Have Perut Will Travel...: KNO Day 4 │ Tip Top Again • Medan Tattoo Studio • Restoran Onma Tabo!

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Saturday, 20 June 2026

KNO Day 4 │ Tip Top Again • Medan Tattoo Studio • Restoran Onma Tabo!

Return to Tip Top Restaurant

Invigorated by a good night’s sleep, we woke at half past eight, showered, and got ready. Usually not one for repeat performances, I was surprised when Cat suggested breakfast again at Tip Top Restaurant. By a quarter past nine we were in a fixed fare Bluebird taxi for IDR29,000 (≈ MYR7/USD2/EUR1).

This time we switched things up with Omelette Ham & Cheese, Fried Ifu Mie, Iced Milk Coffee, and Apocat Avocado Mix Juice — a hearty IDR219,000 (≈ MYR50/USD12/EUR10) start to the day.

Back to Empire Tower

After breakfast we caught another fixed fare Bluebird for IDR29,000 back to Empire Tower. We rested for a bit, then I changed into a tank top and bade farewell to Cat, ready for my solo outing.

Heading to Medan Tattoo Studio

At a quarter to eleven I headed down again and grabbed a fixed fare Bluebird taxi for IDR30,000 (≈ MYR7/USD2/EUR2) to Medan Tattoo Studio for my 11:00am appointment with Dimas. Today’s piece was the Batak Gorga — black for the outline, red for the interior shading — a meaningful addition to my collection.

Understanding the Batak Gorga

Before starting, Dimas explained the Batak Gorga: flowing curves and geometric patterns carved or painted by the Batak Toba people, decorating Rumah Bolon and traditional instruments.

Gorga uses three cosmological colours — Red for the human realm, White for the sacred upper realm, and Black for the underworld, protector of life. Hearing this made the tattoo feel even more rooted in Sumatra’s heritage.

The Tattoo Session

Dimas began at half past eleven. The stencil placement was perfect, and inkwork started at a quarter to twelve. A little over an hour later we were done. After a quick photo session, I hailed a fixed fare Bluebird taxi for IDR37,000 (≈ MYR9/USD2/EUR2) back to Empire Tower, the fresh Gorga warm under its wrap.

Batak Lunch at Restoran Onma Tabo

At two we headed out again, catching the usual fixed fare Bluebird for IDR29,000 to Restoran Onma Tabo, famed for Batak cuisine. On the waitress’ recommendation we ordered Grilled Pork, Grilled Pork Ribs, Pork Satay, Mashed Cassava Leaves, Plain Soup, and Key Lime Juice — IDR305,000 (≈ MYR70/USD17/EUR15).

The satay and grilled pork were delicious, but the ribs had a strange leafy aftertaste that wasn’t for us.

Batik Browsing at Danar Hadi and Dian Pelangi

After lunch we took a fixed fare Bluebird for IDR46,000 to Batik Danar Hadi. The shop looked lovely, but the vibe was off — sales personnel giggling behind our backs and exchanging knowing glances.

Unnerving. We slipped next door to Batik Dian Pelangi, only to find the batik expensive and dated. Nothing called out to us, so we moved on.

Sweet Endings at DeliPark Mall

We wrapped the afternoon with one final fixed fare Bluebird taxi for IDR29,000 back to DeliPark Mall, picking up five more packets of the miraculous lozenges for IDR87,500 (≈ MYR20/USD5/EUR4).

Off camera, our elation peaked at 5:00pm when Alven from Yen Yen Bika Ambon delivered eight boxes of sweet cakes. The fresh Bika Ambon and Kueh Lapis smelled divine — warm, buttery, fragrant. A perfect treat to close our penultimate day. With no plans to head out again, we’ll probably pick things up tomorrow morning.

Stay tuned!