Same Name And Look-alike Strangers Become Fast Friends on Flight

Quick Smiles:

• Two men named Mark Garland, who bear a striking resemblance to each other, end up seated next to each other on a flight to Bangkok.
• They not only share the same name but also have the same hobbies, a mutual friend, and are from the same region in the UK.
• The pair, both avid fans of Thailand and frequent visitors, quickly became friends during the flight and plan to meet up again during their vacation.

In an unexpected turn of events that would surprise even the most seasoned traveler, a man named Mark Garland found himself seated next to his look-alike on a flight to Bangkok. The similarities were not just superficial; they shared the same name, hobbies, and even a mutual friend.

Mark Garland, a bus driver from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, was checking in for his flight at Heathrow airport when he was told that he had “already checked in”. After 40 minutes of confusion, it was revealed that there was another Mark Garland on the same flight.

“I said, ‘Look I’m Mark Garland’, showing him my passport, and he started laughing and opened his passport and showed me his name,” the 58-year-old Garland remembered.

The uncanny similarities didn’t stop there. When the two men met face-to-face, they were surprised by their striking resemblance. Both were dressed in black and had shaved heads.

“I go to the desk and there’s a man who looks just like me,” Garland said.

Upon boarding the plane, Garland found his namesake seated right next to him. The other Mark Garland, a 62-year-old builder from Bristol, lived just 34 miles away. So close, in fact, that Garland sometimes rode the bus route operated by his look-alike.

During the 11-hour flight, the pair discovered more shared aspects of their lives. Both men were single fathers of four and had a mutual friend. They also shared a deep love for Thailand, having visited the country multiple times.

“We were so shocked by how strange it was,” said the younger Garland. “We both kept laughing and smiling about it, it made me happy.”

The elder Garland echoed the sentiment, saying, “It was crazy. I have never known anything like it. I was thinking ‘what is going on!’ I thought someone was playing a prank on me.”

Their shared sense of humor also made the flight more enjoyable. After realizing they were seated next to each other, they both burst into laughter.

“He’s like me, I’ve got a character, and I love playing pranks on people. We’re the same,” said the elder Garland.

By the end of the flight, the two Mark Garlands had become fast friends. The bus driver even “had a little nap” on his new friend’s shoulder. They’ve promised to stay in touch and plan to meet up for a beer in Thailand.

“It’s crazy. What are the odds on that?” wondered the younger Garland, still amazed by the unusual encounter.

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