Morgens halb 6 in Queensland – east coast week 1 22/11/2009

First part of my East Coast trip: From Cairns to Airlie Beach.

I am sitting on the roof terrace of our Hostel in Airlie beach. When I look straight in front of me, I can see palm trees and the bay with its white sailing boats. Woke up at half five this morning of Sunday November 22, which is even earlier than usual. You can’t sleep in here, it’s just too hot, even if the dorm rooms are sometimes air-conditioned as ours is today. It has now been one week since Amy and I left Sydney and flew up to Cairns in northern Queensland. But it seems to me much longer as we have seen so much in such a short time.

The best of both worlds 08/11/2009

The Aboriginal didgeridoo player Gumaroy is a fixed part of Sydney’s cityscape. Who is that man whose music entertains tourists at Circular Quay six days a week? A profile.

Everyone who has ever taken a ferry to Manly, made his way down to the Opera House or just had a walk around Circular Quay, has heard it: The cadenced sound of a didgeridoo, accompanied by modern electronic beats. It comes out of a pair of speakers between ferry wharfs two and three, where the artists of the Aboriginal ‘Koomurri’ group are performing day after day.

Last weeks in Sydney 04/11/2009

Nearly one month since my last post! I am not really good in this, I reckon…shame shame shame. The past few weeks weren’t spectacular either, I have to say. Four more weeks of uni with lots of assignments to finish. There are still two left! And in ten days, Amy and I are leaving for Cairns.

So…what have I been up to? Lots of swimming: Two ore three times a week, I do 1 to 2 kilometres in the Victoria park pool. I’ve also been spending hours and hours in the darkroom…my photo projects were due this Monday. It’s all done! Besides that…just normal Sydney life: Glebe market on Saturdays, watching Australian Idol with Adam and Ruth on

The manipulated face 03/11/2009

Project 1 out of 2 realised in my class ‘photography 2′. The aim was to use different darkroom techniques to create a set of 4 pictures, working on the self portrait. Here comes my set.

Top left: Hamburg, my hometown…and the Michel tower.

Top right: Regensburg, 3 years of studying…and the stone bridge & cathedral.

Bottom left: Paris, Eiffel tower, 2008-2010…with interruptions

Bottom right: Sydney! NOW (and the Opera House)

Low light drama 03/11/2009

Project 2 out of 2 – create a mysterious/suspenseful narrative with 5-6 photos, taken in low light conditions (by night). Who can guess the story that’s told here?

Surfing from Sydney to Byron 05/10/2009

I am back. After six wonderful days full of sun, sand, waves and fun, I am back in rainy and cold Sydney for the last four weeks of the semester. This trip was awesome! Just have a look at the pictures, I reckon there’s nothing more to say. For the German-speaking: Some extracts of my travel diary can be found below. –>

Drawing at the Garden Music festival 27/09/2009

By the end of September, I went to the ‘Garden Music’ festival at the Government’s house with Alida and othe French friends. Besides listening to lovely music, you could also grab a pen and some paper and sketch the amazing view.

So I set for maybe half an hour and tried to draw the Opera House. Not easy! It’s got such a complicated structure…am quite happy with the result, though .

Abgestaubt – dust storm in Sydney 23/09/2009

This morning, I woke up at about 9 am after a really fitful night. The wind had constantly blown around my roof, making much more noise than my animal cohabitants usually do. Stepping out of my room to get some coffee in the kitchen, I saw the most bizarre sky ever.

(Some pictures from the internet:)

Travel deliberations 21/09/2009

I got three days of classes left before the midsemester break starts. Time to think about what to do, what part of Australia to see, where to travel!

The initial plan was to spend a week in Byron Bay (great surfing spot, they say) with Paul, an English friend I know from the hostel. But as it turns out, he doesn’t have enough money to come with me and here I am rethinking the entire holidays again.

German Climate Politics – All that glitters is not gold 20/09/2009

My article has just been published on openforum.com.au – help me to promote it!! Feel free to comment! What do you think about this issue?