Best Job in the World, Island Caretaker on Hamilton Island Australia, Video Entry Closed

The drama builds as the entry videos to the Best Job in the World closes. All over face book I am seeing people comment about waiting to see the results of cut #1 and who made the next group of 50 candidates, for caretaker on Hamilton Island. This campaign is said to have garnered close to 80 million in coverage. It has been covered in all types of media world wide. Perhaps I was most surprised at the article in the Tehran Times. Could this PR campaign bring the world closer together? Only time will tell, best of luck to all that entered, my flip video entry shouldn't’t be in the way at all.I still am drawn in to watch till the finish.

Update for Best Job in the World, Hamilton Island, Queensland

Just four more days till the application acceptance for the Best Job in the World, is over. Over 15,500 videos were sent in as of now though the exact number fitting the criteria I don’t know. I cannot wait to see who is a step closer to living for six months on Hamilton Island in the great villa I checked out. I really think the 150,000 Australian will take a sideline to the experience, I would use the bucks to do every excursion available in Queensland, flying in friends along the way.

I really enjoyed watching the video entries sent in, some horrible but some fantastic. I got to preview good buddy, Sony Stark’s entry recently. Being pro shows in her entry, go Pilot Girl. I got to watch tons of people jump into frozen lakes and rivers emphasizing their need for warmth. I plan on following this genius PR move till the very end, mate.

France's Bash at Tribeca Grill and Connecting With Travel Media Pros

It was a fantastic night at the Tribeca Grill and the Francophiles were out in force for the French Tourism’s event. It was great food and divine wines matched with old and new friends. Between traveling and dealing with other things it reminded me how important it is to reconnect with people in our business. France’s Katherine and Jessie looked fantastic as usual. Old friend Nora Brossard from Spring O’Brien and Melissa Bravermann from Quinn & Co. were a delight to catch up with, I have traveled with both and loved it.

Some new folks were NY Times reporter Glenn Collins and media mogul Meryl D Pearlstein leader of MDP Publicity. I am renewed and rejuvenated by last evenings event, something I needed. I love the world I live in.

Radio Report about the Best Job in the World, Queensland on Around the World Travel Radio

I caught up with the archives of Around the World Travel Radio and listened to Sue Frause’s report about the Best Job in the World campaign. It was cool to hear it because I happened to be invited there to Hamilton Island for the Queensland launch. This Thursday before heading to NYC for the NY Times Travel Show, I will be phoning in my report about my trip to Hamilton Island, Lizard Island and Fitzroy Island. In fact it will give a little insight to what I actually saw on the Great Barrier Reef and maybe some tips to what they are looking for in a candidate.

The radio report can be heard live Eastern Time 1:50 PM on this Thursday if you click the blue here. It will later be on the archives here. This PR campaign from Queensland has me amazed so I am keeping track of it and the newest news I can find is that over 10,000 videos have been sent in. However more than half didn’t fit the guidelines so if applying follow directions.

Best Job in the World, Island Caretaker on Hamilton Island Australia, Apply Now, Not With Naked Photos

I wish I had some heft with the Queensland Tourism committee that is dealing with the Best Job in the World; the email from a girl from Spain was downright suggestive. She read this blog about me being there for the launch and bam I am cool. I was afraid to download the photos attached, what if my wife checked her email and saw a young Spanish girl trying to influence a judge? I am not a judge, just lucky enough to be invited to the launch.

I wanted to respond to her email and tell her that indeed it was a fantastic opportunity to explore the Islands of Queensland, but I was actually there, and with a face for radio entitled to soak up the experience then and there, naked pictures be damned. Okay so I got to swim, snorkel and live like an island god, hell it is my job! I have someone that I think would be perfect for the job and we have only shared laughs and experiences related to travel, certainly not nude photos. If you want to see some video entries for the job click here. Until I get my fake email address please mail entries to the officials.

A Travel Writers Lament, Home Sweet Home Remembering the Warm Hug of a Stranger

Ah… home sweet home peace, at last. That is except for the sound of water drops cascading from the new addition roof, pattering ever so loudly in the silence of very early morning. The comfort of your own bed only not quite as comfortable with your head propped up with multiple pillows to keep your stitches from pulling; skin cancer surgery is a bitch. Still you have that script of Xanax that the doc gave you but you have already stashed it in your ready to go travel bag. Sleep comes hard in coach! Still the drops echo loudly in your head so what the hell, one can only help.

Instead you go to Picassa to find that picture of the stranger whose hug you will forever remember, especially those deep eyes and long nails. You wonder just who the stranger is at this very moment embracing and a bit of jealousy rears its ugly head. You fool yourself into thinking that the stranger will never love anyone as much as you. Then you realize that a koala isn’t easy to keep for your own and you decide to head for the vial in your travel bag. Ah… home sweet home!

Best Job Follow Up, Hamilton Island Australia

The power of the blog is an amazing thing. This blog, Be Our Guest, is rated # 1 when you type in on Yahoo, How to apply for the best job in the world, Australia Hamilton Island. That is # 1 out of 1,370,000, Fox News, ABC and Yahoo News follow up at least today, proof that online even the little guy has a chance.

Traveling With Women on Press trips

The ratio of women I travel with on press trips compared to men is about four to one. It is often a pleasure to mingle with the opposite sex; I think you learn a lot about life across the gender line if not just a different perspective. The dinner conversations seem more open then just sports and adventure. Discussions often are about real life situations and open. I also think that women in many ways are more focused on just what they are doing.

That said I have also met some great guys to share the experience with and I think they would agree. That same ratio also works on male bonding and I have been very lucky especially on my last couple of trips. On a trip to Champagne and Burgundy I met the eloquent Joel Berliner, the Devil Dog could make me laugh even if I lost all my money with Bernie Medoff, I didn’t but if I did I know he would ease the pain. His writing is fantastic, so much so that I put a link to his blog on my page.

This past trip the other male was probably one of the most successful writers I’ve ever traveled with, Donavan Webster. He has several top selling books and pens for magazines such as National Geographic, Vanity Fair and other top of the line publications. His conversations and experiences provided many pleasant passages of time in Queensland. The one thing I noticed we all had in common is we liked traveling with women and are all in love with our wives, it is a common thread for a successful press trip.

The Great Barrier Reef, What a Great Christmas Present

I’m not sure if I was really all that good this past year but I did get a fantastic early Christmas present. I’m going where the eco system contains over 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusks, island rainforests and beaches fill out the dry land options. I will get a chance to feed giant cod and snorkel with giant clams, from my own motorized dingy. I will be island hopping at the Great Barrier Reef, Australia in early Jan. Small props and high speed ferries will be the mode of transportation besides the fins strapped on. The islands covered will be Hamilton, Fitzroy and Lizard; key is the fantastic Voyages Resort, world renown and tops of lists worldwide. With friends like Melissa Braverman and Quinn and Company who needs Santa.