Note: A recent publication lists this site for information on Abaco Bahamas. They are only half wrong.
For Abaco Bahamas info click on the links indicated below.

As a result of this page, there has now sprung up the "Motu Iti Cocktail" a martini type drink. Background Music Sampling: Bora Bora Nui by Tahiti Cool Apai Pai (Traditional Chorus) by The Royal Tahitian Dance Company Now Playing --->Takutea (Contemporary) by Barthelemy<--- Now Playing Above CD Jackets & Info Music off Not far from Tahiti, Bora Bora and Moorea in French Polynesia lies Motu Iti Impressions in Pictures & Music by Sandy Estabrook No Man is an Island* the saying does go, but who is he who doesn't dream so. Read what Tom Neale has to say. See below. In the South Pacific Eons ago, volcanos erupted at sea, forming islands. Coral reefs were being born in shallow waters off shore. In time, the islands started to return to the sea, while their barrier reefs continued to grow, broke the surface and formed their own islands called Motu (in Polynesian). They are usually separated from their island mother by a turquoise lagoon. Eventually the mother island sunk (or will sink) all together into the sea leaving a ring of low lying Motus known as an Atoll. Picture a necklace of pearls separating turquoise and sapphire waters, and surrounding the place where their mom was born. (The Island Above is Bora Bora in the Society Islands of French Polynesia.) There are numerous atolls at different stages of evolution throughout the South Pacific. I had the opportunity to stand on a few motu and found that upon leaving, your heart never does. As in the lyrics of the B’way show “South Pacific” .. “It’s calling”, it’s always calling for your return. (Although the song spoke of Bali Hai, in actuality Michener was referring to Bora Bora) Iti means little, hence Little Island. Motu Iti is the name I took home with me when I left Polynesia to be the name of my boat(s). Always a reminder of my visit to that part of the world. Today practicality must dictate, so you’ll find me not in the South Pacific but closer to home. If you’d like to know where that is, and willing to forgo discos, gambling, shopping or jet skis and still want to know more about this special place, Click Here 77° W by 26°35 N. *John Donne (1572-1631), 'No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main...' Suggested Reading: Typee - A Peep at Polynesian Life by Herman Melville An Island to Oneself by Tom Neale          Editor's Note: My name is Sandy Estabrook. Back in the late 80's and what seems like a long time ago, I visited French Polynesia for a couple weeks. And like so many visitors fell literally touched and in love with that part of the world. I will always remember, prior to our departure to the out islands, chatting with a fellow at the then Beachcomber Bar. He too just arrived. What we didn't know initially and which eventually was revealed, was that this was his second trip with his first trip being only a month prior. Upon his return to Boston, he closed shop, rented his home and returned to Tahiti for a time to be determined. Talk about island fever! When I left Polynesia, I took with me the name Motu Iti which I gave to my boat(s) and eventually the website baring its name. And in that regard, one day I got to playing with html, the code of the internet. OK that was fun and a learning process for me, now what to do with it? Well, I got creative and with some pictures I had or found plus some music I purchased during my visit, came up with this simple page - MotuIti.com. That was in the early '90's, the early days of the internet. From inception there has been little updating of this page except the addition of two more "selectable" songs, a change in a couple pictures, and this dissertation (black text) in Spring 2009 as the world tumbles into financial turmoil. In 2008 I started to read and see on TV stories about rising water levels impacting the fragile atolls of the region which necessitated this discourse. Understand my only intention HERE is to bring the matter to your attention. For those interested, do a Google search on the subject, there is plenty to read. Finally, because of the above, I feel a sense of urgency and hope sometime soon I can return to Polynesian, the most beautiful region in the world. There are still places I have to see; The Atolls of the Cooks and of course Suvarov where Tom Neale settled. The Marquesas, the final resting place or Paul Gauguin and where Herman Melville fell in love with lovely Fayaway, and finally the Island Kingdom of Tonga. I also want to give a strong recommendation to Jane Resture's Oceania Website. where you'll find a wealth of info and all you need to know about the greater area of Polynesia and then some. And be sure to read her poem near the bottom of the page - it says it all. - Sandy | Polynesia too far? Click here. | sandy@motuiti.com