Kelly Westhoff

About Kelly Westhoff

http://kellywesthoff.com

Kelly Westhoff was a regular contributor to GoNOMAD and a member of our blogger's team. Before the importance of the bedtime routine and children invaded her life, Kelly was a traveler — the kind who would throw all her stuff in a backpack, hit the road, and write about her adventures. She lives in Minnesota.

Posts by Kelly Westhoff:

Visiting Ensenada: A Bus Trip to Mexico’s Wine Country

ensanada-plaza

Kelly Westhoff takes a bus from San Diego to Tijuana then to Ensenada, the heart of Mexico’s wine country, possibly home of the world’s first margarita.

Minneapolis Steps Into the Spotlight

cherry

Kelly Westhoff writes about the many theaters, museums, libraries, bookstores, music venues, and other cultural offerings.

Remarkable Girls on the Go

eat-pray-love

Explore new titles written by women, including Eat, Pray, Love and Roads Less Traveled. Join us on a captivating literary journey!

Travel Journal Tips

travel-journal

Writer, teacher, traveler Kelly Westhoff suggests some tips on keeping a journal about your travels. A travel journals gives you something to review later

Tips on Keeping a Travel Journal

botanical-gardens

Writer, teacher and traveler Kelly Westhoff suggests some tips on keeping a journal about your travels, Travel journal ideas

Cabo Polonio, Uruguay’s Fabled Ombu Tree

uruguay-lighthouse

Cabo Polonio, Uruguay: Kelly Westhoff describes her trip to Cabo Polonio, Uruguay, to view the rare Ombu Tree.

Memoirs of 10 Women with Wanderlust

women-travelers

Adventures, mishaps, loves and successes on the road of life By Kelly Westhoff I have a bad case of wanderlust. When I am not traveling, I think about traveling. I surf the web for deals on airfares. I stare at […]

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:

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

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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