Mar 02
Peking Express - Adventure in the Himalaya!
2005 at 02.30 am posted by Veerle
Tomorrow one of the best television shows of last year start their next season. Boy did I enjoy that journey. The show is called “Peking Express”. First let me tell you a little bit background info. 8 different couples (4 Dutch and 4 Belgian) participated in a spectacular race along the trails of trans-siberian Express! For 6 long weeks they have to find their own means of transportation and sleeping arrangements, and this on a budget of just 2 Euros per person per day!
In 10 stages they traveled a distance of 9000 kilometers straight through Russia, into Mongolia to the capital of China: Peking! During each stage the participants had the opportunity to gain extra miles by competing against each other in games such as truck racing, rafting, salt digging, standing on poles on the Great Wall of China,… At the end of each stage the last ranking couple is dropped out the race. At the end 2 couples reached their final destination Peking where they competed for a considerable sum of 70.000 Euro. Hans and Rani where the winners and collected 50.000 Euro if memory serves me right.
The format of the show has all the right ingredients to make it interesting to watch. If you look at the pictures you’ll get a great idea of what kind of hurdles the candidates and camera crew had to overcome. Great shots also from an area where you wouldn’t visit as a tourist. The visual journey of last year’s Peking Express.
So Tomorrow season 2 starts and I’m looking forward to it. The name of the show is “Peking Express - Himalaya Route”. This year’s edition goes from Peking to the Indian Bombay. In total 8 couples have to hitch hike 8.025 kilometers that brings them through China, Nepal and India. To reach the end point they also have to concur the Himalaya.
The daily budget is cut in half and is only 1 Euro! Also this race is against the clock, since they have to avoid being the last one to arrive. The couples are on the road for about 7 weeks. Should be an interesting spectacle again. A teaser can be seen here.
14served
1
Definitely looking forward to it as well! Last time I watched I was amazed by the way they managed to get people to do things—now with the budget cut in half, yikes.
It’s the first time I see a photo of the crew following a couple. I’ve never really realized that it’s probably at least as hard for them as well.
Last night CSI: New York and Desperate Housewives started here in The Netherlands as well. Good times :-)
2
Amazing. I’d like to watch this.
3
Definately VT4’s best program! Great concept and awesome production!
4
I think the format stands or falls with the couples they choose. Last year there was a really annoying one and some to support for. I think these 2 groups are what is needed (good and bad). Same for Expedition Robinson.
5
I’m somewhat confused. Did you participate in this adventure?
It looks pretty interesting...and difficult.
6
Hey, this looks real great. But, as I understand, this show is only available on dutch and dutch-speaking belgian channels, right? Don’t think we have ‘em here on cable (otherwise my belgian flatmate would probably know). Too bad…
7
Even if we can’t see the show, the photography on that site is gorgeous! Thanks.
8
Is this show in English by any chance? Maybe there’s a place on the web where this show might be floating around…
9
I just got back from trekking in the Himalayas, Nepal particularly, less than 3 weeks ago. You don’t want to be over there right now trust me.
It was a great experience, but we only got out 3 days before the king dissolved the government, shut the airport, phones and power off and declared military control.
Freaky.
10
@Reinier: I think you can watch Peking Express in Holland on Net 5 if I am not mistaken.
@kharris: I did not participate in this adventure. It just is one of the best TV shows out there. I’m not that kind of adventurous type ;-)
@Timtom: Yes you’re right it’s only available for Belgium and Holland. I know that in the early days VT4 (the channel it is on) had a satellite signal but I am not sure if this is still the case now. SBS is the parent company of VT4.
@Rafal: The candidates speak mostly English but the hosts of the show speak Dutch.
@Jason: They finished recording the show a while ago it’s only now that they begin broadcasting it. So this will not be a problem. Glad to hear you left in time.
11
I wathed the first episode of Peking Express yesterday in the Netherlands. I’ve seen parts of th e prevuious season. Seems a nice format. Nice part is that there are all kinds of diffrent couples: father/daughter, ex-partners, partners (m/f), partners (m/m), etc. That’s nice for the phycological part of the game ;-)
I often watched Robinson Island and I also wath “The Farm”, a new program like Robinson Island.
12
These programs irritate me. VT4 Should start broadcasting movies instead of these dumb reality tv series..
Everytime I’m bored and I want to watch some television in the evening there’s an annoying program like “beautiful” or “Temptation Island” and occasionally, when I’m very lucky, a movie nobody wants to see.
I never watch tv anymore, except for the “happy hours” from 4:30 to 6 while I’m studying or when I know there’s a good movie coming up. It’s sad to see what a powerful medium like tv has become.
13
I am dutch but living abroad and I would very much like to see this series on DVD or DivX. Anyone who knows if this is possible?
14
Hey for all u people out there who want to watch the first episode just go to the link attached to this reply.(website)just click my name…
its only the first one but maybe number 2 is also hanging around somewhere....
enjoy!