Natural Beauty Contest - CLOSED

Everyone's a winner:)
If you read through each of the following pieces, you will find something in common, irrespective of the actual location of the place. Each of these pieces describe the interaction of man with his surroundings.
On its own, nature would be rocks, trees, H2O, chemicals, clouds.....and so on. It is how we, man, perceives the abstractions, interconnections, tries to blend with the surroundings, that gives it the element of beauty. In each of the pieces, human beings are doing something, and later recalling the event with an emotional connection to nature and the surrounding environment.
There weren't many entries and beyond language and grammar, they did communicate a wonderful communion. That, you will agree, is a great thing.

Rank 1.

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Rank 2.

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Rank 3.

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Congratulations.

Bhaskar
THE QUIET CAT