Taiping in a Weekend: The Perak Town of Malaysia's Firsts, Without the Itinerary Bloat

Congkak Explained: How to Play Malaysia's Wooden Boat Game, and Why Every Family's Rules Differ

Congkak is the boat-shaped board with two rows of holes and a pile of shells that turns up at every cultural festival and in a lot of grandparents' homes. Here is how a seven-hole game works, the moves that win it, and why your family's rules may not match anyone else's.