Stick together or fall apart

From Macau, to Hong Kong and finally onward to Cochin, India. During the race's eighth leg, teamwork was key. Henry and Bernie would learn that when teamates fight, time is wasted and the team is ultimately eliminated.

OneShift Editorial Team

31 Oct 2008

1. You were pipped as a strong team from the start. Besides being siblings, what else do you think might have given you an edge?

BERNIE: For me I didn't think we had an edge over anyone except that maybe physically we are fit and I had a man on my team and we both have travelled a bit so adapting to our continuously changing environment wasn't hard.

HENRY: I think being fit and tall gave us a tiny edge but at the end of the day, it's LUCK LUCK LUCK!

BERNIE: We don't have different personalities! We are quite similar - outspoken and wanting to lead all the time. I did pull back to let Henry take the lead because it's the older brother syndrome and it did turn out that I am the calmer one and it took a little bit of time but he did listen to my instincts after a while. But it was Henry's drive that pushed me to limits that I didn't know I had in me, physically and mentally. And we found out that we are both very competitive and never-say-die attitude - our race tactics got better as we went along.

2. You have fairly different personalities. How do you think that affected team dynamics at various points in the race?

HENRY: Bernie is right about our personalities...We are so alike it's scary! A lot of compromise and backing down was involved during the race! We had to keep the peace between us!

BERNIE: It's hard to explain that kind of adrenaline rush and the emotional rollercoaster that the Race takes you on - it was tough and we won the two toughest 40 hour legs back to back and I'm very proud of what we did. It's the desire to do our best all the time- all the challenges that were put forth to us, we did them very well, finishing at the top most of the time and never once did we think of giving up on anything - even when I struggled through Braille! It's an unspoken bond that we have to never give up, like I said we are competitive but we played fairly, honestly and always polite and respectful to our surroundings, no matter how hard it got.

3. It seemed tough going. How did you keep your energy levels and enthusiasm level high?

HENRY: The constant pressure put us on a level of superhuman alertness!
Like a well engineered machine, the harder we were pushed, the better we got! The hardest moments are when you get slowed down by bad taxi drivers or broken down vehicles!

BERNIE: The first high point for me was when I stepped on the mat for the first time. To me it was, wow, I'm actually on The Amazing Race mat!
The other 2 times were when we won both Vietnam legs - we stepped on the mat holding hands like kids do and couldn't believe we won leg 2 and 3. The low points were taxis getting us lost, the bus breaking down and our jeep breaking down and us missing the plane to India.

4. What were the key high points and low points?

HENRY: The high points for me were washing the bus - we got there 9th and finished first! Every pitstop (except our last one) was a high point. I never realised the holding hands thing until it was screened! My low points was when we lashed out at each other under pressure and in frustration...this is something we never do in real life.

BERNIE: Being eliminated wasn't the worst moment for me. It was running to the pitstop at the Purple Forbidden City - my leg hurt badly because I had just fallen off the cyclo - it fell on the back of my calf actually. I was close to passing out, my world was going black already but
I had the HK team breathing down our bagpacks and I had to limp to the pitstop - I was scared i was going to faint on Henry before we got on the mat.

5. What was the worst moment of the race for you?

HENRY: My worst moment was being eliminated...I have never felt such a gut-wrenching emptiness....

BERNIE & HENRY: Nothing. Absolutely nothing!

6. If you could do one thing differently, it would be......

BERNIE: That not everyone is going to be a good sportsman or be as honest as you.

7. What are some things that you have learnt from the other teams participating?

HENRY: Sometimes, it’s better to amble along and look around carefully - that's the AD & Fuzzie School of racing! And...have a laugh and enjoy everything - That's Ida and Tania's way!

8. Who are you rooting for now that you're out, and why?

BERNIE: AD and Fuzzie, because we have the same race ethics and they're very calm and collected and very smart.

HENRY: AD and Fuzzie - my favorite race sistas!

BERNIE: Maybe Sam and Vince. Anyone but Geoff!

9. Who do you think will actually win, though?

HENRY: Probably Ida and Tania - Malaysian women know what it takes to get the job done!

10. What's the first thing you're going to do now?

BERNIE: Relax and go for a two-hour massage... then do a treatment for my hair..get a facial..feel like a woman again!

HENRY Take some time out from Bernie!

BERNIE: My work and my family and friends.

11. What motivates you and drives you to keep going on in life?

HENRY: Money