EXCLUSIVE: Steph Tisdell reveals what it was like being among the first reality TV contestants to film in Uzbekistan.

The Amazing Race Australia became the first version of the reality show to film in Uzbekistan in Sunday night’s episode. Photos: Channel 10

This year’s season of The Amazing Race Australia has been filled with firsts. Not only is it the first time that a team has been disqualified from the race “due to a breach of the code of conduct”, but Sunday night’s episode marked the first time that any version of the reality show filmed in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan is known as ‘the crown of Central Asia’ where East meets West, and was the Silk Road’s busiest hub for centuries. Comedian Steph Tisdell, who was eliminated alongside her brother Ben at the end of the fourth leg, tells Yahoo Lifestyle it was an “incredible” experience visiting the historic country and taking part in challenges honouring its food, dance, and lively culture.

“It was one of the top three favourite places that I’ve ever travelled to, because I’ve never seen anything so unique,” she shares. “I just loved it. There’s so much to do and see, and it’s just so underrated as a place.”

Steph describes the city of Samarkand as a blend of Russian, Asian, and European influence, and admits that she’s already planning to return after having such an incredible experience there.

“I was watching it with my partner last night, and she was like, ‘Can we please go there?’,” she remarks. “I was like, desperately, yes, that’s our next place on the list. Whatever else we had there, it can go; we’re going to Uzbekistan together.

“It really did feel like the biggest melting pot of the world. If you mixed up everything in the world, that’s what it would look like.”

Steph says Uzbekistan was ‘one of the top three favourite places’ that she’s ever travelled to. Photos: Channel 10

Steph reveals ‘touching’ moment that wasn’t shown on TV

Not only did the reality show allow Steph to visit countries she had never travelled to before, but it also introduced her to several co-stars that quickly became close friends. The Bump star shares that Brendan ‘Fev’ Fevola was one of the kindest contestants, and volunteered to help her and her brother out at a challenge in an unseen moment.

“Fev offered to take our Speed Bump when we had holes in our bowls for carrying water, and that was so touching. It was those little moments that showed just how much love there was in that group,” she details.

“Luke and Sassy Scott, we also got really close with, because Scott is the most generous, kind-hearted person, and so beautiful. They waited for us on that hill that we went up in Nepal, and Scott was holding my hand the whole way up that hill, which was a brutal hill. It was just amazing.”
=

‘We all took care of each other’

Steph reveals that the cast have since stayed extremely close since filming wrapped in April, and the camaraderie is what made the experience so special.

“We have a group chat, and we all text all day, every day. That was like a little family, and we all took care of each other,” she remarks.

“That’s what I took away from all of it, just that it was a beautiful experience of good people coming together and actually caring about each other.”

The Amazing Race Australia airs Sundays at 7pm and Mondays at 7:30pm on 10