A Dream Comes True - The Ski Trip

The ladies had included Ikram in their week long skiing trip to Chatel, France. To get to Chatel was via Geneva, Switzerland. Thus, before Ikram arrived, they had already booked Ikram's ticket to Geneva. They had prepared for him his skiing gear - clothes, shoes, skis, private tutor to teach him to ski ... the works. Fully sponsored by the two lovely ladies. Ikram once said that if he ever went overseas (he had plans to visit his friend who was studying in Nice, France) he wanted to go in winter to experience snow. SubhanAllah ... not only Allah granted his wish but so much more - a skiing experience. As he put it - unbelievable, incredible and just awesome amidst the falls, the pain and the stomach upset. He made many new friends (it was a group of 24 people - friends and families) and I was just grateful he could get along with all of them. It was wonderful to watch Ikram happily mingling and having fun with all of them irregardless of age (via the many videos which Ismahan and he recorded). What an experience ...

Ikram at the Chill Factore in Manchester where there was artificaial snow to learn how to ski

Here are some of the views that he took of Chatel ... a ski town enveloped by the mountains covered in snow. The sun may be shining bright and the skies were clear blue ... yet it was freezing cold in Chatel. The magic of Allah ...

And here are some of the photos of Ikram and the group in action ...

Exhausted after the trudging up the hill to play sledging

Instead of the common snowman, they decided to build a walrus ... ;-(0)

Ikram, in black, checking out the skis at the ski shop

Ikram, getting into the snow - exhausted like the others

I asked Ikram ... what did it feel like to be standing in the vast land of whiteness all around him? Incredible. Awesome. Unthinkable that it was him with his two feet buried in snow. ... What did the snow feel like? Like cotton. Soft. That if you fell into it, it was difficult to get up. The ski slopes were hardened by a snow vehicle that compacted the snow so it was hard enough for skiing. I was deeply grateful to Ismahan and Syarizan. Ikram was blessed that a simple wish was granted by the grace of Allah. Which deeds of Allah do you deny???? ;-))