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Podcasts Off-Ramp
PHOTOS: LA campaign consultant John Schwada savors political quiet of Oman, 'the most charming police state in the world'
Off-Ramp with John Rabe Hero Image
(
Dan Carino
)
Jun 11, 2013
Listen • 4:06
PHOTOS: LA campaign consultant John Schwada savors political quiet of Oman, 'the most charming police state in the world'
"Trutanich versus Feuer, Zine versus Galperin, Cedillo versus Gardea … they were 12,000 miles away as I walked, trekked, and drove my way around Oman."
Turbaned man leaving Nizwa live animal souk
Turbaned man leaving Nizwa live animal souk
(
John Schwada
)
12th Century tomb of the saintly Bibi Maryam overlooking the Gulf of Oman
12th Century tomb of the saintly Bibi Maryam overlooking the Gulf of Oman
(
John Schwada
)
Woman on Main Street of the village Misfat al Albriyyin
Woman on Main Street of the village Misfat al Albriyyin
(
John Schwada
)
Watchtower and wall in the town of Birkat Al Mawz with Hajar Mtns in background
Watchtower and wall in the town of Birkat Al Mawz with Hajar Mtns in background
(
John Schwada
)
Camel in Sharqiya Sands near Al Wasil
Camel in Sharqiya Sands near Al Wasil
(
John Schwada
)
Wadi near village of Seyq on the southwestern flank of the Hajar Mtns
Wadi near village of Seyq on the southwestern flank of the Hajar Mtns
(
John Schwada
)
Goats seek shade from midday sun in Tiwi a fishing village
Goats seek shade from midday sun in Tiwi a fishing village
(
John Schwada
)
Terrace wall near village of Al Ayn
Terrace wall near village of Al Ayn
(
John Schwada
)
Vegetable dealer in Nizwa souk
Vegetable dealer in Nizwa souk
(
John Schwada
)
Fish broker with tuna at Muscat souk
Fish broker with tuna at Muscat souk
(
John Schwada
)
Mosque dome and minaret as seen from battlements of Fort Nizwa
Mosque dome and minaret as seen from battlements of Fort Nizwa
(
John Schwada
)

"Trutanich versus Feuer, Zine versus Galperin, Cedillo versus Gardea … they were 12,000 miles away as I walked, trekked, and drove my way around Oman."

John Schwada is a former TV reporter and, most recently, media consultant for L.A. City Council candidate Gil Cedillo, City Controller candidate Dennis Zine and City Attorney candidate Carmen Trutanich.

For LA Observed, Schwada wrote about his soul-cleansing trip to Oman:



Trutanich and Feuer, Zine and Galperin, Cedillo and Gardea (the former in each of these pairings was a client of mine) were 12 thousand miles away, as I walked, trekked, drove my way around Oman. 1519 kilometers of driving. Maybe 50 kms of walking. The daytime temperatures: in the 100's.



In the boondocks of Oman, while getting lost in the labyrinthine alleys of an ancient village where Jesus reincarnate might have found himself at home, the struggle with the heat was tiring. But it was a good tiring. Every drop of sweat squeezed another sub-cutaneous, molecular-level drop of LA and a frustrating campaign season out of my body.

You can read his full essay at LA Observed.