Race Across the World episode 4 2025
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TravelTranscript
00:00Captions by GetTranscribed.com
00:26Actually quite relaxing.
00:30Are you ready?
00:31Yeah, I'm quite happy.
00:34For first place Brian and Melvin, a moment of serenity.
00:40It gives you a chance just to chill.
00:43You can actually feel the vibration of the bell thing
00:45that's going through you.
00:48Words can't describe how it is to come in first
00:52on the illumination leg.
00:55We've exceeded our expectations for some reason.
00:57If I'm thinking ahead now, you know,
00:59we've got to get our race heads on again.
01:01Do you feel the pressure now?
01:02Yeah.
01:09Four teams have made it to the third checkpoint.
01:13I've seen a lot of horses down here.
01:14I know, it's cute.
01:15There was some running this morning.
01:18And are now in the traditionally Tibetan Kham region of China,
01:22within striking distance of the Himalayas.
01:26We were close to Brian and Melvin, an hour between us.
01:29And now they've 24 hours, they've gone.
01:31Yeah.
01:32I don't know how they've done it.
01:33Yeah.
01:34Sort of Brian and Melvin, and then...
01:35And then...
01:39For the first time in the race, the brothers have taken a lead.
01:43And for the remaining three teams, less than two hours lie between them.
01:48We seem to constantly worry.
01:49Yeah.
01:50I struggle to sleep.
01:51We just don't mentally seem to be able to switch off.
01:53Yeah.
01:54Normally at home, I don't think about anything.
01:56I'm just...
01:57I'm pretty relaxed.
01:58Finding ourselves at the bottom of the first leg was absolutely frightful.
02:01So we have slowly and steadily been working our way up.
02:04Less haste, more speed, I think, has been our motto.
02:08Morning.
02:09Good morning.
02:10This is for you.
02:11Thank you very much.
02:12Take care.
02:14So, Brian and Melvin, they're going to be leaving very soon.
02:16I wonder where they're going to be going.
02:19I know.
02:20I know.
02:21Ready?
02:22Your fourth checkpoint is Varanasi.
02:25Varanasi?
02:26Varanasi.
02:27Varanasi.
02:28Varanasi.
02:29Where do you think?
02:30Get the map out.
02:32Varanasi.
02:33It's there, look.
02:34Right, so that is in India.
02:35That is on the Ganges.
02:39In northern India, the fourth checkpoint, Varanasi.
02:45This ancient city has been continuously inhabited for over 3,000 years.
02:52Considered to be an abode of Lord Shiva, it is one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism.
02:59Every year, more than a million people make a pilgrimage here to visit the Mandir and purify themselves by bathing in the river Ganges.
03:08To get to India, it's going to be a long way away.
03:14Ooh, it is not possible for the race to continue overland across the Himalayas.
03:20You must fly to Kathmandu.
03:23Where the race will resume.
03:25Whoa!
03:26Wasn't expecting this.
03:27Now, Kathmandu is in...
03:29Nepal.
03:30Nepal, isn't it?
03:31This is a double country move.
03:33Oh, so that's exciting.
03:34Melv, it's going to be tough, but let's go for it.
03:37We're here, Melv.
03:53The sun's shining at last.
03:55Having flown from China to arrive in Nepal's capital city of Kathmandu.
04:02First time race leaders, Brian and Melvin.
04:06Watch the cars.
04:08Nepal feels quite vibrant.
04:11It's a different atmosphere to China.
04:14It's more colourful already.
04:15Nepal looks to be completely different from anywhere that I've been to before.
04:22So it'll be a bit nerve-wracking.
04:24But I'm looking forward to some new adventures.
04:30Nepal's north is dominated by the Himalayas.
04:35It is a land where many use the phrase, guest is God.
04:39And natives offer homestays as a source of income.
04:42Allowing budget-conscious visitors to experience the true heart of the country.
04:50While those hungry for adventure flock for the great outdoors.
04:58We're in Nepal.
04:59One of the things that we have to do, Mel,
05:01is we've got to cross the border into India at some point.
05:03So where are we going?
05:06It is the shortest leg of the race so far,
05:09at just under 800 kilometres.
05:12But without the ease of bullet trains,
05:14teams will be at the whim of Nepal's basic road infrastructure.
05:19To reach Varanasi, teams could head west,
05:23to take in Nepal's rural communities and abundance of wildlife.
05:28Or they could travel a similar distance southward,
05:32but enter India sooner,
05:35directly into the country's spiritual heartland.
05:38Are we going to keep the same strategy?
05:42Yeah.
05:43Strategy similar to China.
05:45Yeah.
05:46Bed and board rather than work and pay.
05:48We can have a homestay.
05:50We can experience their way of life.
05:53Yeah.
05:54Ahead of everybody else.
05:55So we can afford to spend a bit of time here.
05:57Once we've had our fun,
05:59over the board, race.
06:01And then come in first again.
06:02Brilliant.
06:04Keen to immerse themselves in local life,
06:06Brian and Melvyn plan to head west.
06:08Bust.
06:09Bust a bandy purge.
06:10How much?
06:11One person is 700 rupees.
06:12Well, it's two people.
06:13Two people is...
06:151,400 rupees.
06:17Can you do anything cheaper?
06:18Can you do 1,000...
06:20No.
06:21No, okay.
06:2315...
06:251,500.
06:261,500, okay.
06:27Two person?
06:28Two pieces.
06:291,500.
06:30Is that a good deal?
06:31Yeah, are you happy with that?
06:32Yeah.
06:33Okay.
06:34What did he ask at first?
06:35He wanted 1,700 and he's agreed to do it at 1,500.
06:38Are you sure?
06:39I could have sworn he said 1,400.
06:41Did it?
06:43No, he didn't, did he?
06:44I thought he said 700 per person.
06:47Yeah.
06:48That would be 1,400.
06:49Yeah.
06:50And you've negotiated it up to 1,500.
06:52No.
06:53Well played, sir.
06:55No.
06:57Look at the windscreen, right?
06:58Never pass its MOT, would it, that?
07:01He's fine, lets the air through, that is.
07:03Well, we're late.
07:04If we make the homestay tonight, I think we're well on course.
07:08I just heard a noise from upstairs.
07:10Probably my bag has just slipped off.
07:14As Brian and Melvyn get on the road...
07:18...this year.
07:19...back in China and trailing the brothers by almost a day...
07:22Are you ready?
07:23I am.
07:24Let's read it first.
07:25...the remaining three teams...
07:27Ah!
07:28See?
07:29Your fourth checkpoint is Varanazi.
07:32We're crossing a border.
07:33Oh!
07:35I know where that is.
07:36India.
07:37India?
07:38Wow!
07:39That's far.
07:40That's so far.
07:42Oh!
07:43You must fly...
07:44...to Kathmandu, where the race will resume.
07:46But how exciting!
07:48It is so exciting!
07:49Oh, my God!
07:51We're going to Nepal!
07:54And I've got goosebumps!
07:55Yay!
07:56Ah!
07:57Wow!
07:58That is the best news I think we've had so far.
08:00We are going to Nepal.
08:01I am so, so happy with that.
08:04I've never seen such a big grin on your face.
08:07For me, it's the scenery, just the beauty of Nepal.
08:10Yeah.
08:11Looking forward to it.
08:12I'm so excited about animals, wildlife.
08:14I feel like it's a full package, really, for us, isn't it?
08:27Already finding their groove in Nepal...
08:29Very lively place, isn't it?
08:31Brian and Melvin have made it to Bandipur, home to the Neewar people.
08:38With a culture rich in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions,
08:42countless festivals take place every year,
08:45including the five-day celebration of Dipavoli.
08:50Namaste!
08:51I don't know what namaste means, but it's very nice.
08:54Hello.
08:56Welcome to Bandipur.
08:59Namaste.
09:01You didn't know what to expect, but you couldn't ask for a better welcome, could you?
09:04It's like the home village has turned out.
09:07Cheers.
09:08Black tea. Cheers.
09:09Very good.
09:11Hosted by Sarjan, the brothers will repay their bed and board
09:14by working an early shift on the family's farm.
09:18Tomorrow morning, 6am.
09:216am?
09:22I am not able.
09:23OK.
09:25Nepal is completely different from China.
09:28China is very rigid.
09:29But Nepal is buzzing, bubbly.
09:32Look at the geckos up there.
09:34Floury, yeah.
09:36At the end of the day, it's why we're here.
09:38It's an opportunity to experience something new.
09:41I've lived my life quite straight, I suppose.
09:45And it's about time that I let loose.
09:47Yeah!
09:49Excellent.
09:50My kids told me, go out and enjoy it.
09:52And that's what I want to do.
10:03It's a lot warmer, isn't it?
10:04Almost 22 hours behind race leaders, Brian and Melvin, sisters Elizabeth and Leticia are the second team to plan a way out of Kathmandu.
10:15The rest is popular for tourists because there's lots of backpacking.
10:19So, going south from here, try and take advantage of the faster routes in India.
10:26It seems more spiritual, like going to Bodh Gaya, where there's the famous tree, where the Buddha became enlightened.
10:33And that's what we wanted this trip as well, isn't it?
10:35Like Darwin is a culture and tradition.
10:38Feeling the pull of one of Buddhism's holiest sites, Bodh Gaya, they plan to take the more direct route to India.
10:47I really don't know much about Nepal, so it's nice for both of us to be discovering something new.
10:53It's made me anxious, being in a new country.
10:57Look, there's a bus that's stopping over that side.
10:59Shall we walk down that way?
11:00Yeah.
11:01Oh my gosh, it's so busy!
11:02Tisha and I are definitely different in terms of, like, how much we can be out there.
11:09Oh my gosh, where should we sit?
11:11Yeah?
11:12It's very different to China.
11:14She can get quite overwhelmed, especially with, like, new situations.
11:18I'm getting hot and bothered now.
11:20It's just very chaotic.
11:22People are bringing anything and everything on the bus.
11:24Yeah, someone brought this makeshift bike.
11:28Oh my gosh.
11:29Whereas I'm, like, embracing now, like, whoa, look at this.
11:33For her, it might be a bit too much.
11:36I'm loving this.
11:38Lovely, vibrant start to the day.
11:40Yeah.
11:42She'll smile, but I can see it's, like, draining her.
11:52As the sisters depart...
11:54Hello, piggies.
11:57Open, open.
11:58Come on, girls.
11:59They're a little stink, isn't they?
12:01That's all they do.
12:02That stinks.
12:05High above the valleys, Brian and Melvin are still in Bandipore.
12:13The town is a testament to the Nawars, whose roots can be traced back to prehistoric times.
12:20Their intricate craftsmanship has led them to become renowned as master architects.
12:26Today, intergenerational families work the farms, and Brian and Melvin are helping Sarjan with his morning chores.
12:34They're really hungry, aren't they?
12:35Yeah.
12:38Clean, inside.
12:39Clean?
12:40If you're keen to do that, Melv, then you go for it.
12:47Whoever says pigs are clean, Anvils, is lying.
12:50But they do shit in one corner.
12:52Well done, Melv.
12:53That's a really good job.
12:54I'm chuffed you've done that.
12:58Come, come, here, come.
12:59Go inside the plain buffalo.
13:02A buffalo?
13:03There you go, bro.
13:04I'll give you priority on that.
13:05Fucking hell.
13:06Are you lying on to that?
13:07Oh, God.
13:08What have I got to do?
13:09Yeah, yeah, dirty.
13:10Clean, clean.
13:11Yeah.
13:12What, with me hands?
13:13Yeah.
13:14Come, come.
13:15Really?
13:16Yeah, go.
13:17Go outside.
13:19I'm not that keen on this at all.
13:21Come on.
13:22Come on.
13:24Oh, God.
13:28He's picking up shit.
13:30Oh, God, what am I doing?
13:46I can't believe that.
13:47He's using his hands picking up buffalo shit.
13:49That isn't Brian.
13:51Definitely not Brian.
13:53I'm doing it.
13:54Yeah, you're doing your hand.
13:55I've got to be honest, when we first came out here on the race,
13:58I didn't think Brian would be able to deal with new challenges
14:01because he doesn't like to be uncomfortable.
14:04You're doing that?
14:05Don't.
14:06Don't you dare.
14:07But he's proved me wrong on that.
14:08He's done really well, he has.
14:10That's digging deep.
14:11He did all right.
14:12Proud of you for picking up shit.
14:20Right.
14:21Let's familiarise ourselves with our plan and our route.
14:24Back in Kathmandu,
14:25Caroline and Tom are the third team to leave for Varanasi.
14:29Doesn't it look that far?
14:30So it looks like we could probably either go down south,
14:34straight into India,
14:35or head up a bit west and spend a bit longer in Nepal.
14:38If we spend too much time here,
14:40I think I'd get a bit anxious about rushing to checkpoint.
14:43So tough.
14:44I know you want to experience their way of life,
14:48so why don't we do a homestay if we can?
14:50Stay the night and then rush down over the border
14:53and then rush to Varanasi.
14:55And get into the checkpoint, open the book.
14:57And find we're not third or fourth.
14:59I think that makes the most sense.
15:01We're sacrificing a bit of time in Nepal for Mum
15:04because she doesn't like worrying about being so far behind.
15:09Right, bust Apocra.
15:10I don't want to lose sight of the fact that we are making progress.
15:14You know, a primary reason to be here is to race.
15:16So if we can do the best of both worlds,
15:19then we'll both be really happy.
15:20Oh, my God, this gets heavier, Thomas,
15:22as I get older and more tired.
15:23How does that happen?
15:24We haven't even started yet.
15:27Let's go.
15:29Their compromise.
15:31Head west into central Nepal for a homestay
15:34before trying to make up time and cross the border.
15:38Hello, um, to Apocra?
15:40No.
15:41So I literally don't leave now?
15:42Yeah, yeah.
15:43Let's do it, let's do it.
15:44The bus is going.
15:45Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.
15:47The bags are going on the roof.
15:49Come on!
15:50Thomas, come on.
15:51Bye, darling!
15:53Bye, darling!
15:58This is chaotic.
15:59This is crazy.
16:05Oh, it's so peaceful.
16:07On their journey south, Elizabeth and Letitia
16:11come to a pause in Panauti,
16:13one of the oldest towns in the country.
16:19Believed to have been founded in the 13th century
16:22by King Ananta Mala, it was ruled by the Mala dynasty,
16:26a name meaning wrestler in Sanskrit.
16:31They have secured work at a female-led community restaurant
16:34run by Sarita, where authentic Neewar cuisine is served.
16:39You have to serve it, making momos.
16:42OK.
16:43A steamed, filled dumpling,
16:45momos are a Nepali staple,
16:47filled with meat, vegetables and spices.
16:50So there is four women running this, um, restaurant.
16:54Yes, four years now.
16:55It's very good.
16:56Very good.
16:57We help ill people, older people.
16:59Mm.
17:00We help financial or with food also.
17:02Mm.
17:03So you seem like a very big part of this community.
17:06Yes.
17:07So really nice.
17:08Mm.
17:09How is it for women here in Nepal to work?
17:13In the beginning, it's very difficult.
17:14Mm-hmm.
17:15No one can understand us.
17:17Mm-hmm.
17:18You are ladies.
17:19We have to see our home also.
17:22Mm-hmm.
17:23Now our family also understand.
17:24Mm-hmm.
17:25We are working here and they help to our home.
17:28Yeah, yeah.
17:29It's nice.
17:30Seeing that wonderful women who, uh, run the restaurant is,
17:35it's just very inspirational.
17:37They're so strong and confident.
17:40It just makes you think about things in my life.
17:44Are you okay?
17:46Mm.
17:47Okay.
17:48A little, little, little.
17:49A little bigger.
17:50Yeah.
17:51I'm not great at all.
17:53I'm working on my confidence,
17:56but I feel like it definitely dips a lot
17:58because I just don't want to put myself out there.
18:01Pinch and fold.
18:03No, no.
18:04Your hand isn't...
18:05Oh, no.
18:06It has to be quite this close here.
18:07Again?
18:08Again?
18:09Sorry.
18:10When I was quite young,
18:11our family did go through a...
18:15..a hardship, I guess you can say.
18:17My dad wasn't working
18:19and we did end up losing our family home.
18:23Pinch together like that.
18:25This is...
18:26This.
18:27Okay.
18:28Okay.
18:29Okay.
18:30Your home is, like, your safe space
18:32and that being taken away from you is very upsetting.
18:35It really did impact me
18:37and I guess I became a different person, basically.
18:42Folding.
18:43It's okay.
18:44Oh, no.
18:45Folding.
18:46This is your first try.
18:47It's not.
18:48It's okay.
18:49I think that's why I go travelling
18:51because I'm trying to find a sense of...
18:54belonging.
18:55Not bad.
18:56No.
18:57It's awful.
18:58No.
18:59It's better than mine.
19:00Not bad.
19:01This race is going to be a challenge
19:04because I just want to be the kind of person
19:06where you don't have to think about a lot.
19:08That's good.
19:09That's the confidence I want.
19:10That's the confidence I want.
19:11Just not to care and just be me and try and embrace myself more.
19:16It's perfect.
19:17Really?
19:18No.
19:19Okay, if you say so.
19:20Look at you.
19:21The safe is really nice.
19:22Oh!
19:23I'm so proud of you.
19:25We need to find the ticket place so we can try and find a bus to chip on.
19:30In Kathmandu, Finn and Sean Ed are the final team to depart the capital.
19:50With the lowest budget, just 48% remaining.
19:55This is a little bit different to buying trains in China, isn't it?
20:00We're going to Chitwan to do a safari.
20:03No mistake.
20:04Because we really want to see some animals, but it will probably be a bit expensive.
20:11We've spent just over half the budget.
20:15So, I do think going forward, we need a bit less spending.
20:20Oh, wow.
20:21That's a stat.
20:22We've had too many hotels and nice beds, so hostels or home stays would be good.
20:29And the way to go, we want to experience a bit more of Nepal as well.
20:34Planning to enjoy a safari, they take a seven-hour bus to Chitwan.
20:41This road is absolutely awful.
20:44I know.
20:45Oh, my goodness.
20:47Wow.
20:48Wow.
20:49It's like being in bumper cars, you know, when you're like...
20:51It's like a continuous bumper car.
20:53And they're driving on, like, edges of cliffs.
20:55This feels like we're tilting all the time.
20:57It does not feel very safe.
20:58You have a favourite goat?
21:07Oh, this one.
21:08What's her name?
21:09Miley.
21:10Hello, Miley.
21:11The baby goats, have you got names for them?
21:14No.
21:15No.
21:16Call it Brian.
21:17Bald.
21:18Briony, then.
21:20In Bandipur, Brian and Melvin have been helping out three generations of the Shrestha family.
21:27Your granddad, how long he's looked after the animals here?
21:3245 years.
21:3340, 50 years.
21:34And he's never left the village?
21:36He is.
21:37I'm a granddad.
21:38It's very nice for me to see granddad and son and your work here on the farm.
21:48Thank you very much.
21:50Marvellous.
21:51Looks good.
21:52Beautiful, isn't it?
21:53You like to leave, Dick?
21:54I'm not.
21:55I'm not.
21:56Because it's really hot, isn't it?
21:58Wow.
21:59Now, your son, lovely fella, just gone to school.
22:03Yeah.
22:04What does he want to do for work when he finishes school?
22:07Army.
22:08Army.
22:09Army.
22:10Will you miss him?
22:11Yeah.
22:12Yeah.
22:13Yeah.
22:14When I was 16, so your son's age now, I joined the army.
22:18I didn't want to stay at home.
22:20I'm not a friendly community like you have.
22:28Growing up, our relationship with our parents wasn't a loving relationship.
22:33I do remember Mum saying something like,
22:36Oh, you'll never be able to do anything like that.
22:39It was very dismissive.
22:41Mum never kissed us or hugged us, did she?
22:44No.
22:45No.
22:46I can never, ever, ever remember Mum...
22:49Putting an arm around you.
22:50Putting her arm around you.
22:51No.
22:54Mum was a hard lady.
22:56She was probably a lady who shouldn't have had children.
22:59I've got to admit, I was never made to feel welcome
23:02if ever I came back on leave or anything.
23:05But it was the same for you when you came.
23:07Yeah.
23:08Rather, yeah.
23:09Odd, isn't it, really?
23:15There's the difference here.
23:16These are a kind of really loving family unit
23:19and want to be together all the time.
23:21Yeah.
23:22It's nice to see they all look after each other.
23:27Mum and Dad were still alive.
23:29She would not believe that we could do this, race together.
23:35And Dad, he would probably say,
23:38Well, you'd be daft, lads.
23:39Yeah.
23:40But now we're getting towards the twilight years, if you like,
23:43I hope I still find time for adventures until I can't do it anymore.
23:48Hello, namaste.
24:03Namaste.
24:05Having spent the night in Panauti,
24:07Elizabeth and Letitia are the only team travelling directly south
24:11and are looking to reach the Birgunj border crossing.
24:15We want to go to the Birgunj border.
24:20Do you know how we go there from here?
24:22Very easy to go.
24:24First we go to Kathmandu and then Kathmandu to Birgunj.
24:30So we have to go back to Kathmandu.
24:32If you like to go another highway here, Sindhuli, this is also possible.
24:37Okay.
24:38Yeah.
24:39And which one is the fastest?
24:40That's Sindhuli.
24:41But if you go to Sindhuli, sometimes we have a landslide here.
24:45Mm.
24:46Road is broken.
24:47I'm not sure about that.
24:48Yeah.
24:49Oh, okay, okay.
24:50It's Kathmandu to Birgunj, it's here.
24:52Yeah.
24:53Yeah.
24:54Yeah.
24:56With temperatures rising in recent years, Nepal is enduring unprecedented rainfall.
25:03Receiving the highest downpour in half a century has put pressure on an already fragile infrastructure,
25:10triggering landslides that have made roads impassable in many regions.
25:15I can't believe there's landslides.
25:19What are you thinking?
25:20I don't know, I feel like we should just get a move on.
25:23I'm thinking not to risk it and Kathmandu is probably easiest to go to.
25:29Unable to continue with their strategy of a direct route south,
25:33Elizabeth and Letitia must retrace their steps
25:36and head in the opposite direction from the checkpoint.
25:39Uh, two.
25:40Kathmandu?
25:41Yeah.
25:42Okay.
25:43Oh, my gosh.
25:46I can't believe we are going back where we started.
25:49I think it'll be fine.
25:51Like, we're just going to be so far behind.
25:54Can't do anything about it now, so relax.
26:00Go, mate. Fast as you can.
26:03We're in a race across China, Nepal and India with other couples.
26:10That's my brother.
26:11You want a brother?
26:12Yeah.
26:13He's five years older than me.
26:15Three.
26:16He looks older though.
26:17I do, I do.
26:22As Brian and Melvin speed closer to Varanasi, Caroline and Tom have gained ground, reaching their homestay just outside of Pokhara.
26:31In the village of Balam, communities cultivate rice, wheat and vegetables on terraced fields, overlooking the Annapurna mountain range.
26:42Yeah.
26:43Yeah.
26:44Oh, my gosh.
26:45Yeah, mama.
26:46Mommy.
26:47Mommy.
26:48Mommy.
26:49My mommy.
26:50To experience a more local way of life, they're staying with the Gautam family.
26:57Do we take our shoes off?
26:58Yeah.
26:59I think we do.
27:00Do you grow?
27:01Everything from our gardens.
27:02No way.
27:03And the rice?
27:04Rice also.
27:05No.
27:06Here, food is eaten in the customary Nepali way.
27:07Okay.
27:08Okay.
27:09Okay.
27:10So, with hand, I'll watch.
27:11Do you eat with your hand?
27:12Very good.
27:13Yeah.
27:14But it's right hand only.
27:15Is it okay to eat with my left hand?
27:16If it's difficult, then it's normally.
27:17Oh, thank you very much.
27:18Okay.
27:19So, we make up.
27:20Just like that.
27:21It's difficult for Thomas to use his right hand.
27:22As a child, he couldn't write very well, but we didn't know why.
27:25It's just with my right hand.
27:26I'm left-handed.
27:27He has it anyway.
27:28I'm left-handed.
27:29He can't use his right hand.
27:30So, when I was six or seven, I was diagnosed with a mild form of cerebral palsy, which affects
27:49my right arm and hand.
27:51If that's okay.
27:52That's very kind.
27:54Feel like my left hand just does what it's told where it's my right hand feels like it's a disconnected from my brain
27:59But it's something I just don't really talk about
28:04That's really nice. It's obviously not normal for us to eat with our hands, but it's it's quite a fun thing to do
28:10Yeah, I feel like I have to know someone quite well before I
28:14Start opening up
28:19This temple is pretty wow
28:24It feels really nice to be up here in Bedford, actually
28:29Brother come
28:31This is the meditation place she inside place inside here
28:35Just think about your breathing calm strong
28:43When I was younger, I really wanted to be a pilot that was like my dream and my own dad got me a
28:49Flying simulator for one of my birthdays
28:52But you had to use both your hands and I touch all the buttons and do all of that
28:55And I just couldn't quite do it all with my right hand and that kind of made me sad
29:01In all honesty earlier on I think the in the culture normally you eat with your right hand
29:07I always thought it'd be more disrespectful if I tried to use my right hand and it would have just made a big mess
29:13I absolutely get that
29:16As time has gone on, I've got more use to it
29:19I play rugby, I go to the gym, I can work out, I can do all of that kind of stuff
29:24It's just more a bit of a
29:26A mental block for myself, if that makes sense
29:28I'm worried if I was to tell people
29:30They'd see that more than they see me
29:32I'm worried it would define me
29:34I'm worried it would define me
29:36Which is not what I really like the idea of
29:38Oh, it was
29:40I can assure you people see you as this lovely, friendly, kind-hearted, polite young man
29:47One hundred and fifty-five kilometres south
30:00Oh, here we go
30:02Chitwan National Park
30:08More than nine hundred square kilometres of rich flora and fauna
30:13Once a hunting ground for the country's ruling class during the cool winter seasons
30:21It's now a protected world heritage site
30:27And one of the last refuges of the mighty Bengal tiger
30:36Wow, what's that?
30:38It's more the insect
30:40I'm not the biggest fan of insects
30:42Finn and Seanad have veered off their westerly course for a safari
30:48In the hope of meeting some of the park's natives
30:51Even though it's a slight detour from the race
30:54A safari's always been something I've wanted to do
30:57There's something about animals that's always comforted me
31:00Here you can see the King Pishu
31:02Come on King Pishu
31:04Do you see?
31:05Yes
31:06The start of the race was hard for me with missing home
31:12Sitting up there
31:13Is that a monkey?
31:14Up at the highest point in the tree by himself
31:17I don't know how that's comfortable but
31:19Because he's not a human
31:21Because he's not a human
31:22I don't like change
31:23So it's taken me a bit of time to adapt to a new routine
31:27What can they see?
31:28Look at the rhino
31:29Oh no
31:30It's a rhino?
31:31Rhino?
31:32Behind the tree
31:33Oh
31:34You can see now
31:35Look at it
31:36Oh wow
31:37Yeah
31:38I've grown up in Wales
31:41Just a small little country
31:42I don't really see anything new
31:44Oh
31:45Wow
31:47I've grown up just wondering what goes on in other areas of the world
31:52So I just want to experience all of that
31:54We've actually got a rhino to the right and a crocodile to the left
31:58And it's actually like eight years away from each other
32:00Where's he going now?
32:01I don't know
32:02Bye Mr Rhino
32:04I still don't think like I believe that I'm here
32:07I don't think I'll actually come to terms with what I've been doing until I'm home
32:12Oh wow
32:14Elephant
32:15Oh wow
32:17Is it going to come past you?
32:19Wow
32:20Oh I touched an elephant
32:23I touched an elephant
32:25That was absolutely amazing
32:27We won't ever forget this memory
32:29It will be a special place for us now forever so that's nice
32:41To the border
32:42We've got to go
32:43We've got to go
32:44We've got to go
32:45We've got to go
32:46We've got to go
32:47Okay
32:48Back at the legs starting point
32:49Elizabeth and Letitia try to compensate for their setback with a private transfer
32:53Two tickets
32:54Two tickets
32:551,700
32:56Okay
32:57I thought this morning we'll go to the border
33:00So it has been a lot longer than I thought
33:03We just need to catch up really by taking speedy transport
33:06I don't think this is going to be the most comfortable ride
33:11There's bumps in the road, there's holes
33:15Their taxi will take them 130 kilometres non-stop to the southern border with India
33:21Oh my gosh that does not look stable
33:25Oh
33:27I didn't think that the road was going to be like this
33:30I thought we were going through the highway
33:32The Tribavan Highway is one of the oldest roads in Nepal
33:36Just go through quickly
33:37My heart, the palpitations are going to start coming in
33:40With large stretches of the road lying at more than 2,000 metres above sea level
33:45Look at that
33:46Its steep climbs and hairpin turns make it difficult to reach anywhere very quickly
33:52Oh my gosh
33:55I'm hiding
33:56I'm trying to go to a happy place
33:58You're probably making yourself even more anxious you know
34:01No not
34:02Just look the other way
34:03What do you mean, this is me looking the other way
34:09So funny
34:10Yeah sorry
34:18With the remaining three teams on track to cross the border further west
34:21We have just set off on our first overnight bus
34:26In the hope that we arrive at the border
34:29Caroline and Tom are also acclimatising to Nepal's road network
34:33We've probably spent about 36 hours in Nepal
34:36Had the best time and then we said once we've done that
34:38We're going to stop for the racing
34:39And that's exactly what we're doing
34:41There's no buzzes just hectic
34:43Oh my god
34:44It's, oh
34:45I was very excited to be on it but actually it's terrifying
34:48And they've just come round with sick bags
34:50There's absolutely no way if this continues like this
34:53That we'll be able to sleep tonight
34:55Beautiful isn't it?
35:07The foothills of the Himalayas
35:10Good view
35:11We wanted to do really great experiences
35:14And then over the border
35:16Just 65 kilometres from the border
35:20Looking to cross into India today
35:22Brian and Melvin are squeezing in one last escapade
35:27We're going to a zipline
35:29I'm quite looking forward to it
35:31I'm not sure Brian is he
35:32It's a bit apprehensive
35:33I don't like heights
35:34I just want to really get over it
35:36Do you think this is it?
35:38No
35:39Is that the zipline?
35:40Yeah, yeah the zipline
35:42That is not a proper zipline
35:45It's a bloody bike upside down
35:47I mean it looks solid enough
35:49Melvin decided that he wanted to do this
35:52I probably wouldn't have picked it
35:54But I don't want to let him down
35:56Because one of the reasons for coming on the race
35:58Is to do things like this together
36:01Which we wouldn't do at home
36:03I'm not nervous
36:04My doctor said to me
36:06He goes Melvin, remember you're 65
36:07But in my head I'm still 18, 20
36:09Can we get it over with then?
36:12It's fine this Brian
36:16Couple of minutes a piece
36:18And away!
36:22Goodness me
36:27This is crazy
36:29What a view!
36:34That wasn't long enough was it?
36:48That was great
36:50It was just the feeling of it
36:52It just puts a smile on your face
36:54Hmm
36:55I don't know yet
36:57Bless him now, I must admit
37:00I don't think Brian's ever done anything like this before
37:03I mean Brian's idea of an adventure
37:06He's playing golf in an exotic country
37:08Is that screwed back in then?
37:10He's going to be fine
37:12He's going to be fine
37:13He's not going to bottle it
37:14He's not a bottler
37:15He's not
37:16He'll do it
37:17He's done a lot of things that have made me proud of him so
37:19Don't
37:21Just go
37:25Oh God!
37:27Oh shit!
37:28Oh!
37:31We're away!
37:32I knew he wouldn't let us down
37:34Oh! Bloody hell!
37:35Let's go
37:45It'd be funny if he got stuck in the middle wouldn't it?
37:49Go on mate!
37:50Hold on, how are you feeling?
38:02Yeah, fine
38:03Good lad
38:04Piece of piss, huh?
38:05Well there you go
38:06It was actually quite scary as you're coming down
38:09But yeah, I enjoyed it, it was fun
38:11Tell your face then, will you?
38:13In Nepal
38:14I'm constantly going outside my comfort zone
38:17I'm happy because we've done it together
38:19So I haven't let Melvin down
38:21I'm genuinely pleased he did it
38:23And knowing he was doing it for me
38:25It's incredible
38:31Please come, I will say you're up
38:33Yes, thank you
38:34Thank you
38:36Also embracing new experiences
38:39Finn and Seanad have arrived at their lodgings in Pokhara
38:43Known for its nine freshwater lakes and Himalayan peaks
38:52Nepal's second largest city lures backpackers chasing adventure
38:57I've never stayed in a hostel before
38:59Me neither
39:00But we definitely do need to start saving money when we can really
39:04With depleting funds, they're forgoing the comfort of a hotel for the first time in the race
39:10Securing free accommodation at a hostel in exchange for work
39:15Hi
39:16Hello
39:17Hello, nice to meet you
39:18Thank you
39:19Thank you
39:20Thank you
39:21See you later
39:22What's wrong?
39:23No, nothing
39:24Good
39:25Good
39:26Six people in a room
39:27I think, wow
39:28It's, yeah
39:29Especially strangers
39:30Why are you making faces?
39:31Why are you making faces?
39:32I'm not
39:33Meeting people for the first time a bit like, oof
39:34It's quite nerve-wracking for me
39:35At home I have my group of friends and I've never really expanded
39:37You know, some of my best friends are my cousins
39:38I've never stayed in a hostel before
39:39Really?
39:40No
39:41Really?
39:42Yeah, he's not big on sleeping, like, with other people around so
39:43I need to be a bit more out of my comfort zone, I think, so I do need to do this
39:45Definitely
39:46Will be fine
40:02Really?
40:03I'll be fine
40:09Euro are my thoughts
40:10No
40:13Yeah, andPS
40:14as night falls very simple small beer 250 big beer 500 finn and Sean Ed are
40:22starting their shift in the hostel bar on your right I think I'm better than
40:35finished hiding the fact that we're both not very social well people 1 200
40:43rupees please I work in the leisure center as a receptionist it's the same day
40:50every day it's like living Groundhog Day I think we're just very different to other
40:58people our age because we don't go out drinking Saturday night go on walks all
41:07the time go up some mountains my very children just slow it's gonna be tough
41:23for me then someone who doesn't like crowds yeah I can imagine yeah ever since we found
41:31out that India was on the radar I've been very nervous and what I've heard today has
41:39not really settled my nerves at all China was a struggle but I think India is gonna
41:46be a lot harder my worries the crowds and the noises everything seems to be very strong
41:54for the senses and I just like gentle stuff I miss you good night
42:01oh my god
42:13hello brother how are we doing nice to meet you this place is so cool
42:22India the most populous country in the world home to more than 1.4 billion people
42:33the first team's touchdown in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh known as the heartland of India
42:41where 240 million inhabitants jostle for space in the cities and the Ganges carves its way east to
42:50Varanasi and beyond
42:57it doesn't really feel real that we're in India on a tuk-tuk I feel like this is a bit like a movie scene
43:01Caroline and Tom are the first team to reach the third country of the race
43:06oh there's an elephant being ridden oh my god
43:09holy shit
43:10oh no way
43:12oh my god
43:14oh my god
43:16why do they ride an elephant in a city what the hell that is mental
43:23India is gonna be full of surprises
43:26planning on catching an afternoon train to checkpoint
43:29mother and son have time to top up their Indian rupees
43:33Thomas Thomas Thomas this is it
43:35at a restaurant on the outskirts of Gorakhpur helping the owner prepare food ahead of the evening rush
43:44ah lovely
43:46do you rock a hairnet?
43:48I rock a hairnet and do it like this and it's not for me
43:52how attractive is mine?
43:53oh stunning you look great
43:55gloves
43:56gloves
43:57oh and we get gloves as well
43:58oh no
43:59oh no
44:00looks
44:01can you do it with your hands
44:02yeah just take a while
44:04make a jump at the thumb up here
44:07seems like that hand is different from this hand
44:09thumb up here
44:10oh my god
44:11I just ripped it
44:12no problem
44:13sorry
44:14this is an example of where Thomas struggles because of his cerebral palsy
44:19yeah I just wanna go do it somewhere by myself I don't have the pressure I don't like it
44:26the majority of things in life that I do I've just adapted to find different ways around it
44:31don't go on
44:32I just can't move the hand around as much to bend it around to where it needs to go
44:36it just doesn't work
44:38but something like that when it was purely my right hand and I couldn't really find another way around it
44:43that's when it does affect me
44:46mum I just can't get it on
44:49I just feel so bad I'm slowing everybody down
44:51no it's okay
44:52but let's see if you can do something else
44:53no I wanna go into the kitchen though
44:55it's the feeling of knowing you can't do something
44:58we're there
44:59we're done
45:00we're there we're good
45:01well done
45:02it just makes me start to panic a little bit and worry so much
45:07and I think I'm realising as I get a bit older it's something I have to deal with a bit more
45:13I don't know if I'll ever get to a stage where I can be so open about it
45:17you know freely say like oh look I just need a bit of time
45:20because I've got cerebral palsy I don't know if that would ever happen
45:25but it probably would be quite nice if it could
45:28oh look at this eh
45:34ha ha
45:35bloody hell I would not like to drive it
45:39no
45:40no
45:41Brian and Melvyn are the second team to cross the Indian border
45:46plan is
45:49we'll try and get a bus
45:51we need to get to the checkpoint today
45:52definitely
45:53utilising the country's expansive bus network for a swift departure
45:58which one this one
46:00yeah yeah yeah
46:01six hours
46:02oh it takes six hours
46:03get on it Mel
46:04India has a different feeling than when we arrived in Nepal
46:09this is ten times busier
46:12and just gone past is a cow
46:14look
46:15we're on Brian
46:16yeah
46:17we're on our way to the checkpoint
46:19good morning
46:20Maranasi
46:22we had about a 20 hour lead
46:24where do you think we're going to win it?
46:26top three
46:27I say top four
46:29wow
46:46having persevered with the difficult roads on the southern route into India
46:52Elizabeth and Letitia have reached their goal of Bodh Gaya
46:57the main reason to do this route was to come here
47:02oh look at this huge
47:04oh my gosh
47:05it's massive
47:06it's such a beautiful tree as well
47:09a holy site where in the sixth century BC
47:14Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree
47:18and became the Buddha
47:20the awakened one
47:22for Buddhists around the world
47:24it's one of the most sacred places on earth
47:27this leg has been quite challenging and quite fitting
47:34that you know the essence of enlightenment is just letting go
47:37and just trying not to have control of situations
47:41and just accepting everything for what it is
47:45I feel like here is a little oasis
47:50look it spans all the way around
47:53we grew up in a Christian household
47:58but now I'm getting more into my own like spirituality
48:04oh it smells so good as well from the flowers
48:07I like understanding different aspects of myself
48:14whereas sometimes I think Letitia might shy away from that
48:18I can't believe we're under the tree
48:20where Buddha himself sat
48:22being down here
48:24it does feel special
48:25I want to like kind of meditate on it
48:27and just let go of a lot of life things
48:29sometimes we're just worrying you know so much
48:31let go start afresh
48:34I don't really share my feelings
48:39but losing our family home
48:42me and Elizabeth had a very different experience from each other
48:48Elizabeth was 18 and she went to Italy
48:53I did feel alone and I just bottled everything up
48:59meditation bell
49:01should I go under?
49:02yeah
49:03I know Elizabeth wants me to talk about emotions
49:09however
49:13I don't know if I'm ready for it
49:19fully realising your own nature is what the Buddha calls enlightenment
49:24I'm just realising how far away I am from this enlightenment
49:32there's so many things that are unsaid still between us
49:35and it's affecting our relationship and our race
49:41I would definitely like to understand Letitia a lot more than I do
49:46so I will try to be a bit more compassionate
49:50and go at her pace
49:54hello
49:56hi
49:57shall we head out?
49:58yeah
49:59it's just a checkpoint now
50:11oh this isn't what I was expecting
50:12what in the world is going on
50:14oh
50:15oh
50:16this is already hectic
50:17Finn and Seanard have just arrived in India
50:22this is mental
50:23no
50:24it's just full of people
50:26oh Sally
50:28I'm getting really overwhelmed and this is really stressing me out
50:33oh no
50:34this bus is a bit mental
50:36this looks actually really fun
50:38I'm actually looking forward to this now
50:40I said I wanted to go on one of these buses
50:42and now I have
50:43my wish has been granted
50:44here I am
50:46oh my god
50:47it's way too loud
50:50I feel like I've been chucked in the deep end
50:53hello
50:54I'm so glad I'm getting out of here
51:00oh
51:01oh
51:04as Finn and Seanard head for Gorakhpur
51:08two teams are closing in on the fourth checkpoint
51:12I thought we were close to stopping three quarters of an hour ago
51:16and we're still going
51:17that could be the train station actually
51:19that train, yeah
51:20yeah
51:21is this Varanasi?
51:24thank you
51:26alright
51:27bag on
51:28got no time to waste
51:32the traffic is absolutely immense
51:37gazing over the river Ganges
51:40the holy city of Varanasi
51:42its banks are lined with 88 ghats
51:49stone steps drawing Hindu worshippers to the sacred waters
51:54located by the Shavala Ghat
51:57the fourth checkpoint
52:00on foot follow the Asi road
52:04down to the Ganges river
52:07and find the Tulsi Ghat
52:10Tulsi Ghat
52:11see if this chap knows
52:12do you know where the Asi road is?
52:15towards the Ganges
52:17shit
52:18down here Briar
52:20up, up, up
52:22we're looking for the Asi road
52:25two floor house
52:27thank you
52:29god
52:30it's amazing
52:32none of them have got bloody street names anyway
52:34no
52:35but let's get down to the river
52:37Asi road
52:38up
52:39and then right
52:40down there
52:41no
52:42no
52:43I don't believe this is right
52:44oh shit
52:46go
52:47go round
52:48go round
52:49go round
52:51well
52:52river Ganges
52:54there's Asi net
52:56my friend
52:57there's a Tulsi Ghat
52:59this is it
53:00this is it Briar
53:01oh shit
53:02come on
53:03mum this is such a weird route
53:04I know
53:05it almost doesn't feel right
53:07oh
53:08oh
53:09oh
53:10oh
53:11oh
53:12oh
53:13oh
53:14oh
53:15oh
53:16oh
53:17oh
53:18oh
53:19oh
53:20oh
53:21oh
53:22oh
53:23oh
53:24oh
53:25oh
53:26oh
53:27sorry
53:28oh
53:29day
53:30happily
53:31bloody hell
53:32wow
53:33so this is the Ganges
53:34oh
53:35we've got to be close now
53:36ah
53:37ah
53:38can you read it
53:39that's it
53:40ok
53:41doing alright bro
53:42so the Gats are something to do with
53:44what
53:45what in hell
53:47you alright
53:48sit a minute
53:49just hang on
53:50sit a minute
53:51fuck
53:52oh
53:53check point hotel
53:55let's go
53:56let's go
53:57let's go
53:58just a little one
53:59come on let's go
54:00it's ok
54:03come on mama
54:04god so many steps
54:06there is something up here that's well lit
54:08do you think this is it
54:10sorry Eddie
54:11that's it there
54:12that's it ok
54:13up the stairs
54:14up the stairs to the door
54:15let's go
54:16oh
54:17oh
54:18oh
54:19oh
54:20oh
54:22Namaskar
54:23welcome to Amritada Suryodha Veli
54:24thank you
54:25please sign in here
54:26congratulations you've suddenly reached your fourth checkpoint
54:29please
54:31sign in overleaf
54:33oh
54:38I don't know how we've done that
54:40we didn't think we're gonna be
54:41first again
54:43we honestly didn't
54:44I don't know what to say
54:45fantastic with the route we took going into nepal and going west we thought we'd done it a longer
54:50way around and because of that that might have cost us that lead well done well we're halfway
54:57through and we've won two legs can you believe that have we peaked too soon mate a lot in the
55:03meantime we'll have a cup of tea yeah definitely we made it a second oh my god that's amazing we're
55:13only a few hours behind we are feeling elated we are over the moon that's a sigh of relief well
55:20done we smashed it sign it quickly okay oh my golly thomas we've really climbed up the ladder starting
55:27at fifth all the way to second we've gained about 20 hours yeah if we can do that much in one leg
55:33that's amazing we're so close to that first spot that we've been wanting since day one so maybe
55:40next leg could be the one well done my boy
55:53we are on route i felt quite anxious to get to the checkpoint with two teams checked in
56:01two remain out on the road i'm nervous that we might be last
56:05mm-hmm if they are all ahead and if it's by so many hours that would be annoying yeah that would
56:12be really annoying that'd be really really annoying
56:17big and then everybody hello hello do we need to get to varanasi
56:22fuck me i have no idea where to start
56:29oh too much
56:32i don't want to get to check one
56:34stop crying it's fine it's okay
56:41give me that
56:41i feel stupid for complaining about china
56:56i really hope all of india is not this intense because i don't want to spend a month here
57:01where are you from england lovely jubbly a 20-hour lead is nothing in this game you miss one bus and
57:13it's gone we did so well to catch up we can't now let that slip jeez louise honesty is lacking in our
57:21relationship it's easier said than done it's like a dream come true oh my god this is so
57:27oh they're trying to squeeze on just go we need to go now where are we there's just a sensory overload
57:39what was the need for that
57:57what if
58:11you