Perang Penang — Day 4

Across the bridge for nasi campur and an outlet mall, then Padang Brown and a slow evening at Gurney Plaza.

Off to the Mainland

1030 hrs. We started our journey to Unggul Nasi Campur, one of Kody’s recommendations.

It was approximately a 30-minute drive, taking us across the bridge from Penang Island to the mainland.

The family setting off for the mainland — Off to the mainland.

Unggul Nasi Campur

Around 1130 hrs. We were at Unggul Nasi Campur.

Apparently one fish wasn’t enough. 😂

I had another fish: ekor bawal goreng, eaten with kicap, lada and bawang. By the time the photo was taken, much of the bawal had already been eaten.

Total meal: RM46.20.

Alhamdulillah.

Partly eaten ekor bawal goreng with rice at Unggul Nasi Campur — Ekor bawal goreng at Unggul Nasi Campur.

Design Village

1142 hrs. After lunch we took a short Grab to Design Village Outlet Mall, approximately five minutes from Unggul.

The waiter at Unggul told us walking there was impossible. Looking at the distance, I thought it was actually walkable—and probably a good opportunity to burn off some of that nasi campur. 😂

But Grab it was.

Walking past outlet stores at Design Village — Walking through Design Village.

At Design Village I found Superdry.

I had deliberately worn a Superdry T-shirt for this visit. 😂

The Superdry outlet at Design Village — Found Superdry.

The Superdry T-shirt worn for the Design Village visit — Dressed for the visit. 😂

We spent roughly two hours walking around the outlet mall.

Overall impression was disappointing.

There wasn’t much variety. A lot of the products looked stale and the place felt dead.

I didn’t think it was worth travelling all the way there specifically for the outlet mall. Better to stick to the normal malls.

By about 1345 hrs we were done and called a Grab back to Urban Suites. The Grab record showed pickup at the Design Village East Entrance at 1348 hrs and arrival at Urban Suites around 1420 hrs.

Back at Urban Suites

Around 1420 hrs. We returned to Urban Suites and rested for a few hours.

Padang Brown

1715 hrs. We headed out again. Destination: Padang Brown Food Court.

We were caught in the evening peak-hour traffic.

Al-Bismi Soup, No. 39

At Padang Brown I went to Al-Bismi Soup, No. 39.

I ordered sup ekor + urat.

Alhamdulillah.

Al-Bismi Soup No. 39 stall at Padang Brown — Al-Bismi Soup, No. 39.

The soup was nice enough, but it wasn’t the same as what I’m used to in Singapore. The broth tasted more diluted and didn’t have the same richness or intensity.

At the time it made me wonder whether Hameed Sup in Penang tastes the same.

A bowl of sup ekor and urat from Al-Bismi Soup — Sup ekor + urat.

Once I dug into the bowl properly: “Tu dia!!!” 😂

There was plenty of ekor, urat and the soft gelatinous pieces underneath. The isi was satisfying. It was really the broth that didn’t have the richness and punch of the Singapore version.

Still, Alhamdulillah. This was one of the things I came to Padang Brown to try.

Close-up of ekor, urat and gelatinous pieces in the soup — Tu dia!!! Ekor, urat and the soft gelatinous pieces underneath. 😂

The Rest of the Feast

Mrs had Pasembur.

Dina wanted Mee Soto, but they didn’t have it.

They had Mee Sotong—not Mee Soto.

Pfft. 😂

So Dina had Mee Rebus instead.

The Mee Sotong smelled good though. Another time perhaps.

The Padang Brown meal with satay in the centre, Pasembur, Mee Rebus and soup — The full Padang Brown spread.

Mrs eating Pasembur at Padang Brown — Mrs with her Pasembur.

Dina eating Mee Rebus at Padang Brown — Dina with her Mee Rebus.

We also ordered satay: five perut, five daging and five ayam.

The satay had a noticeable smoky taste because it was cooked over charcoal.

We brought some of the leftovers back with us and even later the satay still carried that smoky flavour.

That smoky charcoal flavour was one of the memorable tastes from Padang Brown.

Alhamdulillah.

Gurney Plaza

After Padang Brown there was a choice between Macallum Pasar Malam and Gurney Plaza.

Adina preferred Gurney Plaza. I was okay with that too.

It was something she wanted—just a relaxed stroll around the mall without a particular mission.

1854 hrs. We arrived at Gurney Plaza.

After all the travelling and eating that day, a slow wander around an air-conditioned mall was a good change of pace.

Looking up through the multi-storey Gurney Plaza atrium — Gurney Plaza.

Winding Down

No agenda. No rushing from one place to another.

Just chilling with a drink and a late snack.

A slow evening after crossing bridges, outlet shopping and eating our way through Padang Brown.

Sometimes this is part of the holiday too. Just sit down, relax and lepak.

Adina having a late snack and drinks at Gurney Plaza — Chilling with a drink and a late snack.

End of Day 4

2115 hrs. We left Gurney Plaza and headed back to the apartment.

Time to rest, pray and prepare for tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the hike, insya-Allah.

After the uncertainty with the weather, we prayed for better weather and good conditions for the trail.

Insya-Allah.

And with that, Day 4 came to a close.

Alhamdulillah.