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
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Estonia, Jarvamaa Prov, Fence -
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Slovenia, Solcava Prov, Painted Tower
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Slovenia, Store Prov, Ingots
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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.
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Syria, Palmyra Moon, 1984 - In 1984, I traveled to Syria overland from Turkey during the 20th month of my 26-month adventure around the world. I went to Palmyra, or Tadmor, in the Syrian desert. This site had its heyday circa the 4th century A.D., when under the control of Rome. That evening, I walked among the ruins, visiting a local family in their tents. I took this photograph of Palmyra in the moonlight. That night when I slept, I had a fantastic dream about a man named Green Hanab. Later, a psychic friend of Judith's interpreted this dream: Green was my pure spiritual side, while Hanab was my earthly impure side.
June 12, 1984
Palmyra (Todhmor), Syria
Good morning, I’m Groggy! Practiced for an hour in the morning before I left. I hitched to Palmyra in the hot sun. Arrived about 3 p.m. Had good lunch. “The ruins are superb.” Wow! I certainly never saw the likes of this! I spent the afternoon sneaking into the Temple Bel, a huge walled square. I walked up through the complex at dusk, catching a wonderful sight and picture in the rising moon among four four columned arrays. I felt quite inspired by the ruins and sang as I walked up to the last temple. There’s a shepherd living in the ruins and his daughters pulled me in their courtyard reeking of animals to have tea. Two daughters were ripe and had smooth skin and gold teeth, and poured me three cups of tea while Mama, shaped like a cone (tip up) gorged herself, probably as usual. They had a TV in the open air and the moon hid behind a wall. They warmed me with their eyes. It felt like home, reminded me of Toniça. I went to my hotel to sleep, and had a sensational dream at dawn in which a real and very rich man revealed a glimpse of his mastery of organization.
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Turkey, Nevsehir Prov, Cappadocia
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Thailand, Surin Prov, Pomegranite
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Thailand, Phatthalung Prov, Landscape
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PH, Davao Oriental Province, Bee In Flower, 2008, IMG_1375 - A bee's world, surrounded by color, feeling the heat of the sun, drinking sweet natural nectar for the cost of a morning outing on his wings.
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Turkey, Manisa Prov, Pide Chef