Travel Quote Tuesday | Frances Mayes

I love that feeling when you’ve settled into your seat on the plane (or train or boat, for that matter) and the last few minutes tick down to departure time. Finally, you’re off!

All the weeks of planning are done.

You’ve handed over anything important at work, and your out of office message is on. Your packing list is all ticked off… after a few frantic searches around the house and that last minute trip to the shops, you have everything you need in your case, and if not, it’s too late to worry about it now. The harried journey to the airport (or station or port) is over, you didn’t get a flat tyre, you weren’t caught up on a traffic jam or delayed by cancelled trains or the wrong kind of leaves on the line. You’ve queued to check in or drop off bags, passed through the tedious but important security checks and impatiently passed time in the waiting area. You’ve boarded the plane, found your seat, placed your luggage in the overhead locker and settled in to your seat.

The crescendo of activity and self-imposed stress narrows down into a singular moment of happiness mixed with anticipation and hope for the trip to come, the experiences to be had and the memories to be made.

(c) Kavita Favelle - Frances Mayes - Hikone Japan

For our first two trips to Japan, we travelled in early autumn and enjoyed pleasant sunny weather and splashes of colourful foliage as the season began to change. On our third trip last year we travelled instead in spring, with the hope of experiencing Japan’s famous sakura (cherry blossom) in full bloom. Our best sakura experience was during our short visit to Hikone – as we walked to the magnificent castle, we found the water-side trees laden with beautiful pink flowers, and many more lined the paths and adorned the gardens within the castle grounds.

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78 Comments to "Travel Quote Tuesday | Frances Mayes"

  1. Rachelle

    Love this quote. I’ve actually never heard it before! I love the imagery of travel being magnetic. Like I can picture myself being physically pulled to an island somewhere!

    Reply
  2. Evelyne CulturEatz

    So true, those minutes of being i your seat and knowing the trip is about the begin are the best. You said spring fro the blooms but is there a month in particular to aim for?

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    The peak blossom dates vary from North to South of Japan, the south blossoms earliest of course. And each year can be a week or two earlier or later than the previous year. So it’s dependent on where exactly you want to see them and then the best guess forecasts for the year to come.

    Reply
  3. Catherine

    Beautiful quote. I can definitely relate to what you say about the feeling you get just before departure – for me it’s always the excitement and anticipation for the journey ahead.

    Reply
  4. Claire

    I love that photo! I find the actually act of travelling so stressful, I only actually relax when I get there – I’m still too nervous on the plane to enjoy it, but I’m definitely excited after actually boarding it 🙂

    Reply
    Kavey

    Thank you, it was a photogenic spot. Aah, I can imagine it’s different for nervous flyers! But glad the excitement takes hold nonetheless!

    Reply
  5. Mel Butler

    I love quotes they always put a smile on my face just when I need it most. This is such a great quote and comment. I am off to Brunei next week and I am excited as I have never been there before or Japan. Love the pic to by the way

    Reply
  6. Katherine

    I am always so restless when I get on the plane and buckle my seatbelt. I know that flying is necessary to see places but it’s not my favourite thing to do at all. Especially when you’re flying from Australia, most places are so far away so the trip is a long one to get wherever you’re going.

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    Yeah that’s a long haul to anywhere isn’t it? I can imagine for nervous flyers that it’s not quite the same, though perhaps you feel that departure time magic when travelling by boat or train?

    Reply
  7. Jithin

    Beautiful quote. The excitement before a journey is always different. I think it is what motivate us to travel more and more.

    Reply
  8. Vibeke

    I love the feeling when you are ready to travel too. I would love to go to Japan during spring as well as Autumn. The colors are just amazing 😀

    Reply
  9. Candy

    You went to Japan, both times, during the best months! I grew up in Japan and always try to visit my family during those months. The hot humid summers and cold winters can be quite harsh since I always walk a ton and take public transportation. I love the quote you selected 🙂

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    Thanks Candy, we picked our times and planned the trips really carefully. Can’t wait to go back again!

    Reply
  10. Sandy N Vyjay

    Nice quote, very inspirational and thought provoking. We love to enjoy every moment of the travel, the travel itself in addition to the destination as many times the road is as good if not better than the destination.

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    I can’t say I enjoy every moment of the travel; these days mass transit is not quite as romantic and adventurous as it must once have been and I find it quite tiring, but it’s the promise of what’s at the other end that gets me excited!

    Reply
  11. Danijela WorldGlimpses

    Yes, and when you take off, you suddenly feel so relaxed, right! 🙂 The interesting thing is that every time I plan my trip for a while and finally get to my plane seat, I actually fall asleep immediately! 😀 Even though I can’t sleep while traveling, not on any means of transport. But I do doze off for 10 minutes or so! 😀 That’s probably that “magnetic feel” in the quote. 🙂

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    Yep, that’s the point at which I usually relax! I am not great at sleeping on planes, unless we upgrade to business and have a bit more space, and even then not really. But yeah, I feel more relaxed and excited after take off!

    Reply
  12. Laura Nalin

    I really love this. I was experiencing a bit of a travel burn out the past few months as it become tedious and stressful, but this puts it all back into perspective. I love the simple joys that travel can bring.

    Reply
  13. Ha

    It’s a nice quote! I live in Japan and always enjoy the Sakura time. It’s the most beautiful time in Japan I think

    Reply
  14. Claire Summers

    Lovely post! It’s one thing I miss now that I’m traveling full-time. I don’t get that pre holiday excitement! I do miss that. But I also love the lifestyle I have now. Can;t have it all I suppose!

    Reply
  15. Kristine Eva

    I’ve been wanting to go to Japan for the longest time and this post just inspired me to push it through. You’re so lucky to have been there twice during the most favored seasons of the year. I love the way you described the anticipation of traveling. Wherever I’m headed, I always feel that unexplained mixed emotions, and that’s something I just let take over me. And it’s always an amazing feeling.

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    We’ve loved every trip, the first two were in autumn and our third trip (pictured) was during cherry blossom season. Yes, that feeling is an amazing one isn’t it?

    Reply
  16. kaveyeats

    Yes, there’s a peak in stress in the one or two days before travel, especially those last few hours … and then finally when we take off, I relax!

    Reply
  17. Rhonda Albom

    I love the planning of a trip and the building excitement. It’s always such a wonderful feeling when you can see your travels come neatly together.

    Reply
  18. Travelling Dany

    Am I the only worrier? 😀 I spend my time before departure time worrying. Have I brought all we’re going to need? Do I have all the tickets with me? I relax with my kindle during the flight but gosh, I should learn how to relax!

    Reply
  19. Sarah

    The cherry blossoms are one of the major attractions of Japan for me – will check out some pictures of Hikone based on your review. I also love the feeling of being on the plane and knowing arrival is the only last step! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  20. Dave

    I can definitely relate to the first line, to the magnetic urge. It’s something I feel whenever I am in one place too long and start to get itchy feet. Going to Japan in spring and seeing the cherry blossom is one of my dream trips.

    Reply
  21. Carola

    Interesting take! I must admit, I never do much planning. I choose a destination, get my transport (and visa, if need be) and accommodation for the first few days sorted, and I go. But there is something tingling about going somewhere new (just as much as going back to somewhere I visited before).

    Happy continued travels!
    C

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    I’m a real planner, and for me it gives me months of enjoyment from the research, planning and organising, which kind of stretches out the joy I can wring from a single trip!!

    Reply
  22. Katherine

    It truly is a good feeling when all your planning and efforts finally comes to a reality. Seeing the cherry blossoms would have been an amazing experience, such a bucket list item and requires perfect timing.

    Reply
  23. Megan Jerrard

    Totally agree that departure time is one of the most exciting parts of travel – at that point when you’re finally sitting on the plane, all of the stress and craziness of hectic planning and preparation ebs away, and it’s a mix of relief and excitement.

    Reply
  24. kaveyeats

    Thanks Kacie! I’m definitely not an expert, but I guess I know a fair bit from a traveller’s perspective and I loooove helping friends with their trip planning too.

    Reply
  25. Suruchi

    I am loving these short crisp series and can really relate to what you are saying here in the post. The excitement of leaving and seeing the next destination is far beyond words. The quote is really nice.

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    Thank you, so glad you enjoy my Travel Quote Tuesday series, and identify with this week’s quote.

    Reply
  26. Ryazan

    Such a wonderful quote. 🙂 It’s beautifully written and truly inspiring. It gives a lot more meaning with your lovely stories. Keep this series going! love it! <3

    Reply
  27. Janna

    This couldn’t have come in a better time. Loved the quote! I’m traveling to Japan soon and Im super excited because its my first time. Its been on my bucket list since forever!

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    Oh marvellous, I envy you the thrill and wonder of your first trip to Japan, hope you love it as much we did!

    Reply

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