The house in front of us: a strange red castle, with a sign saying „HOTEL“, but locals say it’s more of a whore house to tell the truth.

The Red House

A bleached russian woman lives on the second floor, she is wearing the same minidress all the time, regardless of how is the weather, or what time is it. She is often accompanied by a strange bold dude, who is drunk 24/7, and he likes to – well, how should I say – bark as a dog, jumping and yelling on the balcony.

There is a collector type of guy, living on the third floor. The subject of his collecting obsession has remained a mistery, but there are all kinds of objects hanging from the ceiling at his balcony from paintings to mugs, and the crows of the area are crazy for this strange collection: they hop by to spend some time here all the time. Of course he is not even bothered by the huge black creatures.

At the front of the house, on the corner of Nachalat Benyamin and Gruzenberg streets, an honorary guest is giving a concerto every Friday: she is the Singer Lady. Her voice is rather distracting and unbearable: it could definitely be used as a doorbell on the gates of Hell.

The red, castle-like building is reaching skies in a tower, covered with flake-like tiles. While contemplating those silverish, glimmering slates, I always think, that this house is the home of a dragon, who is sleeping in a foetus position on the top of that tower. The collector must be a wizard, and the craws are their servants. The russian prostitute is probably a charmed princess, and the Singer Lady must be a mermaid, whose voice has once been taken away  from her.

I might ask myself: what is going to happen if the dragon takes me one day? Or am I lost in his enchanted land already, without even noticing it? Am I the next victim?

My loved ones, my readers, my friends, strangers, and aliens from an other Universe!

Happy Holidays from Palestine…

During this holiday season, I’m hoping my friends and family will join me to raise $500 for Kids Creating Peace. It’s a great cause that teaches children all over the world the universal tools to make conscious choices and overcome challenges, KCP applies the principles of tolerance and human dignity to children caught in real-world conflicts, enabling them to create change for themselves and future generations. Since its launch, KCP has brought together thousands of Arab and Israeli children for special programs, events and summer camp experiences, in order to nourish bonds of friendship and tolerance.

I chose Kids Creating Peace because I want to end the abuse, the conflict and the cycle. But without you our goals will stay a dream. Your support can make it happen. and it must happen. That is why I supported KCP with 10% of the income of my book in 2009.

Please consider giving to my Holiday Wish, and together we can make the world a better place. If you can’t afford to donate, I’d really appreciate if you’d share this page with your friends.

Thanks so much, wish you love, peace and very happy holidays.

No, we are not goin’ out to dance the (in)famous coreography of the Travolta from the classic movie… not this time. The title stands for an AIDS awareness campaign, and for a cause what I’m ready to stan up for any time of the year… especially around Christmas time.

Because they worth it!

Staying Alive is an MTV international initiative to encourage HIV prevention, promote safer lifestyle choices and fight the stigma and discrimination which fuels the HIV epidemic. Staying Alive is now the world’s largest HIV mass media awareness and prevention campaign. It features the world’s biggest stars from Beyonce to Justin Timberlake, Mary J Blige, Diddy, Kanye West, Kelly Rowland, to Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton. I was honoured and happy when the MTV Hungary asked me to be the ambassador of the campaign, and on the side of many other Hungarian artist, promote health and safe sex in the form of concerts, documentaries, public service announcements, TV film, film competitions and many others.

Staying Alive began in 1998 as a one off award winning documentary, of the same name, about six young people from around the world and how their lives were affected by HIV and AIDS and hosted by George Michael. Now, a bit more than decade later we’ve been hosting an amazing, all day event in the heart of Budapest, with free and anonimus HIV testing, exhibition, a press conference, and an all night long party with top bands and singers. Just one sentence from my speech in front of the crowd: let’s not call the people “sick”, or “ill”, who suffering from HIV. Let’s call them “healing people”.

There are so many people out there who are terrified of not being able to celebrate Christmas with us next year. You… we are capable of giving them a gift. The same way,as Dorothy needed all her friends to be able to get back to Kansas, the same way as Santa needs Christmas spirit to fly on his sleigh, they need us to believe. The cure is here with us! With the power of collective consciousness we are capable of changing our reality into a world where we all take care of each other. The Bible says, love your neighbour as you love yourself… well I say, sometimes it’s okay to love them even a bit more.