This week on The Amazing Race, our teams went to India. Many racers experience a lot of emotion when confronted with the reality of India for the first time, and Luke was no exception. His unabashed weeping melted my heart.

So, the teams all arrived in India and then grabbed cabs to travel to the Peepli Ka Pedh tree to get their next clue. Mel & Mike had some issues with their cabbie, and Mel raised his voice once they got in the car. Then he told the camera that he didn’t want to be one of those people who dehumanized people of another culture by yelling at them, and that he would feel badly all day. Aw. In contrast, at one point during this episode Cara/Jaime were screaming at an old Indian fellow, “DON’T YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?” Heh.

Tammy & Victor arrived first at the tree and immediately noticed the completely-out-of-place telephone. They used their vast intelligence skills to pick up the phone and receive their next clue. You might think I’m being sarcastic, but not a single other team thought to pick up that phone. REALLY, PEOPLE? Instead, they wandered around the massive tree, picking up rocks. Finally, Lakisha/Jennifer clued in.

Off to the Roadblock! The team member performing the Roadblock had to schlep a bunch of camel feed and fill up a trough with water. Mel chose to do this one, and for a while I thought he might actually drop dead on television. Mike watched helplessly as his dad struggled with this really physical task. However, the old credo “work smarter, not harder” kicked in when Mel was the only person to realize they had actual tools available to move the camel feed. Everyone else had been using their water buckets. This stroke of smarts allowed them to finish the Roadblock second to only Tammy & Victor. Nice work, Mel!

During this challenge, we saw an Indian guy whipping a camel in order to get it to stand up. I cringed. And later, I laughed, when that same camel kicked that guy so hard he flew into the air and landed on his back.

Up next, the Detour. Movers or Shakers? In Movers, teams had to ride a bike piled high with containers of hay for a mile, then search through the hay for a small silver elephant. Everyone was smart enough not to take this needle in a haystack challenge. Oh, except for Michael and Mark. Oy. In Shakers, teams had to dress up in colorful costumes, choose a band, and go out in the streets and earn 100 rupees. Everyone else chose this one, and seemed to really enjoy themselves. Especially Tammy/Victor, who ended up landing on the Mat in first place.

Before they could do the Detour, Christie and Jodi had to complete their Speed Bump, which was painting an elephant. Really. After they were done, they ran off to do Shakers, while Michael and Mark continued to look for their elephant in a haystack.

At this point the Race was really close, and I was thinking that the ladies might actually pull out a finish. However, the brothers arrived at the Mat only seconds ahead of them, and the flight attendants were eliminated from the Race.

I’m really enjoying the Teams this season. There are no clear villians as of now, and I find I’m kind of okay with that. I’m quite impressed with Tammy & Victor, who seem to have really pulled it together after their Romanian breakdown. And I continue to adore Margie, as well as Mel & Mike.

Order of Finish:

1.  Tammy & Victor
2.  Mel & Mike
3.  Kisha & Jen
4.  Margie & Luke
5.  Jaime & Cara
6.  Mark & Michael
7.  Christie & Jodi (ELIMINATED)