'The Amazing Race' Recap: 'Don't Ruin the Basketball Game (Kunming, China)'

[The Amazing Race - Season 18 Episode 5]

When we last left our teams, Kent & Vyxsin couldn't find their fanny pack; the grey flashback reminded us that it was at the gondola. Phil checked in Zev & Justin at eighth place and the two read the clue to take a train back to Kunming and head for the Dounan Flower Market for their next clue. Back on the gondola, Kent & Vyxsin found their fanny pack and hopped back onto their bus.

At the train station 12:01pm, Margie & Luke realized that there's only one train at 7:05pm. While all the other teams waited for their train, Kent & Vyxsin did the hammer detour (Vyxsin being smart enough not to pick the direction-heavy Horn task) and they got their next clue. They finally check to Phil and he handed them another clue. Phil warned them that there was a 30-minute penalty looming because of the plane fiasco; on the taxi to the station the two decided not to say a word to the other teams.

During the downtime, Jet & Cord convinced Flight Time & Big Easy and Kisha & Jen to play some basketball while waiting for the train. Jamie & Cara were cheering on the teams and the other teams watched enjoying the game. Zev & Justin finally showed up and told the teams that Kent & Vyxsin were on the way. Soon afterwards, the two showed up to the depression of the teams. The other teams asked about penalties, but Kent tried his best to diffuse the question. The teams thought they deserved a penalty, but couldn't do anything about it. All the teams got on the train and into their bunks for the night.

At Kunming, the teams made it to the Flower Market with Kisha & Jen, Ron & Christina, Margie & Luke, and Zev & Justin in the front. Jamie & Cara and Kent & Vyxsin were somewhere in the middle. Eventually, all the teams made it to the Flower Market and got their clue to go to the Golden Horse and Jade Cock Memorial Arches. Zev & Justin decided to piggy back Ron & Christina. Flight Time & Big Easy arrived last at the Flower Market. One team's taxi driver left so Gary & Mallory and Jet & Cord took the last taxis and left Flight Time & Big Easy in the back.

After the commercial, Flight Time & Big Easy finally found a taxi. Ron & Christina arrived at the detour first. Their choices were Honor the Past (watch a traditional Tibetan performance and perform a memory test with fifteen dolls) or Embrace the Future (offload a solar water heating system to the building roof and install the system). Ron & Christina decided to go for the puzzle and Zev & Justin decided that it was easier to follow the native speakers. Margie & Luke selected the tubes. Gary & Mallory and Jet & Cord were lost looking at the golden arches of McDonalds. Flight Time & Big Easy found their clue and headed out.

Ron & Christina and Zev & Justin watched the program and both decided to use the same strategy where one teammate would watch the first seven and the other would remember the last seven. When Margie & Luke arrived at the correct building, Margie struggled with the boxes as she had to walk up the stairs with them. Zev & Justin got their puzzle wrong and looked a second time.

Jamie & Cara and Kent & Vyxsin ran past the McDonalds and got their clue. Eventually Gary & Mallory and Jet & Cord realized where the box was and headed for the clue. Kisha & Jen make it to the performance house and were memorizing as Margie & Luke got two boxes to the roof and easily got their third as a pair. Zev & Justin adjusted their one mistake and headed to their next destination: the Chinese Minority Heritage Center. This was the position of the Double U-Turn.

Kisha & Jen were in second after they solved the doll puzzle in silence. With Zev & Justin trying to communicate with their taxi, Kisha & Jen needed the language skills of Christina & Ron. After one adjustment, Ron & Christina came out and found the other two teams still outside. They got in their taxi as the other two followed. Flight Time & Big Easy still were lost when Jamie & Cara started hauling one box. Margie & Luke finished up the detour in fourth. Kent & Vyxsin bickered as they struggled with installation as Jamie & Cara carried both boxes at the same time.

Gary & Mallory made it to the theater as Kent struggled with the boxes. Gary & Mallory had little trouble figuring out a memory technique. Flight Time & Big Easy made it to the building as Jet & Cord finished in sixth with Kent & Vyxsin right behind them.

Ron & Christina hoped to be the first, but the taxi driver got them to the wrong province center. Margie & Luke arrive in first and decided not to U-Turn. They read their clue and headed to Stone Forest. Kent & Vyxsin finished before Flight Time & Big Easy. Gary & Mallory were successful with their puzzle and were just hoping not to use their Express Pass.

Jamie & Cara, Jet & Cord, and Kent & Vyxsin all ran towards the Double U-Turn. Though Jet & Cord were first out of the three, they decided not to U-Turn anyone; after passing Kent & Vyxsin, they gave them the correct directions. Jamie & Cara and Kent & Vyxsin ran for the double U-Turn and Kent & Vyxsin got to it first just seconds ahead and put their team picture up. Though the girls kept saying "The Globetrotters" to the Goths, Kent decided to U-Turn Jamie & Cara. They had a flashback moment during their season when they decided to U-Turn someone in front of them and they didn't want that to happen. Jamie & Cara decided to U-Turn the Globetrotters.

Zev & Justin, Kisha & Jen, Ron & Christina, and Gary & Mallory all breathed a sigh of relief when the U-Turn board was full; they got their clue to Stone Forrest. Kisha & Jen got a successful cab and ditched the other teams. The Globetrotters found that they were U-Turn and headed to the theater. Jamie & Cara apparently finished their doll puzzle on the first try and got their clue and the taxi driver sounded like he knew where he was going.

Flight Time & Big Easy had an interesting tactic of remembering the characters in the performance, but they got the puzzle correctly and headed out. Jamie & Cara had to stop and get gas. They had horrible flashbacks of Hawaii during their season where their driver had to stop and they lost. Flight Time & Big Easy got their clue to the Stone Forrest. Gary & Mallory and Zev & Justin were still lost.

Kisha & Jen found the path and the clue box with the Roadblock. The teams had to assemble a Dinosaur puzzle to the approval of the Paleontologist. Ron & Christina and Margie & Luke both followed. Kisha drew a sketch, though it didn't seem that it was that helpful. Kent arrived next and Vyxsin admitted to Jen about their 30-minute penalty. Ron was upset about the lie and compared the Goth's fakeness to Kabuki actors. Zev & Justin and Gary & Mallory were still lost as Jet, Big Easy, and Jamie worked on their dino. Christina attacked her dino with her fanny pack in hopes that the bone would go into the right place. Zev & Justin and Gary & Mallory finally arrived and took the tram to the puzzle. Jet kept running back to the chart and double checked each of his steps.

When Gary & Mallory arrived last, they looked at the challenge and knew it was going to be hard. They decided to use the Express Pass and headed to Green Lake Park, the pit stop. Christina finally figured out the incorrect "safety issue," but it was Jet who finished in second. Gary & Mallory and Jet & Cord passed each other near the taxi area. Gary & Mallory lost their taxi, so they wasted time as they paid another driver to get them to the pit stop. Justin struggled with removing the pieces when Margie made it in third.

At the Green Lake Park, the Cowboys started running. Gary & Mallory saw cowboy hats in the distance and they ran in hot pursuit. Even with some editing, Jet & Cord were first and won $5,000 each. Gary & Mallory arrived in second place.

Back at the roadblock, several teams struggled with the puzzle. Kent couldn't figure out what his problem was. Christina realized it was the crux of the bone and started to disassemble. Justin finally got his piece fixed when Kent realized he also had the same problem with the crux. Jamie had to remove her shirt because she was running out of air but the judge continued to deem her puzzle not safe.

M & L were in third. Kisha succeeded as other teams looked upset. Kent finished the puzzle in fifth, leaving their team some hope that they could still survive the 30-minute penalty. Kisha & Jen lost their cab driver and couldn't find a replacement. Kent & Vyxsin passed Kisha & Jen on the way to the roadblock. Big Easy solved the puzzle next leaving Christina, Zev, and Jamie as the last three to finish.

Kent & Vyxsin arrived and had to wait their 30-minute penalty. Christina counted her pieces as she methodically finished her puzzle. Kisha & Jen were in fourth place because of Kent & Vyxsin. Kent & Vyxsin checked in fifth with Flight Time & Big Easy in sixth.

After struggling, Chrstina solved the puzzle and she and Ron headed out. Justin and Jamie struggled and after several denials, Justin got the puzzle correct and Jamie just couldn't physically adjust her pieces. Ron & Christina made a run as Zev & Justin saw them and started running. They ran for the finish as Ron & Christina were just moments away from each other.

After a long delay with the puzzle Jamie & Cara finally finished the puzzle. They went to Phil and were eliminated.

Detour:

Honor the Past
Ron & Christina
Zev & Justin
Kisha & Jen
Gary & Mallory
Jamie & Cara (U-Turned)
Flight Time & Big Easy (U-Turned)

Embrace the Future
Margie & Luke
Jamie & Cara
Flight Time & Big Easy
Kent & Vyxsin
Jet & Cord

Roadblock: Kisha, Margie, Christina, Kent, Big Easy, Jamie, Jet, Justin, Gary (used express pass)

1) Jet & Cord
2) Gary & Mallory
3) Margie & Luke
4) Kisha & Jen
5) Kent & Vyxsin (30-Minute Penalty Applied)
6) Flight Time & Big Easy
7) Ron & Christina
8) Zev & Justin
9) Jamie & Cara

Next Week: A Calcutta Tea challenge breaks Luke.