Survivor Tocantins (Brazil) - February 12/09

Here we are in a new year and a new season of Survivor...Survivor 18 to be exact. Sixteen would-be survivors are rattling across the Tocantins (pronounced Tocantcheenz) the high desert of Brazil. Dimples tells us this is one of the most isolated places on earth (Dimples having never seen the town in which I grew up), prone to high winds and wild fires. The 16 Survivors have already been separated into two tribes, the Jalapaos and the Timburas. They are not allowed to speak, but nonetheless are busy sizing each other up as the truck rumbles on. When the truck stops Dimples tells them they have 60 seconds to unload what they can.Lumber, water, beans, bananas...its all there for the taking. Once the sixty seconds is up and the tribes are surveying their loot (Timbura has water, beans and other practical stuff), Jalapao notices they have sort of forgotten to pick up the water. But they don't have time for recriminations because Dimples has some big news. They are going to vote immediately. Each tribe will vote for one member of their tribe who will not participate in this adventure. Not knowing each other's names, the survivors are forced to write descriptions of who they are voting for. Its not really that hard because everybody on Jalapao is voting for "the old one" (meaning Sandy), while everyone on Timbira is voting for Sierra. Both are angry believing they are going home before the game has even begun. But Devious Dimples has tricked us all. He only said they wouldn't go on THIS adventure. Meaning they don't have to walk across a hot dry desert, through crusty shrubbery and man-eating animals. Instead Sandy and Sierra get a helicopter ride to camp, during which they have a chance to think about how they can repair the lousy first impression they have obviously made on their tribe mates. Sandy seems to think its not worth the bother to suck up to her tribe while Sierra thinks the solution is to tell them over and over and over and over that she is sick with strep throat. I know that would make me want to keep her around.



Having arrived at camp several hours before their tribe mates, Sandy and Sierra have some time to kill. Fortunately the producers of the show have provided reading material, in the form of a note. The note tells them that they can either spend their time building a shelter for their tribe with the building materials provided, or they can look for a hidden immunity idol buried on the beach. Sandy doesn't hesitate in looking for the idol, reasoning that the Jalapaorites won't like her shelter anyway and they will still vote her off. She finds a second clue for the idol but not the idol itself. Sierra takes a different approach, thinking that welcoming her tribe home to a nice hut will mend the impression they have of her as weak and unable to contribute.



Meanwhile the two tribes are treking across the Brazilian highlands carrying what they were able to salvage from the truck. In Jalapao, JT (my guy) takes charge of the hike, chosing the direction and leading the way (no JT, don't do it! - have you never watched the show?). In Timbira Sargeant Jerry really wants to take charge, but knows it is the kiss of death. Instead he lays low and the leadership vaccuum is filled by Benjamin (Coach) Wade, who tells us he is tired of Survivor being about survival of the weak and wants to draw the strong people to him, instead of eliminating them.

When the Jalapao tribe finally arrives at camp Sandy is waiting for them. There are hugs all around, but Carolina tells us that she is pissed that they have walked all day and Sandy is sitting around and doing nothing. Little does Carolina know that Sandy has been digging on the beach, unsuccessfully looking for the immunity idol that will be her salvation at Tribal Council. The next day Carolina tells the group that they should be working on some big projects. This doesn;t sit well with some of her tribe mates, especially Taj who advises her to can the bossiness.

At Camp Timbira Sierra has a shelter built and the tribe seems delighted, although I think Holmes on Homes would be less than impressed with her workmanship. In keeping with his theme of keeping only the strong, Coach declares that Sierra still has to go. This tribe is far less formal as Tyson proves that Mormons can have fun too, by getting naked in front of his female tribe-mates. Unfortunately, there seemed to be some smudges on my television screen.

So we get the the challenge. This is both the immunity and the reward challenge. The winning team will earn fire and immunity. Tribes must run over a series of sand hills, and into the river. There, once they all arrive, they can unclip a raft holding puzzle stair pieces. They must get the raft back to land, untie the puzzle pieces and carry them back over the sand hills to the start. There two tribe members must assemble the pieces to make a stairway. Once the stairway is complete all tribe members must get to the top, where two more tribe members must solve a table maze. Phew I get tired just typing all that! Jalapao takes and early lead but Timira stages a come from behind win.

Back at camp the Jalapaoreos must decide who to send home. The old lady, Sandy, (who I must mention is younger than me and I resent all the old commments) seems like a natural. But her grit during the challenge has won over at least one of her tribe-mates, Spencer. Meanwhile Carolina's bossiness continues to make her enemies. Not feeling anywhere near secure, Sandy sneaks off at every opportunity to look for the hidden immunity idol. Not suspecting anything, the rest of her tribe think she is just being anti-social. As it turns out Sandy doesn't need her idol because when the votes are counted the bossy Carolina is the one heading home. With Carolina goes our own Roberta. I must tell you that Roberta has been away in Mexico so probably didn't even know Survivor was starting. She certainly never had a chance to bond with Carolina and she never paid her money. If we are all very very quiet she might not even know she has been eliminated. Shhhhh.

You now have one week to send me your votes for Survivor most likely to win the million dollars. I will take votes up until 7:00 CST on Thursday Feb. 19. Don't forget to post your comments on the blog so I know you were here!

Until next week,

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka JT give me that thar compass and I'll show you how to get yonder Thomas)