I Fly Nonstop » contest

Raquel’s Trip to Japan in 90 seconds

Allison Park — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 01:41:52 +0000

From floating sushi bars to the Tokyo Tower, Hiroshima and Shinjuku, I Love to Fly Nonstop haiku contest winner Raquel Benito summed up her trip to Japan with a blog post, as well as this video.

Prepping for the Haiku Trip of a Lifetime

Raquel Benito — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:12:30 +0000

Okay, so I don’t have all the details for my trip to Japan sorted out, even though I’m leaving on May 27^th, but I think that’s part of the adventure. What I do know is that Nick and I will be spending our first five days in Tokyo, then catching a JR train to Kyoto to see the old capital and the surrounding areas for a few days. We plan on finishing our trip somewhere on the coast. We’ll be spending a total of eleven days in the country and I hope to travel by bullet train – known in Japan as the Shinkansen – at least once.We hope to see as many of Tokyo’s unique and exciting districts as possible during our visit. We’ll be staying in Ginza, the financial and shopping district, but thanks to Tokyo’s incredible subway system, I’m sure we won’t have any troubles getting from one neighborhood to the next. During one of our days there, we are going to have to get up early, so that we can get to the Tsukiji Market in time to see the fish auction.

In Kyoto, I can’t wait to see the many traditional Japanese temples that are scattered throughout the area. I’d like to see Sanjusangendo in particular, and its thousand ancient wooden statues of Kannon.

From Kyoto, we’re thinking of taking a side trip about half an hour away to the Himeji Castle. The castle is considered to be Japan’s most beautiful remaining feudal castles, and from the images that I’ve seen, it certainly seems that way.

As for our plans to see the coast, we don’t have any yet. There are so many appealing coastal towns throughout Japan, that it’s hard to find the right one. We’re looking for suggestions or hoping that we make some local friends that point us in the right direction.

Even though our plans aren’t completely sorted out, I do have three big objectives that I must do before I leave Japan: get a kimono In Kyoto, eat sushi and other Japanese delicacies straight from the Tsukiji Market, and buy a useless gadget in Akihabara – the tech Mecca of the world. The adventure is just around the corner…I cannot wait!

Update 8/13/2010: Read all about Raquel’s Japanese adventures in her post trip recap post and video!

Congrats, Haiku Winners!

Allison Park — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:08:18 +0000

The I Love to Fly Nonstop Contest has come to a close and we would like to extend a huge thank you to the nearly 700 participants who submitted a haiku and a congratulations to the ten finalists for all your hard work (see all the finalist submissions here). The votes have been collected and tallied, and it is a pleasure to announce your winners: Mike Donovan and Raquel Benito!

Meet the Winners

Mike Donovan - Amsterdam

My Fiance’s One Wish

Her head on my arm
Flying non-stop is the best
Off to her homeland

My name is Mike Donovan and I have lived in many places across the United States and England. I am getting married to my wonderful fiancee, Keri Lenderink. Keri is a Dutch-American and has always wanted to travel to the Netherlands. We plan on using this trip as our honeymoon and are thrilled to be able to go on such a lovely trip. While there, I am hoping to help Keri connect with her family’s past, take a canal boat, and maybe even check out a brewery or two.

Raquel Benito – Tokyo

Restful Escape

eyes closed in Portland
eyes opened in Tokyo
non-stop dreams between

My name is Raquel Benito, and I grew up in Madrid, Spain before coming to the U.S. at age seven. I’ve always been an avid traveler, which is why I’m so excited to finally have a chance to visit Tokyo. My boyfriend Nick is coming along and we look forward to sampling everything from ramen to sushi to Yebisu and sake. If we can time it right we’d love to see the blossoming cherry trees. I hope to bring back some cool gadgets from the Akihabara district, take pictures with the Elvis impersonators in Harajuku, and hike around Mt. Fuji. Perhaps we’ll have time to sneak out of Tokyo on a high speed train and visit some of Japan’s more rural areas-Nikko for example-to see its magnificent temples and shrines. We’re both incredibly excited and thankful to hop on a nonstop flight from our humble little city here in Oregon and wake up across the world!

Photos by Tim Jewett and provided by the Port of Portland

Haiku Finalists Announced!

Allison Park — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:00:55 +0000

It’s true! Thanks to the hard work of the I Love to Fly Nonstop haiku contest judging panelists, the top ten finalists have been chosen and are awaiting your vote.

All contestants were judged on the following criteria:

Quality of story to illustrate why the contestant loves to fly nonstop internationally out of PDX
Fulfillment of the assignment
Quality of writing
Something special/extra – the “wow” factor

The I Love to Fly Nonstop Contest received over 650 submissions, but there could only be ten finalists. Now’s the time to decide who your winners are, but you will only be able to vote once, so choose wisely. Submit your vote on the I Fly Nonstop Facebook fan page here. Without further ado, here are your finalists:

Amsterdam and Tokyo
by Cynthia Williams

Windmills and tulips
Cherry blossoms and temples
delight us nonstop

Champagne? Yes, please
by Michelle Johnson

Flying nonstop to
Amsterdam’s like I’m in First
Class with George Clooney

Choices
by Barry Cadish

Stay-cation? No way.
Tulips? Sushi? Either way.
Bags are packed, Delta.

Enchantments
by Rhonda Ewers

Portland makes me sigh
Tender blossoms call our names
Nonstop let us fly

Microbrew
by David Dent

One more Widmers, please.
Non stop now to Amsterdam
Make that Heineken

Mountains of Dreams
by Howard Morey

Mt. Hood on take-off.
Lingering blink, then Fuji.
Love to fly nonstop.

My fiancee’s One Wish
by Mike Donovan

Her head on my arm
Flying non-stop is the best
Off to her homeland

Restful Escape
by Raquel Benito

eyes closed in Portland
eyes opened in Tokyo
non-stop dreams between

Tri Delta
by OsaLisa Zwick

Dreams Ebb, Look Towards Air
Dance, Escape, Laugh, Trek Aloft
Delve East Life Takes Awe.
(If you notice each line spells Delta)

Window Seat Portrait
by Michele Vixathep

Amsterdam nonstop:
Infant sleeps in Vermeer’s light
Eyes closed like tulips

Haiku Your Way to AMS or TYO

Allison Park — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:00:46 +0000

Have you always wanted to tour Amsterdam’s famous art museums or update your wardrobe in Tokyo’s shopping district, but just haven’t found the opportunity? Well, we have a haiku for that:

This is your big chance
AMS or TYO
Submit your haiku

That’s right! The International Air Service Committee is giving you the opportunity to use your creative writing skills for a chance to win a trip for two to Amsterdam or Tokyo. As if round trip nonstop airfare weren’t enough, you and your guest will also receive four nights at a participating hotel. Interested?

Here’s what it takes to enter the “I Love to Fly Nonstop” Haiku Contest
*Please review the official rules here

Put your thinking cap on
Write a great haiku – remember, you can only enter once, so be sure you’re really happy with your haiku – make every word count!
Log on to http://facebook.com/IFLYNONSTOP – if you do not have a Facebook account, you’ll need to create one here. Don’t worry, it is easy and free. Simply click on the big green “Sign Up” button and supply some basic information about yourself to create an account.
Once you have your account, click on the “Contest” tab of the I Fly Nonstop fan page to enter the contest.
Fill in a title, enter your haiku under “Fill in your essay here”, and click “upload” – you’re done!
Post your haiku by midnight Sunday, February 14, 2010
Tell all your friends so they can enter, too!

A haiku is a type of poetry from the Japanese culture. Haiku combines form, content, and language in a meaningful, yet compact form. The form of haiku required for the I Love to Fly Nonstop Haiku Contest uses three short lines. The first line must contain five (5) syllables, the second line seven (7) syllables, and the third line five (5) syllables. Haiku doesn’t need to rhyme, but it should “paint” a picture in the reader’s mind.

Here’s an example of a haiku:

Wheels up. Headrest back.
Love to fly Portland nonstop
Bitterball sushi

Helpful hints for a successful entry

A successful entry will:

Fulfill the assignment;
Illustrate why you Love to Fly Nonstop internationally out of PDX;
Have a great story quality;
Have great writing quality;
Have something extra/special – the “wow” factor

To be eligible an entry must meet the following content / technical requirements:

The Haiku must be an original composition of the submitter;
Submissions must be in English;
Contestants must be legal residents of Oregon or Clark County, Washington;
Contestants can only submit one Haiku for the contest;
Contestants must submit their haiku through the I Fly Nonstop Facebook fan page. Handwritten or mailed submissions will not be accepted;
Contestants must be 18 years or older as of February 14, 2010;
Entries involving language of a vulgar, illegal or offensive nature will not be accepted and will not be eligible to win.

Check back in to the Facebook “I Fly Nonstop” fan page between February 22 and 28, 2010. The top ten haikus will be posted, and you will have a chance to vote on the entries. If your entry is a finalist, increase your chances of winning by encouraging your friends to vote for your submission. The two entries with the most public votes will be announced the winners, and will win either a Tokyo or an Amsterdam prize package.

Download the official contest rules here: I Love to Fly Nonstop Official Rules