dogs – Steve's Trips

Sunday is a bit light. Not only is there not a lot of good panels, but I’m am just so worn out.

I don’t sleep well at home, in my own bed. I certainly can’t sleep well on the top of a bunk bed, with roommates going in and out all the time.

The first I saw was author David Gerrold, who wrote Trek’s “The Trouble With Tribbles” as well as other episodes of various Trek series. He also wrote “Jumping Off the Planet”, which I enjoyed reading back in High School, but also recently re-read.

He also wrote the book “The Martian Child”, which was mostly based on his experiences trying to adopt a child, while being a single, gay man.

He asked the producers who was playing him in the film adaptation, and was pleased that it was someone as good looking and nice as John Cusack. Although his major gripe with the film is that the main character is a writer, but there are almost no books seen in his house. Gerrold stated he had to have a room just for his books, and another for all the books he had read. Writers are usually voracious readers, ~~stealing~~ borrowing ideas from others.

I went to the “35 Years of Sailor Moon” panel, but it was really about a newer series, not even mentioning anything about the previous shows. There were 4 voice actresses from the English dub.

I had an aisle seat and a mom and daughter asked if they could sit in the seats next to me. They weren’t mine so sure. I did hear the girl ask if boys were allowed to like Sailor Moon. My parents never told me not to watch, so I suppose it was allowed.

While listening to the speakers answer audience questions, one had mentioned Linda Carter (Wonder Woman) as a powerful female influence on her as a child. I sudden had the realization, the transformation of Diana Prince into Wonder Woman, may have inspired by the Sailor Moon transformations. Although a quick search gave me no confirmation.

Prior to that, I caught the last few minutes of the “Air Bud Returns” panel. They had one of the dogs that played Bud in the movie. The dog looked so much like Duke from the Bush’s Baked Beans commercials. I got to see Duke at Fan Fair one year.

Hungry and nothing else going on I left, in search of food. I found a Persian restaurant and sat at the bar. I ordered a chicken and beef kabob with saffron rice and a fire roasted tomato. The meat was delicious and so tender, the tomato was harder. It was great, but $30 is a lot to spend on lunch.

The restroom layout was interesting. They had several individual rooms with toilets, but then there was a large sink to wash up in the hall.

For the last panel, as it was the last of the day, I went to what I thought was going to be about a new or recent musical based on Buffy, the vampire Slayer. Instead it was a showing of an episode that i had missed, as I believe I was working exclusively evenings at that point and my VCR had broken.

The entire episode was a musical, caused by a demon, of course.

No panel, but I did get to see the late Michelle Trachtenberg again.

The exhibit Hall was closing by the time I got out, so i went back to pack up. It was snug, but I got everything into my carry-on. As I am someone who prefers to spend money on experiences rather than things, I only had 2 books bought, but I had a bit of free stuff.

I had plenty of time and space to carefully fold and pack my clothes to go there, but trying to do the same, on the floor, with a bunch of waded up dirty clothes, isn’t quite as easy.

One of my roommates was having a bit harder time. He bought a lot of stuff, duplicates in some cases, and was not going to get everything into his suitcase, 2 backpacks, and a box.

He was from Brazil, so he had ordered a box of games that was delivered to the hostel. This was to avoid large delivery fees as well as huge import tariffs. (I have several times picked up Brazilians at the airport that had empty bags, just so the could go shopping for shirts or jeans, that they can’t afford at home.)

I did suggest that he go to stores or restaurants to get boxes that he could use as check luggage, but he did not listen. Instead he removed packaging and flattened it out, trying to remove as much volume as possible. If he is opening up packages and folding them, then just throw them away. Right?

He even took some of the games and flattened the inserts, even going to the length of folding a divider the opposite way.

It is his stuff and his problem of transport, so i don’t care.

I asked at the front desk if they knew what time the buses start in the morning, but they did not. So I had to set my alarm for 4 am and head out to find the stop.

I already knew that the bus to the airport was $2.50, and luckily I had exact change, as they do not give any back.

I had to walk a few blocks to get to the stop. Pausing to look at the map, I then went around a corner and saw the bus, good I was not going to have to get an expensive Uber (~$30) or walk, but then the bus pulls off. No big deal, there will be another soon.

Ubers are hard to get sometimes, early in the morning (Or was this late at night?). If I couldn’t get a bus or Uber, then I was going to have to walk back, so I had to have enough time. Fortunately, it would be much cooler than the trip from the airport.

When the bus arrived at the first terminal, an automated recording stated the airline at that terminal. It did not specify the one I needed, which I see on a sign as soon as we depart. I went to terminal 2 and they have a shuttle that goes back and forth.

I had to wait a full 5 minutes before getting through security. Dang these long lines. Considering the number of people leaving today, I am surprised at the small number there.

Somehow, my gate is always at the far end of the terminal, walking passed dozens of other gates that my plane could have been.

There were many flights leaving. The same message came from each gate crew, the plane is full, so if you are in a later boarding party, you will not have overhead space and will have to check your bags.

After the 10th flight, and since I’m in group 7, I looked at the site and saw it was only $30 to get Priority Seating. WTH, I did it and I have never seen a plane so empty. I was fifth, after another couple and the handicapped. I could literally put my bag anywhere I wanted. Such luxury.

On the first flight, I sat next to a couple with a sleeping tot. This flight I sat next to a couple who were expecting soon. I must be a family magnet.

Some message stated they were diverting because of a storm over Florida. Using my offline map, there was no on board displays, I saw that we almost reached Savannah, GA before going down the coast. We took off going over the Pacific, and now we are over the Atlantic, true coast to coast.

After paying $98 for parking, I went home.

This morning I went to Expo Park, no, not that one again. This was Expo ’70.

The park is now just the remnants of the expo, the buildings have long been removed, just engraved stones tell what pavilion used to be there, for such a short time.

Now, there are large open expanses where kids can run and play. There are some more recent additions, such as “the Beast”, a rope suspension obstacle course. Unfortunately, it was closed when I was there, but there was an outing of young kids, running and screaming and just having fun. They look cute wearing their matching colored caps. White caps were at the field next to the Beast. I also saw red, lavender, and green in other areas. I don’t know if this was a special day or just a semi-regular occurrence.

As I walked around the park, I saw many trees and plants that we also have in Florida, azaleas are rampant here. I suspect that many of the ornamental plants we have originally came from Japan and east Asia. There was a hill that was sectioned off, which I presume is allotted to different individuals to plant whatever flowers they wanted. Perhaps it was some sort of flower gardening club.

Next to the path, I spotted a snake, just sunning itself. I had to do a search and yes, Japan has poisonous snakes. Luckily, this didn’t look like one, but I kept my distance anyway.

I saw a strange mesa with a circle of rocks, the only thing I found to explain it was a small engraved stone that said “Hawaii”. This still makes no sense, as Hawaii is not circular, nor was it a country in 1970. It wasn’t even near the USA pavilion site.

I found a monument showing where the East Germany pavilion was located. Strange to find something for a country that doesn’t exist anymore. There are many stone plaques on the ground showing where each county’s pavilion was, but who cares? They are gone now.

A group of school kids heading out to the park

I found an observation tower, so I decided to go up, just to see the area a bit better. At the top, I couldn’t really see much, as the trees have had 5 decades of growth. There was a walkway extending off into the trees, so I followed it. It lead to other towers and more walkways, until a much taller tower at the end.

Apparently, this was a one-way trek and I happened to pick the correct place to start. Had I started at the other end, a “do not enter” sign would have stopped me and I would have presumed it was unsafe to proceed. It was indeed looking a bit rundown, having only the bare maintenance in its long life. In the middle, I had to cross a very wobbly rope suspension that was definitely past its prime. It had several signs from COVID times, so regular maintenance probably is not high priority.

One of the other few items that still remain is the “Tower of the Sun”, a tall statue of the Expo’s mascot. I really do not understand why this is something they wanted to keep, much less build in the first part, it is rather ugly, in my opinion.

To get to the park, I got onto the brown Sakaisuji line, indicated by “K”. WTF does that stand for?

My first train, I realize is going to the wrong branch of the line, there are 4 terminal stations. So I get off and wait for the right one. I was to exit at Yamada station, which is one of the few places I could read and understand the meaning of. Yamada (山田) comes from “yama” meaning mountain (which you’ll hear sometimes when referring to Mount Fuji, as Fuji-yama.) and “da” meaning field. So Yamada means “mountain field”, also a very common family name. “Mr. Ninja Warrior” is named Yamada.

I made the choice to get the metro day pass, so I could get on and off wherever all on one ticket. But on exiting, I got an error and the arms closed in front of me. An attendant directed me to the “fare adjustment” machine, where I had to pay an extra 240 yen.

The stations north of one of a river are marked as HK for Hanku line, so maybe that is where the K came from. I guess Hankyu line is not part of Osaka Metro, even though it is the same train cars.

I exited through a different gate than where I entered the park, this one leading to the Osaka monorail. I quickly held up my metro card and asked about monorail access. Nope, can’t use it. So I walked back to Yamada station. A long walk, as I was nearly on the other side of the park.

After spending a day at the Expo 2025 and another at Osaka castle, I seem to have gotten a sunburn on my head. I guess cutting all my hair off wasn’t the best idea. As I exited Yamada station, there was a shopping center attached. I found a clothes shop and found a cheap hat. It wouldn’t help the burn I have, but will stop additional damage.

After finding the station, I headed back to the room. All this walking is really causing a lot of pain in my shoulder, for some reason.

I saw signs at the park about Expo ’70, but I started to wonder, was this a generic expo, or was it a World’s Fair expo? Wikipedia to the rescue!

Yes, it was the location of the 1970 World’s Fair, but wasn’t the only other in Osaka. There was another in 1990, only this was a “horticultural” expo, one of the in-betweener fairs. This location was nearby my room, maybe 3/4 mile away, but I’m tired and sore, so I took the metro. After all, I do have a day pass, so I might as well use it.

As I understand it, and I’m no expert here, the horticultural expos have fewer pavilions and more gardens. In a sort of “who can have the best looking yard in the neighborhood” competition.

Many of the garden spaces remain, but very likely not the same plants as 35 years ago.

This park is very popular with dog walkers. I even found a small hill where a bunch of tiny dogs were running around loose, play fighting. A small black dog started walking towards me, so I knelt down and it then ran to me for a bit of petting. This instigated a chain reaction, causing more to come over.

All the dogs here had on “outfits” which I wonder if this is a cultural thing or just a way to easily spot your dog vs other similar ones.

There were all sorts of dogs being walked through the many pathways. I saw many “shiba inu”, being one of the few native dogs to Japan.