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Top Picks in Borneo: Exploring Sabah, Malaysia

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Malaysia is one of the world’s 17 “megadiverse” countries, with Borneo being their crown jewel of biodiversity! The world’s third largest island, fringed by a coral reef, covered with a 130-million-year-old rainforest, and teeming with endemic species, this is a place of epic proportions. While Borneo Malaysia is shared between two other countries (Indonesia and  Brunei), Malaysia’s state of Sabah on the north end of the island has the most protected rainforest, the tallest mountain, rich indigenous culture (38 groups making up 59% of the population), and solid tourism infrastructure to access these wilderness wonders…making it the natural choice for a Borneo trip! We gave ourselves 12 days (we could have easily spent a month here) to travel Sabah and are so excited to share the best of Malaysian Borneo. Read this blog as we trek with orangutans, scuba dive the legendary Sipadan, river safari like David Attenborough, and hone in on the best things to do in Sabah, Malaysia.

Shout-out to Allianz Travel for supporting our content and protecting us on this journey…travel insurance is a must for any trip to Borneo!

Sabah Travel Itinerary

Route & Timing:
Sepilok (1 day) > Sukau & Kinabatangan River (2 days) > Sipadan Scuba Diving Trip (3 Days if a diver; skip if not) > Danum Valley Conservation Area (2 days) > Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (2 Days) > Kinabalu Park (2 Days) > Transit Days (add 2 days buffer overall)

This 12-14 day Sabah travel itinerary starts in the northeast at Sepilok and heads in a clockwise direction, finishing in the capital of Kota Kinabalu on the South China Sea. It offers an exciting mix of Borneo rivers, rainforests, islands, mountains, indigenous culture, and cities. This blog has all our favorite experiences (even ones we didn’t get to), and if you zip down to the bottom of this post you can see all the logistical details.

Sepilok, Northeast Sabah

Sepilok Oranguatan Rehab HoneyTrek COPYRIGHT 144810

Just outside of the big city of Sandakan, the Sepilok area is worth staying the night for this educational trifecta: Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center + Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre + Rainforest Discovery Centre…all within walking distance.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Sabah Travel to the Sepilok Orangutans

Since 1964 the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre has been doing incredible work rehabilitating orphaned and injured orangutans on their 10,611-acre sanctuary. In this massive rainforest reserve, 60-80 orangutans live independently in the wilderness and approximately 25 orphaned orangutans are cared for in the nurseries until they can hopefully be released. The best time to go to Sepilok is at 10am or 3pm when they put out food for the orangutans still in need of assistance. 

We hiked for 10 minutes along the forested boardwalk to reach the feeding platform. Four orangutans were sitting in a circle, sharing snacks, stretching, and tending to an adorably fidgety baby. Orangutans share 97% of our DNA, and it is so evident when you watch their familiar mannerisms. Then came Malim, a 25-year-old flanged male pushing 200 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan, swinging in from the ropes. With huge cheeks, pronounced throat pouch, and long red hair, he is the perfect specimen of a dominant male and we were so lucky to see him!

Tip: We know it’s tempting to wait to see these great apes in the true wild, but in the event that doesn’t happen, you’ll be soooo glad you came and supported the rehabilitation center. 

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre

Borean Sun Bear Conservation Centre

Just across the way from the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is the first sanctuary for the world’s smallest bear. Being absolutely adorable has caused a lot of problems for the sun bear, and an alarming amount of people were keeping them in captivity! Malaysian biologist and now CNN Hero, Wong Siew Te, wanted to put an end to this practice through the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre’s rescue program, rehabilitation facility, and public education programs. We took a tour, learning fun facts, like sun bears are half the size of a black bear, have 10-inch-long tongues, and get their name from the golden sun-like patch of hair on their chest. We saw two bears pacing, still distressed from their former life in captivity, but we were happy to know this rehab center exists and think it’s worth stopping in for the chance to see a bear in a tree eating from a beehive like Winnie the Pooh!

Rainforest Discovery Centre

Rainforest Discovery Center Sepilok Sabah

Next on our crash course in Borneo biodiversity…The Rainforest Discovery Centre! Walk their impressive skywalk, 80 feet above the forest floor, while you read educational signs about the 3,000 tree species of Borneo. Climb the lookout towers and look into the ancient boughs to spot monkeys and a wide variety of birds, from the Bornean Bristlehead, Blue-headed Pitta, Cream-eyed Bulbul, and more in this official “Important Birding Area” and home to the Borneo Bird Festival. Many people also come here at night for the chance to see the Malayan Colugo. This talented lemur can glide distances over 400 feet in a single leap!

Book this Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, and Rainforest Discovery Centre as a full-day tour.

Kinabatangan River & Wildlife Sanctuary

Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Borneo Malaysia

The second longest river in Malaysia, Kinabatangan is home to the Borneo Big Five: pygmy elephant, orangutan, proboscis monkey, rhinoceros hornbill, and estuarine crocodile…plus 325 bird species! Exploring by riverboat with a keen-eyed guide is the best way to wildlife watch, which is why we went with Borneo Eco Tours and stayed at their fabulous Sukau Rainforest Lodge. 

Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Borneo Malaysia

Sukau Rainforest Lodge Sabah malaysia

A National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World and winner of a slew of awards for their sustainability efforts, Sukau Rainforest Lodge has been the river’s ecotourism pioneer since 1995. In the face of widespread logging that swept across Borneo in the late 20th century, Kari Bin Ongong, the lodge founder and member of the Orang Sungai indigenous group, helped plant the seed for what would become the government-protected Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. Between the luxurious accommodations and the area’s unprecedented biodiversity, the lodge has attracted guests from Judi Dench to Sir David Attenborough, who made this his base for a Borneo wildlife special. Only accessible by boat, this stilted retreat hovers over the river and extends into the rainforest by raised boardwalks. We stayed in one of their 20 recently added villas and loved the chic design and use of local decor. A sarong was hanging in our room with a note encouraging guests to wear this traditional skirt to dinner…and low and behold everyone got decked out for a very festive and familial vibe, as we dined on delicious Sabahan and international cuisine.

Kinabatangan River Safari 

kinabatangan river wildlife sanctuary, Sabah Malaysia

River safari is at the heart of the Sukau experience, with riverboats leaving before dawn, after lunch, and again at night to maximize sightings. We never missed the chance to wildlife watch and we saw the endemic rhinoceros hornbill, a 20-foot crocodile, a troop of macaque monkeys, Buffy fish owls, six species of kingfisher, and wacky Borneo specials like proboscis monkeys, with their big floppy noses! Our guide Fahran was excellent and the time spent with fellow wildlife lovers on the water was a joy. We highly recommend a stay at Sukau Rainforest Lodge and hope you get to see the pygmy elephants for us…the group the day before saw 20 crossing the river!

Semporna & The Celebes Sea

bajau laut people semporna sabah malaysia

To experience the marine side of Sabah’s wildlife, we headed to Semporna and the islands of the Celebes Sea…only to realize this area was just as culturally fascinating! Here, the majority of the population is Bajau Laut, a nomadic seaborne people living in sprawling stilted villages and small wooden houseboats. Their community extends across the waters between the Philippines and Indonesia, and has for thousands of years, yet few “sea nomads” like them are left in the world. We went to the bustling Semporna fish market and the scene was like Miami Vice meets Mad Max! Colorful wooden speed boats were bobbing and weaving to get into port and the beach was packed with vendors and buyers haggling for the freshest catch. We don’t even eat fish, but we went into the gauntlet just to experience this fascinating chaos.

FYI: Semporna has a history of pirates and not-so-long-ago kidnappings. While we felt safe, we’d just recommend having your wits about you to appreciate this unique look into another world. Also, if you are not a scuba diver, you may want to swap the Semporna region for another indigenous cultural experience.

Scuba Diving Greater Sipadan

best things to do sabah malaysia

The Coral Triangle is the most biodiverse marine region in the world, with over 6,000 species of fish and 76% of the planet’s coral species. It’s lined with epic scuba diving destinations, but one that consistently tops the lists? Sipadan, Malaysia. To explore the Sipadan Marine Park and its surrounding islands, we found a PADI-certified scuba diving outfitter like no other…a decommissioned oil rig turned eco-friendly dive resort hovering over the reef! Seaventures’ old cargo deck has been turned into a dive center and restaurant, employee housing into suites, helipad into a sweeping rooftop patio, and the freight elevator into a fun way to reach the sea. Our days were filled with three scuba sessions (plus as many as we’d like at the house reef directly below the rig), with breaks for bountiful meals, roof deck lounging, and high dives off the plank.

seaventures sipadan2

Between the 2,000-foot-tall oceanic island of Sipadan and the reef of Kapalai, the varied terrain offered every kind of dive, from high-speed drifts to shipwrecks to otherworldly macro. Bumphead parrotfish, whitetip reef sharks, spotted rays, green sea turtles, countless reef fish, and nudibranchs galore graced our 11 dives.  

Diving in Sipadan’s slice of the Coral Triangle, watching the morning light shimmer over the coral garden and silhouette the bumphead parrotfish, I thought to myself, “Getting scuba certified was one of the best things we’ve ever done.” We’ve traveled the seven continents, but Earth is 70% ocean, and without scuba, we’d just be skimming the surface! Our scuba training allowed us to swim alongside schools of barracuda, go eye to eye with feisty Nemos, watch a Mandarin fish mating dance, and explore inside shipwrecks. With a regulator in our mouth, we not only have the superpower to breathe underwater, but also a reason to stop the chatter and listen to the rhythms of nature and our innermost thoughts. In the deep blue, there is nowhere to be but present.

Do you have the power of scuba? Check out our Instagram gallery above and consider starting your PADI journey or upping your certification (wreck-diving, coral conservation, dive master)…so much more of the world awaits!
Check out www.HoneyTrek.com/PADI (*use the discount code HONEYTREK15 to get 15% off)

Lahad Datu: The Friendly Transit Hub

sabah malaysia travel tips

More rainforest exploration was in our future, but catching our early morning ride into the depths of Danum Valley Conservation Area required an overnight in Lahad Datu. No tourists would come to this town except to transit, but we were so glad we stayed the night to experience a real Bornean town outside of the eco-lodge bubble. For $16 we stayed at the perfectly nice Maya Hotel with a seaview and a short walk to the heart of town. We went to the Ramadan night market, lined with 50+ stalls, selling nasi lemak (the national dish), fried noodles, and delish durian cakes. We ate at multiple stalls and couldn’t seem to rack up a bill higher than $1.50 at any stand. The best part was the locals could not have been friendlier. Soooooo many people said hello, welcome, how are you, or just smiled ear-to-ear seeing a tourist in their underappreciated town.

Danum Valley Conservation Area

Danum Valley Sabah Malaysia HoneyTrek COPYRIGHT 094645

Danum Valley is the largest tract of lowland virgin rainforest left in Malaysia. This is not by chance. When the logging spree was headed this way in the late 1970s, World Wildlife Fund worked with the Sabah government to prove this forest is one of the most biodiverse on earth, and in urgent need of protection. Today, this 438-square-kilometer conservation area protects 340 bird species, 124 mammal species, and countless old-growth trees. To minimize disturbance while sharing its wonders, the Sabah Foundation offers travelers access through the Danum Valley Field Centre and one fabulous eco-resort…Borneo Rainforest Lodge. 

Borneo Rainforest Lodge

borneo rainforest lodge

Check-in at Borneo Rainforest Lodge begins at their Lahad Datu office with cappuccinos and snacks, before a 4×4 drives you two hours deep into the Danum Valley Conservation Area. We reached the lodge and were greeted with cool, lemongrass-scented towels and ushered into their gorgeous dining area with views of the Danum River for an excellent lunch.

Borneo Rainforest Lodge is built to top standards of sustainability. With a raised boardwalk connecting the rooms, they have kept the wildlife corridors open and worked around the existing trees. Rooms are plenty luxurious while taking eco-conscious measures, like cross-ventilation windows, solar-heated showers, microorganism wastewater treatment, and conservation measures at every turn….even used cooking oil gets upcycled into soaps!

Orangutan Tracking

orangutans borneo

Heading into the rainforest with our indigenous Desun Sepan guide, we were just meters from the lodge when we had our first orangutan sightings. Watching them move from tree to tree, nibble the leaves, build their nests, and care for their young, we were in awe of their grace and agility. Orangutans spend 95% of their lives in the trees, so we could safely (and unobtrusively) observe them from below, easily track their movements with the rustling of the leaves, and have intimate encounters with these endangered great apes.

Danum Valley Hiking & Adventures

danum valley borneo rainforest lodge sabah malaysia

Hiking along the Danum River and the Coffin Cliff Trail for 2.5 km, ancient trees towered over us. A steep climb brought us to the limestone cliffs, where the nooks in the rock became a pagan burial ground for the indigenous Orang Sungai people. An ironwood coffin, dating back 250 years has largely survived the elements, along with bone fragments of what is believed to be village leaders and esteemed warriors. Reaching the highest point in the valley, there were sweeping views of the lush mountains and snaking river. On our way down we hit multiple waterfalls, the towering Serpent Falls and the Jacuzzi Pools, where we took a refreshing dip! (Tip: If you stick your feet in the water long enough, the little “nibble fish” will gladly give you a pedicure.)

Danum Valley sabah wildlife

More Borneo Rainforest Lodge activities include the canopy suspension bridges, night safaris (by foot and EV buggy), river tubing, and spa treatments. Whatever we were up to, incredible wildlife sightings were a constant, from endemic red-leaf monkeys, colugos, Bornean Tarsiers, Harlequin flying frogs, and of course, orangutans! 

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

Best parks in Sabah Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

Across the state of Sabah and just three miles off the coast of Kota Kinabalu lies Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. This five-island reserve in the South China Sea protects the coral reef and an abundance of wildlife, plus offers a slew of recreation opportunities. The mile-long Manukan Island is the hub of the state park with a good marine museum, adorable restaurant, water sports program, and sandy beaches. To be honest, the park is quite busy with Kota Kinabalu day-trippers, but the travel hack is to stay overnight at one of the island resorts like Gaya Island Resort or Sutera Sanctuary Lodges’ Manukan Island Resort to find the serenity of this beautiful place.

Manukan Island Resort

Sutera Sanctuary Lodges

We based our marine park adventures at Manukan Island Resort. While not the fanciest resort in the archipelago, we loved our apartment-style bungalow, private beach with sun sails and loungers, and the dining experiences were unforgettable. By day, Arang restaurant has this great beach-house vibe with colorful decor, chaise lounges, fab food, and beers flowing. By night, we had exclusive on-sand dining room with a sheer teepee and candlelit path framing a table for two. While enjoying a three-course plant-based meal, a trio of guitarists came to serenade us. Ask them to play their traditional Sabahan songs to further your love of Borneo island life.

Water Adventures at Tunku Abdul Rahman

Tunku Abdul Rahman Park Sabah

The Tunku Abdul Rahman is a watersport paradise…scuba diving, snorkeling, banana boats, and island hopping. From the Manukan Island dock you can set you up whichever adventure you’d like, and we chose to parasail for the first time! Not gonna lie, it always seemed a little cheesy to us, but hey, don’t knock till you try it…parasailing turned out to be an ultra-fun and scenic way to explore the islands! To continue our park adventures, we ferried over to Mamutik Island. The beach by the jetty is busy with tourists, but walk 15 minutes clockwise around the island and you’ll find a secret cove with gorgeous rock formations and good snorkeling.

Mount Kinabalu

sabah travel

While we did not get the chance to do the two-day trek to the top of this 13,000-foot mountain and UNESCO World Heritage Site, we wanted to put Kinabalu Park on your radar…because it sounds epic and you need to plan ahead. Just 86 kilometers from the Sabah capital, this craggy tectonic plateau, covered in 3,000 species of plants, looks like something out of Lord of the Rings! Treks should be booked 4-6 months in advance to secure permits and lodging. You’ll bed down at Panalaban Base Camp, either in one of the bunkhouses or Sutera Sanctuary Lodge’s Laban Rata, then wake up at 2am to make it to the summit checkpoint by 5am and finish your ascent for a breathtaking sunrise over Sabah and the South China Sea. We hope you go for it! That said, you can still get a taste of Mount Kinabalu with a full-day trip from the capital, exploring trails at the base of the mountain to enjoy the flora, fauna, hot springs, and indigenous villages.

Sabah, Malaysia: Know Before You Go

travel tips borneo malaysia

Borneo is truly a bucket-list trip, so to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible, here are a few tips to prepare for your Sabah travels.

Best time to visit Sabah:  March to September is the dry season, making it the ideal time to travel Sabah. FYI, being along the equator in a tropical climate, it’s always hot and humid. Funny enough, we came during the month of Ramadan (check the ever-changing lunar calendar) thinking that was a downside, but it turned out to be a huge benefit…with lots of hotel and bus availability and lively night markets to break the fast with locals each night.

Do I need a visa for Malaysia? Passport holders from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and most EU countries do not need a passport for Malaysia.

Is Malaysia expensive? Southeast Asia in general is very affordable and Malaysia is one of the most economical in the region. $1 USD = 4.7 Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). When you buy locally in Sabah, lunch will cost you around $2 USD, a decent hotel room $20, and a long-distance bus $10. That said, all-inclusive eco-lodges. which are sometimes essential for experiencing these remote wilderness areas, and are of course at much higher prices.

Travel Insurance for Borneo: Between the complexity of transit, costs of all-inclusive tours, and safety concerns of exploring remote regions, travel insurance is a must. We highly recommend Allianz. We use their AllTrips Premier Plan to get coverage (everything from baggage delays to medical evacuation) whenever and wherever we go throughout the year. They also offer comprehensive single-trip plans if you want to focus on Borneo.

Language: Malay is the national language, with English widely spoken. That said, there are 50 languages across Sabah’s 39 indigenous ethnic groups. At a minimum, learn the Malay words for thank you, “teri-ma ka-see” and delicious, “se-dop” to show your appreciation.

Food in Sabah: The food is fabulous, especially if you like a little spice! Expect rice-based dishes–from Nasi Lemak‘s coconut rice with sambal chili and peanuts to Sabahan leaf-wrapped ketupats, noodle soups like laksa, and the best tropical fruit! With populations of ethnic Indians and Chinese across Malaysia, their fabulous cuisines are widely available. Vegetarian and vegan food is pretty easily available upon request and there are always lots of veggie sides to choose from, including unbeattable fresh tempeh!

Transportation: Traveling eastern Sabah is easily achieved by overland transit. Most remote ecolodges include transportation to and from transit hubs and airports. Between cities, a local bus is a good option, ranging from air-conditioned coaches to on-demand minivans (we did both, booked the same day without a problem, and enjoyed the local color!). Sabah is also very connected by plane, with airports in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, and Tawau (closest to Semporna). We always try to limit flights for environmental reasons, but would say it’s best to fly to Kota Kinabalu, per the long distance and poor road conditions to cross the state. Malaysia Airlines offers the most extensive options.

Packing for Borneo: Between very strong equatorial sun, rainforest crawlies, and the conservative nature of Muslim populations, covering up is the way to go. Pack lightweight long-sleeve shirts and long pants, wicking t-shirts, 2 pairs of shorts, high trekking socks, sturdy shoes, a set of beach attire, and a sporty raincoat (no warm layers necessary; unless you trek Mount Kinabalu.) Throw in a small pair of quality binoculars to enhance your wildlife viewing, without adding much bulk to your luggage. See more of HoneyTrek’s essential packing list and save room in your bag for a batik sarong, the local fashion and a handy accessory.

We hope you enjoyed our Sabah travel guide and are stoked to explore Borneo! Let us know what piques your interest, and if you have any questions in the comments below. For more inspiration and behind the scenes from our trip, see our Borneo Instagram Stories and check out SabahTourism.com for local info.

Thank you to Allianz Travel Insurance for sponsoring our Sabah travel blog and believing in the importance of eco-tourism.

Expanding Her $250 Million Audio Empire, Top Female Podcaster in the U.S. Dives into Mystery and Thriller Brand for Film and TV

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Good morning! Paramount and Trump yet to reach settlement over CBS News lawsuit, Kathy Warden’s Northrop Grumman invests in rocket developer startup, and the top female podcaster in the U.S. thinks you’d like true crime—even if you don’t already listen.

– Listen up. In an average week during the first three months of this year, 6.4 million Americans listened to Crime Junkie. That’s the true crime podcast hosted by Ashley Flowers, who over the past seven years has built an Indiana-based audio empire—and now has ambitions to turn it into a true media empire.

Crime Junkie’s listener stats make it the No. 2 podcast in the U.S.—and make Flowers the nation’s top female podcaster. (Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy is No. 4.) “I’ll get Joe Rogan one day,” Flowers joked when I spoke with her backstage at one of her live shows in Seattle last month. Thousands of fans had driven hours to see Flowers in person, where she told the story of an unsolved 1987 Colorado murder and the wrongful conviction that followed. She has even mobilized her audience to take action, encouraging them to contact the state’s attorney general.

Flowers is the creative force behind her show, but the 36-year-old has also been balancing a second job as CEO of parent company Audiochuck, which has 70 employees and 20 podcasts. “I didn’t come from a media background,” says Flowers, who before launching Crime Junkie did business development for a software company. “I was just scrappy and wore so many hats.” She typically arrives at the office by 4:30 a.m. to accomplish those dual roles. The hard work has paid off with Audiochuck earning $45 million in profit last year, according to Bloomberg (Flowers credits low overhead costs in Indiana for allowing that number), and a valuation of $250 million. Flowers has published two mystery novels (the second, earlier this month) and has her own channel on SiriusXM, too, which also handles advertising for the Audiochuck podcast network.

“Crime Junkie” host Ashley Flowers is expanding her podcast empire into film and TV.
Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

She’s obsessed with true crime and says she remembers the facts of every case she’s ever worked on—across hundreds of podcast episodes. “It’s just human nature for us to want to make sense of things that don’t make sense,” she says. “Solving puzzles—your brain tries to fit the pieces together.”

Flowers is now bringing on a new CEO, Fortune is the first to report. Matthew Starker arrived from Endeavor Streaming, where he was chief business officer. He joins Audiochuck after a $40 million investment from the Chernin Group in February—and is tasked with bringing to life Flowers’ thesis that the audience for true crime is much bigger than even the 6.4 million who listen to Crime Junkie. Starker says the total addressable market for true crime fans worldwide is 230 million. “If you enjoy someone telling you an amazing story with edge-of-your-seat twists and turns, you’re going to like Crime Junkie,” Starker says.

Audiochuck aims to move into film and television—which prompted Flowers to bring on outside investment to help her navigate new industries. “Taking the assets and the IP that they’ve built out and expanding that into video and television, there’s just so much potential,” Starker says. Some of that will still be true crime—a TV adaptation of Crime Junkie might look something like a modernized Dateline–but it will also pursue scripted content in the mystery and thriller genres. (Under what name—Audiochuck? Crime Junkie? Flowers’ herself?—is still TBD.) “What Blumhouse is for horror, I want Audiochuck to be for mystery and thriller,” Flowers says.

Emma Hinchliffe
emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com

The Most Powerful Women Daily newsletter is Fortune’s daily briefing for and about the women leading the business world. Today’s edition was curated by Nina Ajemian. Subscribe here.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

Digital Twins: Connecting the Physical and Virtual Worlds in Construction

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There is a new generation of buildings made not of bricks and mortar, but of bits and pixels. They are not designed for living in or sheltering from the rain, yet they serve a vital purpose. Digital twins are reshaping how construction projects are designed, delivered and managed. Powered by 3D modelling, Building Information Modelling (BIM), and real-time data, this technology enables the optimisation of every stage in the lifecycle of an infrastructure asset, from construction through to maintenance.

What is a digital twin and how is it used in construction?

A digital twin is a dynamic, virtual representation of a physical asset, system or process, continuously updated with real-time data. In construction, it goes beyond traditional 3D modelling or BIM by incorporating data from sensors and smart platforms, offering a holistic, up-to-date picture of every phase in an infrastructure project’s lifecycle.

This technology helps to spot issues before they arise, lower construction and maintenance costs, and enhance the project’s operational and energy efficiency. It also improves collaboration between teams at every stage—from early design through to predictive maintenance and even demolition at the end of the asset’s life.

Key applications across the project lifecycle

Digital twins enhance each stage of a building or infrastructure’s lifecycle in the following ways:

  1. Design and planning. In this phase, combining BIM and 3D models enables the creation of highly detailed virtual simulations. Once integrated into a digital twin, these models can test variables such as a building’s energy performance or structural response to different weather conditions. This allows for better-informed decisions from the very beginning.
  2. Construction and execution. During the build phase, sensors installed on site continuously feed data into the digital twin. This enables real-time monitoring of progress, early identification of deviations from the plan, and the ability to anticipate delays or logistical issues. Tools such as virtual and augmented reality also support on-site design checks and safer staff training.
  3. Operation and maintenance. With predictive maintenance, it is possible to detect material and equipment wear before it leads to failure, schedule inspections proactively, and optimise systems like lighting and climate control. This not only enhances safety but also improves energy efficiency and extends the asset’s lifespan.

Digital twins vary in how they interact with the physical environment:

  • Static digital twin. Based on 3D or BIM models without live data integration, this version is mainly used during design, offering visualisations and early-stage analysis.
  • Connected digital twin. This version incorporates sensors that provide continuous feedback from the physical environment. It is especially useful during construction and for operational monitoring, enabling real-time decision-making.
  • Smart or predictive digital twin. Enhanced with advanced analytics and AI, this twin can forecast future conditions, from energy demand to maintenance needs.
  • Autonomous digital twin. Still under development in many sectors, this twin is capable of reacting independently to certain events, increasing infrastructure resilience and reducing the need for human intervention.

The BIM2TWIN project and its impact on construction

One notable example of digital twin application in construction is the BIM2TWIN project. Its aim is to develop a digital twin platform to support the management of construction processes.

The BIM2TWIN platform combines artificial intelligence with semantic data linked to a project’s BIM model. This integration helps reduce inefficiencies, improves scheduling, cuts costs, enhances on-site safety and quality, and lowers the project’s carbon footprint.

The platform has been rolled out across three pilot projects in France, Finland and Spain. In Spain, ACCIONA lead implementation in an innovative development in Valencia.

The platform delivers real-time insights into the status of the building or infrastructure and ongoing works. It also improves process control and execution quality, enables early detection of risks on site, optimises machinery use, and supports advanced planning to anticipate the impact of changes and test alternative approaches.

BIM2TWIN marks a major step in construction’s digital transformation—and shows how digital twins can make building projects more efficient, safer and more sustainable.

 

Source:

Top 50 Players in the Class of 2027 Rankings

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CHLOE ALMEIDA

Pennsylvania – Defense/Midfield
Unionville High School
WC Eagles

SARAH ANETSBERGER

Illinois – Forward
Glenbrook North High School
Windy City

VALENTINA BAIZAN

Texas – Midfield/Forward
St. John’s School
Texas Pride

MADISON BELL

Pennsylvania – Forward/Midfield
West Perry High School
Central Penn

AVA BOLAND

Maryland – Midfield
Saint Mary’s High School
Freedom HKY

HADLEY COUPE

Pennsylvania – Midfield
Villa Maria Academy
WC Eagles

FINLEY DAVIDSON

Maryland – Midfield
Kent Island High School
Freedom HKY

KENDALL DELUCA

Pennsylvania – Midfield/Forward
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
Mainline Mayhem

CHARLOTTE DESCHEPPER

Massachusetts – Goalkeeper
Acton Boxborough Regional High School
Strikers

PEYTON ESPOSITO

Pennsylvania – Forward
Conestoga High School
WC Eagles

CHEYENNE GREENE

Pennsylvania – Midfield
Faith Christian Academy
WC Eagles

ISABELLA HOCKENBERRY

Pennsylvania – Defense
Red Land High School
Central Penn

JADYN HOUSTON

Texas – Goalkeeper
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
Lonestar

BRAYDEN JOHNSTON

Virginia – Midfield
Nansemond River High School
TCOYO

MIA JONES

Virginia – Midfield
Norfolk Academy
Focus

PHOEBE LAFERRIERE

New Jersey – Forward
Oak Knoll School
New Heights

ELSIE LAKIN-SCHULTZ

Massachusetts – Defense
Belmont High School
Wizards

LEAH LARIT

Connecticut – Midfield
Staples High School
AGH

GABBY LEE

Pennsylvania – Midfield
The Agnes Irwin School
WC Eagles

GEORGIA LEE

New Jersey – Goalkeeper
Chatham High School
Centercourt Elite

JEMMA LEE

Virginia – Midfield/Forward
Woodside High School
Saints

RAYA MCHENRY

Virginia – Midfield/Forward
Independence High School
Metro HC

JOSIE MOLINARI

Maryland – Forward
Connelly School of the Holy Child
Warhawks

KATIE MORAN

New Jersey – Goalkeeper
West Essex High School
NJ Grit

MARISSA MUZA

Pennsylvania – Midfield
Cumberland Valley High School
Central Penn

NAOMI NIEWINSKI

Pennsylvania – Forward
Villa Maria Academy
WC Eagles

LIBERTY OLIVETTI

Pennsylvania – Midfield/Forward
Mechanicsburg Area High School
Central Penn

MARY OLIVETTI

Pennsylvania – Midfield
Mechanicsburg Area High School
Central Penn

CAITLIN PAUL

Pennsylvania – Midfield
Mount St. Joseph Academy
WC Eagles

LILY ROST

Pennsylvania – Forward
Lower Dauphin High School
PA Revolution

SOFIA RUEGG

Texas – Forward
St. John’s School
Texas Pride

ATIA SABBAGH

Delaware – Defense/Midfield
Cape Henlopen High School
WC Eagles

KATIE SAMPSON

New Jersey – Midfield/Forward
North Hunterdon High School
Omega

REESE SAMRA

New Jersey – Midfield/Forward
Kingsway Regional High School
Mainline Mayhem

MARGO SCHWARZ

Pennsylvania – Forward
Kennett High School
PowerHouse

AVERY SWENSON

Massachusetts – Midfield
Middlesex School
Wizards

CLAIRE TURNER

Pennsylvania – Defense
The Hill School
WC Eagles

EMILY ULRICH

Pennsylvania – Midfield
Boyertown Area High School
X-Calibur

GENEVIEVE WALCH

Delaware – Midfield
Newark Charter School
H20

HOLLAND WILKINS

North Carolina – Midfield
Charlotte Country Day School
Charlotte Ambush

The post Class of 2027 Top 150 Player Rankings – Top 50 appeared first on MAX Field Hockey.

Russian Authorities Detain Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich

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Gershkovich has lived in Moscow for the past six years as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal focusing his coverage on Russia, Ukraine, and the former Soviet Union. He is accredited as a journalist by Russia’s foreign ministry, the Wall Street Journal reported. His last article, published Tuesday, was about the possible forthcoming decline of Russia’s economy. 

Gershkovich’s arrest comes at a time the Kremlin is cracking down on dissent and criticism during its ongoing war in Ukraine, which the international community has condemned. In September 2022, Russian police arrested 1,300 people at anti-war protests after President Vladimir Putin announced that citizens would be drafted for the fight against Ukraine. More recently, a Russian father was sentenced to two years in prison after his 13-year-old daughter made pro-Ukrainian art with the slogan “Glory to Ukraine.” 

Russia is also cracking down on media. After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Putin signed a law making it a crime to report “fake” news about the war with Ukraine — including merely referring to it as a war — leading to many international organizations suspending reporting from the country. 

Outlets that remained have done so under censorship, with restricted language and punishment for contradicting the government. According to Reporters Without Borders, journalists have also been targeted with attacks while reporting from within Ukraine, and eight were killed within the first six months of the war. 

Russian authorities have made high-profile arrests of US citizens before, often on inflated or spurious grounds. On Feb. 17, 2022, shortly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian authorities arrested WNBA player Brittney Griner after vape cartridges with a small amount of hashish oil were found in her luggage. Griner later pleaded guilty to drug charges and was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony. The case was widely seen as a political move to put pressure on the United States, which had promised aid to Ukraine. Griner was later released in a prisoner swap with Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Gershkovich is the first journalist in over 30 years to be detained in Russia on espionage accusations. In 1986, Nicholas Daniloff, a reporter for U.S. News & World Report, was arrested by the KGB while he was a Moscow correspondent and released 20 days later in a prisoner swap for an employee of the Russian government who had been arrested by the FBI.

Tips for Connecting with Others While Traveling Solo

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Before I first went traveling in 2006, I had these expectations in my head based on nothing but my imagination and popular culture.

My trip was going to be a nonstop adventure filled with colorful and exciting people. Crazy things were going to happen to me. I’d make friends everywhere. I’d be talking to strangers on buses. Locals would invite me out for drinks. I’d be sipping a latte, strike up a conversation with my beautiful waitress, and then the next thing I’d know, we’d be at a wine bar, staring into each other’s eyes while she taught me French.

It was going to be just like those articles I’d read or travel movies I saw. One adventurous scene after the next.

Then I went overseas.

There I was in the hostel, on the road, seeing amazing attractions in historic cities. I could do whatever I wanted, when I wanted. I was finally marching to the beat of my own drum.

At first, it was exciting, as I set my daily schedule and did things by myself. I was so busy those first couple of days that I had forgotten I was alone. And that was fine — until it wasn’t.

As the days wore on and my tongue forgot what speech sounded like, that excitement dissipated. I began to crave human interaction and companionship.

Suddenly, I was alone — and in the bad way.

Aloneness had turned to loneliness.

Where were the locals who were supposed to show me around? The cool travelers I’d spend nights out with? Once I ran out of things to do, I could no longer hide my aloneness.

Sure, I could move on to another city, hoping that the magic would happen there, that it was the destination’s fault and not me.

But it was me. Life doesn’t just happen to you — you have to make it happen.

And I wasn’t.

I began to realize the only reason I was alone was because of fear.

As an introvert, it isn’t natural for me to just walk up to strangers and talk to them. That was especially true way back in 2006, when I first started traveling. (Heck, it takes me a lot to overcome that today.)

But that fear was keeping me from living the dreams I had in my head. If I wanted those dreams to happen, I was going to have to make them happen.

A lot of people wonder if traveling alone means they will always be alone. How will they make friends? Is it hard?

It’s a valid concern and, for us to whom socializing doesn’t come naturally, it’s a challenge. But let me tell you: it’s a lot easier than you think.

There are a lot of people traveling solo.

People just like you.

People looking for an adventure.

People who crave interactions with others.

And that other is you.

I overcame being alone when people in my hostel in Prague started talking to me. They were the first ones to reach out, luckily. They broke the barrier I was too afraid to break myself, sitting there, waiting for “something to happen.”

But, after they broke the ice, I realized that it was actually easier and less scary than I thought. Those travelers were like me and looking for a friend.

Things rarely happen unless you make them happen. You need to go out and talk to strangers yourself.

It took the introvert in me a while to learn that truth, but once I did, I had no trouble meeting people. After those travelers said hello and showed me how easy it was, I realized I was making a mountain out of a molehill. There was nothing to be scared of. I just had to say hi.

Because we all start off in the same boat: in a foreign country without any friends, not speaking the language, and looking for people to spend time with. Once you realize that, you also realize how simple and easy it is to make friends…because everyone is just like you.

That’s the big secret. There’s nothing more to overcome being alone than to get over yourself and say “hi.”

The key is to start small and break out of your shell. Talk to the person in your dorm room. Say hello. Ask them about themselves. Trust me, they will respond. They’ll ask you about you, your home, your travel plans, and more.

From there, just do the same to other travelers you see. Look for a group leaving for the bar and ask, “Can I join you?”

Walk over to that pool table in the hostel and ask, “Who’s next?”

People will say yes. Conversation will begin. Friendships will blossom.

And thanks to the sharing economy, there are lots more ways to meet people beyond meeting them at hostels,

For example, I’m sure you have one thing you are passionate about, right? Well, people around the world have that same passion. Use a website like Meetup.com to find local groups that form around that passion. Maybe it’s swing dancing, maybe it’s pickleball or Dungeons & Dragons. Whatever it is, I’m sure there are locals who do it too. Finding local groups with a shared interest is a great way to break the ice because you already have something to talk about, something that creates an instant connection.

Moreover, you can try the website Couchsurfing. It’s not only a place to find accommodation; it also has tons of meet-ups you can attend to find other travelers and like-minded people.

Additionally, there are lots of Facebook groups where you can find people to meet. I know, it sounds sketchy, but I’ve used them a bunch recently and they’ve been great. Some groups worth checking out are Girls Love Travel, Find a Travel Buddy, and Solo Trips and Travelers.

I’ll be honest, at first, I found it hard to speak to others. Conversations stumbled from time to time. But you either sink or swim on the road. My options were to be alone (and risk potentially going home early) or to get over my fear, take the plunge, and talk to people.

I choose the latter.

And on the occasions I was sinking instead of swimming, other travelers came up to me and said hello. They made the first move so I didn’t have to.

Why? Because they were looking to make friends too. Like me, they understood that if they didn’t do something, they too would have been alone.

Travelers are a friendly bunch. They want to meet new people and make new friends.

And one of those friends is you.

For that reason, you are never alone on the road. There are people everywhere who will be constantly talking to you and inviting you out (especially if you’re staying in hostels).

So no, traveling alone doesn’t mean you will be alone.

Take it from this introvert: you’ll meet more people than you’ll know what to do with. (In fact, there will be points when you wished you had some personal “me” time.)

Eventually, you’ll realize there was never a reason to worry in the first place. And you’ll never be alone again.
 

How to Travel the World on $75 a Day

How to Travel the World on $75 a DayHow to Travel the World on $75 a Day

My New York Times best-selling book to travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you’ll get off save money, always find deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.”

Click here to learn more and start reading it today!

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need a Rental Car?
Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

HYBE expands global presence with launch of new subsidiary in China, furthering K-Pop giant’s reach

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HYBE has officially launched a subsidiary in China, the world’s fifth-largest recorded music market.

A HYBE spokesperson has confirmed that the South Korea-born entertainment giant set up an office in Beijing last month. Yonhap reports that the dedicated subsidiary in China is aimed at helping the company’s artists expand into the market.

HYBE is behind superstar acts including BTS, ENHYPEN, Seventeen, and others.

The launch of an office in Beijing marks HYBE’s fourth global market presence outside of South Korea, having expanded into Japan, followed by the United States and, most recently, Latin America over the past few years.

Confirmation of HYBE’s expansion into China follows last week’s news, also reported by South Korean news agency Yonhap, that HYBE is also planning to establish an office in Mumbai, India.

According to that report, HYBE is preparing to make a “full-fledged entry into the Indian entertainment market starting with a local office”.

HYBE told us in a statement at the time that, “while HYBE is not currently in the stage of making concrete plans to establish a local office [in India], we regularly conduct market research across countries and regions”.

HYBE’s expansion into China arrives alongside reports that the market is set to lift a ban on South Korean cultural imports. K-pop groups have reportedly been unofficially barred from performing in China since around 2016/2017.

Improved relations between the two countries could result in a substantial uplift in concert ticket, album, and merch sales for South Korean entertainment companies as they expand beyond their home market amid the continued rise in K-pop’s global popularity.

HYBE’s move to set up a new office in China arrives in the same year that its flagship K-Pop act, BTS, is set to return after a hiatus of several years due to the members’ military service.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, we learned that HYBE is selling its entire 9.38% stake in rival K-Pop firm SM Entertainment to Tencent Music Entertainment, China’s largest owner of music streaming services, in a transaction worth nearly $180 million.

We suggested earlier this week that Tencent Music’s significant investment in a South Korean music company signals a vote of confidence in South Korean Entertainment’s future positioning in the Chinese market.

Earlier today, SM and Tencent Music announced a new partnership that will see them co-produce new idol groups and plan local performances in China.

Yonhap notes that SM Entertainment, but also YG Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment, which are all key rivals to HYBE in the K-pop business, already run their own China-based divisions.


When news arrived last week about HYBE’s reported India expansion plans, we asked if HYBE was considering a potential acquisition in the market, replicating its strategy of buying local companies and expanding into markets such as the US and Latin America.

HYBE entered into the Latin Music market in 2023 via the acquisition of Exile Music, an affiliate label of Spanish-language entertainment studio Exile Content.

Since then, the company has expanded its presence in the market through initiatives such as its partnership with Spanish-language television network Telemundo to launch Pase a la Fama.

HYBE’s most notable M&A move in recent years, however, was the $1 billion-plus acquisition of Braun’s Ithaca Holdings in the US, in 2021.

And in February 2023, HYBE America, led by Scooter Braun, acquired Atlanta rap powerhouse QC Media Holdings aka Quality Control, home to acts such as Lil Baby, Migos, Lil Yachty and City Girls, in a deal was worth $300 million, according to Korean regulator filings.

Elsewhere in the US, MBW broke the news in March that HYBE has acquired Santa Monica-based ‘events concierge’ company Confirmed360, which has been linked to arranging VIP experiences at concerts by superstars from Taylor Swift to Justin Timberlake.

Just yesterday (May 29), HYBE America divested Big Machine Rock, the Nashville-based rock imprint of Big Machine Label Group, selling the label to Gebbia Media. (BMLG was acquired by Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings in 2019. The entirety of Ithaca, including BMLG and Braun’s SB Projects, was then acquired by South Korea’s HYBE in 2021.)


HYBE recently achieved its highest-ever first-quarter revenue haul, surpassing the 500 billion South Korean won mark in the three months to the end of March.

HYBE reported KRW 500.6 billion (approx. USD $348.4 million at current exchange rates) in first-quarter revenue on Tuesday (April 29), a 38.7% jump from KRW 360.9 billion ($251m) last year.

Music Business Worldwide

Luxury Adventure Camper Van from Grand Design’s Lineage VT Series

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Europe has a comfortable lead designing the world’s most luxuriously accommodating production camper vans. The US, on the other hand, is more about forging a lead in rugged, versatile off-road adventure vans. Now, Winnebago Industries’ Grand Design RV is bringing those two worlds screaming together. Its all-new Lineage van features a level of interior glamping luxury you don’t usually see outside the European or custom markets, housed within a ruggedized Ford Transit van primed for all-terrain journeys to remote off-grid campsites.

A relatively new brand in the Indianan heartland of the American RV industry, Grand Design typically busies itself with big honking premium travel trailers and Class C motorhomes. The Lineage Series VT is its first dip in the camper van pool, and rather than going the more obvious and popular route (Mercedes Sprinter), it shows its American Midwest pride by starting off with a Ford Transit 148 topped with a high roof.

To give its first Class B that spontaneous, adventurous edge upon which American van-dwellers thrive, Grand Design includes standard all-wheel-drive for distributing out the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6’s 310 hp and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm) of torque to all four wheels. It ensures those wheels are adept at using that torque to bite into the ground below by wrapping them up in a set of BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires, hanging a full spare off the back by the ladder.

Grand Design moves the spare tire to a carrier on the back of the van, making room for the underbody split-system condensor/compressor air conditioning, which feeds into a vent over top the bed

Grand Design

Connecting those ruggedly shod wheels to Ford’s chassis is an upgraded Van Compass suspension with 2-in lift. A set of running boards helps occupants make the leap up to the raised van floor.

A full-length roof rack comes standard atop the hard-roofed two-sleeper Lineage VT, flashing 400 watts of pre-mounted solar panels at the sun. Buyers can double that to 800 watts, optionally. The optional pop-up roof, meanwhile, comes directly adorned with 300 watts of solar, no rack. The non-pop-up van includes a full-width light bar on the front of its rack, while both models come with area pod lights at the rear corners.

The pop-up roof includes a panoramic fabric design and skylight
The pop-up roof includes a panoramic fabric design and skylight

Grand Design

A passenger-side awning comes standard, and buyers really looking to keep powered up for long off-grid stints can opt up to the available 720-W solar awning. The VT camps electrically with no propane equipment, powered by a 48-V Lithionics package with a 165-Ah battery that can be optionally doubled up to 330 Ah. That system is designed to power base camp for up to three days with the 20K-BTU underbody-mounted air conditioner humming along to keep the inside cool.

All that off-grid, all-terrain focus lets the Lineage VT’s American roots shine, but stepping through the sliding rear door is like taking a quick trip across the Atlantic. Sure, many manufacturers use Europe’s preferred floor plan with foldaway rear bed, front-facing bench/dining area, and central wet bath/kitchen, but Grand Design dials up the continental flavor with lesser-seen features inspired by – some even directly imported from – the Old Continent.

The attachable, expanding dining table doubles as an outdoor work table when attached to the back of the kitchen block
The attachable, expanding dining table doubles as an outdoor work table when attached to the back of the kitchen block

Grand Design

It starts smack in the center of the van with a wet bathroom that pushes outside its cramped driver-side compartment to span the width of the van to the kitchen counter. The shower floor is integrated into the main aisle, below a removable floor panel, and a roller door wraps around the space for privacy. A rainfall shower head is built into the ceiling directly over the aisle, offering a more neatly integrated solution than the typical shower head or sprayer.

That style of expandable roller door wet bathroom has been a staple of European camper design, even on rather inexpensive vans, for as long as we’ve been following. During that same stretch, most American camper van builders have remained a little too comfortable with closet-like wet bathrooms and deconstructed spaces that break down to stealthy nothingness.

The rainfall shower is located right over the center aisle, which becomes part of the bathroom
The rainfall shower is located right over the center aisle, which becomes part of the bathroom

Grand Design

Being a Winnebago brand, Grand Design could have quite easily carbon-copied the Revel’s small but clever wet bath, but it instead went a few steps further to maximize elbow room and elegance. In fact, when you consider the overhead rainfall shower, the Lineage VT bathroom is most similar to the design we recently saw in the Camper Schmiede Marilyn Onroad, an experimental one-off custom camper. Not bad for a volume production van from a big Indiana RV maker.

Outside that bathroom roller door, the Lineage VT kitchen block pulls more than just inspiration from the European market, featuring a countertop made from Italian porcelain. That top isn’t merely a luxe appointment, concealing an InvisaCook induction cooktop below. A cleaner solution than an above-counter or portable induction cooker, the unit is always at the ready but stays completely out of the way, maintaining a clear, flush usable work space when not in use.

Putting the hidden induction cooktop to use
Putting the hidden induction cooktop to use

Grand Design

That premium residential-grade cooktop design is complemented by a rectangular kitchen sink with a cutting board cover and a swivel faucet that offers both direct and wide rainfall modes. The 91-L fridge/freezer is located at the end of the galley block, just inside the sliding door, while a pop-up spice rack makes use of the space behind the sink.

Stepping into the convertible rear bedroom area, a foldaway center bed panel fills out the space between two side consoles to complete the bed foundation. The driver-side console houses the electrical and systems hardware, while the passenger-side console complements the overhead cabinets in offering loads of storage space. The latter even includes a handy integrated mesh laundry bag below a removable top panel and a slim, heavy-duty storage tray that slides out of the rear door.

The center of the bed folds up, leaving a side shelf/work area console; the dining table mounts to the underside of the bed when not in use
The center of the bed folds up, leaving a side shelf/work area console; the dining table mounts to the underside of the bed when not in use

Grand Design

Once the center panel is folded down and the mattress segments put in place, the 54 x 80-in (137 x 203-cm) bed stretches across the width of the van. Another clever highlight Grand Designs has hidden away, a 50-in projector screen at the foot of the bed unfurls from the overhead cabinetry at the push of a button next to the passenger-side window. A magnet integrated into the underside of the passenger-side overhead cabinet floor works to hold a projector in place for enjoying movies in bed.

The retractable projector screen delivers in-bed entertainment
The retractable projector screen delivers in-bed entertainment

Grand Design

The front end of the Lineage VT interior offers plenty of natural light thanks to another feature literally imported straight from Europe. The double-pane skylight extends from just over the windshield up to the roof, bringing in plenty of sunlight and delivering up views of the sky above.

We recall watching that style of skylight spread around the European camper van market back around 2018 and 2019. And not so long after that, pop-up roofs also started becoming more panoramic, ditching smaller standalone windows in favor of wraparound mesh delivering grand views of the stars at night and plenty of sunlight and fresh air during the day.

The Lineage VT picks that latter trend up, as well, using a dramatic 270-degree front-side mesh wrap on the fabric of its own pop-top. The optional upstairs bedroom space sleeps two people, providing a four-person family camper option.

View from inside the pop-up roof
View from inside the pop-up roof

Grand Design

Other notable features in the 21.9-foot (6.7-m) Lineage VT include a Firefly touchscreen command system, an outdoor shower port on the driver’s side, a 30-A shore power hookup, a 6,800-BTU furnace, and a water heater. Options include a roof-mounted Starlink internet dish, along with previous mentions like the solar awning and added battery capacity.

The RVIA-certified Lineage Series VT starts at an MSRP of US$218,557, and while anything over $200K still reads quite expensive to our naked eye, that price doesn’t look bad at all when you start looking around the market. We’re not even sure how Winnebago is going to convince customers that $254,000 is a reasonable MSRP for the Revel when its own brand is offering this beauty for under $219K to start.

Some of the VT’s features are better seen than read, and if you have 30 minutes (or 10 and a keen eye for skipping through YT videos to the info you want), Grand Design product manager Stephan Dolzan does a great job showcasing the camper van from bumper to bumper, inside and out:

Lineage Series VT Walk Through

Source: Grand Design

Heilman Sets Sights on Men’s 100 Fly Throne, No Dressel in Sight

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2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY: BY THE NUMBERS

The men’s 100 fly has been largely dominated by Caeleb Dressel since 2017, but the world record holder in the event is not competing at this year’s Nationals. Dressel won the 100 fly at the Olympic Trials last summer, clocking 50.19. That makes the men’s 100 fly yet another event that will be missing at least one of its Olympians from last summer.

Moreover, the men’s 100 fly has seen a lot of turnover from last year, as only three of the eight finalists from the Olympic Trials last summer are competing in the event at Nationals this year. Other finalists from Trials last year who won’t be in the picture this year are Zach Harting (4th), Ryan Murphy (6th), Luke Miller (7th), and Kaii Winkler (8th).

The 50-Point Club

With Dressel’s absence, there are three swimmers in the field who are entered with a time under 51 seconds, and another who has been under 51 seconds before.

Leading the way is 18-year-old Thomas Heilman out of Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA. The other American Olympian in this event from last summer, Heilman came in 2nd at Trials last summer in 50.80. As just a 17-year-old, Heilman would finish 18th in prelims in Paris, missing out on the semi-finals.

Heilman was notably the Trials champion in the 200 fly last summer, and he would go on to finish 10th in the semis in Paris. This year, Heilman hasn’t yet swum the LC 100 fly, however, he did pop a 1:57.81 200 fly in mid-May at the Richmond Sectionals meet. Given his age, Heilman is a swimmer whose stock could very well continue to rise, which means he may well end up being one of the American stars of this summer.

Alongside Heilman is Shaine Casas, who is benefiting as much as anyone from the absences in his primary events. Casas now has an easier path in the backstroke events due to absences, and he finds himself in a great position in the 100 fly as well with Dressel being out. He wound up entering and declaring a false start in the 100 fly at Trials last summer, however, he may well view it as a much more favorable event this summer. Casas holds a career best of 50.40 in the 100 fly, which he swam back in 2022. That time also marks Casas as the swimmer with the fastest career best in this field.

Casas has been in good form so far in 2025. Back at the Westmont Pro Swim Series in March, he clocked his season high of 50.82 in the 100 fly, which also makes him the fastest American in the event so far this year. Like Heilman, he’ll be one of the most interesting swimmers to watch at this meet, as he could easily turn into one of the stars of the meet. Now, between the fly events, back events, 200 IM, and the 100/200 free, Casas will likely have to scratch down from his seven entries, however, he has the clearest path he’s ever faced to be on an international LC roster in a multitude of events.

The other swimmer in the field who is seeded under 51 seconds is Cal’s Dare Rose, who came in 3rd at Trials last summer with a 50.84.

Rose holds a career best of 50.46 from the 2023 World Championships, marking the 2nd-fastest career best in the field. His time from Worlds earned him the bronze medal. Like Casas, Rose has already shown himself to be in great shape heading into this meet, as he clocked a season-best 50.93 at the CA NOVA Speedo Grand Challenge on Memorial Day weekend.

Rose is only entered in the 50 fly and 100 fly next week, which means we can say with a great degree of confidence that he will race the 100 fly, and he has the benefit of pouring his focus into the event versus those racing busier schedules.

Michael Andrew rounds out the swimmers in this field who have been under 51 seconds in the 100 fly before. Andrew’s career best of 50.80 is a bit dated, coming from May of 2021, however, in his defense, his focus of events has been shifting quite a bit over the past few years. Now that he’s training with the ASU pro group, we’ll get to see Andrew’s first true taper meet in a very long time. In fact, Andrew detailed at the Sacramento Pro Swim Series in early April that he was still trying to adjust to racing while tired, which wasn’t something he really ever did under his previous training plan.

A potential benefit to that adjustment for Andrew is that, now that he’ll be in a resting phase heading into this meet, he may feel more refreshed than ever racing at this meet. That’s not a guarantee, just a possibility. Either way, this is a Michael Andrew type of meet. Following the disappointment of not making the Olympic roster last summer, he gets to come back this summer, race a bunch of 50s, a couple of 100s, and the 200 IM.

Andrew comes into the 100 fly seeded with a 52.36, which doesn’t necessarily jump off the page, but as stated above, the 100 fly hasn’t been as much of a focus for him in recent years. He hasn’t swum the 100 fly LC yet this year, however, he’s managed to put up some very solid 50 fly times, including a 23.44 at the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim Series in early May.

Now, the trickiest part with Andrew is that this meet featuring 50s makes his schedule a bit too busy. The 100 fly is on day 3 of the meet, but, unfortunately, the 100 fly, 50 breast, and 50 back are all back-to-back-to-back on that day. It’s incredibly hard to imagine that Andrew would forego the 50 breast, so that’s a lock. That means the only remaining question is whether Andrew will attempt the double or not, and, if so, which event he will choose for the double. Given the likelihood that he races the 50 breast, we’re going to leave Andrew out of our official picks on this preview, but if he does race it, he’ll be a contender.

All It Takes Is a Great Swim

Behind our 50-point club, there’s a handful of swimmers who can make some real noise in the 100 fly if they just manage to pop a lifetime best next week. Leading that pack is Luca Urlando, who returned from injury to have a very successful NCAA season with Georgia this year.

Once one of the most promising rising stars in American swimming, Urlando’s career was derailed by a significant shoulder injury. That being said, the 23-year-old is back healthy and appears to be potentially even better than ever.

Starting with his college season, Urlando won the 200 fly at NCAAs, swimming a 1:36.43 (yards), which broke the NCAA Record. He also clocked a career best in the 100 fly at NCAAs with a 43.49, which was good for 3rd place. Urlando then carried that momentum from NCAAs into the LCM pool, as just a couple of days after NCAAs, he traveled down to Sacramento for the Pro Swim Series, where he was exceptional. Urlando popped a career best of 51.32 in the 100 fly at that Pro Swim Series. He also was 1:52.37 in the 200 fly, which was another career best.

Now, we know Urlando was fully rested for that Pro Swim Series since it was directly after NCAAs but, even so, all it would take for Urlando to make the team in the 100 fly is another career best in Indy.

NC State’s Aiden Hayes comes in seeded 5th in the 100 fly for this meet and is 1 of only 3 swimmers in this field from last year’s Trials final. Last year, Hayes came in 5th at Trials with a 51.43. He also executed the Trials races very impressively, going 51.58 in prelims, 51.50 in semifinals, then 51.43 in finals. That being said, Hayes’ career best was set in the summer of 2023, where he went 51.24.

Since he’s no longer in college, we don’t have an NCAA season to judge Hayes’ improvement on. Instead, he’s only swum a single meet since the Olympic Trials last summer, which was the TAC Titans Spring Fling in mid-May, where he clocked a 52.52 in the 100 fly. It’s hard to judge where someone is based on a single meet in the past year, however, 52.52 is strong enough that we should expect to see Hayes in another final in the 100 fly, especially since he’s shown he can be on point in prelims.

Trenton Julian has the 5th-fastest career best in this field, having been 51.10 back in the summer of 2022. Julian came in 9th in semifinals at Trials last summer, swimming a 51.79. So far in 2025, Julian has been consistently solid in the 100 fly, having been 52.68 in March, 52.46 in April, and 52.45 in May. Like the others in this section, Julian would almost certainly have to pop a career best in order to finish in the top two, but he has a great chance of making the final, so there’s a chance.

Cal’s Gabriel Jett is an ever-present threat in this event. Jett has been such a dynamic yards swimmer for the Golden Bears, and we’ve been waiting for him to fully breakout in LCM swimming. While he’s done quite well in the long pool, it still seems like he has more potential. That being said, he has a career best of 51.53 in the 100 fly, which is plenty fast enough for him to make the final next week. At Trials last summer, he came in 15th in semi-finals with a 52.57 after going 52.35 in prelims.

Jett seems to really fit that mold where, if he has a great race, he could really cause some disruption in this event.

The Best of The Rest

  • Jack Dahlgren, a Mizzou pro, came in 10th in the 100 fly at Trials last summer, swimming his career best of 52.02.

    So far this year, he’s been 53.11 in the 100 fly, and he’s put up an impressive 1:56.83 in the 200 fly. Dahlgren would have to have the swim of his life to make the Worlds team in this event, however, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the final after narrowly missing out on it last summer at Trials.

  • Ohio State’s Evan Fentress was a semifinalist in the 100 fly at Trials, taking 13th in 52.27, which is his career best. He had a hit or miss NCAA season this year, clocking career bests in the 50 and 100 free, but not improving in the 100 or 200 fly. Like Dahlgren, Fentress would have to have a true coming out party to get in contention for the team, however, he could make the final with a good swim in the morning.
  • Kamal Muhammad, who recently announced he’s transferring from Virginia to Tennessee for his final 2 years of NCAA eligibility, could be an interesting name to watch here. Muhammad just swam his career best of 52.36 at the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim Series. That time ties him for the 10th seed coming into the meet, so he’s right on the threshold of making the final.
  • Texas’ Ryan Branon just popped a career best of 52.46 in the 100 fly at the ST TXLA Longhorns Aquatics meet in mid-May. He also posted a career best of 1:56.45 in the 200 fly at that meet, so Branon appears to be in great shape with his LCM fly heading into this meet.
  • 16-year-old Rowan Cox out of Longhorn Aquatics could really make some noise in the 100 fly. He clocked his career best of 52.59 in the 100 fly at Junior Pan Pacs last summer, where he earned the silver medal. This year, Cox has been 53.78 in the 100 fly, which he swam at the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim Series a few weeks ago.

SWIMSWAM’S PICKS

Dark Horse: Colin Geer, Michigan – Rising Michigan junior Colin Geer has been making a name for himself through his first 2 years with the Wolverines. He comes into this meet as the 16th seed with a time of 52.72, which also stands as his career best. He set his career best at the Speedo Summer Championships at the end of last July. Since then, Geer had a terrific NCAA season, wherein he got down to career bests of 45.10 in the 100 fly and 1:39.58 in the 200 fly in SCY. While a top 2 finish seems a bit out of reach for Geer as of yet, a great swim in the morning could easily see him as an unexpected finalist in this event. 

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