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
Turkey, Hakkari Prov, Jeff Shea With Kurds
Seram, Poisonous Snake Whose Head I Unwittingly Stepped On, 2006 - On my last day in the forest of Seram on my Search For The Little People 2006 expedition, me and my three guides from Mosso were walking from Kanikeh to Jalan Lintas, or, the Asphalt Road, via Roho. It was a long day. We started walking at about 10 a.m. and arrived at about 930 p.m. on the side of the road. Midday, I was in the lead when I heard a sound. I turned around. Memet, the lead guide, was slashing about with his parang (i.e., machete). He cut this snake in three pieces. Memet, Edi and Saiful all agreed that this snake was so poisonous that if I had been bitten, I would have been dead within an hour unless I'd been given the anetedote: little likelihood out here in the middle of nowhere. They said I was lucky to step on its head - it couldn't bite. Had I stepped on its tail, it would have been a different story, and I would be history.
Greece, Santorini, 1987 - When I arrived in Santorini on my way to Africa with my father in 1987, I took off for a long walk. I walked all day, sleeping at a small place along a black beach. I wandered, one of my favorite activities. Why rush through life, being busy, for what? Life's most precious moments are those when we stop and do nothing, allowing ourselves just to soak in the surroundings. I avoided tours with a passion. I also avoided preoccupying myself with dates and names of places. Guidebooks were helpful but sometimes it was better not to "know" anything about a place, but simply to revel in it without purpose.
Seram, Pisang Bakar, 2006 - Pisang Bakar means Grilled Banana. This species of banana in Seram can be simply thrown into the fire, then eaten, once cooked. It tasted like warm pudding. For days I had felt drained from the exertion of walking in the rain forest. But after eating this, I felt reinvigorated.
Bangladesh, Sirajganj Prov, Girls Walking River
Slovenia, Zalec Prov, Snail On Grass Stalk
Vietnam, Lao Cai Prov, Lower Landscapes
Thailand, Nakhon Si Thammarat Prov, Entrance To Town
Congo Zaire, Riverboat Sunset, 1984 - In 1984, my girlfriend at the time, Gabrielle, and I traveled from Kisangani (formerly Stanleyville) to Kinshasa on the Zaire (Congo) River. The steamboat was a lively place. As we passed from port to port, awaiting barges tied themselves on to the main boat, creating an increasingly large convoy as we neared the capital. I called it the Moving Zoo. People danced on the roofs, there was a market, fights broke out, etc. This photograph was taken from the steamboat railing during a beautiful sunset.
Slovenia, Divaca Prov, Railroad Yard