Ilocos Norte has a lot to offer (paid and some free) - may it be parks, beaches, gardens, historical structures, and such. Whilst we didn't explore every corner of the beautiful region, we had a chance to check out some.
We were at the Malacañang of the North on the second day of our holiday, but Yongi wasn't allowed inside the palace, so the hubby took him to the nearby park called the Chinese Garden, while my siblings (and niblings) made use of our tickets to see what the once summer residence of the Marcos family looked like. I will write about it one day soon :)
Anyway, I followed my two boys afterward and spent some time in the park. Here's the entrance. It is free, by the way (no entrance fee), so anyone can go.
The park overlooks the Paoay Lake, the longest natural lake in the region, although it doesn't have a full view.
The walkways were positioned between plants and trees that provide shade on hot days, so no problem of sunburns or such, lol!
And of course, there are beautiful red pagodas too! They are perfectly nestled amongst the greenery where they were meant to be.
Some are short, others tall, but all have a view of the surroundings. One could sit and enjoy the serenity and beauty of the place.
Man-made pond? Yep. The park has it. It has not been maintained, but at least it wasn't filled with garbage. And we loved how they kept the place a bit more natural with lots of trees and greenery.
As there were not many people, I could literally spend a day in this park without getting bored. Unfortunately, we had to leave, for we had a next stop on our list - the Sand Dunes, which I will surely share one of these days. But yeah, I love the discipline of park-goers, for I didn't see any trash lying around. They sure are making Paoay clean and green!
All photos are mine. 07012026/11:53ph
