The Kilgore News Herald from Kilgore, Texas • 17

Sunday March 9 1997 Page 3B pm Photos by Kyle Dalpe CHOPSTICKS Michelle Gordon tries local utensils KILGORE NEWS HERALD CULTURAL EXCHANGE Rangerette manager Daniel Patterson hands outTexas flag stickers at the Chingay 25 thank-you reception ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME? Lisa Fontenot (far left) checks out the costume of a Whitley School student The students welcomed the Rangerettes with a traditional Chinese Lion Dance place for a game of UNO ager Sonny Dack sports local apparel from Chinatown BACKSTAGE Amanda Simpson (left) and Natalie Neumann pose with an international performer backstage at the Singapore Indoor Stadium 5'DEWALK SHOPPER Linda Rios browses Singapore's Little India section BEST BUY History instructor David McElroy looks for a bargain in Little India Christie Parchman and Jayne Encaracion explore Singapore's Arab trading district imwipwwmwbwwwwwwwwm wmmmmmmm mmmmm mmm ww iftnWwl LOCAL CUISINE Rangerettes eat lunch at Seafood Sentosa a restaurant on Sentosa Island a recreational island south of the main island UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL Marsha Andrus comes face to face with a big fish at the Underwater World on Sentosa Island during an excursion NICE TO MEET YOU Kelly Mayfield meets a dance student at the Whitley School where the KC group participated in a cultural exchange program Forevers parents others make trip trip of approximately 10198 miles for the Kilgore College Rangerettes to entertain had the following of a group of 19 Rangerettes Forever parents of Rangerettes other Kilgore College alumni and guests The Rangerettes were the star attraction in Singapore in the Chingay 25 Spectacular Feb 15 and in the Chingay Parade at Orchard Road on Feb 1 6 While performing groups from Egypt India Russia Japan Peoples Republic ot China Taiwan Myanmar and Singapore were featured in both cvens which pulled thousands to this tropical island of three million population it was clearly the American High Kicks the Kilgore College Rangerettes who captured the imagination and hearts of those viewing each event Arrangements for seating at the Chingay Indoor Stadium for the Saturday performance and at the Sunday evening parade were made by Bob Lutt of World Projects International Music Productions His company was responsible for the Rangcretlcs being invited to Singapore The Forever group was seated behind Casper Winberger secretary of defense in the Reagan administration Kent Forbes son of presidential candidate Steve Forbes and Singapore officials at the Sunday parade Winberger gave a hen the Rangerettes performed and Forbes said girls did America The wife of Tourist Commissioner said seen the New York City Rockettes and these girls are far superior While in Singapore the 19 adults participating in the trip planned by Doris Bolt ot Kilgore Travel were treated to a halfday city tour which included the National Orchid Garden the largest orchid showcase in the world with over 700 species and 2100 hybrids growing a boat cruise for a glimpse of the facade of yesteryears at Clarke Quay all within a shadow of high-rise and modern business district a tour ol the Raffles Hotel the Sn Manamman Temple oldest Hindu temple a shopping visit to Chinatown and a stop at Singapore Gems Metals Co Other excursions included the oo Claikc Quay Arab Street and Sentosa Island via cable car Sentosa is a theme park which includes an underwater woild largest and most innovative tropical oceanarium which is home to over 2300 marine specimens Home in Singapore for the 1 9 was the Marco Polo I lo-tcl within easy walking distance of the major shopping district malls restaurants and the Sunday evening paiade By Sunday evening the group was wishing lor more time in Singapore and somcwhit leery of what was ahead in Bangkok Just three days later these same tiavclers were wishing for more days in Bangkok Thailand Singapore 900-milc flight to Bangkok was like a trip to another world in contrast to Singapore The group was housed in the number-one rated hotel the Members of the travel group at the Grand Palace grounds in Bangkok jewelry silks leather goods luggage and other spe- Shangri-La located on the Chao Phraya River The discovery of the mystique of the 213-year-old city of Bangkok began lor the 19 shortly alter arrival with a rice barge cruise through the canals ol the city and into the fanning area The following day was a guided tour of the Giand Palace complex built in 1783 and site of the Emerald Buddha Temple Others later took the opportunity to visit the Wat PI10 (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) Wat Sakct (Temple wilh the Gold Buddha) and Wat Bcnchamabopitr (Marble Temple) Other Bangkok attractions visited by some include Jim canal side house featuring Asian art objects rose garden and floating market where farmers congregate each morning in produce-laden boats to sell fresh vegetables Siam Square Patpong Silon Village for a Thai dinner MBK store and River City Mall From early morning to late evening each day in each city the visitors mixed plenty ol shopping for cialtics of Asia Members of the Havel group include Rangerettes I orever Kelli Weeren Stanford Austin Dr Stephanie Grogan Longview Walli Keith Stephenson ler Camion Jones Wecden Temple Jert Goodman Harris Gilmer Pinky Gattis Swingler Kilgore Sara Rickards Davis Livingston Delight Allen Flanagan Houston Nancy Little Thompson Houston Wylund 1 tiller Santa Yne Calif and Kathy Heller 7 wick I ar Hills NJ Others include former Kilgotc College cheer-leudei Chatles 1 lart 1 Longview parents of Kathy Heller Zwick Jim and Larhnc Heller of Longview patents of four Rangerettes Cheryl Cunningham Richardson Vic key King Garland Sallic Weems I riendswood and Cheryl Cummings Huntsville Archie Whitfield of Kilgore College was tour guide lor the gtoup TOURIST ATTRACTION Alumni group members pose in front of Buddha while touring one of Bangkok's many temples.