I broke it! I don't have the left file explorer thingy and I don't know how to get it back

Google is no help at all >:(
Also, I can't view my files in the www folder. I installed apache, php, mysql and phpmyadmin but I don't have permissions to view them so when I go in the browser it just gives me the "Forbidden" message. Is there an easy way to get permissions there so I can create files and folders how I want instead of going in the terminal and "chmodding" and doing other linux stuff?
*ubuntu confuses me with its many permissions*