Health resort or spa?
A bit of both and then some. The Farm at San Benito, in the Philippines, is run on the same principals as a garage: your body is the engine and The Farm's professional medical staff act as mechanics.
Relaxing break or working holiday? Just as an engine needs an occasional grease and oil change, The Farm's caring nurses use various tubes, buckets and machines to give your inner workings a clean-out, too.
Sounds like torture. A diet of kamikazes in Lan Kwai Fong and late-night kebabs in Wan Chai will take its toll sooner or later. The Farm is run on Hippocrates' principle of prevention rather than cure, so a detox now could save a trip to the doctor later. The retreat's German founder, Eckard Rempe, runs the resort like clockwork and your body is expected to follow suit.
What's the food like? If you are following a detox programme, 'food' translates as pond-coloured cucumber cleansing drinks interspersed with coconut-oil shots. Otherwise, the menu consists of raw cuisine or living foods, which in this case means plant-based, healing and rejuvenating fare such as avocado salads and uncooked watercress soup, which is tastier than it sounds.
Can I get a massage? It's not all pain at The Farm. Its Salus Per Aqua spa is as good as any in Asia. Facials, Thai massage, foot scrubs and all the relaxing treatments you would expect at a resort are available.