
56:35i think transport lined up really quickly just try go the direct way through and it worked
56:40confidence restored that we are now to race
56:50oh
56:51that is so impressive
56:55like last to first
56:57the 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
57:09hopefully we're going to stay consistent near the top and then on the last leg do that little sprint to
57:14the end
57:15yeah
57:19third time being third but very pleased about it thought we were not going to do as well as what
57:24we did
57:25oh molly that was a tough week that was very tough that was a tough week pure utter relief
57:30journey to to kiva kind of nearly broke us i really struggled this leg and i'm so pleased everything worked
57:36yeah that's the entrance just there up on top yeah i'm not walking any further till you're certain
57:42we've got it we're just going up a fire escape come on up margot good evening please sign in
57:50yes 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 throne boring boring we've been fourth before
58:03we're at four three two one we're going forward we're choosing better routes no more side quests no
58:08more side 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
58:49what are you doing
59:16what are you doing
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