From the Inside Out

How would you like to get paid $100K to sit on a beach for six months and write a weekly blog? It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?

According to the tourism department in Australia’s Queensland state, it is not a joke. They are looking for an “Island Caretaker” to stroll the white sands, soak up the sun, snorkel the reef, and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.

The lucky candidate will be flown free of charge to the tropical Hamilton Island on the famed Great Barrier Reef. He or she will stay rent-free in a multi-million dollar three-bedroom beach home. The only qualifications are that this individual must be over 18, be willing to speak to the press periodically and be a “fantastic and charismatic” communicator who can speak and write English.

The job is part of the latest tourism campaign to help promote Queensland’s 18 billion dollar per year tourism industry during tough economic times. Getting the job won’t be easy, though. The website has already crashed once because of the large number of visitors to the site (more than 850,000 within the first day). There’s tough competition for what they are billing as the “best job in the world,” so be creative and outgoing if you plan to apply.

Candidates must submit a one minute video explaining why they are uniquely qualified for the job. Applications are open until February 22. Eleven shortlisted candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six-month contract will commence on July 1.

Job-seekers can apply at: http://www.islandreefjob.com/en/

It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

I’ve been anticipating the opening of Australia since the first time I saw the trailer. I haven’t watched an epic movie in a long time, and this one caught my attention immediately. The critical reviews were mixed, but I loved the film. It did not disappoint, and it seems that most of the Rotten Tomatoes community agrees with me. The movie earned a rating of 74% fresh from RT — not bad, not bad at all.

Australia is “an epic and romantic action adventure, set in that country on the explosive brink of World War II. An English aristocrat (Kidman) travels to the faraway continent, where she meets a rough-hewn local (Jackman) and reluctantly agrees to join forces with him to save the land she inherited. Together, they embark upon a transforming journey across hundreds of miles of the world’s most beautiful yet unforgiving terrain, only to still face the bombing of the city of Darwin by the Japanese forces that attacked Pearl Harbor.”

Baz Huhrmann weaves a compelling story of romance, drama, and action adventure in this cinematic experience. It’s a long film (just shy of three hours), but it held my attention the entire time. The scenery is amazing. Kidman and Jackman have great chemistry, and for the single ladies, Jackman proves why he was selected by People magazine as 2008’s “sexiest man alive”. The young actor who played “Nullah” also provided a compelling performance.

If you have some free time this weekend, skip the crowded malls and watch this epic adventure.

My rating: A

Even though I haven’t seen the movie, it seems that “The Bucket List” has influenced my thinking lately.  When I look back on my life, I want it to have meaning.  I want to follow my dreams and take time to do the things that are important to me.  So much of life is spent managing responsibilities.  It’s a shame.  If you aren’t careful, one day you will reach the end and realize it’s too late to do the things you put off until “later”.

Pablo Picasso said, “Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”  There are many things I still hope to accomplish and places I’d like to see before I die.  As such, I’m starting a new series that will appear periodically on my blog, “My Top 5″.  This series will cover a variety of topics, including my top 5 accomplishments, hopes, dreams, etc.  It will serve as a reminder of the things I still want to do with my life.  Maybe it will also inspire others to create a list and start checking things off.

Today’s blog entry focuses on the top 5 places I’d like to visit before I die.  I’ve already marked a few places off the list (Hawaii, Rome, Florence, London, Paris), but there are a few elusive locations that always seem to be out of reach or too difficult or too dangerous:

1.  Jerusalem — this is the all-time, #1 destination of my dreams.  As a Christian, it would be the most amazing experience to tread the city I’ve read about my entire life.  Being able to visit the place where Jesus walked and the hill on which He died — unreal. 

2.  Egypt — for a long-time, I’ve been fascinated with Egyptian history.  Visiting this country and seeing the pyramids and temples would be an amazing experience.  Riding a camel might be fun too…smelly, but fun.

3.  Greece — Athens and the Greek Isles…need I say more?

4. New York — I have to admit that I visited NYC once, but it was a long time ago.  I was sixteen and went with a group from school.  We participated in a national competition held at Rutgers University.  The funny thing is I haven’t been back since then.  As much as I travel for business, I thought I would have gone back by now.  I’ve had trips scheduled to NYC, but something always happens to prevent me from going. 

5.  Australia – I’ve had two opportunities to visit Australia for business, but that’s not really the way I want to see this country.  I want to visit it with Gary, and I think it would be awesome to dive near the Great Barrier Reef.  Maybe I can get my scuba certification soon, and then we can go.

Well, that’s my “Top 5″ for today.  What are your “Top 5s”?

NOTE:  Today’s blog is dedicated to my Mom who celebrated her birthday today.  Love Ya, Mom!