Arthur Vidich with his son Charles on Rio Meta, Colombia

Art Vidich is seen here on the Rio Meta, one of the major tributaries of the Orinoco River that divides Colombia from Venezuela. Art took his son, Charles (shown wearing the cowboy hat) on an anthropological expedition to visit several amazonian tribes living in the jungles of southeast Colombia. They discovered natives tribes that lived without western clothes, survived off river fishing, hunting in the jungle and a modicum of root crops. Art was impressed by the primitive conditions and the relatively isolated way of life found amongst Colombian Indians in 1964.

Art saw river fish that were over 8 feet long and so many wild rats at night he was forced to live under completely enclosed netting at night. Even with such protection, it was hard to sleep because the rats were constantly running up and down the mosquito netting searching for access into ones bed chamber.

This trip cured Art's son, Charles, of all of his romantic illusions concerning jungle living.

The map below shows where the Rio Meta meets the Orinoco River - both of which form the boundary line between Colombia and Venezuela. Art Vidich spent time in Puerto Carreno and journeyed down the Orinoco by dugout canoe. One of the Orinoco River voyages was extremely long and resulted in a late night return to Puerto Carreno that brought Art into a near collision path with a giant cattle boat that plied these waters at an ungodly hour. Who could imagine an ocean liner sized cattle vessel churning down the Orinoco River in pitch dark conditions. It is remains an unforgettable memory of the dangers lurking in the un-regulated waters of the Amazon.