Goodrich – As a young boy, Lee Steinhoff’s mother, Ruth, would say to him, ‘You have a case of wanderlust.? Little did she know that in the future her son would see all of the new seven wonders of the world.
Steinhoff, 59, the real estate broker/owner of Direct Properties, said he grew up in a ramshackle farmhouse with 13 siblings.
‘I was number 11 of 14 children,? he said. ‘When I was only 5-years-old, I remember walking great distances without my mother knowing about it. One day, I walked all the way to Saginaw? my mother had to come looking for me. I have always had a natural curiosity to see what is around the corner and I also loved geography. I knew every state and every capital of all the countries in the world when I was quite young.?
Having traveled around the world for many years, Steinhoff realized he had seen the new seven wonders of the world when ‘The New 7 Wonders of the World? were announced during an official declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on July 7, 2007 – 07.07.07.
More than 100 million votes elected the candidates. The announcement specified that there is no ranking and all are considered equal.
However, Steinhoff said there was one of the seven wonders that he thought surpassed the rest.
‘The Taj Mahal was the most spectacular building,? he said. ‘Its beauty is a true jewel of symmetrical architecture. The whole building is made out of white marble. The water in the front just made it look spectacular,? he said.
Steinhoff said although he spent a month in India, he didn’t get to see the entire country. He expects to return some day. ‘It’s tough travel, but worth it. India is so old and untouched, it was like going back in time,? he said.
The Great Wall of China, Steinhoff said, was magnificent. ‘As I stood there, I was imagining the million Chinese people who lost their lives building the wall,? said Steinhoff.
More than the structures, he said he was mostly interested in the people and tried to learn as much as he could about them.
‘I have a tendency to look at the people more than the scenery,? Steinhoff said. ‘I want to know what gives them meaning, what do they value? I think about their religions, the food they eat, their clothes, and their cultural traditions.?
It is the people he has met along the way that have really made it a journey for him.
‘You never know when you are going to meet that one person who can change your life,? he said.
Grateful for the money he has been able to earn in real estate, Steinhoff said, ‘I always wanted to be self-employed so I could come and go as I please. Punching a time-clock just isn’t for me.?
Some of the souvenirs Steinhoff has brought back from his travels include African dolls and a handcarved wooden basket from South Africa, a white marble table with semi-precious stone inlays depicting birds from India and a horn used to call Buddhist monks to prayer from Bhutan.
However, it is a handwoven rug that is his prized possession. ‘There were these women who were exiled from Tibet and were living in Nepal. I admired them for starting their own weaving company to make a living, so I commissioned them to make a rug that looks like a tiger.?
In November 2008 he will be going to Australia, which means he will have gone to all seven continents in the world (the others are North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Antarctica).
Steinhoff said he believes everyone should enjoy life while they can. ‘I want to take my trips while I have my own hips,? he said.