Columbus originally wanted to travel to asia. Which direction is that?

The Earth is round. So, if you want to go to Asia, you can choose between two direction, and in both ways you can come to the same place. Columbus counted on the fact that the Earth is round, and he wanted to go to Asia by the sea, i. e. he wanted to sail to the west and sail all around the planet, and in the end of his journey reach Asia. But he didn't know that a new, unknown continent would appear in front of him and his ships. When they reached the land which we today know as American continent, they at first thought they really made it to India, as they wanted at the first place.