Eggplant Salad with Worms @ The Alternative Restaurant in El Nido, Palawan

Is it okay to eat and pay for a meal with WORMS? On the 15th of July, I had my dinner at The Alternative Restaurant in El Nido. It was raining that night, I got there around 8PM and I was ushered to a table near the bar. As I was browsing the Menu, I noticed several black ants crawling on my arms and chest. So, I asked the waiter if I could transfer at the bar which the bar tender hesitantly agreed.  

I simply ordered an Eggplant Salad and a softdrink. Unfortunately, it took almost 20 minutes for my order to arrive! After I made a follow-up, my order has finally arrived! The serving was plentiful and the eggplant was covered in chopped tomatoes. I noticed that the eggplant was grilled which sounds good to me because I prefer it grilled rather than steamed. There were eggplant and tomato seeds scattered around the plate and I was too hungry to check if there's anything weird floating on my food. 

I suddenly noticed a WORM floating on the soy sauce. Using my fork, I immediately checked the remaining food on my plate. Then I saw another WORM which prompted me to complain to the waiter. She confirmed that it was indeed a WORM which made me wonder how many worms existed on that plate! Both the waiter and the bar tender never bothered to remove the plate as if they weren't concerned. They just provided me with their stupid alibis, said they had experienced eating eggplant worms before and that it's 'unavoidable' since eggplants are normally infested with WORMS! Ain't that ridiculous?!  

When preparing an eggplant salad, whether it's grilled or steamed, you have to be extra cautious to make sure that the vegetable is not infested by worms. I've prepared the salad several times before yet I never failed to distinguish a cooked seed from a cooked WORM! I'll immediately throw it the moment I see a single worm. Which made me wonder how the chef at The Alternative Inn & Restaurant failed to notice it!

It's not cheap to dine @ The Alternative Restaurant, so why can't the owner afford to buy the chef an eyeglass if he's having a problem with his eyesight or maybe the owner is frugal enough to buy new light bulb for a dimly lit kitchen. Before I paid my P189 crappy meal, I threatened the waiter and the bar tender that I'll get back at them if something bad will happen to me while on the road. Lucky for them that I didn't have time to argue because I was running out of time after it took them so long to serve a single order and I was about to leave El Nido that night.  

How to apply for a permit for the Underground River Tour in Puerto Princesa City?

The journey to the Underground River starts at Puerto Princesa City Coliseum. If you're staying along Rizal Ave., take a jeepney and ask the driver to drop you off at the Coliseum, one way fare is P8. It would take two rides(take a tricycle to the main street then ride the jeepney, total fare is P16) if you're staying somewhere distant from the main street of Puerto Princesa. Upon arriving at the Coliseum, you need to follow the steps below to apply for a permit to enter the subterranean river. 

Step 1:
Get transaction number and wait for your turn.

Step 2:
Submit tour and personal details for processing.

Step 3:
Proceed to Table 1&2 for Walk-in guest. Table 3&4 for Travel Agencies.

Step 4:
Payment of assessed cost of VEP(Visitor Entry Permit) to City Collector.

Step 5:
Signature of PAMB(Protected Area Management Board) representative to finalizeVEP.

TIP:
Visitor Entry Permit cost P175 for adult, P100 for minor, P75 for 3-12yrs old.
2 years old below are not allowed to enter the cave.
Office Hour: Monday To Sunday @ 8:00AM-4:00PM (no lunch break) 
Lexus Shuttle Service offers van transportation from Robinson's Mall parking lot or San Jose Terminal(New Market) to Sabang Port. Van won't leave until full, estimated travel time is 2 hours, be at the terminal 3 hours before the scheduled tour. 
Jeepney or non-airconditioned bus are also available @ San Jose Terminal.
Underground River Tour Schedule: 8:30AM, 11:30AM and 3:30PM.