THE INSIDE SCOOP ON THE MEKONG. For those of you that are young
enough to remember the Regal Ice
Cream company, it may excite you to
learn that its 21st century incarnation
has graduated from Aussie family
freezers to reside on the Mekong Delta
in Vietnam.
The Regal brand of 50 years ago has
all but disappeared, replaced by Bulla,
which still makes Neapolitan ice cream
from Regal’s Colac plant, and it is this
family favourite that can now be
scooped up by cruisers onboard APTs
eight-day Mekong River cruises between
Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap.
Lovers of the tri-colored treat can find
Bulla’s Neapolitan sitting alongside
Vietnam’s Vinamilk chocolate, coconut,
vanilla, green bean, taro and durian
varieties at a sundeck ice cream tasting
on board La Marguerite.
To complememt the trio guests can
add local condiments including shredded
ginger, dried plum, local cherry, cashew
nut, peanut with milk and orange,
blackberry and chocolate sauces to
make dessert a true blending of cultures.
THE SKY IS NO LIMIT FOR COSTA. Costa cruises spared no expense at the christening of its newest baby, the Costa Favolosa opening celebrations to the entire city of Trieste. Set to the backdrop of the Piazza Unità d’Iltalia, Favolosa’s naming ceremony involved everything around the square, from the sea to buildings, and was also included in the official celebrations of the 150th anniversary of Italian Unification. To add theatrics Costa not only took over the ocean but the sky, when a woman stole the show, swooping in on a cloud of white balloons.
