Backpacker Project by Greg Paterson

Name: Julie

Age: 26

City/Country: Vervier, Switzerland (currently, originally United States)

Occupation: Snowboard instructor (currently handing out free internet.

Arrival in Australia: Couple of months ago.

Departure from Australia: After three months.

Arrival in Byron Bay: Couple of months ago.

Departure from Byron Bay: After three months.

Why Byron Bay: Came to visit her boyfriend who lives here.

Best thing about Byron Bay: The surf, and the weather.

Worst thing about Byron Bay: Traffic congestion, and some of the prevalent attitudes.

Have you met any locals: Yes, since my boyfriend is a local, I know a lot of them.

Best place to eat: Capers in Suffolk Park

Why: The pizza!

Favorite daytime activity: Surfing most definitely.

Favorite nightspot: The Beach Hotel, Lalas.

Why: My friends hang out at those places, and they're not stuffed only with backpackers, there are locals too.

What's your passion: The arts, more specifically theatre & film.

One thing to change about Byron Bay: Deal with the traffic congestion, and the massive influx of tourism in a constructive way.

Photographer's impression:
Julie was one of those girls and guys who hand out the free internet brochures all over town. Don't know about you, but I get accosted by them, and always refuse politely. I took hers though, on the condition that she answer a few questions. Once I told her about the project she was fine, so long as she could still hand out the leaflets while we went along. With a few minor interruptions, we got through the interview process, and I learned she is a bit longer term here in Byron Bay than the other two, like myself. Once I pulled my camera, she seemed a bit embarassed, and didn't know how to act. I asked her to continue handing out the leaflets, and I would just take photos as she did so, and she felt much more comfortable.