2001, I have been in Sydney several times. If I do not travel across Australia, I spend every third day in Sydney. In 1988 I saw the Sydney Opera House for the first time. It was exciting and impressive for me . . . . . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . and until today Sydney Opera House is the best western architecture at all for me. Not only the shape, but also the location is perfect to me. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, In the beginning of the 70s I served in Saigon marine-headquarter as a typographer for offset-printing in the journal-department. In front of the headquarter on an anchoring ship there was the printing plant, to which I had contact. In their entrance-room was a giant poster, that fascinated me from the beginning: The Sydney Opera House! Since then my senses led me to discover that engineering marvel. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The skyline of Sydney-City vanishes and the ship approaches to its destination Manly. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The view back to Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, For australian means Manly is a small village only. But they have everything in different categories, like hotels, restaurants and other shops. After lunch I go directly to the beach. The trees on the promenade remind me to Saigon, where I lived in earlier times. The riverbank in front of our house had the same trees. Today is again a sunny, blue sky with white clouds floating across it, which fascinates me. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The beach is well attended today. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Walkers are passing by nonstop on the promenade. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, View to the northern end of the beach. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, On the southern end there is a beautiful walkway along the coastline. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Just as I want to sit on my beachtowel, I suddenly hear from the left: "Dolphin, dolphin, ...". I turn around. A boy approximately 12 years old points to the sea with his hand. I follow his hand and see a swarm of dolphins jumping and diving into the sea, like acrobats on a stage. But only few people pay attention to the intelligent animals. Probably this spectacle can be seen here quite often.
"Why do the Japanese kill dolphins and whales? These animals are my friends." I react surprized: "I'm not japanese". After I tell him about my provenance, the boy starts to unpack his backpack and sits down next to me. He asks me to share his lunch with him. As I already had a meal I answer No and thank him.
While he enjoys his meal I tell him that for most people in China and Vietnam whales and dolphins are holy animals. In old stories of these countries one often hears of fish helping man in distress. When I was a child I was told that one fisherboat was close to sinking on the stormy sea. Then two whales came and took the boat between their bodies to prevent it from going down. In a coastal town like VungTau in Vietnam, where I often made excursions to, there is still a temple, where whales are honoured. In that temple one can see the skeleton of the whales in giant glass cabinets . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . The boy tells me, that the japanese navigate the dolphins to the cove with modern calling-techniques and brutally massacre them, so that the whole coast is tinted red from the blood. Even small japanese children take part. It is a tradition! The boy does not believe in japanese whaling for research purposes. "In the past the australians caught whales too. I was in Albany and visited the old whaling plants", I said to him. The boy added: "That was barbarian, but since 1978 it is forbidden in Australia." The boy suffers very much, because he cannot rescue his friends the dolphins and whales. After the long conversation we sit on the beach for a while. When we part he holds my hand firmly and says no word, but his eyes say: "Save the animals".
The sky is so blue, the clouds float across it, people talk, laugh and play. Suddenly a cruel picture appears in my mind. The bloodbath of the Taiji-dolphinmassacre and a small boy, who has lost his childhood. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, On our way back to Sydney-City light, shadow, clouds and water form an interesting spectacle. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, With the floating clouds the skyline of Sydney-City can be brightly shining from the light in the mirroring glass-facades of the high-risers or can be shadowy. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The 1932-built Sydney Harbour Bridge is like a motif of a silhouette in this case. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The skyscrapers of Sydney-City with the Sydney Tower in bright light. The sailing boat finds its way back to its harbour. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, I have been to the evening performance of Sydney Opera House twice. It was a special experience, because in the intermission you are standing in the hall with a giant glassfront facing the water, which you can see here. With a clear starry sky you have the feeling as if you are in a spaceship traveling through the galaxy. Especially when the lights of the opposite houses mirror in the water they combine endlessly with the starry sky. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The boat rides past the sunny side of Sydney Opera House . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . . . on the way to the its destination . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . . . . Circular Quay. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, In the olympic year 2000 this hotel was built. The building blocks the sight onto the Royal Botanic Gardens lying on the hill behind the hotel. Many people, who knew Sydney before, are also angry, because from some viewing points you are now no longer able to see Sydney Opera House due to this building. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Today I visit Sydney-Chinatown and after a tasty south-chinese late breakfast I then go directly to David Jones to do some shopping. The department store David Jones (photo) is close to Hydepark. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, When I go to Hydepark it is usually crowded with visitors. It is a favourite place for lunch hour for the workers around. I am lucky today. A seat bench just for me under the high trees. Otherwise I would have strolled through the park and sat on the entrysteps of the war memorial or I sat in the cathedral. Not for religious reasons but for a silent break. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Opposite, on the other side of the promenade, an old lady is already sitting on a seat bench. She wears an oldfashioned dark green dress with a crochet collar. She constantly pets a little dog, which sits on her lap. From time to time the dog lifts up its head and tries to establish eye contact with his mistress. But the old lady seems to be somewhere else with her thoughts.
I fetch a small scetchbook and begin to draft the positions of the people in the park. It is quiete interesting to watch and sketch the sitting and behaviour of people.
Photo: Archibald Fountain, Hydepark - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Suddenly the old lady opposite of me stands up, comes to me and talks to me in english: "I did not give you the permission to paint me." I answer: "I just sketch your seating position, I do not portrait you." She adds: "Oh, yes. My hair is tousled from the wind" and she tries to straighten her hair-do with her hands. Then she asks me for my origin and where I study. After I told her about me, she suddenly switches to german.
She tells me, that she was born in Germany... Shortly before the second worldwar she and her family emigrated to the USA. During the time of the second worldwar her family was not feeling comfortable in the USA. They were segregated from the society . . . . . . After the second worldwar she and her family immigrated as US-citizens to Australia. "Everything was very difficult in the beginning". She tells a lot about war and the destiny of people. At the end she whispers: "I disagree to what happened in europe, but I couldn't do much against it . . . . Next time I would like to invite you for a coffee to my place, I enjoy baking. I learned that from my mother in former times. You can try my Black Forest cake." - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, After returning to Sydney from a trip along the southern coast of Australia, I met her by chance in the Queen-Victoria-Building a day later. "What a coincident! You have to visit me at my place, you are invited."
On the day, we had agreed on, her grandson picked me up at Sydney station. "My grandmother is lonely. She is happy that my sister and me are living with her. At present we study in Sydney. My grandmother bakes and cooks passionately. She would be happy, if you liked it". I understand and plan to praise the ladies food.
The old dame lives in an old but distinguished district of northern Sydney. She inherited the house from her parents. It has many rooms, because it was meant for a whole family. On the walls of the living room are hanging old pictures of her grandparents, parents and herself, when she was a child. She introduces me to her granddaughter and tells me, that her son is a successful winegrower. She should live with him, her daughter in law and their children, but she refuses to sell her parents house as long as she is healthy. She is very attached to the house, to which she has a lot of memories.
She asks me, where I have traveled to, apart from Australia. I tell her, that I had already been in the US, where my brothers live, often in China and some countries and islands in Europe. Then she says: "The way I experienced my family and my early life in the US, I wouldn't want to repeat that", after a short break she adds: "I don't want to travel anywhere, and if, then just a short trip with my family inside of Australia. The world outside doesn't provide confidence to me anyway. My home is the place, where I feel best." I have the impression, that she is very much influenced by her bad experience of her early life. After a sip of coffee she says: „But when you travel somewhere, please write a postcard to me. I would be delighted and think of you."
After coffee and cake she asks me to stay for dinner: "...the recipe is from my mother, who had it from her mother...". I decide to stay with the nice lady for dinner: It is a good german cuisine, that is hard to find even in Germany.
Since then I write postcards to her from my journeys every time. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Some time later I surprisingly receive postcards from her journeys, amongst them two postcards from China. She writes: ". . . . . . The trips were more wonderful than I imagined. I am as fit as a fiddle and do a lot . . . . . ." and ". . . . . . China became one of my favourite travel destinations . . . . . . as long as I am healthy I would like to go there another time and look around in some other countries of the world. . . . . . . The question, whether I will return to my roots for a visit in Germany, I have to think about . . . . . . "
Four years later I receive a note from her granddaughter, that her grandmother has died. Opposite to her earlier attitude, six weeks before her death she planned a visit to Germany. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, After saying goodbye to the old lady I leave Hydepark and walk to "The Domain", a public area next to the Royal Botanic Garden. The weather is ideal for a walk. The sun is warm, the wind is pleasant . . . . . and the megabats have "daydreams" in the trees . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . many plants are already carrying their fruit . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . light warms the soul of any creature . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . at the fountain in "The Domain" the birds have a bath . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . apparantly a contageous pleasure . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . the bloom of lotus is over in Australia. The capsules are already developing. . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . Which creature left behind this deformation? . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . The summer did not bid farewell completely, but the autumn-goddess has already touched the lotuspond with her finger. . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . The fish seem to try to enjoy the last light of summer. . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . in company one feels more comfortable . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . the fish, a symbol for wellbeing and contentment in ancient china and until today . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . the dragonflies are swaying from side to side . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . looking at the dragonflies I remember my childhood, when our family lived close to a river and with some other children on a nearby hill we played with the dragonflies . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . It is a harmonic athmosphere . . . . until some water birds land on the pond, search through it hectically and scare off the fishes and dragonflies. It is time for me to go further. . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . A small swarm of cockatoos landed in the Royal Botanic Garden . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . their rasping sound draws the attention of many people and they are coodled not only by tourists. This white bird with the yellow crown is my favourite parrot . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, I walk along the coast. The air is refreshing. The water is clear and the water plant has a bright green colour. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . Finally I reach my destination . . . . The Sydney Opera House. . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . Sydney Opera House, during its time of completion and until today an extra- ordinary architecture . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . It is nice, that in this moment there are no masses of tourists visiting the Sydney Opera House . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . in the cafeteria of the Sydney Opera House . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . I acquire again a seat close to the window in the sun . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . and during a teabreak a view on Sydney Harbour Bridge and the water of the bay with sunbeams . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . An interesting reflection that you can see in the glass hall of Sydney Opera House. . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . normally one can take the stairs at the outside to climb up . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . some people need a short break to climb up the stairs . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . My favourite terrace. Here one can watch the landscape for hours, relax, especially in a clear starry night with full moon . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . More than 1.000.000 ceramic tiles were applied on the Sydney Opera House . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . Sydney Opera House, one of my favourite western architectures . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . Sydney Opera House, a piece of art to me . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . It is now time to leave Sydney Opera House . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . because now dozens of buses with masses of tourists arrive, like on any other day . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . another view back and then . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . I walk along the promenade to the city . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . suddenly some white clouds appear as if they would like to welcome me. The people of the bridge-climb-tour can be seen on the bridge arch. A tip of an australian friend: Take part in that tour. I consider to do so due to the fine weather and made up my mind . . . . No, it already was a perfect day to me. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, On this Australia-visit I travel to Bondi Beach by public transport several times. The ride took long, but the landscape was so interesting and diversified, that I lost track of time. At the coast road I had a fastfood-menu for lunch, like most of the other beach visitors. At that time you almost have no other choice! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, After lunch I am heading for the beach and finally I see the colour of hope at the horizon. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Between coast road and beach you can find green terraces, parking lots and promenades. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The green terraces are popular picnic areas and playgrounds for the beach visitors. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, With your car you can drive to the edge of the beach. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, View onto the southern side of Bondi Beach. . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . . and the view in northern direction. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The weather is nice today, the sea shimmers in different blue-green shades of colour. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, I go to the beach promenade. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The beach promenade is wide and covers the whole beachfront. It is beautiful to go for a walk here. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Now it is time to go down to the beach. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The beach in Bondi is wide and long. Not so narrow and small like some european beaches. Here you have plenty of space for everyone. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, After noon the beach begins to slowly fill up on the northern edge . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . and on the southern side too. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Thoughts in the heart
         How high is the blue sky.
         How large is the endless earth.
         How deep is the turquoise ocean.
         How far away is home.
         How clear is the moon of home!
         Chau Tran (Qing Lian) in April 2014                                   - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Home
         Where is the white canvas sailing.
         Where is its destination.
         Life is just a short glimpse.
         Where is the caring home!
         Chau Tran (Qing Lian) in April 2014                                   - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Today I am at Bondi Beach again, but the weather is very windy. The wind becomes even stronger and the waves are getting higher. On the beach a haze of sand is developing. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, One after another the visitors pack their bags and leave the beach. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Some beach walkers wait until the beach is nearly empty to relax. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The surfers wait patiently until the right waves arise. Also some swimmers come at that time, to have the ocean on their own. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A surfer tells me: "Some mountain climbers claim to having defeated a mountain. From my point of view you cannot defeat nature! We adapt to the waves." I add: "Nature cannot be defeated, I agree to you in that point". Some time later he showed me how he adapts to the waves. For that you need a lot of training time and experience. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, I say good-bye to him and leave the beach walking to the southern hill of Bondi Beach. You can find a hillway there, on which you can reach Bronte Beach.- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Life - Tides
         Life
         Low tide and high tide
         Tides
         The way of life
         Life
         has a certain end
         Tides
         eternal and never to stop
         Chau Tran (Qing Lian) in April 2014                                   - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, From this height I can better watch the low tide and experience how fast the water declines. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Houses on the hillway have windows with a seaview, pure luxury. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Here I am feeling close to the creation of nature, I do not have to search for that behind the closed doors of a temple or monastery. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, With this view back to Bondi Beach I am being confirmed, that we have to respect mother nature. Because then we can learn and live in balance with her. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Even nature is an artist. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The hillway leads slowly downwards. One can see Bronte now. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, On the whole hillway I do not meet one person. On this piece of the path I meet a german couple and they ask me in english, whether I can take a picture of them. Then they wanted to know, where they can have the best chinese food in Sydney. As they notice, that I am from Germany too they continue to speak in german and tell me, that they are grammar school teachers. They have already visited Brazil, Nepal and China and USA for several times. They are in Australia for the first time and travelling around here for three weeks.
They further tell me the history of the aborigenes in Australia and of the red indians and the enslaved africans in the USA. They add: "As europeans we are ashamed of what we did to the red indians and africans in USA and the aborigenes in Australia." I am astonished: "But you haven't been born back then, furthermore you are german." They answer: "However, we are ashamed of it as europeans. And also you mustn't forget, that in 19th century chinese people were allured to the USA and worked like slaves for the construction of the railway." The subject comes up so suddenly, that for the time beeing I don't know what to say in the moment.
On their question, which part of Australia I have already been, I told them, that I was there for the sixth time. My relatives live in the districts of Sydney and New South Wales. I was nearly everywhere in Australia, in some areas even twice . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . . After we talked for a while, we exchange our addresses in Germany. The couple embraces me cordially. We say goodbye. I continue on my way to Bronte Beach . . . . . . . . I loose myself in thoughts: Life is short. What man did, mankind can never forget. . . . . . Suddenly Bronte is right before me. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, On my journey to the southern coast of Australia I make a stop in Albury, a city on the border between New South Wales and Victoria. Then a stay in Melbourne, Victorias metropolis, which serves as starting point to all my destinations in south-east Australia.
Today I am not in the mood to hold the city map in my hand to find my way. I simply book one of the citytours that is offered at my hotel. When entering the tourbus I find out that I am the only asian and the only one who travels on his own. The other fellow travelers are part of a tour group. Due to shortage of space I am "allowed" to sit next to the tour guide. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, After about twenty minutes of driving and sightseeing the tourbus suddenly stands in front of a closed zone. It is blocked because of a marathon in the city. The bus can go neither forwards nor backwards. It takes some time before the first marathon runners appear. They run and run and time passes.
There is an impatient atmosphere in the tourbus. A male voice asks: "How long will it take?" The female tourguide: "I don't know it myself. Maybe it doesn't take very long anymore." Then she adds: "Don’t worry, be happy". Then some other tour guests interfere: "Whats all this running about in the city?" and "Sport, they call it sport" and "They could also run out of town". Suddenly an exciting voice: "Those posers". There are some more comments from the tourguests, until after more than two hours the marathon route is finally opened for traffic again. The driver of the tourbus starts the motor and tries to drive on. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The tourbus does not drive very far, then appear some marathon runners who have already finished. They do not watch the traffic, cross the street and cause another congestion, until a security guard shoos the runners from the street.
The tourdriver is annoyed and shouts loudly: "Those posers harass me! They screw up the whole traffic of the city." The other tourguests applaude and start an approving jubilation: "Yeah, yeah!" I lost some precious travel time like the other tourguests, but it is a unique experience and I can only laugh: "Don’t worry, be happy." The tourguide adds: "Yeah, yeah, don’t worry be happy!"- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The tourgroup visits the Parliament House . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . then a boattrip on Yarra River . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . with a view of metropolis Melbourne . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . at this point two birds of prey circle in the air. . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . riverside of metropolis Melbourne . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . an old bridge, Princes Bridge . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, .. . . . . Flinders Street Station seen from the river and Flinders Walk . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . not for the first time I experience four seasons on one day . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, After the boattrip the tourgroup visits Chinatown. Here one of the entrance gates. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The street lighting in Chinatown is in a shape of a lantern. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, On Chinatown mainstreet we have the opportunity to go for lunch. Some tourguests want to follow me to go for a meal. In the restaurant they ask me, whether I can recommend something. Due to former experiences I say: "Everybodys taste is individual. What I like does not have to taste good for you. The best thing is to study the menu and ask the waiter for details." The northchinese food did not excite me, because I prefer southchinese cuisine. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The other side of mainstreet Chinatown. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Yarra River of Melbourne from a birds eye view. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Metropolis Melbourne from above. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A densly populated part of Melbourne. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, When I see the Arts Center Spire from the tourbus, I ask the tourguide to let me get out. I want to continue off my own bat. Before I alight I wave to the other tourguests: "Don’t worry, be happy!" They answer me with a joyful: "Yeah, yeah!" - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, On earlier visits to Australia I have already seen some opal mines and museums, but the main issue of the presenters was always selling goods. Therefore I actually had no interest in visiting a historic goldmine and its associated museum. But the driver of the hotels own car rental told me, that the goldmine is on my way to my destination and that it is a good place for a rest.
The driver had alread collected five people, who have the same destination as I have. Those people seem to be reasonable. I agree and enter the luxury minibus. The driver and us are all together a company of six and we head from Melbourne to Sovereign Hill.
Photo: A house with such a lantern in front once was a home for rich and powerful people. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Clone of a former luxury residential area for civil servants, gold businesspeople and employers, whose power dominated the goldmine city, including hotel, restaurant and saloon. The carriage can be rented by tourists nowadays. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, When visiting the historic goldmine and its associated museum I learn from explanations of our tourguide: Not only the "yellow men" (that meant people from asia/china) but also some good and honest "white men" (that meant people from europe) had to work in the goldmine because of poverty and were downgraded to classless.
The people in the goldmines worked for famine wages and were treated like slaves. When they became ill, they were not able to go to work and were not paid. They had to take out a loan with high interest rates to survive. After their illness the daily wage was not sufficient to pay the installment. This viscous circle made people to slaves.
On the picture one can see the clone of a former residential area for poor goldmine workers. A dozen goldmine workers shared one small hut, some didn't have a bed and slept on the floor. Furthermore there were tents for those who couldn't even afford a place in the hut. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Clone of a shop for goldminers. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The former tunnel entrance to the goldmine is safely shored and accessible for tourists nowadays. Even though I have an uncertain feeling when entering. It is narrow and some visitors cannot walk upright. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, In the museum one can see shimmering gold on the face of a rock behind a glass pane. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, At this place only small chinese or children are "allowed" to crawl in and break out the gold in a lying position. The tourguide explains that workers deeply in debt had to go into this mine tunnel, they had no other choice! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The tourguide further explains: Many rich chinese were lured from China to Australia for gold business. Then they were told lies, they were cheated and robbed until they had to bring their last memento of home to the hockshop (their brought valuable clothes). Then they ended up as a worker in a goldmine and were never able to buy back their clothes. Their wives and children also had to work hard in the dirt and were not able to afford three meals a day. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Valuable piece of clothing from handwoven fabric and embroidered by hand. Only rich chinese were able to afford that. Now it can be seen in the goldmine museum. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, One can see that the pieces of clothes were expertly crafted with gold fibres. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A piece of cloth from a very rich family: A phoenix floats in a multicolored sea of clouds, a peony as a symbol for wealth.
This piece is stitched on silk and can be seen in the museum too. Its former owner had to separate from it because of his cruel fate. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The coastal landscape of the "Great Ocean Road" induces me to ride to the southern coast of Australia. Today heaven is cloud-covered and in a constant movement. The clouds are hanging so low as if they wanted to touch the ocean. The sounds of the fierce waves on the beach and of the wind in every bush seem to try to tell me some kind of a story. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Thanks to the ocean the "apostles" arose! With patience from time to time the waves formed them. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The "apostles" proudly present their attendance and they themselves can tell best about their situation from the beginning to the end. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Will there be born an apostle soon? Like a child in a womb, an apostle short before birth. It takes time, a very long time! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, With every second the apostles move away from their mother - the cliff. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A child of the cliff, an apostle. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Like a sea of coulds in the mist, the waves of the ocean. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, An asian traveller asks me in english, whether I can take a picture of him. I realize, that he is a chinese from mainland China. This gives me the opportunity to have a souvenir picture of me, after I setup the date of the camera. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, "One more photo." "Please". After I thanked him in chinese, he was very amazed. I explained to him, that chinese lived in South Vietnam until 1975, opposite to the communist northern part. Those chinese have kept their traditions and customs like any other chinese abroad.
In Saigon there were five large chinese communities, who organized five modern equipped hospitals, payed by donations of rich chinese. All Chinese were treated there for free. There were up to ten chinese schools, who taught all school subjects bilingual (chinese/vietnamese), reaching up to the "Gao Zhong / upper school", then as a chinese one could continue with a distance study in Taiwan.
He told me that his parents were farmers. His father used the free time during the year to additionally work as a migrant worker. This improved the financial situation of the family. After studying he worked in the city. His parents didn’t want to leave the village, afterwards they build a house and fully equipped it in a modern western style. His father did not accept to be retrained as a welder or electrician, because he wanted to continue working as a migrant worker outside the farming season. As a farmer he receives a government-funded subvention when he had a bad harvest. I learn, that the family is doing much better since the generation of his father. So well, that he can even travel abroad. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, In one moment the light breaks through the clouds more and more . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . then suddenly the coastal landscape drowns in the mist of wind and spindrift. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The plants on the rocks have to be very adaptive. The wind and the salty spindrift are always welcome for them. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, How was this view some hundred years ago? - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, At that moment the wind suddenly becomes stronger. The water rises and declines heavily. The noise of the waves sounds like angry moans. Sure! In nearly all affluent countries of the world fishes are caught with modern techniques and always in excess of the demand. Later the spillover will be dumped. Harmony between man and nature is destroyed bit by bit . . . . . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . the apostles seem to try to escape this destruction by entering the sea. . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . how long are they on their way?! . . . . . . .- Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . and how long will it take?! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, It seems as if we are still standing in the past . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . but what were the apostles and the coast looking like back then? - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Nature is constantly changing. Caused by itself and by man. Some years later I come to know that one of the apostles on this picture is not existant anymore. Nothing is eternal! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Returning from the "Great Ocean Road" back to Melbourne I have a short break in the hotel. After dinner I visit the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. There is nothing interesting for me to see, so I do not stay a very long time. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Outside the air is fresh and enjoyable. Heaven is not starlit and the moon is not yet full. Anyway moonshine has enough energy to influence men. Nearly everyone is adventurous and in a happy mood. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Passing a building whose colorful changing lights remember me to Las Vegas. . . . . .Ah, that must be Melbourne Casino. . . . . . . the driver of our daytrip told us, that one should visit the entrance hall of the casino to admire the architecture and the lightshow. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The main lobby of the casino is large. The lightshow has already begun. There are not as many people as I expected. It is said, that you are more lucky if you use the sideentrance of the casino which leads directly to the gamblers hall. Sure! Some people like to risk only some dollars for fun . . . then you have to decide to make the last game . . . and continue just one more game . . . until job and family are ruined. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Everywhere on the ceiling and on the walls are computer-operated lights, which create constantly changing lightmoods. I saw even more spectacular lightshows only in Hongkong and Shanghai, on the face of the skyscrapers of the waterfront skyline. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The lightshow in the main lobby of the casino. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, I go outside to the waterfront promenade next to the casino. Melbourne lives in the night too! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, At that time there are firebreathing pillars on the waterfront of the casino . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . which attract strollers. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, In a more silent part of the promenade there are colorful changing trick fountains. After having a short rest there, I go back to the hotel. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Today I intend to make a trip to Phillip Island, to see the animals on that island. On my way I see this statue in front of Saint Patricks cathedral. Who is portrayed here? Blessed virgin Mary?! . . . . No, it is a statue of the holy Catherine of Siena. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, In the glasshouse of the Royal Botanic Garden are numerous kinds of begonia. But I did not discover any new one. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, This white begonia with the pink edge is very beautiful, but i saw it before in europe several times. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A red-orange coloured begonia . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, This kind of flower was once growing on my balcony. It also exists in pink and can grow up to two meters high. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Leaving the Royal Botanic Gardens I discover this wild beauty outside of the glasshouse. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, It is cloudy on Phillip Island, but anyhow the light enchants the island in a pictorial way. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, It seems as if I am located in a painting. Shortly after I took some pictures, the beautiful light effect normalizes very fast. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The "Nobbies" on the western headland of Phillip Island in the sunset. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Regarding to information about Philipp Island there should be many animals here, for example seals. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Slowly it is becoming dark but no animal appeared yet. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The silent ocean attracts the light . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . . . and forms a harmonic unity. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The mood here is so calm and romantic. I stay until the sun sinks into the sea. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, On Philip Island you can watch with nightfall, how the little penguins come back from the open ocean to their nests, which are in the bushes of the beach. The beach is illuminated with spots and it is nearly bright as daylight. For an admission fee the tourists may have a seat on two giant stands and watch the penguins. You can sense, that the penguins returning to the beach are very uncertain with every step. They notice the artificial light and feel the presence of other creatures (men).
Nowadays one can take pictures in the night with a digicam without any flash. Nevertheless there are instructions in the leaflet which are ". . . .intended for the safety of the penguins. . . . Taking pictures - including filming with video cameras - is not allowed . . . . Slides and photos can be purchased for a reasonable price in the souvenir shop." Against payment tourists can have a picture together with the penguins, made by the staff of the organizer. It is all about business, not for animal welfare. The penguins are exploited for business, like many other animals in the world. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Back from the southern coast I have something to do in Sydney. Like always I have a brunch at one of my favourite chinese restaurants first. It is in a mall close to Chinatown and Paddy-Market. It is a restaurant in Hongkong-style in several floors. Each floor has nearly 100 round tables for up to ten people. I am lucky today, I get a free table directly. Normally you receive a waiting number, on the weekend you often have to wait one hour for a free table. After I have left the restaurant I go to one of my favourite places in Sydney: Darling Harbour. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Here in Darling Harbour I would like to shop some things I want to take back to Germany. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Sydney Tower is not in the foreground in Darling Harbour, but presents itself very conspicious. The figures on the tower can be seen since the olympic games in the year 2000. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, In a glass-building, covering some floors, a connection between street and waterfront-promenade, I see an impressive structure in the shape of two whales, mother and child, which are like floating in the ocean.
I suddenly remember a conversation two weeks ago, that I had with a boy on Manly Beach. The boy that spoke up for whales and dolphins. Deep in thoughts I suddenly hear a female voice on my right side: "The japanese should let whales and dolphins live. ‘Whale research’ is just a lie to continue killing them." I react automatically: "I am not japanese", because I have been held for a japanese several times. When I turn around I see a young couple, students I presume, which they later confirm. The young female student: "Sorry, we did not mean you." Her boyfriend: "Yes, we thought you were japanese. Sorry for that."
After a short talk I know that they also stand up for dolphins and whales. I tell them that I was in naval military service as a young man and deployed on a coast guard ship. It touched my heart when I saw, how dolphins accompanied the ship and greeted us by cutting capers. In 1995 in Monkey Mia and Darwin I had skin contact with wild living dolphins and fishes. It was also an incredible experience.
As the students know, that I am chinese, they add, that in worldwar II the japanese massacred people not only in china but all over asia, comparable to Hitler in Europe, who was allied to the japanese.
Later I hear that the students are of british descent. I interrupt our conversation, because I have to take care of several things on that day before I leave Australia. I ask them, where I could find a good shop for aboriginal culture. Both give me a hint, that there is one in the shopping mall over there. I knew that mall: The entrance of the mall is decorated with motifs of dolphins. By chance the two are on the way to the mall and together we cross Pyrmont bridge to visit the store.
After shopping we sit together in a café for about one hour and talk about several topics. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Apart from the famous Sydney Opera House there is no other architecture in Sydney that impresses me. Anyway Sydney attracts me by its athmosphere and its nearly easygoing mood also during the night.
Late in the evening no more ferries run from and to Circular Quay. Calmness returns. It is a little bit quiet here, but it is enjoyable. I hear gentle music coming from the left side. This is also the direction I want to go to. . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . the music becomes more clear. In the darkness right before me some lights appear, like stars in the sky. The light comes from some trees in front of some street-cafés. In this moment I remember the picture "Nightcafé" by van Gogh. The mood here is very consonant with this picture. Suddenly more and more people are on their way. Some walk very fast past me. I have a look on my watch, it is short before midnight. The point in time on which I wanted to go home, but Sydney’s nightlife just begins. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, On my way back I once more admire Sydney Harbour Bridge in nightly illumination. No more water-taxis here too. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, And one more view back to my favourite architecture of Australia, the Sydney Opera House. Even in a dark and silent night it has a force of attraction. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, In April it can still be very hot in Australia. On my way from the gallery-quarter Paddington to the city-centre, I have a short break in St.Marys Cathedral to escape the heat. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The roof of the cathedral reminds me to castles and palaces in Europe, especially to castle Neuschwanstein in Bavaria. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Finally I reach the city-centre and after a meal nearby I arrive at Sydney Townhall, which fortunately has an open-house presentation today. Although I have been to Australia and Sydney several times I visit this place for the first time. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The tower of Sydney Town Hall from the inside. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, A view from inside Sydney Town Hall to the outside. The chandeliers in the Town Hall are very mighty. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, View into the Centennial Hall of Sydney Town House. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Before departing from Australia to Singapore I would like to spend one more evening in Sydneys waterfront area. The terrace of Sydney Opera House is nearly deserted short before sunset. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The tide of the water flowing from here to the ocean reminds me to the estuary of Yangtse-river in Shanghai. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Right before sunset the benches on the promenade are all occupied, probably by Sydneys inhabitants. One enjoys the fresh sea breeze. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, When the nightly illumination is turned on, more and more tourists arrive and natives can not be seen anymore. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The illumination of Sydney Harbour Bridge . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . is turned on slowly. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The water-side high-rise buildings show their beautiful nightly side. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, It is full of athmosphere here. It is no longer hot and the air is refreshing. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The last ferry leaves Circular Quay at this time. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Sydney Harbour Bridge in a splendiferous illumination. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, At this moment the fore court of Sydney Opera House is still empty. I have a short break and enjoy the nightly skyline of Sydney. I am glad that today Sydney Opera House is luckily not dunked into colourful lights and checkered designs. This is to tawdry in my opinion. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Sydney Opera House is now becoming more and more crowded with visitors. Some hastily go to the opera performance, some calmly go just for a walk, you can also see lovers enjoying the romantic mood. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Thoughts in the heart
         How high is the blue sky.
         How large is the endless earth.
         How deep is the turquoise ocean.
         How far away is home.
         How clear is the moon of home!
         Chau Tran (Qing Lian) in April 2014                                   - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The shinig star of Sydney Opera House. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, The entrance hall of Sydney Opera House in unison with the moon. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, After a while I leave Sydney Opera House and stroll down the waterside back to Circular Quay. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, At that moment the waterside is nearly empty, but there are some people sitting on the terrace of a café. They are in a good mood, have a conversation and laugh, which you can even hear from quiet a distance. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Slowly I reach Circular Quay, which is in a silent atmosphere. You can only hear the sounds of water and wind. From here . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . I can also look to Sydney Harbour Bridge . . . . . . . . - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, . . . . . . which is now in full resplendence. It is wonderful! - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)

2001, Under the moonlight the Sydney Opera House shines in its pure beauty. I stand here for a long time and watch the conjunction of moon, opera house and water. Somehow I have the feeling, that I will not visit Australia for a long time. I have an exceptional spirit in the moment. Australia . . . Sydney . . . Sydney, a city, that I haven't left yet, but that I am already yearning for. - Chau Tran (Qing Lian)