34,000 apply for 'the best job in the world'

34,000 apply for 'the best job in the world': "Tens of thousands of people from more than 200 countries have applied for 'the best job in the world' -- being paid to loll about on an Australian island -- according to officials.

A late rush of more than 7,500 applications over the weekend brought the number people hoping to become 'caretaker' of tropical Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef to 34,684, the Queensland state government said.

The deadline for applications was midnight GMT Sunday."