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
Slovenia, Gornji Petrovci Prov, House Front
Papua New Guinea, Beetle Nut Chewing Prohibited While On Duty, 1983 - I found this notification humorous. At one and the same time it forbids the police to chew beetle nut, then advises them to be discreet if they cannot abide by the order. Beetle nut grows in a small green husk. The white round nut is chewed with lime to activate it and mustard plant to neutralize the effects of the lime. This results in red saliva. Red spit can be found throughout southern Asia wherever beetle nut is popular. I tried beetle nut once and thought it was about the worst tasting thing I could imagine.
Yonica in Doorway, 2006
Cape Verde Islands, Praia Province (Concelho) South Atlantic Voyage 2006
Cambodia, Siem Reab Prov, Sleeping Girls in Angkor Wat - Angkor Wat is so amazing. Admittedly, I am inspired by the figures of the Aspareses, the goddess-like women whose stone reliefs adorn the walls of the temples there. An example is seen on the wall left of the opening where two young Cambodian girls take a nap. We should rejoice in beauty.
Cambodia, Kandaal Prov, Bread
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.
Myanmar, Shan Prov, Akha Woman
Thailand, Krabi Prov, Canoe At Sunset
Turkey, Kocaeli Prov, Cranes
Turkey, Artvin Prov, Reservoir