Ever thought of doing something different? How about a ride to the countryside?

     Aloe Vera Park in Fanling can be a place for you to consider.

     "The primary reason for setting up this park was to introduce aloe, and most essentially, its merits, to Hong Kong people," said Mr. Stephen Wan, owner of the Park.

     "It contains 75 elements that are essential to our body and can heal many diseases, especially those concerning the stomach and intestines. It is also beneficial to the skin.

     "What's more, it is natural!" he said.

     According to Mr. Freddie Chan, manager of the Park, providing a place for relaxation is another reason for their establishment.

     "With such a dense population, Hong Kong people need a resort far away from the concrete jungle.

     "Our park is spacious and comfortable. People would enjoy coming here on Sundays," said Mr. Chan.

     "In order to attract tourists, we are providing aloe salad, aloe juice and even aloe facial.

     "Aloe jelly and aloe ice-cream are forthcoming too," said Mr. Wan.

     "Normally, people spend their time fishing, playing war games and ball games, having barbecues and planting vegetables. But here, visitors can choose to plant carrots, sugar corns, cabbages, sweet potatoes or whatever vegetables they favor, except aloe. We will provide them with the seeds.

     "Our staff will then teach them the proper planting method. We will take care of the vegetables during weekdays while on weekends, people can cultivate for themselves," Mr. Chan said.

     Said Mr. Wan: "People can take their harvests back home."

     Mrs. Yau, who declined to reveal her name in full, heard about the Park from TV.

     "My daughter wanted to play the war game. Therefore, I am a bit disappointed that we cannot play it today," she said.

     Said Mr. Wan: "We will have war games only if there are more than 20 people. It is not exciting to play with just a few people.

     "I really hope that visitors can enjoy the natural beauty of the rural area and gradually develop a sense of conservation," said Mr. Wan.

     Next to the Park sits the Jabbok Tea Garden. It is the country club for the International Chinese Tea Club. It opens exclusively to its members and their relatives.

     "Many Hong Kong people are fond of drinking tea," Miss Eliza Liu, owner of the Garden said. "However, very often good tea can only be found in mainland China.

     "As people generally are having a very hectic schedule, few will deliberately go for a cup of tea even if they take a trip to China. Therefore, I built this garden for those tea enthusiasts," said she.

     "Furthermore, there are fewer and fewer local farmers planting vegetables. On the other hand there is a market for tea leaves. Hence, planting tea leaves should be a better source of income for local farmers," Miss Liu said.

     "We hope to cultivate a new species of tea leaves with unique characteristics. In order to cover the costs of research, organizing a country club is necessary," she said.

     The Garden was designed as a traditional Chinese village, with fields of green and black tea. There is also a museum introducing the art of drinking tea, a tea-making room, a red wine room and a book corner.

     The cottages are made of bamboo and straw. Tables, chairs and even the tea sets are all of a nostalgic style.

     She said, "Our members are fond of the design. They enjoy sitting inside the cottages, chatting and boiling tea with friends and families. Some of them even climb onto our tree-house."

     Said Miss Margaret Tsui, a lawyer who is living in Happy Valley: "Fresh food, a spacious environment, a traditional village with fish pools and a little river! It really looks like a pastoral picture.