I Miss Her All The Time

Left behind in Bali, Ben pines for his girl

Sitting alone in his Bali surf shop as rain pours down outside, Ben Panangian misses the lover he has supported through 11 years of heartache, strife and frequent separation.

But Ben’s recent parting from Schapelle Corby is the worst to date. Since his partner was deported to Australia on May 27, he has no idea when – if ever – he will see her again.

Their farewell, at Schapelle’s Kuta Beach home on the morning of her departure, was agony, trying to share their most private feelings surrounded by family, friends and the clamour of waiting media outside.

‘It is lonely with her not here,’ softly-spoken Ben, 36, exclusively tells New Idea. ‘I really hope we can see each other again in the future, but we don’t know. It’s all uncertain and so it’s difficult to make any plans.’

As a convicted drug smuggler, Schapelle is unlikely to be allowed to return to Indonesia. And Ben, who has two convictions for marijuana possession, probably would not be welcome in Australia.

‘We dream of getting back together,’ says the Javanese-born university graduate, who now runs his own stand-up paddle board business. ‘But we don’t speak of marriage or children. Once we know if we can see each other again, we can talk about it.’