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
India, Cremation, 1984 - In Varanasi (Benares), India, along the banks of the Ganges River, Hindus cremate their deceased relatives. Partially burned corpses were then tossed into the river. I read in National Geographic that people lacking money were relegated to disposing of corpses in the River without cremation. To my amazement, not fifty feet away from charred corpses, practitioners of Hinduism cupped their hands and put the water in their mouths.
Indonesia, Sumatera Barat Prov, Architecture
Vietnam, Long San Prov, Roasted Pig
Er Che Du Ma eventually left her small village near Moshuo Lake on the border between Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in China for school in the big city of Kunming. In the time of her grandmother, the women did not marry and were the landowners.
Young Woman Walking By the River, 2009 Turkey, Sirnak Province (Vilayet)
Slovenia, Smartno Ob Paki Prov, Tree
Latvia, Ludzas Prov, Ludzas Town Church -
USA, AZ, Grand Canyon, Cactus Hair, 1988 - This is a close-up of the purple cactus shown in another photograph on this site. Nature small and large is amazing.
China, Yunnan Prov, Moshuo Woman By Lake
Romania, Farm Girl Sitting On Wagon, 1997 - On my visits to Romania in 1997, I brought an 8x10 camera. The beauty of the young women, so unassuming and natural in their rural environments, captivated me.