Welcome
A travel and lifestyle site specialising in the UK, adventure travel, mountains, history and skiing, plus everything about knowing your limits and living with a defibrillator, pacemaker & cardiac sarcoidosis.
Who is Mel B
Hi, I am Mel B an indigenous Australian with dual citizenship in the UK and Australia. In 2004 I moved to London to pursue my career in banking. But my deeper desire was to experience other cultures, explore the world, and satisfy my hunger for adventure.
Fast-forward 16 years, I am now a full-time travel blogger and content creator who loves nothing more than being outdoors writing about Travel, Adventure Mountains (mostly Skiing & Hiking ), History and Everything UK.
I have travelled to over 300 cities (mostly European ) in 65+ countries. Sometimes with my husband, other times with friends or on my own as a solo traveller. If I’m not out in my adopted city trying the latest food or sampling cocktails and wine, I can be found reading about history or visiting historical buildings. Basically, anything that encourages and allows me to learn more about the world.
2018 Everything Changed
Suddenly, late in 2018, everything changed for me and I needed to take a different approach to life and travel. While out exercising I had a cardiac arrest and was rushed to ICU. Since then, I’ve had 4 heart surgeries, 2 pacemakers, 2 defibrillators and have been diagnosed with a rare heart condition called cardiac sarcoidosis and had a clot.
While l have mentally and physically changed, I’ve not allowed my heart condition to control my life. Instead, I’ve embraced it like a kid having a bag of sweets. During this time, and before lockdown, I’ve travelled to Australia, Cyprus, Greece and Taiwan. I’ve hiked in Austria and Japan and skied in Italy and France.
I am hoping that by sharing some of my personal experiences on what I’ve gone through and what has happened that l can help others. I aim to put a positive spin on all things heart related and explain how I travel differently. My goal here is not only to share my tips and the lessons that I have learnt but also to entertain and provide a few laughs.
I treat every experience as if it may be my last, and can’t wait to share in full some of these experiences like reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and having everyone sing Happy Birthday to ski-paragliding over the French Alps and many more adventures.
I hope you enjoy my adventures and look forward to connecting with you.
Some of the Highlights
- Trekking to Everest Base Camp and seeing Mt Everest – Himalayas, Nepal
- Swimming with Whale sharks – Mexico
- Paragliding over the Blue Lagoon in Oludeniz Fethiye Turkey
- Skiing around and on the Matterhorn Mountain in both Zermatt Switzerland and Breuil-Cervinia – Italy
- Flying to Lapland for a day to meet Santa – Enontekiö , Finland
Collobrations
Please feel free to check out some of our collaborations
Advertise & Media Kit
For additional information, queries, advertising, collaborations or a copy of MelBTravel Media Kit, please email info@Melbtravel.com
We’re looking forward to connecting and hearing from you!
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Wow how interesting You are a special
Person Keep going going going My grandson climbed Kilimanjaro aid of cystic fibrosis I just sent you of my stay in Pembroke also had an aunt who was the governess to the family At Haine Castle in Saundersfoot Another interesting story which I have many Hope I will hear from
keep going stay strong Life is got living
Thank you so much for your comment Barbara. That is amazing what your grandson achieved with cystic fibrosis. I loved doing Mt Kilimanjaro with my husband and it is a part of the world I would love to go back to. In regards to Pembroke that is some really interesting about your family.
I was so thankful to run across your blog today. I am 52 years old and my world changed back on March 2, 2022. I thought I was a very healthy person but then I had a cardiac event that landed me in ICU for 5 days and then I received an ICD. My ejection fraction is 30-35%. We had already planned a vacation trip in January then my event happened in March. I have been cleared to fly but I was super nervous to fly with my ICD. You have really calmed my fears and inspires me. I wish I had ran across your story earlier. It is really easy to get down some days. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you so much for your very kind words and I am so glad I was able to make you feel better about flying. I can completely understand about getting down from the situation sometimes. Don’t feel bad about it as it happens to most of us, especially after such a dramatic experience. The good thing is you are still alive to tell your story. I still get scared sometimes but then I just tell myself that I can do it but just at a slower pace. If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a line at any time.
You go girl! So pleased to see how you have not succumbed to fear and have really used this experience to carpedieum & live life to fullest every moment. I try to do same w/ my HCM & recent ICD implant but the fear and anxiety still comes up. Your blog & post were good reminder. I got my ICD 3 mo ago and wanted to go skiing however am only a beginner and tend to experience at least couple falls when I ski so still considering. I may just live it up in other ways!
Thank you very much for reaching out Reese, don’t worry I still get anxious and stressed about my pacemaker and ICD. I don’t think that will ever change but I have learnt just to take things literally at my own pace. I returned from skiing in France yesterday with a bunch of journalists and I just took it easy. I recently had my ICD give me a shock and that really scared me. Definitely drop me a line anytime if you want to ask about skiing & remember there are lots of us out there with ICDs and pacemakers.