Jeebus finally makes it off the water taxi, but now they can't find the bird market. Huge props to the camera guy who grabbed this week's Sad Irony Shot, which is of a big sign that says "BIRD MARKET" with an arrow in the foreground, and then features a little pan over to Russell and Cyndi walking in the opposite direction from the arrow. That is a fine, fine piece of work, and I'm surprised they managed to nab it without tipping Jeebus off. At any rate, even after they are within hearing distance of the cheeping birds at the market, they have a terrible time finding it, even wasting valuable time climbing a long set of stairs only to find nothing at the top.

"It's really wonderful that Fern came with us," Danny explains in the Cha-Cha-Cha cab, "because Fern speaks the language and has been able to communicate with everyone." "Fern is fabulous. Love her," Oswald says plainly as he looks at his guidebook, and Fern smiles. Sigh. I want to be fabulous, too. Let's all be fabulous! Danny and Oswald now deliriously repeat her name -- "Ferrrn." She teaches them to say "thank you," and they do. They all laugh. You know, people have debated this week whether Fern really saved Cha-Cha-Cha a lot of time, and I don't know if she did or not. I suspect she was a very good hedge against a disaster like Jeebus encountered, and I suspect she may indeed have been a big help. But honestly, even if she wasn't, there's something to be said for the following: Who do you think had the best time today? Who do you think probably learned the most about Bangkok? I bet it was Danny and Oswald. In other words, most of these people aren't going to win a million bucks, and what they're going to take with them is the memory of a really great trip, so as long as it doesn't work to their disadvantage in terms of the race, I think Danny and Oswald's adopt-a-local strategy is just more fun than what everybody else is doing. By all means, race your behind off, but all other things being equal? Enjoying yourself isn't a bad idea either.

Jeebus finally, finally, finally finds the bird market. To their credit, they keep plugging along, headed for the bus station and the Ratchaburi bus. Quick shots of all the other teams on their various buses, and then back to Cyndi and Russell, as she talks about how he always insists on carrying her backpack. Aw. "He's been my rock," she says. Especially around the arms, I think, because Russell has biceps like hams.