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
Ghana, Berekum, Leather Salesman, 1987 - This man's facial scars were illustrative of a common practice among West Africans. I was told that parents would take a razor and scar their offspring at infancy. How interesting, I thought. If a parent did this in my home town in the western world, they would be imprisoned for a heinous crime. Yet for West African's it was a perfectly normal thing to do. Extrapolating on the phenomena of the inability of one culture to accept another's conventions, I am concerned of the ability of any world government to allow diversity of belief and cultural practices. Human beings have a tendency to believe there customs are the most acceptable. I later found out that these scars were performed with a special knife. Importantly, I am now told that such facial scarring is against the law in places like Ghana and Nigeria. I fear that such laws mark further politicizaion of local customs, engendering homogenization of the human race. I am opposed to such laws, laws that criminalize ancient customs that are not inherently harmful to a person's survival. For those in the Western world that do not agree with me, simply observe that male circumcision is widely an accepted practice in the West, but is no less inherently dangerous or disfuring than facial scarring.
Turkey, Igdir Prov, Mount Agri Dagi
Papua New Guinea, Koroba, Wigman Yellow Flower, 1983 - Each Huli seemed to create his own personal look. I heard that the Hulis tried to emulate the male bird of paradise. The female of the species was rather plain. It was the male that did feather displays to attract the female.
Slovenia, Dobrepolje Prov, Hay Cutter
Slovenia, Starse Province, Field, 2006
Norway, Spitsbergen, Longyearbyen, 2000 - This is the settlement of Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen (Svalbard) off the far north coast of Norway. Spitsbergen is home to an immense amount of wildlife. I took this picture from the plateau above the village. I followed the local advice, which was to carry a gun, in the event of polar bears. A woman had been killed there by one some years earlier.
UK, Enfield (London) Prov, Row Houses
Congo Zaire, River Boat with Barges, 1984 - After several days on the Congo riverboat, several barges had tied on. At each major port on the river, a barge would await. As the Colonel Ebeya pulled up, the barges would lash their ropes onto her, and we would proceed downriver as one. I called it the Moving Zoo. There was a market, dancing on tops of the roofs, a nightclub, and a steady stream of villagers in canoes selling monkeys, fish and fruits, etc. I was most impressed by the ease and grace with which the Zairois and Zairose danced. I had felt awkward dancing when I was younger. I was so inspired I danced with them. Later, I even took lessons in African dance.
Myanmar, Shan Prov, Landscape Road
Estonia, Saaremaa Prov, Figure -