How else could I close off this blog without an awards session. So here it is, presenting "The Weird and the Wonderful":

Food
The Weird: Guinea Pig (Cusco, Peru) is the clear winner for sheer difficulty of eating and slightly unusual taste. Honourable mentions go to Green Ants (Kakadu National Park, NT), Camel (Alice Springs, NT), Kangaroo (Alice Springs, NT), and two potatoes & a boiled egg (Lima, Peru).
The Wonderful: Indi Feliz (Machu Picchu Pueblo, Peru) for the trout with mango is the winner by a nose from MoVida (Melbourne, Victoria) which had some excellent tapas. Mentions for the Indian home cooking (Mumbai, India) and the 'surprisingly good in the circumstances' porters' food (Inca Trail, Peru).

Journey
The Weird: The Vistadome Train (Machu Picchu Pueblo, Peru) is a clear winner for the odd "Peru Rail" announcements, and the dancing and modelling which occupied the aisles throughout. Should mention the bumpy jeep ride (Kakadu National Park, NT) and the tuk-tuks (Mumbai, India) never lose their novelty.
The Wonderful: The Peak Tram (Hong Kong) wins for the truly magnificent view at the top, as well as the Lan Peru flight to Cusco (Lima-Cusco, Peru) for the mountain scenery.

Weather
The Weird: Typhoon Fengshen (Hong Kong) for nearly blowing me off The Peak, and almost ruining my whole trip by delaying the flight. Also, the clouds (Lima, Peru) for being ever-present.
The Wonderful: The non-existent monsoon (Mumbai, India) was much appreciated. The lack of clouds and rain (Inca Trail, Peru) also made a great trek all the more enjoyable.

Animals
The Weird: Wombat, Platypus and Echidna (Melbourne, Victoria) are the joint winners for their being so wobbly, unusual and funky respectively. You don't see an albino bull (Darwin, NT) every day either.
The Wonderful: Black-Headed Python (Katherine, NT) since I was so fortunate to see it in the wild. Also the wild sights of Saltwater Crocodiles (Kakadu National Park, NT), Kangaroos (NT), and Flying Foxes (Katherine, NT). The Termites (Kakadu National Park, NT) get a mention for their stunning constructions and the alpacas (Cusco, Peru) for being really sweet!

Accommodation
The Weird: The Swag (Yulara, NT) for being essentially an overrated bag in the cold. Also, room with three beds and no windows (Lima, Peru) for not getting its priorities right.
The Wonderful: Hotel Pakaritampu (Ollantaytambo, Peru) for a stunning location, and staying in a converted bank with Sunil (New York) for the quirkyness.

Sights
The Weird: Australia's Most Remote Traffic Light (Daly Waters, NT) for smacking so much of desperation. Honourable mentions go to The UFO Centre of Australia (Wycliffe Well, NT) for being so sincere, and the Pink Panther Pub and Wildlife Centre (nr. Mataranka, NT) for the fact that someone, once, thought it would be a good idea. The Chemical Factory (Mumbai, India) is all that's stopping it being a clean sweep for the Northern Territory.
The Wonderful: Machu Picchu (Macchu Picchu Pueblo, Peru) is no great surprise as the winner, the experience of walking down to it from Intipunku was my single greatest on the trip. Victoria Harbour (Hong Kong) comes in second, with Uluru (Uluru National Park, NT), The Statue of Liberty (New York) and The Empire State Building (New York) making up the numbers.

People
The Weird: UFO Lady (Wycliffe Well, NT) for claiming she'd seen a UFO "last Tuesday". Water Divining Lady (Banka Banka, NT) comes a close second for claming two metal rods indicate the location of water, as if the pipe and tap weren't clues enough.
The Wonderful: My international cast of family for being so massively welcoming, a huge thank you to you.

So that's all!

Thanks for reading,
Kiran