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
Germany, Baden-Wurtenburg Province, Stork Wings Reversed, 2008, IMG_5912 - This stork inverts its wings, presumably to maintain its balance.
Latvia, Ventspils Prov, Beach -
Turkey, Osmaniye Prov, Night Dance
Vietnam, Binh Dinh Prov, Night Temple
Turkey, Dogubayazit, 1984 - After crossing the Iranian border into Turkey, I came to the town of Dogubeyazit in eastern Turkey. The Ishak Pasha Palace of Dogubeyazit is shown here.
N Ireland, Moyle Prov, Coastal Homestead
N Ireland, Banbridge Prov, Treeline
Bhutan, Tigers Nest Temple,1999 - This famous temple in Bhutan is reachable by foot a few hours from the road. After a steep walk up the mountain, I was told that it was not possible to enter it. But as I progressed further toward it, I found in fact that I could go inside the outer buildings. It is picturesque but suffers from a lack of isolation in the true sense. The ambiance is affected by its fame. Its proper name is Paro Taktsang.
UK, Bridgend Prov, Churchyard
Cameroon, Witch Doctor Mosque, 1990 - When I passed this structure in a bus headed for Foumbon, I told the driver to let me off. He tried to discourage me, saying we were not near any city. I got off anyway. It turned out that this mosque was built and owned by a Muslim with four wives and twenty-eight children. I was invited to spend the night there. It was rather amazing to be in a house with twenty-eight children, four wives, the head of the house and an aide, totalling thirty-four people in all, not including me. The next day, the man showed me he was a witch doctor to boot. He showed me how he divined answers to questions through the use of a gourd and four feathers fastened to clay bases. He placed the feathers laying on the ground, then placed the gourd over them. He asked a question, beat on the gourd and then lifted it up. If the answer was No, the feathers stayed flat on the ground. If the answer was Yes, the feathers stood upright. When he asked, "Jeff est bon? (Is Jeff good?)", the feathers answered Yes. The feathers can't be wrong! I shot a video of this, which will appear in this website.