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
Thailand, Nan Prov, New Moon With Venus And Mercury And Mountains
Ireland, Laois Prov, Ollie Hayes Bar
Seram, Large Tree, 2006 - I spent the entire month of October 2006 searching the rain forests of Seram for a lost tribe. Here (next to last right) I stand with my porters on the way from Waiputihputih to Kanikeh. This photo shows how large the tree trunks can get, spreading their trunks wide to stabilize their short root systems.
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.
Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, 2000 - In 2000, I went to Saudi Arabia with my family. Officially, I am Muslim, so I was able to go on a pilgrimage visa for Umra. Not shown here, the mosque in Mecca was incredible, white marble and pilgrims everywhere. It was one of the greatest sights I ever saw.
Papua New Guinea, Oksapmin Man With Bird Of Paradise Quill, 1983 - In my journal, I mistakenly described the protrusions through his nose as Cassowary quills. I now believe they are actually quills from one of over forty species of bird of paradise.
Vietnam, Soc Trang Prov, Grain Street -
Slovenia, Bovec Prov, Mountainscape
Philippines, Romblon Prov, Romblon House
Vietnam, Quang Ngai Prov, Purple Hat