Mint Mocha Musings

LATEST ARTICLES ( 186 )

• The ‘Little Things’ I Took for Granted Before Living in China…

  

  You know you’ve landed ‘down under’ when the waitress at the local pub tells you, the chef forgot one of your meals because he had an…um.. “brain fart!” My... Read more

  Posted on 13 April 2016 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Why Sleeping in Ikea is Perfectly Acceptable, in China.

  

  The more I live here, the more I realise that China is a force to be reckoned with.As I begin the mammoth task of researching for my own book on life in China,... Read more

  Posted on 06 March 2016 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• China’s Pearl of the Orient! Why Guilin is Compulsory Viewing

  

  When I told my local hairdresser in Xi’an I was off to Guilin for a few days, he got very excited and made me practice China’s famous saying: Guilin is “Shan... Read more

  Posted on 23 February 2016 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Painting the Town Red: Chinese New Year Through a Child’s Eyes

  

  (Sponsored Video)The other day, my gorgeous little niece asked for some information to give her teacher about Chinese New Year. He wanted to talk to the class... Read more

  Posted on 07 February 2016 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• EXPAT WOMEN: Don’t Call Us Trailing Spouses — We’re Trail Blazers!

  

  When talk of the ‘hotelier’ taking a job on China’s Mainland first came up and we were living in Hong Kong (a hop, skip and a jump from China…aka, a 2. Read more

  Posted on 02 February 2016 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Monkey Business! Swinging into Chinese New Year with a Bang!

  

  Good news! If you’re born in the Year of Monkey you are generally smart, clever and intelligent! (Did I mention charming?)And don’t worry if you’re not a monkey... Read more

  Posted on 20 January 2016 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Calling SOS: An Expat in China’s Worst Nightmare

  

  “Ummm….you want her to do what, where?!” “On an A4 piece of paper, no less?!” The doctor’s office, Xi’an circa 2015.Ask any expat in Xi’an, what their worst fea... Read more

  Posted on 07 January 2016 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Dressed for Success, at Face Value – China Style.

  

  It all started with the frock.I was informed the theme for the event I would be hosting was “Hollywood”….. and yes, I realise Xi’an is about as far removed... Read more

  Posted on 20 December 2015 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Red Alert: Living with China’s Pollution!

  

  7:50am, I check the weather app. It’s just nudging one degree.Coat? Check. Gloves? Check. Hat? Check. Mask? Check!Schoolbag, let’s go. Read more

  Posted on 08 December 2015 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• 20 Top Tips for Booking a Hotel! (From the Hotelier’s Wife…)

  

  As the hotelier’s wife, I’m privy to a few inside whispers…and you’ll be pleased to know, over the years, I’ve been secretly stashing them in the vault,... Read more

  Posted on 30 November 2015 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Mirror Balls and Microphones: This is China’s Most Popular Pastime!

  

  Just quietly, I had been avoiding her like the plague! It wasn’t easy though….everywhere I looked, every corner I turned, there she was.Standing tall, bold and... Read more

  Posted on 22 November 2015 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Expat Life in Hong Kong Versus Mainland China: Is There a Difference?

  

  Hell yes! I get asked the question all the time….and that’s pretty much my answer!No, ok, so I do try to expand on that, but it’s not quite that simple.I spent... Read more

  Posted on 02 November 2015 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Good Morning Xi’an! How China Wakes Up……

  

  7:30am and the streets are bustling with locals…many are elderly Chinese (often with their grandchildren)….they’re in their element, out and about, primed for... Read more

  Posted on 24 October 2015 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• A Week in the Life of One Expat in China…..

  

  One of my delightful blog reader’s said she’d love to hear about a typical day in my life, here in China. While I’ve rattled on about various expat... Read more

  Posted on 18 October 2015 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Grab Your Hong Bao! You’re Invited to a Wedding in China!

  

  The fact that I’d never met the bride or groom, apparently posed no issue for all those involved in the wedding extravaganza! So the teeny matter, that I... Read more

  Posted on 11 October 2015 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Do You Need a Career Break? Is It Time for an Adventure in Your Life?

  

  Eight years ago this month, I took a six week hiatus from my job as a news reader at Sky News Australia and went on (what I considered to be) the journey of a... Read more

  Posted on 01 October 2015 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Will the Real China Please Stand Up!

  

  Do you want to see the real China?You do? Ok, listen up. When you’re planning your itinerary, naturally you want to tick off the big kahunas – Beijing, Shanghai... Read more

  Posted on 25 September 2015 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Visit Beijing: The World’s Super City in the Making!

  

  Beijing doesn’t beep!Ok, so I’m assured they do! But given we arrived to a city in virtual lock down, it was a refreshing reprieve from the ‘ear-splitting,’... Read more

  Posted on 18 September 2015 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Aliens Welcome: I Survived a Year in China!

  

  They call us aliens.Yes, it’s true. On our permanent work visa that allows us to live here as a pseudo Chinese for a year, it states very clearly “Alien! Read more

  Posted on 10 September 2015 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• China’s Big Day Out: A Military Parade That (Literally) Stopped the Nation

  

  It was always going to be a display of grand proportions!Beijing had been practicing for months in the lead up to V-Day Celebrations — the 70th anniversary of... Read more

  Posted on 03 September 2015 EXPAT, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL