Jackie Cohen

About Jackie Cohen

Jackie Cohen is an avid globetrotter, in constant search for new obscure destinations and adventures. With a special interest in sustainable tourism practices, she's traveled around the world to North and East Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Southeast Asia, and across Europe-always looking for local cuisine, hidden surprises, and lessons in different cultures. She's from Beverly, MA.

Posts by Jackie Cohen:

Wales: Year of The Sea, 2018

Now Is The Time To Take A Trip To Wales By Jackie Cohen Powered by Visit Wales, the tourism board of Wales, 2018 has been deemed the Year of the Sea. With some of the most beautiful coastline views in […]

Robots Show Guests to their Rooms in LA and Boston

The newly opened Sheraton Hotel in San Gabriel, LA explores new ways to assist guests with the help of some friendly robots to replace workers.

Useful Travel Essentials

The Latest and Greatest Travel Items by Jill Webb and Jackie Cohen Do you find your travel luggage and gadgets old and outdated every time you take them on a trip? Fear not, because companies in 2018 are putting out […]

Belfast: From The Titanic to “GOT”

The Titanic Project is a highlight of the renovated waterfront and former shipyards of Belfast.

Head to Belfast in Northern Ireland, home to the Titanic and the “Game of Thrones” set. The tourism boom happening there makes the city an interesting spot to take your next vacation.

The GoNOMAD Travel Podcast

GoNOMAD Travel Podcast

Enjoy a short break with more than 300 of our travel podcast episodes all between 5 and 8 minutes. Find the GoNOMAD Travel Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts.

Dharavi in Mumbai, India, is one of the most misunderstood places on Earth. For decades, the world has labeled it a slum, a word that flattens a million lives into a stereotype. But today on the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast, Senior Writer Chin Liang takes us deep inside this remarkable Mumbai neighborhood with the help of two longtime residents and guides: Mohammad Sadique of Inside Mumbai Tours and Krishna Pujari of Reality Tours & Travel.

This episode challenges everything you thought you knew about Dharavi. Instead of despair, you’ll find industry. Instead of chaos, community. Instead of hopelessness, ingenuity and pride.

🌏 What You’ll Hear in This Episode

Dharavi’s Origins — How British-era industrial growth drew migrants who built thriving cottage industries that still power the neighborhood today.
Inside the Local Industries — From plastic recycling and metalworking to garment workshops, bakeries, and the centuries-old pottery district of Kumbharwada.
Workers sort, shred, wash, and process plastic into pellets used to make everyday products.
Metalworkers hammer and weld pots, trays, and household goods.
Potters sculpt diyas, water pots, and planters by hand.
These industries generate about $1 billion annually, according to Mohammad.
Life in the Neighborhood — Families living in compact homes, children attending school at high rates, and a vibrant social fabric full of shared meals, rooftop greetings, and cricket in the alleys.
Why “Slum” Is the Wrong Word — Krishna explains why he prefers “community” or “neighborhood,” emphasizing Dharavi’s sustainability, entrepreneurship, and constant evolution.
Progress and Change — Better sanitation, more community toilets, improved roads, and expanded educational support from NGOs.
How to Visit Respectfully — Krishna’s essential advice: no photos, dress modestly, listen to your guide, stay curious, and treat Dharavi as a living community—not a spectacle.
Pop Culture Connection — Danny Boyle spent extensive time in Dharavi before filming Slumdog Millionaire, which went on to win eight Oscars.

🎧 Why This Episode Matters

Dharavi is not a place of pity—it’s a place of makers, entrepreneurs, families, and remarkable resilience. This episode reframes the narrative and invites listeners to see Mumbai through the eyes of the people who live and work in its most dynamic neighborhood.

🔗 Links

Read more great travel stories on GoNOMAD:https://www.gonomad.com
Explore more episodes of the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast:
(podcasts.apple.com in Bing)
Learn about Inside Mumbai Tours:https://insidemumbaitours.com
Learn about Reality Tours & Travel:https://realitytoursandtravel.com
Follow GoNOMAD on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/gonomad
Subscribe so you never miss an episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gonomad-travel-podcast/id1650912321 (podcasts.apple.com in Bing)

Mohammad Sadique, Founder of Inside Mumbai Tours

www.insidemumbaitours.com/

Mohammed lives in Dharavi and has been a tour guide for many years. With the income from his tours, Mohammad has managed to pay to complete his secondary education. He is continuing his studies at the University of Mumbai in Sociology. He hopes to complete his degree and progress to master’s level study.

Krishna Pujari, Co-founder of Reality Tours & Travel

https://realitytoursandtravel.com

When he was 13, Krishna moved to Mumbai. He worked in restaurants during the day and went to night school to finish his education. His passion and dedication led him to team up with Chris Way to start Reality Tours & Travel. Krishna loves meeting people and giving back to the community. He makes sure the tours are run responsibly and really benefit the community.

Mentioned in this episode:

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This week’s show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

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