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
Visiting Yamchun Fortress in February is like seeing Machu Picchu in the snow. It is spectacular, not far from Ishkoshim.
Nepal, Mani Rimdu, Kantega, 1983 - One of the most exciting festivals I ever attended was Mani Rimdu at Tengboche monastery in the Solo Khumbu region of Nepal in 1983. Here, the head Lama presides over a ceremony with other monks in attendance. In the background looms Mt. Kantega at 6685 meters, or 21,930 feet. Kantega was first climbed by Sir Edmund Hillary. Although Mani Rimdu provided a delightful spectacle for local villagers, the ceremony carried deep meaning within the inner recesses of the monastery. A film was produced by scholar Rick Kohn of Berkeley about Mani Rimdu. The quote of the head Lama on the advertising poster for the movie is one of the most profound I have ever heard: ""When your mind is impure, everyone is ordinary. When your mind is pure, everyone is a Buddha."" In my journal, I wrote the following after meeting Rick Kohn: Rick told us about some of the things he?s done here. He?s working on his PhD. He?s recently translated his oldest ever recently. It is a prayer to the god of Central Tibet, who predates Buddha:
The Cloud of Worship of the god of the Plain
(Translated by Richard Kohn)
To name the body god?s father
He is Ote, gung gyal,*
To name the body god?s mother
She is the One Winged Turquoise Bird.
To name the body god himself ?
He is YA ? SHUD, the god of cruelty.
Take the name of the country in which you dwell
It is Shivering Swamp Bottom
A wild throne of shimmering green turquoise.
Verdant in summer, verdant also in winter.
The country in which you live is called Delightful To Experience.
*Ote, King of the Zenith (of the center of the sky)"
Slovenia, Mozirje Prov, Butterfly Leaving
Slovenia, Ravne Na Koroskem Prov, Pastel Walls
San Blas, Portrait Of A Girl, 2000 - The San Blas Islands are off the east coast of Panama. This young woman was representative of the type of adornments that women uses. Note the nose ring through her septum. Across the bottom part of her breasts, she wears a mola. I have a theory about the molas. I believe that in ancient times, the molas were painted on bare breasts. I long to either find such women living naturally, or to recreate the scene in a photograph.
Ireland, Monaghan Prov, Farmhome
Slovenia, Bistrica ob Sotli Prov, Distant Church
Thailand, Sakon Nakhon Prov, Field Hut
Latvia, Rigas Prov, House -
Singapore, Singapore, Marina Sands