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, Dravograd Prov, Purple Flower
Turkey, Sirnak Prov, Black Hills
Slovenia, Sentjernej Prov, Sundial
Slovenia, Mirna Pec Prov, Fields
Slovenia, Gornji Grad Prov, Trout Devoured
Papua New Guinea, Huli Dancers Back, 1983 - These men wear their bilums, or bags made from the bark of the 'tulip tree', while they dance. They wear belts of bamboo or vine around their waists, then stuff leaves in between the belts and their bodies. This 'skirt' is known as 'arse grass.'
Cape Verde, Sal, Monte Grande, 2006 - I had been once before to Sal. I erroneously had the impression that Sal was flat. On my second visit I endeavored to climb to its high point, Monte Grande, shown here in the background. I walked from Espargos, some seven kilometers distant.
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.
Slovenia, Store Prov, Scrap Metal
Seram, Suku Terasing, Lubai, 2006 - In Indonesian, the term "Suku Terasing" roughly means the "lost tribe." We waited for days to make contact with them. At first, they refused to allow photographs, but then they agreed to one. One turned into many. I was disappointed that they wore normal clothes. But there was something different about them. They lived away from contact with the government in north central Seram in the Seti area. I found out after a week there that the topographic maps available - the only ones I found were on the internet - were completely unreliable. Before I was allowed to communicate with this group, we had to have a ceremony of eating beetlenut.