Malaysia’s melting pot

Its capital, Kuala Lumpur, may feel like the set of Bladerunner, but Malaysia has a rich cultural and culinary mix, great beaches and amazing sights, including orang-utans, writes Pól Ó Conghaile

WHAT if you weren’t reading the paper this Saturday morning? What if, instead, you were watching a fleet of dragon boats as they splashed down the River Milo in Malaysian Borneo, urged on by the thump of drums and a crowd of women tossing dumplings?

Dragon boat races originated in China more than 2,000 years ago, and the spirit of the dragon is celebrated in Chinese communities all over the world today. This very weekend you’ll find a feast of fierce heads, painted bodies and flashy tails pummelling through Sabah in the state’s annual Dragon Boat Race.