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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 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 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 best Filipino competitor

I WILL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE one of the candidates from my home country, Philippines. I think there are a number of potential aspirants for the job and one of them will be featured here. Im hoping that at least two or three (including myself) to be shortlisted. If you did watch these films: Cloverfield, Rec or Quarantine, then you will like Nic's video. Dont think twice, click the link for you to vote!

http://islandreefjob.com/applicants/watch/o868dRggvJg

On the other hand, this is a wishful thinking but who knows, QT will be interested to include my application in the top 50! Frankly speaking, my video is simple and got responses from friends that it is not strong enough to convince QT to hire me as the island caretaker. Why? they told me that my clip did not really show what my personality, talents, and potentials are, aside from "lip-servicing" of them...

Anyway, I did it differently from what others expected to have it in the video by showing to QT that "an ordinary worker of a food chain (with a basic salary) has the same opportunity to dream and apply for the best job in the world". My video serves an aspiration to ordinary working class people to have their ultimate dream job that will provide happiness and fulfillment in life - helping their families for a better future!

My aim - to be the top best applicant

AFTER A WEEK MY VIDEO WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED ONLINE, Im monitoring my status every day - trying to find out how many people watched and voted for my video. Asking my friends here (UK) and abroad (especially in the Philippines), once in a while my application is getting to the top board as one of the top UK competitors.

Honestly, Im thinking to submit another application and use Philippines as the country of origin, instead of UK due to the following reasons - Filipinos are curious with other Filipinos especially for this international competition! In this way, I could get more "hits" and votes from them. Secondly, only few people really knows where's Co Antrim (which is in Northern Ireland) and quite difficult to justify why I did not use Philippines in the application.

So if you want to check if I achieve my aim, then click the links below and if you havent voted yet, then this is the time to give me stars!

UK Most Popular Applicants

Most Popular Applicants

This is the link if you want to find out who is leading application from the Philippines...

Philippine Most Popular

This is an exciting experience to me and I received alot of good comments regarding my application. My application also able to find my friends around the world that I did not have contacts/communications for years. So, it is a way to reconnect with close friends!

My Proposal: Island Caretaker Applicants' Meet-up 2009/2010

What: Island Caretaker Candidates Meet-up 2009/2010


When: between July - Dec 2009 ( November is recommended) or sometime in 2010

Where: Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Tentative Programme: (2 nights/3days) Day 1: Welcome Party/Socialising; Day 2: Official meeting with QT authority and the Island Caretaker; Island hopping (explore the Great Barrier Reef) as a group and Farewell party (night) Day 3: Island hopping ( own schedules)

Organiser: Each continent will have its own contact team leader like US, UK/Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, etc. which be responsible for organising their trips to Australia.

Attendance: All the people who applied in the job search and we might open it to other non-participants (friends/relatives).

Travel Agent: We will ask someone (travel agent) to do the itinerary in terms of group accommodations to get cheaper and discounted deals. The travel agent will only arrange our itinerary and lodging from the time we arrive the Great Barrier Reef. Travels from point of origin (UK) to Australia entry point are responsibility of the individual participants. Otherwise you can arrange among yourselves within your country and contact your local travel agents.
What to bring: swimming gears, cameras, videcams, etc. Dont forget to bring a file of your video clip just in case that there is no wireless connection in the island. Each one has the opportunity to introduce themselves in the Welcome Party...

Promotion Blogsite: Island Caretaker - Best Job in the World powered by Ning (created by SusieParish) will be the official website for the meet-up. For additional updates of this proposal, please click the blogsite above and you can sign-up even you are not a candidate for the job.

NOTE: THIS IS ONLY A PROPOSAL...ANYONE INTERESTED? SIGN-UP AND ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME...THANK YOU!

My adviser - BBC News UK

BBC NEW UK posted an article that provides helpful tips to be in the top of the competition and successfully securing this coveted position. Unfortunately, I did not follow all as part of my one-minute video clip considering my time and resources to do it. Honestly, I love outdoor activities, love nature, forest and animals and wildlife. This is the environment that I was born and raised back in my home country, the Philippines. So, there is no point of telling this, except for people who did not experience really living in an island or tropical environment like Australia.

As quoted from the article and my reflections: (watch the video as well, photo above from BBC News UK site)

1. Get the basics things right - in terms of video format application - I have the right format using my Sony DSC W55 digital camera and using the Microsoft movie maker software available in my Sony Viao notebook.

2. Make the video as strong as possible - I dont have a camrecorder which might gives better quality; nevertheless my digicam really reliable to capture my quest for this job. It is candid, relax, and clear.

3. Demonstrate a spirit of adventure - Well my blogs show this adventures and travelling experience. Unfortunately, I dont have extreme sport activities but I will try if it is necessary.

4. Mention all your relevant experience - I dont have a scuba experience but I have experience to find food under sea while growing up in the Philippines. It does not really matter if I dont have a geography background as long as I know the basic things to stay alive in the wild! I think my strong qualification is really my knowledge in water, wasterwater and waste management which is really essential in sustainable tourism in Hamilton Island.

5. Know your marine wildlife - Again, it is bias for people who do not have background (both academic or actual working experience) on marine life and wildlife. There is always time to study/review about these things if I will be shortlisted.

6. Show your genuine love of animals and the outdoors - I love animals but there is no point to mention it or have it recorded for the sake of convincing the judges that I love outdoors! I dont to show them that I can sit besides the tiger or lion or even carrying a python. There are more dangerous than that - pirates and thieves!

7. Enhance your application - 60 seconds not enough to show all but I have included the url of my blogs for them to see that I do blogging and I have the communication skills both oral and writing.

8. Balance the fun factor with a more serious side - Im not nervous but calm doing my clip and at the end my friend who took the clip did something which made it funny to watch, then I laughed!

9. Dont waste money on a course - This is the reason why I make my clip simple and besides I do what QT needs for the job. I can take photographs, record events, and write blogs, including reviews online.

10. Are you sure you're the right person - Honestly, I am left-handed person but Im the right person for the job and I can start in July as soon I receive my airticket from Northern Ireland to Australia. Philippines is just up of Australia so any time I could have a weekend break and market the island to my "kababayans".

What do you think, can I make it in the top 50?

My Australian Employer

QUEENSLAND TOURISM announced the opening for the best job in the world as posted by Yahoo! news today and it is open to everyone around the world until 22 Feb 2009.

For details watch the clip and visit Island Reef Job. The clip is posted in the official youtube site of islandreefjob. Good luck!

Click the link for the Yahoo!news article