Kicking off the race from a brand new location, 10 teams start off in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, gunning for the top prize of US$100,000.
And at the Rama 1 Monument, the 10 teams assembled are the most diverse in the race yet.
From Thailand, there are the beauty queens – former Miss Universe Thailand turned designer and TV host, Pailin Rungratanasunthorn, 25 and her good friend, former Miss Universe 2005, Natalie Glebova, 26, now a business owner, model and TV host.
Joining them in representing Thailand is actress/model Visa Sarasas, who prefers to be known as Mai, 24, and her best buddy, model cum student Oliver Faivre, 26.
Running for Philippines is former Miss Universe Philippines and business development manager, Tisha Silang, 32 and her model boyfriend, Geoff Rodriguez, 26.
Competing for Malaysia are two teams as well. The first consists of friend Tania Khan, 36, a property development manager, and actress/director Ida Nerina, 44.
The other team is the brother and sister pair of actress/TV host Bernie Chan, 39, and her chef brother, Henry Chan, 43.
For Singapore, there is the self professed “slacker” team of Faeza “Fuzzie” Sirajudin, teacher, 34 and her good friend, freelance writer A.D. (Adeline) Chan, 34.
And representing India, there is the father and son team of actor Niranjan “Niroo” Asrani, 53 and HR executive, Kapil Asrani, 25.
Joining them are cousins Neena Rai, model, 24 and real estate consultant, Amit Rai, 27.
From Hong Kong are good friends, Samuel Wu Wei Chiang, university lecturer, 32 and comedian Vincent Chung, 32.
And finally, for the first time in the race, Team Korea makes its debut with brothers and sports agents William Hung, 26 and Issac Hung, 29.
As the teams are assembled at the start off point with host Allan Wu, several have already mapped out their team strategies and strengths.
Notes Team Singapore’s Fuzzie, “When you’re lazy, you’re a lot better at finding ways of getting things done quicker, because you’re finding the quickest way.”
Siblings Henry and Bernie spell out, “We’re here to do whatever it takes to win. It sounds rude, but we’re not here to make friends.”
Before letting them off, Allan informs them of the days ahead; there will be 11 legs in The Amazing Race Asia and seven of the pit stops are elimination points.
Race – Episode 1 | Story – Season 3 – The Amazing Race Asia – Exclusively on AXN
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