The Amazing Race... and everything in between!

I can't help it... I'm going crazy... Everytime I watch the Amazing Race 9 (and the re-runs), I keep wondering if I'd be called up for the preliminaries for the Amazing Race Asia. I have been a big fan of the race ever since the first where Rob and Brennan won... never missed a single episode. Each time I watch, I would be like "I could have done better..."; "Oh my God! They don't deserve to be in the race..." and so on and so forth. I always wished I could be part of the race... and not a moment too soon.

I'm glad to say, my partner and I have submitted our application... but God, we had to fill up quite a lot... and some of those questions posed were rather weird! These are some of the question that were posed and our (me and my partner Li-Ann) answers!

What is the worst experience you have had with your teammate? Why?
Li-Ann: Getting him to keep still and be quiet in class when the teachers have their meetings..
Hanson: None as yet.. maybe if we get to do the Amazing Race I may eventually get a bad experience with her but I’ll take it all in my stride.. this is what life is all about.

What time(s) together with your teammate are/have been the most memorable? Why?
Li-Ann: When we were kids. Since I’m older, I got to bully him. (Hanson's comment on that: Yea! Right! as if...)
Hanson: Auditioning for Fear Factor in a shopping complex. I had to piggy-back her and walk blindfolded across a path with mousetraps. We did not even make it past the first round but it was memorable because it was then that I truly found someone who shares the same crazy passion to participate in reality shows and hopefully one day, win it.

What famous person reminds you of yourself?
Li-Ann: Cruella de Vil
Hanson: Dennis Rodman

What famous person reminds you of your teammate?
Li-Ann: Leo Madrigal (Filipino actor) [Hanson's comment: Huh? Who?]
Hanson: Erin Brockovich

How are you and your teammate most different?
Li-Ann: I am outgoing but I prefer to have plenty of time to be with myself whereas, he’s pretty much a party animal.
Hanson: She likes diving and has spent an enormous sum in that... I’m more of a budget and thrifty individual and I won’t splurge even if I’m passionate. I like to do things that don’t cost a lot... for me, anything free is good!

Well! Not sure if we are going to make the cut. But Li-Ann, thank you for sparing me public revelations of some of my most embarassing past. Keep your finger's crossed.

Welcome to my Life...

Picture taken in Bangkok, 26-Feb-2006: The Tuk-tuk driver and me!

I have been infected with a terminal disease... it is quite contagious. I have contracted the blog-fever! Got ya'; didn't I?... ha ha ha...

I have actually done blogging for some time now; but I have always done it under a pseudonym for certain reasons that shall remain undisclosed as yet. You'll know in due time. Now I want to blog and everyone who reads to know who I am and what kind of a monster I can be; quite harmless actually, just keeping up appearances.

My name is Hanson; currently residing in the east-coast city of Kuantan, Malaysia. I am ** [censored] years old. What a lot of people describe me as weird and unconventional, I prefer the term unique. Imagine the river flowing towards the sea; I'm the fish that swims upstream... though not always. Sometimes I am at peace with myself, at other times, I'm a walking contradiction. I like topics that are thought provoking... things like logic, global events, music, movies and sex. I also like outdoor activities like hiking, jungle-trekking, canoeing and I am a gym-freak! Unfortunately, I'm still working on that 6-packs which seems a little too farfetched at this point. In addition to all that, I'm also a reality TV junkie. Based on what I've described, try to picture me in your mind; see an image?

I hope you would enjoy reading my posts as I would typing them in. Whether you agree with my views or not, please do give me a shout out! And whatever you are doing, wherever you are in the world, I bid you Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night!

Hanson

There's Just No Justice... Was there a Conspiracy behind Mandiva's Elimination?

Oh my God!... I was stumped when the elimination results were anounced on American Idol last night. It was a country-theme week; I thought Katherine McPhee excelled in this one and Bucky Covington gave a very appalling performance. All the others were rather good eventhough this was not an easy category to handle.

The first stinger came when the bottom three were revealed. The group comprising Mandisa, Elliot and Paris was announced to have purportedly received the lowest number of votes. None in this group has ever been in the bottom three, and all three have been consistently good throughout the competition if not outshining everyone else. Logical?... Definitely not! Country music was supposed to be Bucky's forte but his rendition of Vertical Horizon's "Best I Ever Had" was simply pathetic. I was positive that the group comprising Ace Young, Katherine McPhee and Bucky "the back-up singer" Covington would be the bottom three. Hell was I wrong.

The bummer to end the night: MANDIVA's elimination. Frankly speaking, she did a decent cover of Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine" and does not deserve to be eliminated at this point of the competition; at least not when Bucky is still around. I have always agreed with Simon Cowell that Bucky is just okay and he will be nothing more than just a back-up singer. Mandisa on the other hand, nicknamed Mandiva because of her powerful vocals and superior performances, was outstanding every week. Eventhough, Chris Daughtry is my favourite to win this competition... I thought Mandiva deserved to be in the Final 3.

If you think this scenario sounds all too familiar, you bet! It has happened before in the third season when Latoya London was prematurely eliminated though she was predicted to be in the Final 3.

Simon Cowell was quoted to have named his Final 3 predictions for this season, namely Chris Daughtry, Taylor Hicks and Kellie Pickler. Sounds like he's got insights from someone or something that must be brewing within the Fox organization that has actually predetermined who will be leaving the competition. I think there's some sort of a conspiracy... just dunno what! But why Mandisa... why? Anyone out there has anything to say, please feel free to comment!