You can also watch the official video by TQ of our second day!

Here is the blog post I had to write for the official website www.islandreefjob.com:

“Good day mate! Welcome on board of Fantasea’s adventure cruising to Reefworld. May I check your ticket please?” asked the young lady near one of Hamilton Island marina’s pontoon. That would have been one of the questions I had the chance not to be asked today. Actually, as part of the TOP 16 finalists for the Best Job In The World, the selection process for Island Caretaker job is both serious and entertaining. I really appreciated the trip to Reefworld, even if I got a bit seasick! I should have taken my pills like mom said! But that was not to ruin my day at all, I recovered fast and was really ready for this exciting first day.

Just before continuing, I wanted to clarify things with everyone. If some of you still think that the selection process is like a big holiday, well just imagine that it is like the picture below all day long. Hopefully, we (the candidates) all really enjoy much talking to the local and international media (I just love my mates from TF1, France) in order to explain the whole Best Job’s selection process and more, how each of us could be the successful applicant for The Best Job. So that’s hard work though!

I have learnt a lot during my first days in Australia (Brisbane, The Sunshine Coast, and The Islands of the Great Barrier Reef). From all over the world and with Mr Cousteau’s quotation: “People protect what they love”. Indeed, each continent has its own culture and ways of thinking. Theses values could be represented as big and strong ropes connected to one fundamental value: emotions. Today, we had the opportunity to discover a small part of the Great Barrier Reef, which is to me, one of the world’s most beautiful ways of unifying people. We are just so equal and small once facing the GBR and its 2000+ species of fish and corals!

Once we were briefed by Fantasea’s diving experts (and quite good comedy actors!), it was time for action, and finally to discover the GBR! Snorkel gear on (number 2), I was eager to swim as close as possible to the coral and fish to enjoy the moment as much as possible.

Just after that, we had to leave all our new fishy friends and we met in order to go to Hayman Island. I finally understood the expression “that blows your mind”. True, flying over the GBR has actually become my #1 achievement in my life. Thanks to Anjaan who did a great job as co-pilot of the plane bringing us to Hayman Island.

Our first golf buggy trip on Hayman Island was really exciting as the island actually shines from the sky and is really full of colour contrasts once we landed. The big smile you can see in the middle of my face was before discovering the island. After it became twice as big! A big thanks to Mr Wright and all Hayman Island’s crew for welcoming us, getting us to be official Hayman invited citizens, and enjoying a sumptuous international gourmet lunch by Chef Glenn Bacon.

I thought I could not finish this blog article without some cliché photos. So I decided to share with you an overview of the resort we went to on Hayman Island as it just looks like a postcard, but is not! Hayman Island is like heaven on earth. If you like colorful landscapes, relaxation, enjoying tasty meals and living your life fully, I recommend you visit www.hayman.com.au and book ASAP!

Before leaving Brisbane, I had to “share” with you some of the great food we had, here at Stamford hotel.

I enjoy so much seafood that I could eat everything on the buffet!

Seafood!

Lebanese Food!

More Food!

We all arrived at the airport right on time for our first photo shoot and interviews with the worldwide press !
Then, we all went to get internet connections in the Airline’s Lounge.

Before serious things start, I thought  it was time to give a big hug to everyone (sorry I might have missed some of you guys…)

Seeing Brisbane by plane  reminded me that I have to come back to this town. It’s just ALL incredible: its people, its culture, its sunrises from the pool of the Stamford, and yet, I did not get to learn enough about this city and that’s a pity… Brisbane I’ll be back!

The 1.5 hour flight to Hamilton Island happened to be a great moment on the plane. Actually, some camera crews were allowed to film on board and that was fun and entertaining. We were surprised to see so many cameras on the ground of Hamilton Island. Check out and try to find Charly!

Ben (UK): “Come on Benj, journalists are waitin’ for ya ! “. Dear candidates friends, beware of Ben²

And finally, I am delighted to introduce you to the french TV crew who will be following me during ALL the interview process for  TV channel  TF1  for the “Sept à Huit” show 

And here is a video of the Blue Pearl, the house of the winner

I am happy to present you the other candidates for the Best Job In The World!

Anjaan(IND)	Ben(GBR)	Cali(USA)	Clare(TWN)	Erik(CAN)
Greg(SGP)	Hailey(AUS)	James(AUS)	Juweon(KOR)	Magali(NLD)
Meiko(JPN)	Myriam(DEU)	Clarke(NZL)	Yi(CHN)	George(IRL)

I also got my shiny cyan blue tshirt! I just love this color!

Here are some more photos (remember, you can see a lot of them on my Flickr Albums!)

   Magali, Anjaan, George, Greg, Ben (UK)

   Cali, Hailey, Ben (UK), Magali

We also met the big Guru this morning, Mr. Anthony Hayes, TQ Chief Executive Officer. He has really been nice to everyone of us, and it seems that we have the same kind of supportive mothers!

PS: Keeping up, here is my French touch #2

This second day of visiting Queensland has been great but tiring as I still was jet-lagged from the trip! First, we went to visit Glass House Mountains, which are really green actually! They are parts of old volcanoes that were sighted and named by Captain James Cook in 1770 from the way sunlight was reflected from the very fine-grained and  glassy volcanic rocks.

Then, we went to explore some beaches of the Sunshine Coast. I met a nice, smiling, powerful Australian surfer dude (I finally got my cliché photo )

No Baywatching today, sorry for all those who loved seeing me half-naked in Le Parisien newspaper!

During our trip on the Sunshine Coast, we went to Mooloolaba (just can’t stop smiling when trying to pronouce this name) and Noosa (respectively, photos above and below).

After nearly two days of visiting Queensland, I had to leave my great hosts to get to the prestigious Stamford hotel in the center of Brisbane. Hailey, one of the two Australian applicants managed to organize a nice “first meeting” night where we travelled a LOT on the CityCat (name of the Ferry Company) and were generously invited by TQ in a  turkish restaurant for a scrumptious meal. Here our first group photo (some applicants were missing, and some were extra!). Thanks Hailey, and thanks TQ

PS: As a proud Frenchman, I will try to find some funny things about me and my beloved country, FRANCE. This is the #1 of the French Touch by Ben

>> A lot more photos on my Flickr page

I want to give a big thumbs up to my hosts Anne and Ross Mackenzie, my #1 aussie fans who took care of me on arrival in Brisbane and helped me discover this fabulous town.

(sorry ross for the poor photo montage)

Brisbane is quite a huge town counting more than 1.8 milion inhabitants, and its center is really nice because you can get wherever you want by foot, or via the ferries Here is an overview of Brisbane from its highest point , Mt Coot-tha overlooking the city

To finish my first day in Brisbane blog post, I wanted to share with you guys the beautiful artificial beach created in the center of Brisbane where you can swim or just bask in the sun, as if you were on a real beach. “Elle est pas belle la vie à Brisbane?”

>> A lot more photos on my Flickr page

Finally arriving at Singapore Changi airport. Heard a lot of good things about it, and it really is a great stopover!

After a 7 hours night flight, I finally landed on Thursday April 30 in Brisbane at 07.00 am on-board this beautiful Qantas plane !

Relieved to have arrived on time (and with all my luggage), I can finally put on my shiny new Vuarnet sunglasses on the car trip to the house of my hosts,  Anne and Ross Mackenzie

Boarding on bigger plane: Boeing 747 with Qantas Airways, let’s go for a 13 hours flight!

Time to eat! Nice quality food: “Herb crusted cod with crushed pumpkins & new potatoes and hot breakfast: herbs & cheese omelette with bacon & tomatoes, and fruit salad.”

Entertaining: was amazed by Man vs Wild (dédicasse ClémyB), delighted by the spectacular effects of Quantum of Solace, and laughed at Bolt (especially with Rhino the Hamster!).

Slept 6 hours. I really want to thank the inventor of the eye mask and the travel pillow (thanks sis’).