Originally we were only going to spend one night on Labuan (an island three hours from Kota Kinabulu) as it was just supposed to be a stop over on our way to Brunei. However this would have meant we spent Hannah's birthday in Brunei, a very conservative Muslim country where alcohol is banned. We couldn't be having this for Hannah's 30th so we decided to skip Brunei and spend two nights on Labuan instead... which just by chance was a duty free haven. Yes, no tax on any alcohol. All over the island! We also booked ourselves into an amazing hotel for those two nights. Very expensive but you're only 30 once, right! It had a pool, was right by the beach and we had one of the biggest hotel rooms I've ever seen.
 
The other reason to visit Labuan was to visit the allied war cemetery and the Japanese surrender point, this is where the 37th Japanese Southern Amy surrendered to the 9th Division Australian Imperial Forces and ended the war in Borneo. This was of significance to Hannah as her Grandad had been captured in Singapore and held as a POW in Borneo too. 
 
We also managed to spend some time by our massive pool, drank some wine and cocktails, played pool and went to a disappointing international buffet. We wanted to go somewhere nice for Hannah's birthday meal so found the best five star, possibly the only five star hotel on the island and headed there for dinner. Sadly it didn't live up to our expectations at all. I think our standards were set way too high after the incredible Bangkok buffet we had with Ella and Besty hehehe!
 
Never the less a relatively relaxing few days which is what Hannah wanted after a busy week!