Asia, the unhoped-for continent
Pakistan was the first Asian country that he encountered, though he mostly saw it from the train window.
He was stunned by the heat and humidity, the indecipherable writing, and the unfamiliar food. Yet, his feelings were nothing compared to the amazement he felt a couple of days later in New Delhi where he greatly admired the Hindu temples and their statues.
In Agra, a couple of days later, he marveled at the beauty of the Taj Mahal.
On March 7th, he arrived in Calcutta. The quick stop turned into a six-week halt. He scrutinized each and every dock in search of a ship to Burma. Once again, the situation seemed desperate. He did not have money or food and the whole Belgian expatriate community wished to send him back home at all costs. They did not seem to understand why he dreamt of visiting Tibet, Ceylon, and China, for example. On April 21st, his luck turned; he received money from his family that finally enabled him to leave Calcutta.
Burma charmed him; he took delight in looking at the colorful streets and markets and people’s pleasing manners. Above anything else, the Sule Pagoda caught his interest and admiration. During his stay, he visited it several times, taking notes on the Buddha gold statues and watching with great interest the monks absorbed in their ceremonies. They even taught him the basics of Buddhism.
On May 5th, 1955, Claude arrived in Thailand after an eventful trip where his boat got attacked by Communist Rebels. He spent two weeks in Thailand which made him truly happy and revealed to be life changing. He loved everything from the friendliness of people to the thick jungle. It is to the Thai generosity that he owed his plane tickets to Hong Kong, Macao, and Tokyo.
He arrived in Japan at the end of May. Once again, he was penniless and unable to leave the island. By lying - once again - he was offered a bed in the Belgian army barracks. Thanks to his “negotiated” military id, he entered a Press Club, where reporters meet. The interviews threw him in the spotlight. This newly acquired fame offered him many advantages: money, dinners at fine dining restaurants, invitations, etc. People wanted to help him and be part of his trip. So, when a maritime company heard that he wanted to travel to America, they contacted him. The ship left on July 20th for Vancouver. For the first time, in ten months, America was within reach.
