Have Perut Will Travel...: KNO Day 1 │ Medan Tattoo Studio • Warung Ijo!

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Wednesday, 17 June 2026

KNO Day 1 │ Medan Tattoo Studio • Warung Ijo!

Settling In at Empire Tower

We picked you up again later in the evening after settling into Helen’s lovely apartment at Empire Tower. No video to show — the condo’s strict no vlogging rule made sure of that. Their loss, not ours. With the city humming outside, we took a moment to reset before heading out.

On the Hunt for a Memory Card Reader

At 5:30pm, we left Empire Tower and asked the lobby reception for directions to DeliPark Mall. I had forgotten my memory card reader back in Kuala Lumpur, so our first mission in Medan was a practical one. We walked over as the evening crowd began to thicken.

Paperclip Saves the Day

Inside DeliPark Mall, we checked every gadget shop we could find — nothing. Just as we were about to give up, we tried Paperclip, and voilà: a memory card reader for IDR75,000 (≈ MYR17/USD4/EUR4). Filming saved.

Gridlock to Medan Tattoo Studio

At 6:00pm, we hailed a fixed fare Bluebird taxi for IDR37,000 (≈ MYR9/USD2/EUR2). A student demonstration had gridlocked the roads, turning a ten minute ride into forty five minutes. We finally reached Medan Tattoo Studio at a quarter to seven, where Laura welcomed us. I’d been chatting with her online about getting a small memento of our trip, and she suggested a proper consultation to check placement and sizing.

Choosing the Batak Design

After discussing ideas with Dimas, we settled on a spiralling Batak inspired design for my left lower arm — black outline, red interior shading. We booked the tattoo session for 11:00am this Saturday, and I paid the deposit before heading out.

Dinner Plans Redirected

We walked along Jl. Abdullah Lubis toward Rumah Makan Nan Kanduang, recommended by Laura, hoping for our first taste of Padang cuisine. Unfortunately, it was closed, so we continued toward Jalan K.H. Wahid Hasyim in search of dinner.

Underwhelming Meal at Warung Ijo

After checking a few eateries, we settled on Warung Ijo, known for its friendly service and wide menu. We ordered Nasi Goreng Kampung, Mie Jadel, Tauhu Goreng Medan, and two Teh Tarik Dingin for IDR170,000 (≈ MYR39/USD10/EUR8). The food was honestly underwhelming, and a nearby group loudly bad mouthing Malaysia didn’t help the atmosphere.

Provisions and Calling It a Night

We stopped by a tiny convenience store called Indomarket — which we mistook for Indomaret — to grab provisions for IDR42,250 (≈ MYR10/USD2/EUR2). Then we took another fixed fare Bluebird taxi for IDR36,000 (≈ MYR8/USD2/EUR2) back to Empire Tower to retire for the night. A long first evening in Medan and tomorrow begins with our first breakfast in the city.

Stay tuned for our tip-top first meal of the day!