Dutch Food: Gaufre Gourmet

SW 9th & Alder

Waffles, anyone? Waffles are a staple in the traditional Dutch diet and a must-try on the streets of Amsterdam. This cart serves European style waffles made from dough, not batter. The delicious, chewy waffles are decked with an array of toppings from maple bacon to goat cheese mousse and balsamic caramel sauce. Sweet and savory waffles are both served at this bountiful food cart.

Japanese Food: Samurai Bento

SW 9th & Alder

While the chicken teriyaki is the most popular item on the menu, you really can’t go wrong here. Almost everything on the menu is sold for less than $7, and each dish packs a powerful and interesting blend of flavor and texture. Other dishes receiving praise from fellow Portlanders include the oyakodon, agedashi tofu and the oyako donburi. This cart has been called the ‘most authentic Japanese food in Portland’.

Have you tried either of these popular spots? Warm your bellies with a little cultural cuisine. If you haven’t made your New Year’s resolution yet, consider aiming to try these delicacies on their home turf. Nonstop Delta flights from PDX to Amsterdam and Tokyo will take you there.

Thanks to dolanh, and MuddyRavine for these photos.

Good news for those with Androids! Google Maps for Android is now offering an internal map of the Portland International Airport. Use your map to navigate within the terminals to find gates, restaurants and security checkpoints.

Did we mention the Portland International Airport offers completely free Wi-Fi? Log into the flypdx network for free internet anywhere in the airport. Happy travels!

For more information, visit www.flyPDX.com.

For the first week, we’re celebrating one fabulous winter destination, Amsterdam! Enter daily from October 14-20 to win a brand new Electra Townie Euro bike.

]]> http://iflynonstop.com/promotions/embrace-your-europeanwinterness/feed/ 13 http://iflynonstop.com/voices/japan-e-yokoso%e2%80%a6-onegai-shimasu-welcome-to-japan%e2%80%a6please-2/ http://iflynonstop.com/voices/japan-e-yokoso%e2%80%a6-onegai-shimasu-welcome-to-japan%e2%80%a6please-2/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:07:27 +0000 Sean Egusa http://iflynonstop.com/?p=3451 In March of this year, Japan was struck with one of the most devastating natural disasters of its history. Only three short months later, the first group of US citizens set off to lend a helping hand. 68 Oregonians and Washingtonians, all apart of the Flight of Friendship, set out from the Portland International Airport on a nonstop flight to Tokyo on May 29th of this year. They returned in June with a humbling story to tell. Sean Egusa, a leader of the Flight of Friendship, has returned from the journey and has offered to share his experience:

Earthquake, tsunami
Sight and smell I can’t forget
I am not the same

When we landed in Tokyo, we were the first ones at immigration.  It was a bit of an anomaly, as we not only flashed through immigration but also through customs.  We wielded our Flight of Friendship stickers, our pins, our t-shirts proudly as we exited the airport and prepared to face Japan.  Really, it hadn’t changed, but, really, it had…

You are the first large group to Japan since March 11.

With that simple statement, Sue-san, our tour guide established a sense of urgency in all of us that was quickly quelled by the realization that we were already doing our part. Against many odds and obstacles, we were here.

March 11, 2011 will be the new benchmark for disasters and the effects of the continuing struggle between Mother Nature and humanity.  A 9.0 earthquake, a 10 meter (33 foot) tsunami that, in places, reached 10 km (6 miles) inland and a devastated nuclear power plant that had the world on edge.

A humble group of Americans and Japanese had come to raise spirits, strengthen resolve, provide an economic injection and lend our backs to the recovery efforts. To remind the Japanese that they are real, that they are relevant and that they are not forgotten.  And with that in mind, some of us put on our best “tourist” hats and hit the expectant crowds of Tokyo…  that never materialized…

When people think of Japan, they probably think “crowded” and “packed” anywhere and everywhere, and for many of us who had been to Japan before, we knew this to be true.  So when we stepped onto the grounds of Asakusa, one of the most famous attractions of Tokyo and Japan, the quietude that displaced the normal cacophony of the crowds was shocking.

When a group took to the ocean off the coast of Sendai to visit Matsushima, one of the three most celebrated scenic attractions in Japan (the other two are Miyajima and Amanohashidate), they were the first international visitors the residents and proprietors of the islands had seen since that fateful day.  Imagine not seeing any visitors at the Mt. Rushmore or Carlsbad or Yosemite for over three months.  But this was their reality. You could already see the recovery in the places we visited.  Where once doors were closed, shopkeepers welcomed us with smiles and open arms.  This was indicative of not just Sendai, but Tokyo as well. Visitors can have peace of mind in knowing that Japan is ready to showcase itself once again as a treasure to be taken in first hand.

In the words of a friend: I remember the faces of the shopkeepers in Matsushima who had only re-opened their stores three weeks earlier as we bought mementos that may have been worthless to us, but right then, were priceless to them.

We weren’t there to be a catalyst for change; we were there to be a catalyst to return things to the way they used to be.

Truth be told, the logistics of trying to help with the recovery efforts are daunting, but there are so many more ways that we were able to help, and as strong and stoic as the Japanese people are, one thing was obvious no matter where we went…  Japan needs its friends now, more than ever.

Have no doubt, Japan is on the road to recovery on the backs of a strong, resilient people instilled with dignity and cultural pride. The recent win of the Women’s World Cup by the Japanese Women’s Soccer team demonstrated to the world what the Japanese are all about and that Japan’s future is bright.  Together, we can help get them there faster and in the company of friends and partners. They say that when times are hardest, that is when you know who your true friends are.  Well folks, now is a great time to demonstrate your friendship with the Land of the Rising Sun.

It’s too late to join the Flight of Friendship that Azumano led just a month ago, but it’s not too late to do your own thing and make your own contribution.  Go there, be a tourist, visit friends or family, offer a smile, a nod of understanding and experience that infamous Japanese hospitality.

You can read more about the Flight of Friendship and the people they met, experiences they had and memories they shared on Sean’s blog.

Portland Marathon: October 9, 2011

The Portland Marathon will celebrate its 40th anniversary this October. The Marathon has been named the “friendliest, best organized, most family-oriented race in the country” by Runner’s World Magazine. The publication also named the Portland Marathon “the best people’s magazine in the West” and it has been ranked in the top 10-15 marathons in the US 
for the past 10 years. More than 50% of the runners are female and over 95% complete the marathon and cross the finish line, awaiting excited fans, family and friends. During the course of the Marathon, dozens of live music bands entertain runners as they push onwards. In 2010, 72 different groups entertained along the sidelines.

 Tokyo Marathon: February 26th, 2012
One of the newer marathons, the Tokyo Marathon was established in 2007. In February of this year, 32,000 participants raced through the heart of Tokyo. The Tokyo Marathon has evolved into a great spectator sport, as many of the runners choose to complete the entire 26-mile marathon dressed up in head-to-toe costumes. Runners in gorilla suits, panda outfits and body-encompassing fruit suits are all among the ranks in the Tokyo Marathon. Some costumed runners were spotted making frequent stops on the sidelines to accept miso soup and sake from excited bystanders. Running a marathon through the most cosmopolitan and populated city in the nation will be an adventure to remember.

Amsterdam Marathon: October 16, 2011
This October, the Amsterdam Marathon will host 15,000 runners for both the full marathon and half marathon for its 36th year. Additional events include the 8K run, a 1K run and the mini marathon. The course is designed to highlight several key sights in the city including fantastic views of the Olympic Stadium, built in 1928, the river Amstel, the Maritime Museum, the historic canals, Rijksmuseum and the Vondelpark.

While running marathons isn’t for everyone, it is a fantastic way to explore a new place and accomplish something incredible. Would you ever consider running a marathon in a foreign country?

Photo Credits:First Marathon st Johns Bridge 2, eddiecoyote; 20070218_TYO-Marathon_3287, luxtonnerre; AMSTERDAM MARATHON, Kai Hendry.

My sister, daughter and I are just days away from departing PDX for our non-stop trip to Amsterdam. We have been packing and planning for months, and it’s hard to believe the trip is almost here. We are all bursting with excitement.

We will be in Amsterdam for four nights, staying at a unique bed and breakfast just a few minutes from Central Station.

From there, we will bike to small towns surrounding the city – from Amersfoort to Utrecht to see the farmland and forests, and then to Haarlem to see the beach. My daughter and I are relying on my sister to be our tour guide, as she has been to Amsterdam several times and knows the area well.

After our stay in Amsterdam, we will take the Thalys speed train to Paris for two days of exploration. We are staying near Rue Cler Street, which is full of little shops and street vendors where we can buy flowers, pastries, fish, meat, clothes – you name it. My sister has planned a 4-hour bikeabout tour on the first morning we are there. After that we will explore shops, cafes and museums, hoping to soak up all we can in two days before heading back to Leiden in the Dutch province of South Holland for the final night of our trip.

Photo Credits: Amsterdam Central Station (B&W), jelleprins; Utrecht, Daniele Faieta; Haarlem, anafreitas

Well, we’re in luck. India might be on the other side of the globe, but PDX offers flights that take travelers in one of the most direct routes possible. Delta Air Lines offers flights through the Amsterdam gateway to Mumbai, India. While in India, take advantage of the opportunity to learn about some of the country’s most interesting cultural contributions.

Yoga

While yoga has evolved in the US to include styles like aerobic yoga and even aquatic yoga, the practice traces it origins back to ancient India. Yoga is more than just  a series of poses, it is a complete spiritual, mental and physical exercise. Yogis across the world find their center through the meditative practices of yoga. Today, yoga is associated with Buddhism and Hinduism, but people across all denominations enjoy the descipline’s physical, mental and spiritual benefits. While in Mumbai, be sure to visit a yoga studio and meet some true life yogis to see what traditional yoga is all about. Namaste.

Indian Cuisine

If you’ve ever had traditional Indian food, you know that the cuisine is much different from any other Asian dining experience. Characterized by its diverse spices and flavors, Indian food is gaining popularity across the world. Spices like cumin, turmeric, coriander and curry are common flavors that are used in Indian dishes. Indian food is incredibly diverse, and each region in India claims its own style and flavor of traditional dishes. In Mumbai, a bite-size delicacy called panipuri is a popular snack. Don’t leave Mumbai without sampling the diverse cuisine of the Maharashtra region, or taking a cooking class!

Bollywood

Bollywood is the name given to the culturally unique film-industry based in Mumbai, and is one of the largest film-producers in the world. The name is derived from a combination between Mumbai’s former name, Bombay, and Hollywood. Bollywood films are inspired by cultural aspects of Hollywood movies as well as traditional Indian culture, theater, music and dance. Most Bollywood films have musical elements, where characters sing and dance in a way that is unique to the Bollywood film industry. When in Mumbai, check out a masala film (literally meaning mixture of spices), which is usually about 3 hours long (with intermission) and includes comedy, tragedy, action and romance.

Photo Credit: Masala Dabba, jo-h; Yoga Journal Conference, Lululemon Athletica; It ain’t Bollywood without a little song and dance, tajai

Tokyo Koenji Awaodori Dance Festival – August 27-28th

This festival falls in line with two other major festivals in Tokyo: the Sumida River Fireworks Festival and the Asakusa Samba Carnival, all held throughout the summer in Tokyo. This year, 188 different dancing groups gather to perform a traditional Japanese style of dance called Awaodori. The dance is performed with performers assembled in straight lines as they move forward in synchronized movements. Exciting costumes are worn by all of the groups as they parade down the streets of Tokyo. The festival celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010 and gathers large amounts of Japanese spectators each year.

Dance Valley, Amsterdam – August 6th, 2011

This festival brings in visitors from far and wide that all share one thing: an unconditional love of electronic music. For 15 years, Dance Valley has been the largest outdoor dance festival in the Netherlands. This year, over 100 famous artists, DJs, actors and dancers will gather to put on a show unlike any other. Set in the picturesque, rolling landscape of Velsen Valley, carefree visitors are enchanted by the music, dancing amidst a magical outdoor panorama. Dance Valley is one for the books.

Here’s a trailer for Dance Valley 2011:

White Bird Dance, Portland – Performances throughout 2011-2012

White Bird Dance, based out of Portland, OR, aims to gather a diverse range of dancing groups and styles from all over the globe to perform for eager local art patrons. Dance groups that have performed with White Bird come from as far as Australia, Israel and Sweden. The 2011-2012 calendar includes a wide range of genres including contemporary, jazz, hip hop, ballet and foreign styles. All performances with White Bird collectively highlight the beauty of the movement of the human body. After a performance, you are sure to be left moved and inspired.

Preview the 2011-2012 season for a taste of what White Bird brings to Portland:

Photo credit: Tokyo Koenji Awaodori Dance Festival, d. FUKA

The Flight of Friendship travelers include a wide range of bighearted citizens including high school students, entrepreneurs, business owners and travelers. The group is the very first organized trip from the U.S. to lend a helping hand to the people of Japan. Sho and Loen Dozono, organizers of the Flight of Friendship, hope to make a lasting impact for the people of Japan as well as encourage an increase in tourism. The Dozonos are well seasoned in the area of relief support and have organized similar Flight of Friendships to New York City, Thailand and New Orleans in times of need.

Follow the group’s experiences with live updates on the Oregon Karaai blog, Flight of Friendship Facebook page, and on their website.