This website illuminates my life and adventures. My longing for freedom has led me to over 2450 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
Cambodia, Kampong Chaam Prov, Cow Drawn Logging Cart
Bangladesh, Sherpur Prov, Street Justice - These men, followed by a throng of people, took this older man by force. It was not the first time I have seen this sort of emotional reaction in Bangladesh. On my first visit there in 1983, I barely escaped the wrath of a crowd.
UK, Gwynedd Prov, Ram
Thailand, Phangnga Prov, Coast Scene
USA, Alaska, Flying To Denali, 1993 - The way people usually get to Mount Denali is to take a plane from Talkeetna to an ice landing strip on a glacier on the lower reaches of the mountain. The flight is quite spectacular, as shown here.
Papua New Guinea, Koroba, Two Wigmen, 1983 - The man on the left plays the Koroba Flute. They said it was used to attract girls. They also used it to amuse themselves while they walked, to avoid boredom. These men are examples of how fit most of the men are. Only the very elderly seemed debilitated. Most men were very strong as a result of constantly walking up and down the incredibly difficult topography of the Highlands of New Guinea. Their toes are splayed out. At first I thought their feet looked odd. Later, I realized that it was my feet that were unnatural, a result of wearing shoes. Their feet were how feet are supposed to be.
India, Corpse in Ricksha, 1984 - In this photograph, a corpse is being transported to the burning ghats in Varanasi by ricksha. The driver stopped to have a cup of tea and sits at the shop in the background. As I photographed this scene (without a flash), a man approached me on the left, asking for baksheesh (a handout). Even though people provided no service, they often tried to insinuate themselves into a tip by mere virtue of being in the proximity of a curious onlooker such as myself.
Bangladesh, Habiganj Prov, Farm House
Turkey, Konya Prov, Cliff
Papua New Guinea, Jeff Shea Eats Sago, 1983 - I eat sago that has been cooked into a gel and stuffed into bamboo for storage. I found sago was prepared in many forms. I even saw it cooked like a pancake. It has virtually no flavor. Sago comes from the pith of the sago palm.