It was an intensely emotional moment during the cremation ceremony for Rae MacDonald held at the crematorium of Wat Yang Royal Monastery, during which two close friends of Rae delivered their eulogies: Phutiphong Sriwat also known as Leo Phut and Tar Phaophon Thephasadin na Ayutthaya also known as Tar Barbie who frequently traveled with Rae and co-hosted the YouTube show “Tid Tiew” alongside him on the Rayron : Re-Ron channel.
Leo Phut said, “'The plan is no plan' was Rae's favorite saying. To be honest, those of us who traveled with him sometimes wanted to have a plan. Yet, often, as Rae said, traveling without a strict plan always led us to new experiences.
We found friendships along the way and witnessed the beautiful natural aspects of life by letting things unfold naturally. Most importantly, many times it helped us discover ourselves during the journey. I believe Rae kept this hidden but was not good at expressing it, so we had to experience and realize it ourselves.
Everyone knows Rae loved to travel. Though the two of us might have traveled less than him, the journeys of the three of us on “Tid Tiew” shaped our stories—Phut, Tar, and Rae—quite significantly. It went beyond just being colleagues; it made us family. It was more than just friendship.
If you have ever traveled with someone through ups and downs, exhaustion, or getting lost, struggling and enjoying together, eventually you will find the reward that God has prepared for you both.
‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’—Rae liked to say this. I think he must have heard it from someone. But it's true; whether your journey is near or far, just start. Even if it’s a nearby alley you’ve never been down, or far enough to trick Tar into going for a beer, it still has value. Once you begin, God’s reward hides within that trip for you to gather and cherish.
It may not be smooth or go as planned. It might be tough, because we always say, 'Perfection does not exist.' We are all travelers with paths to walk.
But Rae chose to travel widely, to many places ahead of us, paving the way, waiting for the day we are ready after finishing our own journeys, so we can follow the path he cleared.
I believe Rae wasn’t trying to travel to a specific place but was always journeying to find something—perhaps an answer to a question he dared not ask openly, or maybe he didn’t even know what he was searching for.
Regardless, I hope that on this new journey Rae finds the answers he sought all his life. But if, in the end, those answers do not exist—as perfection never truly exists—I think he will find peace and rest.
Because at least along the way, he lived fully, offered kindness to those around him, inspired people, did good, and created smiles and laughter—whether intentionally or not, it truly happened.
Rae will live on in all our memories—in every laugh, every story, every mention. I want to thank everyone here, the friends present, the media, and all the dignitaries who came. Thank you on Rae’s behalf for gathering to send him off warmly.
Now... Rae embarks on another journey ahead of us (pauses) carrying his final document (voice trembling) that isn’t a passport but states his profession as 'Traveler.' Travel well, my friend. May you find light, peace, coolness, no hunger, no pain. Until we meet again.”
Meanwhile, Tar Barbie briefly said, “There are so many people here. Normally, Rae didn’t like ceremonies like this. Life is funny, isn’t it? Like I didn’t want to come to your funeral either. It’s no fun. Well, that’s life... it’s not perfect.”
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