Try this:
<?php
$menu_name = variable_get('menu_main_links_source', 'main-menu');
$tree = menu_tree($menu_name);
print drupal_render($tree);
?>
Also Drupal doesn't make things hard, you just don't understand it yet.
It is just a tool suited to specific tasks. If you just want to make a blog then don't use Drupal, just use Wordpress.
If however you want a very powerful CMF (Content management framework, not system) to create complex system with lots of interrelated entities then continue to learn Drupal - I think it's the best tool for the job.