BANTING, Sept 11 — It was to be a weekend of world music and ethnic cultures set against a picturesque lake with a limestone hill as the backdrop.

When Tadom Hill Resorts announced its Groove On event last September and opened up their online channels for reservations, the response was so overwhelming that it crashed their website for 48 hours.

The quaint Gendui Chalets can sleep two per unit

Safety reminders at the steps leading to the Tarzan swing platform

Word spread like wild fire about this gorgeous Nature resort and those who saw photos of the place were in awe. More so considering it’s located in Banting, just 45 minutes from Kuala Lumpur – the same amount of time it takes to reach the airport.

If you’re looking for a getaway that doesn’t require flying or driving distances that wear you out before you arrive, you can put Tadom on your list.

You can also make a day trip of it, as the resort offers day passes that let you enjoy all on-site facilities (except the accommodations) between 10am till 6.45pm each day.

Tadom’s eco-friendly and sustainable approach can be seen around the resort

Bamboo rafting is another popular activity at Tadom Groove

From the city, head towards KLIA and take the Banting turn off. You will spot the first of the resort’s signboards about 1 kilometre ahead of the entrance, which is quite easy to miss as it’s little more than a slip road through an oil palm estate.

Trundle a short distance along a bumpy off-road and you will arrive at the resort’s entrance. Parking is free though not the most systematic as there are no marked bays – just find a spot in the open space.

At first look, Tadom Hill Resorts seems more like a camp site, with all-bamboo structures and fittings. From the gazebos by the lake to the chalets and hand-painted signages, everything is constructed from bamboo.

Barbecue pits are available for rent, just bring your own food

Showers and bathrooms are shared facilities

It’s a deliberate decision as Tadom positions itself as an ecologically-sustainable resort and bamboo is one of the most sustainable building materials supplied by Nature. All around the resort, there are recycling bins and signs reminding visitors to dispose of wastes properly.

Visitors have to sign a waiver form at the guard post before proceeding to the reception area to check-in (if you’re staying the night) or purchase your day pass.

There are two Hammock Spheres that can sleep up to 10 each

You can also camp in the pre-pitched tents

Then you’re free to explore the resort’s grounds, which cover some 40 acres altogether but there are still expansions and new features being built, including lodgings.

At the moment, Tadom offers four styles of accommodation: bamboo dormitories, hammock spheres, tents, and chalets with nipah leaf roofs. Each has its own charm and appeal.

The Gendui Chalets are the most private, housing just two guests per unit. For groups and families, the bamboo huts are ideal, if basic. Mattresses are spread out over two raised platforms facing each other, with gauzy curtains separating between every two and providing a soothing ambience.

Each bamboo hut can sleep up to 12. A fun alternative is the Hammock Spheres, with 10 hammocks extending from a centre column and each is fitted with a mosquito net. Both these lodgings have an open concept — there are no doors, just fabric partitions affording some coverage. A separate building houses the common bathrooms and shower stalls.

Go on, make a splash!

The accommodations book out fast, especially on weekends as companies like to hold their team building events here. The day pass is thus ideal, as it lets you enjoy what the resort offers even if you don’t manage to reserve a stay.

The key attraction is Tadom Groove, the waterfront area that’s the resort’s activity hub. There’s a five metre-high platform from which daredevils take their leaps of faith into the cool waters below, a la Tarzan.

From the moment I arrived at Tadom till I left, there was never a quiet moment at this spot. A constant line of people waited for their turn on the wooden steps, which are built into the tree leading up to the platform. Many would stay in the water to cheer their friends on, or wait for their chance at the water swing.

Shoes off, life jackets on before entering the lake

You can rent a gazebo to rest and have a barbecue

Bamboo rafting was the next most popular activity, with each raft holding up to six people. They would paddle their way leisurely around the lake, with some making it a point to turn the raft and all its occupants over.

Others relaxed by bobbing in the water, or get cosy in one of the bamboo chairs that have a piece of netting at the bottom to let you sit in the water comfortably.

I had visions of reading while floating around in those chairs but quickly realised that I best have a waterproof cover for my book.

The Bamboo Huts are dormitory-style lodgings and can fit up to 12 persons per hut

A lifeguard watches from his post by the bamboo platform covered with artificial turf, keeping an eye out on all the going-ons. But there’s only one of him and with the crowds on weekends, it’s a good thing Tadom insists that all visitors don a lifejacket before entering the water.

The bright orange vests, set against emerald waters, make for a striking picture that matches the carnival-like atmosphere that pervades the place.

Tadom Groove may be the centre of raucous attention, but the rest of the resort is no less festive. You can do the limbo rock, play a game of Jenga (using giant wooden blocks) or Snakes and Ladders, ping-pong and also checkers – made of bamboo, no less.

At the lakefront gazebos, groups of friends or families lay out picnic spreads they prepared from home or rent a barbecue pit to grill their lunch or dinner.

A step-by-step guide to admission into Tadom Hill Resorts

On site, there is only one food and beverage outlet, the Tadom Hill Cafe that offers a menu of popular Malay cuisine including a variety of rice dishes. But they also cater to the team building groups and on the day I visited, they were cooking for no less than five such groups.

I was advised that there would be quite a wait for my order, unless I went with their set lunch of the day – bamboo rice with spiced chicken, curry, pickled vegetables and a cold drink. For RM10 per portion, it sounded like a good deal and I was not disappointed.

The rice arrived piping hot, wrapped in banana leaf and encased in bamboo. The chicken was well marinated, with a rich gingery flavour and was fried to the right doneness.

It was simple and satisfying, not unlike the resort itself. There are little frills or fanfare to the amenities; the offerings are fun-filled gems built around what Nature has provided. It’s not only an enjoyable escapade but for some, a chance to relive the experiences of an idyllic childhood.

Handwritten bamboo plaques decorate the tree house

As one visitor, who was there with his wife and their two teenage boys, remarked to me while pointing to the Tarzan swing: "When I was little, that’s what I did at the sungai near my house... now, I have to drive out of the city and pay for my sons to have the same experience!”

Tadom Hill Resorts is at Bukit Tadom, Kampung Labohan Dagang, Banting, Selangor

Tel 012-522 5728/012-522 5908/013-816 1175

Day passes Available daily (10am-6.45pm) from RM20 per adult on weekdays; rates vary on weekends and peak seasons

Accommodation Check their website for rates and availability http://www.tadomhillresorts.com/

Celebrate Malaysia Day at Tadom

The resort is organising a "Uniquely Malaysia” event on September 16. In the spirit of togetherness, the programme revolves around the traditional arts and heritage of the country’s various cultures. Activities include bamboo dance and bowling, weaving, Chinese lanterns, henna tattoos, and a "Teh Sendiri Tarik.” Passes are priced at RM88 (adults) and RM72 (children aged 3-12), and includes a buffet dinner. Find more information here http://www.tadomhillresorts.com/happenings/uniquely-malaysia/

Vivian Chong is always on the lookout for the next great escape from the city. Read more of her discoveries at http://thisbunnyhops.com/