Kourtney's Group Adventure Trips

Turning 25 in a few months, about to graduate from university with a degree in Electronic Publishing (graphic design, etc). I'll be ready to go by September this year and I want to get out and see the world! I have nothing holding me back at this point and I am in a position to be saving enough money for a long trip to another part of the world, so that's my one goal I've been focused on for awhile now. The only circumstance I've had a hard time finding a solution for is who am I going to travel with?? I considered briefly just going by myself and was ready and willing to do it, but as a young woman from Canada I'm told that's not exactly safe, considering the parts of the world I'd like to see... I don't want to go with a group travel company since I'm not going just so I can party my face off with a bunch of college students, plus they are expensive and don't really give you a chance to see the real culture of the country you're visiting. I want to see a new part of the world and have a new life, not bring western culture with me. I want to take a lot of photos and see a lot of wildlife, maybe learn how to scuba dive and sail a boat or two. I'm considering doing a bike tour of all of SE Asia once I get into better physical shape, but we will see what happens :) Right now I just need a buddy (or a few!) and a plane ticket!