Our favorite authors and their budget travel guides

It was the summer of 1911 when Franz Kafka and Max Brod thought about a budget travel guide for travelers in Europe. However, it struck before the plan was half complete. Both authors refused to jot down the details of their trips, prompting their followers to wonder if it could turn them into millionaires during their time.

I could imagine Kafka's snotty reaction to tourists coming from the other side of the (English) channel, looking at awe at the places of interest in Prague. Brod would have that incredulous look on his face, as (foreign) visitors flocked to Munich (or any major city in Germany). Kafka and Brod were close friends, so it wasn't hard to imagine their eclectic taste. Some would look at a pair of arrogant men who refused to go down from their pedestal, but they couldn't be blamed at all. They were aware of their (enormous) talents, even sensing that they could get far. In Kafka's case, some critics hailed "Metamorphosis" as the greatest short story every written (in literary history). I couldn't blame Kafka for going the distance, but he would have found his true calling. It won't be different from Brod's.

Instagram would horrify Kafka and Brod, as they could see social media as a tool for democratizing literature (or photography for that matter). Anyone could be an author and do a self-promotion. Some would jump in front of popular tourist spots while others pander on erotic entertainment. I suspected that both friends were unable to know the basic information; Kafka might not have the patience in finding out which days would museums have a reduced fee. Brod, on the other hand, doesn't have to spend time on looking for a free concert. And both overlooked the mode of transportation. They saw their craft as a privilege, which was Old World romance.

Keep it short and simple

My buddies and I were partially submerged in a hot spring waterfall somewhere in the Malay Peninsula, not minding the throng of tourists who wanted to take a dip (and leave half an hour later). I couldn't help but be distracted, as my mind drifted to Kafka and Brod. How would the other authors pen their travel guide?

D. H. Lawrence would focus on how a married couple could make the most of their holiday. He could include tips on how they must approach other couples (on a vacation), and plan a small group tour. J.M. Barrie could be thinking of the children, listing parks and other forms of amusement. J.K. Rowling doesn't need to think long and hard, as there would be a proliferation of Harry Potter-themed parks during the next ten years. What about my whereabouts?

Alex Garland had been to this part of the world, and it was rather a harrowing experience. I won't be the only one to believe that his backpacking cured his wanderlust. It was rather ironic, as more tourists embraced leisure traveling. I don't mind the hot pools getting a bit crowded, as one of them asked where I have been. This topic might put him off.