The group is hijacked while they are hiking, and the game begins very suddenly. They are shackled, have only the clothes they are wearing, and have lost their suitcases and luxuries.
The island they’re on is former head-hunter territory. It’s an island that saw action in World War II, and the tribal council area contains a wrecked plane and what one hopes are prop skulls.
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Mark Bayly seems happy to be back – he’s more flexible and confident, and he gets to do more action-man stuff.
The game gets going
The members of the group unchain themselves and swim ashore, straight into a balancing challenge. The strongest swimmers, Grant and Mandla, get to choose the best perches in the water. Nomfundo falls behind and Nichal topples off.
Nichal, looking like the Incredible Hulk, is sent into exile on Gual Island. It’s decorated with a range of it’s own little skulls. Is this what’s called exterior decorating?
The perches on which the others are standing are colour-coded, thus dividing the group up into teams. It’s a neat and random way of doing this. They're each given water bottles and shoes, and they find rope and a machete.
The two camps
Bajau camp is named after a local tribe, the members of which are known as skilled fishermen, farmers and horsemen. Those on the Malaysian East coast are known as "sea gypsies", as they are maritime nomads, often coming ashore only to bury their dead.
At Bajau camp, Hein rapidly takes charge, letting everyone know he is expert at bush survival. We learn that his great test for whether a plant is poisonous or not is to taste it, and reject it if it is bitter. Is it really that simple? Dyke has a nice quiet sense of humour. And is that Angie with the annoying squeaky voice and inane comments?
Iban is the name of another local tribe in Western Sarawak, who are said to have looted magic from other tribes, including a "guchi jar" with magical properties. The tribe was noted for expertise in guerrilla warfare during the Japanese occupation of the area in World War II, and temporarily revived head hunting towards the end of the war.
At Iban camp, View takes the view that assuming leadership can be risky, especially early on, so he actively encourages others to step forward. Nomfundo says she feels like a kid in a candy store with all this new stuff, but she looks more like the candy store itself.
Getting to know each other
Back at Bajau Amanda is irrepressibly chirpy, and the determinedly effete Rajish announces he can't bear to get his hands dirty, and his shoes must be neat at all times. Asked whether he's gay, he says you'd have to be blind not to pick it up. Promptly, two girls snuggle up to sleep on either side of him, telling him he smells nice.
Next morning, a pair of bimbettes wanders off in search of mangos, while the men labour to build the shelter. Hein has plans for a thatched roof, porch and braai area, a smoker and a stove. I guess after that he'll sit down and knit a microwave. The tribe's trust is conditional, and they're already somewhat sceptical about the gap between what’s promised and what’s been achieved.
Over at Iban, Lorette and Irshad have discovered what seems to be an old canoe, perfect for moving supplies. Viwe proposes an alliance with Lisa, but wisely doubts how much he can trust her. She looks blank, then grins in a sinister fashion.
Not going swimmingly
And now for the challenge, a form of water obstacle course, for immunity and a reward, which will be an extra team-member, as Hulk is brought back from exile. Iban has an extra member, and chooses to have Nomfundo the Clumsy sit this one out. Irfan falls behind and Elsie and Amanda can’t really climb well. Elsie can’t swim well either. But finally it's a very close race to raise their flag, and Pilau wins immunity and the Hulk.
Dyke remarks on Elsie and Amanda being poor swimmers and this gets everyone into an argument along the black-people-can’t-swim lines. It isn’t really resolved.
There is much scrambling at the loser’s camp. Lisa announces an alliance with View, Angie and Grant, aiming at reaching the merger together. It looks as if Nomfundo has a target on her back, largely for being a weak swimmer. Angie and Lisa gloat.
Blowing it
But the next day, Lisa blows it. She lies around in the sun watching everyone work, forgetting that being conspicuously lazy gets people voted off. "I try not to exert myself" she explains, languidly, "I like to stay strong for the challenges." Eventually she condescends to pick leaves for the bedding.
Mandla, Irshaad and Grant are talking about this. Grant is inclined to let her off with a warning, but dump her at the next opportunity if she doesn't improve. He tries to warn her, but she boasts that she's the strongest woman in the water. She threatens the others that they will suffer if they get rid of her.
At tribal council, Lisa confidently marches in at the head of the tribe. During the chat, several lie blatantly, denying that any alliances have formed. Nomfundo speaks of team spirit and the need to work together, and Lisa gives one of her dirty little grins. Asked whether they're all pulling their weight, Lisa boasts of being lazy. Irshaad says that her being lazy is her problem. She looks oddly shocked.
The two most obviously at risk are a curious contrast – Nomfundo, a woman of significant intellectual strengths, is weak physically; Lisa is physically capable but lazy and scornful.
Goodbye to Nomfundo
As the votes are read out, Lisa smirks at the first vote for her, assuming this to be Nomfundo's. But she looks shocked at the second vote for her, and then tearful on receiving the third. It was a close call, but it’s Nomfundo’s time to go.
Watch Lisa this coming week!
(Professor M.A. Simpson, aka CyberShrink, August 2007)
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