Latest news with #RM537


The Star
08-07-2025
- The Star
From cooking to candy, roses are used for everything in this Albanian town
In Permet, deep in the spectacular Vjosa Valley of southern Albania, roses rule supreme, whether used to make perfumes, flavoured water or the Turkish delights sought out by thousands of sweet-toothed tourists. 'Here everything revolves around roses, from cooking with them to their medicinal virtues' – everything is seen through rose-tinted glasses, joked biology teacher Ariana Nikolla. Since she was little, the 57- year-old has been delicately picking the petals of her favourite variety, 'the Groom's Rose', named for its delicate scent. In Permet roses are a ritual – the first gift to a would-be lover. And they have to be pink, symbolising love and fidelity. Every family cultivates dozens of rose varieties in their garden, including the highly perfumed Damask and Provence roses, making the town famous across the Balkans for its artisanal rose water. Yet it is almost impossible to buy – it is just too valuable, say locals, who gift a few drops from time to time and jealously guard their reserves. Odeta Nasi prepares traditional Albanian sweets with rose water in her workshop. 'Rose water is like love' 'Rose water is like love, it must be carefully tended,' said veteran maker Resmie Tuci. 'The process of making high-quality rose water is difficult and meticulous. It requires very particular copper containers and you also have to use the right roses and select the ones with the most fragrant petals,' said the 70- year-old. The traditional method, passed from one generation to the next, is listed in Albania's national inventory of intangible cultural heritage. Nikolla collects the petals of a rose. First you stretch a cloth over a copper bowl laced with thread, itself placed inside a large, flat-bottomed basin filled with water. Then the hand-picked rose petals are carefully placed on the cloth and covered with a flat stone topped with hot ashes from a fire. The petals sweat underneath and yield up their precious rose water through condensation. 'It's a process that takes hours,' Tuci said. 'But every drop is precious,' chimes in Nikolla, filling a small bottle with rose water, which she will put in a sunny spot for several weeks before it is ready. 'It's as precious as gold,' she added. Nikolla prepares rose water. Sweet delights Locals use it for its supposed benefits, from soothing irritated eyes to an anti-inflammatory cream to help calm itching. And, of course, in cooking. Eftali Qerimi, 63, swears by it. The almond rose water cakes she bakes in her workshop are unlike any other local 'llokums'. Made with only almond powder, sugar and rose water, the rose-shaped fancies mark important events for families in the region. Women preparing traditional Albanian sweets with rose water in their workshop. Considered lucky charms, they are served at birthdays, weddings and baby showers. With the women in her workshop, Qerimi produces up to 10 kilos of Turkish delights a day, which she sells at €50 (RM537) a kilo. Occasionally, she makes small ones shaped like baby feet – a way, according to tradition, to wish newborns a long life. Between batches, the women make rose petal jam, its fragrance filling the workshop. Qerimi shows traditional Albanian sweets with rose water on a tray. 'The rose is everything for us; it symbolises the heart, love and life's happiness,' said Qerimi, who is hard at work with the tourism high season about to begin. 'Tourists flock to the town and after the natural beauties' of the valley, with its famous gorges and natural park, 'they also want to taste its culinary delights', she smiled. – By BRISEIDA MEMA/AFP


New Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
LBS Bina's 'Makan Angin Lokal' campaign achieves RM537mil in bookings
KUALA LUMPUR: LBS Bina Group Bhd, a prominent property developer with a strong commitment to people-first values, recently celebrated the success of its 'Makan Angin Lokal with LBS' campaign, which achieved a remarkable RM537 million in total bookings. Running from October 1 to December 31, 2024, the campaign was designed to reward buyers who completed their sale and purchase agreements and loan agreements and met all the necessary campaign requirements. The bookings were largely driven by demand in key hotspots like Selangor (Cybersouth, Seri Kembangan, Puchong) and Johor (Molek), with a significant portion of interest coming from first-time homebuyers, further reinforcing LBS's reputation for offering value-driven, highly sought-after developments. A total of 19 projects nationwide, including flagship developments like KITA @ Cybersouth, D'Island Residence, Prestige Residence, Centrum Iris, and Bayu Hills, participated in the campaign, showcasing LBS's strong market presence across Malaysia. As part of the rewards, LBS unveiled its grand prize winners, who collectively received hotel vouchers worth up to RM250,000. Winners can redeem these exclusive vouchers at premier hotels in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Penang, and Johor — offering them the perfect opportunity to enjoy memorable local vacations. The campaign culminated in a vibrant grand finale at the Raya KITA Fest, hosted at the LBS Discovery Gallery at KITA @ Cybersouth. The highlight of the day was the prize presentation ceremony, where LBS executive director Datuk Cynthia Lim personally handed over mock cheques to the jubilant winners. The highlight of the event was the official prize presentation ceremony, where I personally handed over mock cheques to the lucky winners. "This campaign is our way of expressing heartfelt appreciation to our customers while spreading joy and excitement throughout the LBS community," Datuk Cynthia Lim, executive director of LBS, said. "As a developer deeply rooted in community values, we take great pride in adding festive cheer for our esteemed customers and the broader LBS family," she said in a statement. This initiative also aligns with the developer's Three-Year 8 x 8 Strategy, particularly its focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience — ensuring that every interaction is personalised, seamless, and meaningful, Lim added. In line with the Malaysian government's push to promote domestic tourism, LBS's rewards aim to encourage homeowners to explore Malaysia's rich heritage while appreciating their trust and support. "We hope these rewards inspire homeowners to explore the richness of Malaysia's heritage while serving as a token of our appreciation for their trust and support." The festive event attracted over 200 guests, including LBS Perks & Plusses partners, campaign winners, potential buyers, and local community members. The celebration was filled with festive spirit, unity, and joy, highlighted by a free concert featuring popular local artists Naim Daniel, Iman Troye, and Zarul Umbrella, all brought together by LBS in a special Hari Raya celebration. To further elevate the experience, LBS's trusted partners — EON, Watsons, HWC Coffee, and Coway — added to the excitement with interactive booths and activities, ensuring a dynamic and engaging experience for everyone.