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My eTravelDiary...a new trend in travel blogging

Welcome to my travelling world!

Firstly, The best job in the world: My Diary and Beyond was created as part of my application for the best job in the world competition. Unfortunately, I did not make it but I want to maintain this site that contains information on the selection process of Queensland Tourism (Australia), as well as about tourist attractions in Down Under.

On the other hand, prior to this competition in 2009, I already maintained another blogsite entitled, My eTravelDiary where I share my travelling experiences both locally and abroad. When I say locally, it refers to my escapade in my home country, the Philippines; while abroad covers my travels in Asia, Europe and UK, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, as well as my future trips to Africa, China and Arabic countries.

Some of these travel stories and photos are posted in my Friendster blog (My Simple Life - unfortunately the blog is already dormant now); Travel Blog account, Travellerpoints account which I regularly join in photo contest; but majority of them are shared in my e-Travel Guide account in TRIVAGO which allows me to earn extra cash. I also write stories about these locations in my JPGMagazine account and reposted here as well.

Have fun reading My eTRAVELdiary...

Corregidor Island, Philippines

My Island Caretaker Winner - A Briton!

For details of Ben, please click the link: Islandcaretaker

Taken from his journal as part of the blog task:

Coral absolutely everywhere and in all shapes, sizes and colours with a multitude of fish swimming around them – almost too many to count and understandably so, with 1500 species of fish calling the Great Barrier Reef their home. I’ve dived in some amazing other locations in the world before but the sheer concentration of corals here really blew every other experience out of the water (no pun intended). Stag coral, Finger coral, Brain coral all vying for position, gripping at every available place along the reef looking akin to an underwater forest. I’ve seen the rainforests of central Africa and now I was witnessing the underwater equivalent in Queensland!

My Top 16 Islandcaretakers' Highlights

CONGRATULATIONS TO BEN (UK) AND TO THE REST OF THE FINALISTS!

My Thoughts on Top 16 Finalists Blogs

I CAN'T HELP MYSELF for having a quick post concerning the BLOGS (powered by Tumblr) written by the top 16 finalists as part of the selection process of TQ. Aside from their personal blogs, it is interesting to find out how they embarked on their quest to become the islandcaretaker. Despite the hectic schedule, some of them managed to maintain their personal blogs - trying their best to bring GBR to us - so far but yet so near!
Im providing you the links of the blogs prepared by each of the finalists.

This is not the only criteria for TQ's decision, but personally, the blog somehow shows how effective the "chosen one"to promote this wold heritage to the world. I extracted some interesting phrases from their journals - describing the places they have visited, and the activities they have experienced vying for the islandreefjob!

Click HERE to continue...

My Island Caretaker Winner

Since I was not lucky to be shortlisted, Im supporting one or two of them for the ultimate job of the lifetime. So, to my readers/supporters, who is your choice to become the first IslandCaretaker of GBR? Cast your vote now and have the chance to win a special prize. You have to write a comment stating your final choice from the top 16 finalists to be come the islandreefjob taker! Good luck...

My updates for the top 16

Snorkeling lesson for the top 16. Courtesy of Yahoo UK News.

For additional updates, visit this link: Ning community

My thank you message to my supporters

WELL, I DID NOT HAVE A FORMAL announcement about the outcome of my application. Unfortunately, I was not fortunate to be selected for the 50 candidates being shortlisted by Tourism Queensland. I will take this opportunity to thanks everyone who initially voted for my video application. Being unsuccessful in my quest, there were positive things happened during my campaign which opened new opportunities and rekindle friendships.

As I mentioned in my blog banner, I will still maintain this site as part of my travelling experience. Rest assured that, when the time comes that I will visit the Great Barrier Reef, I will post here my experiences while visiting the world heritage site, including my trips to Queensland as a whole. There is a big chance that I will be back to Brissy to attend my UQ's (Uni of Qld) formal graduation in the near future.

Again, thank you and Im looking forward to seeing Hamilton Island!

My Slumjob Islandcaretakers Playlist

As the voting closed 4 days ago, Im posting my own top 7 video applications for the next stage of the job search - islandcaretaker in one of the islands of GBR. Good luck and please dont forget to send us postcards from Queensland.


For the results, visit this link:IslandReefJob

My Personal Endorsement - Anny Chih (Canada)

THIS IS MY PERSONAL endorsement to one of the top 50 shortlisted candidates for the best job in the world - the island caretaker of one of the islands in the Great Barrier Reef. Anny's video clip will show why she is capable for the position! You can vote everyday (every 24 hours) using your email addresses!

You can visit her blogsite as well at: Anny Chih

My fifth batch of the fav video applications

This is my personal selection of the top ten favourite candidates for the best job in the world. This is the last part of my playlist of candidates to complete my TOP 50 that I personally thought that have the qualification and personality as the island caretaker. I will be happy to accept their invitations to join them in the Great Barrier Reef. Good luck. Rey (digitalenvironmentalist)



Again, this is my own choice of clips and I know you have your own list of potentials. Thanks for James shorlist application link and Hailey's discussion on 50 hopefulls which provided me easy way to find some of them and watched their videos.

Watch out for the second to the last batch of my ten top video application playlist. Keep watching... who knows you are in my list. For updates and detailed selection of my playlist, visit my my youtube channel, Worldbestjob2009.

If you havent seen the first three batches, watch the playlists here: My top ten fav vid playlist part 1, My top ten fav vid playlist part 2 , My top ten fav playlist part 3 and My top ten fav playlist 4. Dont miss my finale batch of hopefulls, "Slumdog Playlist" which gives more surprises, fun and entertainment for everyone!

Note: For easy viewing, just click the solid "arrow" at the middle of the screen or at both sides which will directly go to the next video without really opening the youtube link. You can watch the videos simultaneously without clicking the arrows as well, otherwise you want to skip from one to the other.

My fourth batch of the best video applications

This is my personal selection of the top ten favourite candidates for the best job in the world. This is the fourth part of my playlist of candidates that I personally thought that have the qualification and personality as the island caretaker. I will be happy to accept their invitations to join them in the Great Barrier Reef. Good luck. Rey (digitalenvironmentalist)



Again, this is my own choice of clips and I know you have your own list of potentials. Thanks for James shorlist application link and Hailey's discussion on 50 hopefulls which provided me easy way to find some of them and watched their videos.

Watch out for the second to the last batch of my ten top video application playlist. Keep watching... who knows you are in my list. For updates and detailed selection of my playlist, visit my my youtube channel, Worldbestjob2009.

If you havent seen the first three batches, watch the playlists here: My top ten fav vid playlist part 1 and My top ten fav vid playlist part 2 and My top ten fav playlist part 3. Dont miss my finale batch of hopefulls, "Slumdog Playlist" which gives more surprises, fun and entertainment for everyone!

Note: For easy viewing, just click the solid "arrow" at the middle of the screen or at both sides which will directly go to the next video without really opening the youtube link. You can watch the videos simultaneously without clicking the arrows as well, otherwise you want to skip from one to the other.

My third fav video playlist applications

This is my personal selection of the top ten favourite candidates for the best job in the world. This is the fourth part of my playlist of candidates that I personally thought that have the qualification and personality as the island caretaker. I will be happy to accept their invitations to join them in the Great Barrier Reef. Good luck. Rey (digitalenvironmentalist)



Again, this is my own choice of clips and I know you have your own list of potentials. Thanks for James shorlist application link and Hailey's discussion on 50 hopefulls which provided me easy way to find some of them and watched their videos.

Watch out for the second to the last batch of my ten top video application playlist. Keep watching... who knows you are in my list. For updates and detailed selection of my playlist, visit my my youtube channel, Worldbestjob2009.

If you havent seen the first three batches, watch the playlists here: My top ten fav vid playlist part 1 and My top ten fav vid playlist part 2 and My top ten fav playlist part 3. Dont miss my finale batch of hopefulls, "Slumdog Playlist" which gives more surprises, fun and entertainment for everyone!

Note: For easy viewing, just click the solid "arrow" at the middle of the screen or at both sides which will directly go to the next video without really opening the youtube link. You can watch the videos simultaneously without clicking the arrows as well, otherwise you want to skip from one to the other.

My officially approved application for the job

FINALLY, MY SIMPLE CLIP for the best job in the world is officially approved by Queensland Tourism. Im happy to receive your comments and dont forget to vote and please visit my travel sites and blogs as well for updates of my application.

INSTRUCTION: PLEASE CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE.

THANKS ALOT FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

My second playlist for the top video applications

This is my personal selection of the top ten favourite candidates for the best job in the world. This is the second part of my playlist of candidates that I personally thought that have the qualification and personality as the island caretaker. I will be happy to accept their invitations to join them in the Great Barrier Reef.



Again, this is my own choice of clips and I know you have your own list of potentials. Thanks for James shorlist application link and Hailey's discussion on 50 hopefulls which provided me easy way to find some of them and watched their videos.

Watch out for the third batch of my ten top video application playlist. Keep watching... who knows you are in my list. For updates and detailed selection of my playlist, visit my my youtube channel, Worldbestjob2009.

If you havent seen my first batch, watch the playlist here: My top ten fav vid playlist part 1

Note: For easy viewing, just click the solid "arrow" at the middle of the screen or at both sides which will directly go to the next video without really opening the youtube link. You can watch the videos simultaneously without clicking the arrows as well, otherwise you want to skip from one to the other.

My first playlist for the top fav video applications

This is my personal selection for my top ten favourite candidates for the best job in the world. This is my first part of my playlist of candidates that I personally thought that have the qualification and personality as the island caretaker. I will be happy to accept their invitations to join them in the Great Barrier Reef.

Again, this is my own choice of clips and I know you have your own list of potentials. Thanks for James shorlist application link and Hailey's discussion on 50 hopefulls which provided me easy way to find some of them and watched their videos.

Watch out for the second batch of my ten top video application playlist. Keep watching... who knows you are in my list. For updates and detailed selection of my playlist, visit my my youtube channel, Worldbestjob2009.

Note: For easy viewing, just click the solid "arrow" at the middle of the screen or at both sides which will directly go to the next video without really opening the youtube link. You can watch the videos simultaneously without clicking the arrows as well, otherwise you want to skip from one to the other.

My message to Tourism Queensland

TODAY IS THE LAST SUBMISSION for the best job application - the island caretaker of the Great Barrier Reef GBR), Australia. Im very serious with my application but at the same time, I have fun doing it; thus, it is the main reason why Im blogging this to tell the whole world that Im the best person to do the job. As I mentioned in my previous post that my video application is not impressive as people commented BUT my message to Tourism Queensland is that "an ordinary person even someone who works in a food chain has a dream to get the best job in the world; and finally I have my 'green agenda' to help manage this world heritage site sustainably". Why a KFC part-time staff is determined to get the job? Does he has the whole package for the job? Well, read more about me in My world is getting smaller every day and Digitalenvironmentalist.

Ive already watched more than 600 videos by random selection from the list of the applicants who applied in the job, and it is a tough job for Tourism Queensland to decide in the next stage of the competition - who will be lucky enough to be included in the top 50 spots.

It is a time consuming activity for having my own favourites which Tourism Queensland doesnt pay me for doing this, but it is a learning process to learn more about people and GBR. By doing this, I could generate my own top 50 applicants for the job (not to mention myself) and hoping that I will not miss some of the interesting clips that might captivate my imagination and cretivity. And of course, if Tourism Queensland found my top selection, then it will help them narrow down their own selection. I dont have the persuasion to do that, but again it is my wishful thinking that my selection is truly enough represents TQ's objective to get the right person for the job!

To my friends in Ning community, good luck and watch out for my top fav video playlist to be revealed on or before March 1, 2009, prior to Tourism Queesland announcement of its own top 50. This will be posted in WorldBestJob2009 youtube channel. By the way, Im also using James' shortlist application link to facilitate my selection from youtube channels where all the video application are currently active for viewing and voting.

Overall, doing this application is a wonderful experience that I will not forget as long as I live. Even if I will not be selected, I will continue supporting those lucky ones to achieve their ultimate dream and my blogsite will also serve my travel diary in pursuit of my own dream to visit the Great Barrier Reef, maybe not the island caretaker but a "visitor" or a "researcher"... Im not conceding my application but whatever happens, there is always a good reason for every thing and I accept the final verdict on March 2, 2009... Good luck to the rest of the applicants...

UPDATES: According to Craig and Linda of Indietravelpodcast, the PR team of Tourism Queensland announced that the total applications received - 34,684 from over 200 countries; over 7,500 on the weekend; US topped the highest number of applicants with 11,565, from Canada with 2791, UK with 2,262 and finally Australia with 2,064.

My GBR environmental (green) agenda

THE MAIN MESSAGE OF MY VIDEO IS BEYOND THE MARKETING STRATEGY for the Great Barrier Reef. It is more focused on how to sustain this world heritage site as a marine protected area. Marine tourism is one of the biggest economic boosts not only for Australia but for other countries like my home country, the Philippines. Having 7,107 islands, the Philippines has a significant portion of the population that solely dependent to eco and marine tourism considering that majority of these islands have beautiful coastlines and beaches where locals and tourists could enjoy the sun, corals and sand.

On the contrary, like Australia or Queensland in particular, tourism is a threat to the social, ecological and cultural dimensions of the region. In other words, there are environmental challenges and issues that need to be addressed in GBR both for the short and long term periods.

One of the members of Island caretaker Ning's community website asked me some basic questions on relation to environmental management of GBR as part of my application - being the first Filipino Island Caretaker of this world heritage site.

Many people are interested in visiting Queensland because of this promotion. What do you think about the effects of mass fly-in tourism on the environment?

Generally, it will entails additional routes/schedules both land, sea and air going to the region which somehow leads to the increase of traffic and additional usage of aircrafts, at the same time more land travel both cars and trains, including commercial/domestic vessels. With this increase in the various modes of transport going in and out of the region, more pollution will be created on air, water and land.

Specifically, there are short and long-term direct impacts of recreational and marine tourism on the environment. Some of these effects will manifest immediately and some of them will be compounded through time if these problems will not be addressed accordingly.

With this global job search for GBR, it is expected that more visitors will travel to the region which could bring additional ecological, social and cultural impacts. These impacts are explicitly identified in the CRC Reef Research Centre's 2003 report.

What do you think are the unique environmental challenges faced by the Great Barrier Reef?

Mainly, these challenges are mostly directed to activities created by tourists and business operators such as follows: (a) water based activities (diving, snorkeling, fishing); (b) marine life interaction (watching of whales, turtles, seabirds, fish feeding); (c) ship/boat related activities (anchoring, mooring, fishing, racing); and waste generation (liquid and solid wastes from the above activities).

This is "not" really unique to GBR, but also happening to other islands around the world, like in my home country the Philippines which has 7,107 islands. Unlike GBR, the Philippines is experiencing more degradation of marine life because of illegal fishing through using explosives and large-scale commercial fishing.

If you win the position, how would you like to showcase the message of environmental protection?

A six-month contract is not enough to focus on these environmental issues and challenges that this marine eco-system is facing. But in my own little way and initiative, taking advantage of my position as the island caretaker, I will do my best to identify short term strategies to mitigate these impacts for QT to implement towards proper long term management of this heritage site.

In addition, hopefully maintaining a blog and media exposure will increase the awareness of people on practical and simple things to save these corals and other marine life in GBR. Regular consultations with the local people, operators and tourists will be a strategy to bring out the importance of environmental protection.

What I am really envisioned during my employment, aside from doing my regular responsibilities, I will do a massive campaign on solid waste management. Brochures and flyers will be distributed to all business establishment operators and the like, which are readily accessible to visitors and guests. These materials highlight relevant information on basic tips on enjoyable stay without a significant "footprint" on GBR. Finally, this information dissemination campaign could also cover DO'S and DON’TS while visiting the world heritage site in terms of restrictions on bringing-out marine specimen as souvenirs and promoting codes-of-practice in snorkeling, fishing and diving.

What do you think? Am I qualified to do the job?

Well, my environmental slogan for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is Go...Ban...Rubbish

Click the image for one of the useful links for Marine Debris.