WOW! The picture riding on the road is so beautiful!!!! Congrats on your first tour. I think I would love to just put all my belongings that I'd need for a few months on my bike and go away for a couple months: no pressure to throw down specific mileage, no planned destinations, just ride.
Your week long tour will be so GREAT! How neat that you found a touring partner who you can go with. I was reading a journal from a woman on CGOAB ( www.crazyguyonabike.com ) who rode all around central Asia by herself. She never had any trouble. From the journals of lone women I've read, it seems like Asia is not as worrisome a place as some others for a woman alone. I don't live there, tho, so I wouldn't know for sure.