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
UK, Gwynedd Prov, Landscape
Estonia, Polvamaa Prov, Ducks -
South Sandwich Is, Iceberg Through Iceberg Reflecting Water drops, 2006 - I took this image of an iceberg through an arch in the iceberg in the foreground. What I did not notice until I examined the photograph later that day was that the turquoise blue of the iceberg reflected in the water droplets created in the splash of a wave. I was to learn on this trip the importance of using a very fast shutter speed (>1/2000th second) when photographing moving objects like animals or waves.
Solomon Islands, Umbuni and Family, 1982 - Here, Umbuni stands with his wife and child. Kwaio women who were married wore a blue cloth over their genitals, whereas unmarried young women went naked. We learned a lot about the traditions of the Kwaio from David and Katie, Peace Corp workers who lived in the Kwaio. David and Katie seemed to half-believe in the ancestors themselves. Maybe they too could feel the presence of the ancestors at night. I almost felt I could. When in areas of the world where beliefs run strong, it is hard not to feel these local energies, no matter how unexplained they might be. The Kwaio had unusual beliefs, and there were many taboos, or tambus. Woman went to the "flower house" during their menstruation. It was tambu for a man to go there. Women were not allowed to step over anything that a man might come in contact with. Interestingly, they believed in "retroactive contamination." As an example of this principle, if a man touched an implement before a woman who was menstruating touched it, then she touched it later, he would become retroactively contaminated.
Myanmar, Mon Prov, Worker To Eat
South Sandwich Islands, Saunders Island, Two Penguins Jumping On Iceberg, 2006 - These chinstrap penguins amazed me. With persistence they managed to jump about four times their height up on to the iceberg!
Cambodia, Mondol Kiri Prov, Girl With Basket
Papua New Guinea, Mumu Preparation, 1983 - Mumu, the traditional form of cooking, is prepared. Rocks are made hot in a fire then laid in a hole. A bed of banana leaves is placed over the rocks. Pork and vegetables are placed on top of the leaves. Then more leaves are placed on top, covering the food. Here, coconut milk is poured over the top leaves. Earth is placed on top of the leaves. The food is thereby steamed by the action of the heated coconut milk.
Thailand, Sukhothai Prov, Ducks
UK, Saint Helena, Tristan Da Cunha, Village, 2002 - This is Tristan Da Cunha, the "capital city" of the island of Tristan Da Cunha. It is a small village.