The Green Planet, Dubai

Joshua and I at The Green Planet on 1st January 2022

One of my favourite places in Dubai is Green Planet. I first went with Jeyboy as part of a Big Bus tour of Dubai in 2019 and then with Erickson in 2020 and finally with Joshua on 1.1.22. He met me at Ibis Styles and as I could not see an easy way to get there on Public transport we eventually got a Taxi there. Being New Years day at 1 pm and with drizzling rain the taxis were in short supply. The place was packed with kids and families, and as I said to one Arabic mum as she watched her husband help their little boy up the steps, I wasn't sure if it was more fun watching the kids or the animals!

The Green Planet is Dubai’s very own tropical rainforest. With more than 3,000 species of plants, animals and birds, this green oasis is a sanctuary of exotic flora and fauna. Aiming to educate guests about the important role the tropical forest plays in the future of our planet, The Green Planet exposes Dubai to another world within its glass dome, including Dubai's very own tropical rainforest – all responsibly sourced.

Appealing to visitors of all ages, this spot is perfect for a family outing. The bio-dome is made up of four levels: the Canopy, the Midstory, the Forest Floor and the Flooded Rainforest. Each level discusses the role and the importance every part of a rainforest plays. The Green Planet is an experience for the senses with creatures roaming and waterfalls running.

I quickly realised Joshua and I had different tastes in animals as he stroked the snake, chatted to the scorpion and went to see the bats and the nocturnal animals in the basement. I stayed up top and played with the rabbits and chatted with the birds that fly freely around the rain forest inside the amazing building.

Joshua gets up close and personal with a snake

While I play with the rabbit ( just like the one I had when I was a little boy!)

We had a great time making our way down from the canopy of the rain forest where the birds hang out , through the midstory where we saw the frogs ( Palaka) , snakes, scorpions etc. Finally we reached the Forest floor where there were some cute baby turtles and some not so cute Piranha fish. We declined the extra charges to snorkel with the Piranha or feed the Sloth!

There is a waterfall that runs down through the rain forest and at certain times in the day they activate a tropical storm which is very noisy!

The Sloth on the way to his feeding session with one of the staff

As you arrive they take your photos and then photoshop it onto various photos of the animals. You get one framed photo and then the next day you go online to get all 4 photos. I had already bought Joshua a Photo frame and they kindly put his Green Planet photo in my frame, and put the photo of Joshua in Al Barsha in another frame . He loved his pictures!

Joshua with his Green Planet framed photo

After we had worked our way down to the basement, and avoided buying any soft toy Palakas as Pasalubong we headed out into the courtyard for lunch , just as the heavens opened! The Pinoy staff were very helpful and recommended various dishes and optional extras and I ended up with Salad, Fruit Platter and Chicken Alfredo with extra chicken and a Mango Smoothy. I was starving only having had 2 boiled eggs and 2 hash browns at 7.15 am and by the time we ate it was about 2. 30 pm.

Part of my healthy lunch

Eventually we paid and left and had a wander around City Walk before trying to find a taxi or a bus or some way of getting back to IBIS Styles without getting soaked. After 30 minutes we finally found an empty taxi and they dropped me off at the hotel around 4 pm where after writing another blog I fell asleep from 6 - 11 pm missing dinner . When I awoke it was 3 am in the Philippines and Chester had finally started work after his family's New Year celebrations ( these Pinoys know how to Party) and so we had an online chat . After that Joshua messaged having just git home from the Mall , Finally Jeboy came on line to finalise details of our trip to Ain Dubai on 2.1.21. After finishing this Blog at 1 am I returned to bed as I have to get up early tomorrow to pack and move to Adagio where I have arranged to meet Jeboy at 10 am. We will then walk to Ibis Al Barsha for the free bus to Ain Dubai at 10. 30 am

You can read all about that day out in my next Blog and see Jeboy's Vlog of the Dubai skyline from the tallest big wheel in the world. The vlog by Joshua at Green planet is available by clicking on the link below:

The Green Planet Vlog

Until then, stay safe ( Ingat Palagi) and see you soon ( Kita Kits)

This is The British Kabayan signing out from Dubai with a final message from The Green Planet.....