This website illuminates my life and adventures. My longing for freedom has led me to over 2600 of the world’s 3978 provinces, to every country on earth and to the summit of the highest peak on each continent (thank heaven for good weather!). In my travels, I learned to respect the intelligence and ingenuity of people of all races and callings both past and present. Come see the world as I see it: as a peaceful place, full of nature and beauty. With the right spirit and intent, we can make our world a virtual Garden of Eden.
DISTINCTIONS: BBC 2017 Travel Pioneer • Journal Articles • Explorer’s Club Flag Expeditions
World Parks Project • Walk Across South America • Jeff Shea Travel Map
Ambon, Fish On A Stick, 2007 - This is a typical market scene in Ambon, an island in Maluku, the Spice Islands in the east of Indonesia. In 1999, religious wars saw the Muslims and Christians taking each other's lives for seemingly no other reason than one revenge after another that started by a single attack, allegedly started by agitators from Java. Today, Ambon is relatively peaceful once again. The Ambonese people are friendly, with a casual and playful attitude.
PNG, Wabia Villagers Wave Goodbye, 1983 - After finding Wabia again by ourselves, Kellly and I rested and arranged for new guides to take us to Top Camp, a few days away on foot. Here, the Wabians wave goodbye. We virtually ran out of food on the way to Top Camp, having "pandanus pizza" the on the day before arrival.
Tibet, Monastery, 1991 - In 1991, it was necessary to be part of a tour if you wanted to enter Tibet. I paid for a few day "tour." When they wanted me to stay at the Holiday Inn in Lhasa, I begged them to put me up in a traveler's hotel. This was more to my liking. There, I met many interesting people, including one who had biked from the far east of the country. During a nightly discussion, one person spoke of how disrespectful Westerners were of the local traditions. They told a story about how they saw one Westerner walk across the floor of a monastery, such as the one in this photograph, while the monks were praying. Notably, the storyteller said that the monks did not seem disturbed by this. This seems to me to be an essential differentiation between the mind of a Westerner, or Christian, and that of a Tibetan, or Buddhist.
Ireland, Monaghan Prov, Farmhome
UK, Bury Prov, House
Thailand, Krabi Prov, Sunset From Phra Nang Beach
Port Stanley Houses, 2006 Falkland Islands South Atlantic Voyage 2006
Vietnam, An Giang Prov, Duck Home
Slovenia, Bloke Prov, Farm
Slovenia, Miren-Kostanjevica Prov, Grove